Pricing

Buffer Nonprofit Pricing 2026: Free Plan & Discount Guide

Matt
Matt
8 min read

TL;DR - Quick Answer

10 min read

Tips you can use today. What works and what doesn't.

Quick answer: Buffer's free plan works for most nonprofits, 3 social channels with 10 scheduled posts each. No official nonprofit discount, but the free tier and affordable paid plans make it budget-friendly.

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Buffer Pricing Overview

PlanPriceChannelsPosts/ChannelUsers
Free$0310 scheduled1
Essentials$6/channelUnlimitedUnlimited1
Team$12/channelUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited

Does Buffer Offer Nonprofit Discounts?

Short answer: No official nonprofit discount program.

Good news: Buffer's free plan is generous enough for many nonprofits.


Quick Quiz
Easy

Does Buffer have a special nonprofit discount program?

💡 Tip: Think carefully before selecting your answer!


Buffer Free Plan for Nonprofits

What You Get for $0

  • 3 social channels (any platforms)
  • 10 scheduled posts per channel
  • Basic publishing tools
  • Landing page builder
  • Mobile app access
  • Basic analytics

What's Missing

  • More than 3 channels
  • More than 10 scheduled posts
  • Team collaboration
  • Engagement features
  • Advanced analytics
  • AI assistant

Is Buffer Free Enough?

Free Plan Works If You:

  • Manage 3 or fewer social platforms
  • Post 2-3 times per week per platform
  • Work solo (no team access needed)
  • Need basic scheduling only

Upgrade If You:

  • Manage 4+ social platforms
  • Post daily or more frequently
  • Have multiple team members or volunteers
  • Need advanced analytics
  • Want engagement tools

Quick Quiz
Easy

Your nonprofit manages Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, posting twice weekly on each. Best Buffer plan?

💡 Tip: Think carefully before selecting your answer!


Buffer Paid Plans for Nonprofits

Essentials ($6/channel/month)

Best for solo nonprofit social media managers.

FeatureDetails
ChannelsUnlimited
Scheduled postsUnlimited
Users1
AI assistantIncluded
Engagement toolsYes
AnalyticsAdvanced

Example costs:

  • 5 channels = $30/month
  • 7 channels = $42/month
  • 10 channels = $60/month

Team ($12/channel/month)

Best for nonprofits with volunteers or staff teams.

FeatureDetails
ChannelsUnlimited
Scheduled postsUnlimited
UsersUnlimited
Approval workflowsYes
Team analyticsYes

Example costs:

  • 5 channels = $60/month
  • 7 channels = $84/month
  • 10 channels = $120/month

Nonprofit Budget Scenarios

Tiny Nonprofit ($0 budget)

Setup: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn

OptionCost
PlanBuffer Free
Monthly$0
Channels3
Posts30 total (10 per channel)

Verdict: Works for basic weekly posting.


Small Nonprofit ($30-50 budget)

Setup: 5 platforms

OptionCost
PlanBuffer Essentials
Monthly$30 (5 channels × $6)
AI assistantIncluded
PostsUnlimited

Verdict: Good value for solo managers.


Medium Nonprofit ($100+ budget)

Setup: 8 channels, 3 team members

OptionCost
PlanBuffer Team
Monthly$96 (8 channels × $12)
UsersUnlimited
Approval workflowsYes

Verdict: Great for teams with volunteers.


Quick Quiz
Medium

Your nonprofit has 5 platforms and 3 volunteers needing access. Monthly cost for Buffer?

💡 Tip: Think carefully before selecting your answer!


Maximize Buffer on Nonprofit Budget

Tip 1: Start with Free

Use the free plan to establish workflow. Only upgrade when you hit limits.

Tip 2: Consolidate Channels

Focus on 3 high-impact channels:

  • Where your donors are
  • Where volunteers engage
  • Where you get most traction

Tip 3: Use Native Tools for Extra Platforms

Free options beyond your 3 Buffer channels:

  • Meta Business Suite, Facebook + Instagram (free)
  • YouTube Studio, YouTube scheduling (free)
  • LinkedIn, native scheduling (free)

Tip 4: Request Informal Discounts

While no official program exists:

  • Email support explaining you're a nonprofit
  • Ask about annual billing discounts (15-20% off)
  • Inquire about pilot programs

Buffer vs Other Nonprofit-Friendly Tools

ToolFree PlanPaid StartingNonprofit Discount
Buffer3 channels$6/channelNo (free tier works)
CanvaLimited$15/month100% free
Sprout SocialNo$249/user~50% off
HootsuiteNo$99/monthNo
SocialRailsTrial$29/monthContact for info

Quick Quiz
Easy

Which tool offers the best free option for nonprofits?

💡 Tip: Think carefully before selecting your answer!


Alternatives for Nonprofits

For AI Content Creation

SocialRails — $29/month with unlimited AI content Try SocialRails →

For Larger Teams

Sprout Social — ~50% nonprofit discount available

For Visual Content

Later — Free plan, great for Instagram

For Design + Scheduling

Canva for Nonprofits — Free Pro + basic scheduling


Quick Answers

Does Buffer have a nonprofit discount? No official program. However, the free plan works for most small nonprofits.

How many platforms for free? 3 social channels with 10 scheduled posts each.

Is Buffer good for nonprofit volunteers? Free and Essentials are single-user. Team plan ($12/channel) includes unlimited users.

Can I get Buffer for free as a nonprofit? Yes, the free plan is available to everyone. No application needed.

Buffer vs Hootsuite for nonprofits? Buffer is much cheaper. Hootsuite has no free plan and starts at $99/month.


Summary

Buffer nonprofit pricing:

  • Free plan: 3 channels, 10 posts each
  • Essentials: $6/channel, solo managers
  • Team: $12/channel, volunteer teams

No official discount, but Buffer is nonprofit-friendly with its free tier.

Our recommendation: Start free. Upgrade to Essentials when you need more channels. Consider SocialRails for AI content at similar pricing.

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