Buffer Review 2025: Features, Pricing, Pros & Cons
TL;DR - Quick Answer
15 min readTips you can use today. What works and what doesn't.
Buffer pioneered social media scheduling. It's been around since 2010 and remains one of the most recognized names in the space.
But with new competitors offering AI features and better pricing, is Buffer still worth it? Here's the honest breakdown.
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Best for: Solopreneurs and small businesses wanting simple, clean scheduling without complexity.
Not ideal for: Teams needing collaboration, agencies managing multiple clients, or power users wanting advanced features.
Pricing at a Glance
Prices are per channel. 5 channels = $30/month on Essentials.
The catch: Per-channel pricing adds up fast. Managing 10 channels costs $60/month on Essentials.
How much does Buffer cost if you manage 10 social media channels?
What Buffer Does Well
Simplicity
Buffer is the easiest scheduling tool to use.
Verdict: If simplicity is your priority, Buffer leads.
Free Plan
Buffer still offers a free tier when competitors removed theirs.
What you get free:
- 3 social channels
- 10 scheduled posts per channel
- Landing page builder
- Basic analytics
Verdict: Best free plan for basic scheduling needs.
Browser Extension
Solid content curation workflow:
- Share content while browsing
- Queue posts instantly
- Add images on the fly
- Works across browsers
Verdict: Popular feature for content curators.
What's Buffer's biggest competitive advantage in 2025?
What Buffer Lacks
Limited Features
Buffer intentionally stays simple. But sometimes you need more.
Per-Channel Pricing
How costs escalate:
Competitors offer unlimited channels at fixed prices.
Basic AI
Buffer's AI Assistant:
- Caption suggestions
- Hashtag recommendations
- Limited generation quality
Missing:
- AI image generation
- Video content AI
- Smart optimization
- Trend detection
No Social Listening
Can't track:
- Brand mentions
- Competitor activity
- Industry trends
- Sentiment analysis
Which feature is NOT included in any Buffer plan?
Pros and Cons Summary
What's the main complaint about Buffer from power users?
Real User Reviews
What Users Love
"The simplest scheduling tool I've used. No learning curve at all." — G2 Review
"Been using Buffer for years. It just works." — Capterra Review
What Users Complain About
"Per-channel pricing killed it for me. Managing 8 accounts got expensive." — G2 Review
"I outgrew Buffer. Needed analytics and listening that it doesn't have." — G2 Review
Buffer is best suited for which type of user?
Who Should Use Buffer
Ideal Users
Solopreneurs
- Managing 3-5 channels
- Want simple scheduling
- Don't need analytics
- Budget-conscious start
Content Creators
- Focus on creating, not managing
- Want quick post queuing
- Use browser extension
- Minimal feature needs
Who Should Look Elsewhere
Agencies needing client management at scale
Teams wanting collaboration workflows
Power Users needing analytics and listening
Multi-Account Managers frustrated by per-channel costs
Buffer vs Alternatives
Compare Buffer directly: Planable vs Buffer, Publer vs Buffer, Agorapulse vs Buffer, Sendible vs Buffer, SocialPilot vs Buffer, or Later vs Buffer.
FAQ
Is Buffer worth it in 2025?
For solopreneurs managing few channels who prioritize simplicity, yes. For agencies, teams, or anyone managing 5+ channels, alternatives offer better value.
Does Buffer have a free plan?
Yes. Buffer's free plan includes 3 channels with 10 posts each. It's one of the few scheduling tools still offering a free tier.
Is Buffer good for agencies?
The $120/month Agency plan works for small agencies. Larger agencies find per-channel pricing prohibitive and the feature set limiting compared to Sprout Social or Hootsuite.
Can Buffer replace Hootsuite?
For simple scheduling, yes. For social listening, unified inbox, advanced analytics, or enterprise features, no. Buffer intentionally trades features for simplicity.
Bottom Line
Buffer is the simplest scheduler, but simplicity has limits.
Choose Buffer if:
- Simplicity is your top priority
- You manage fewer than 5 channels
- You don't need advanced analytics
- You want a free plan to start
Choose an alternative if:
- You manage many channels
- You need social listening
- You want advanced AI
- You need team collaboration
For unlimited AI-powered scheduling at $29/month, consider SocialRails.
Create content, post everywhere
Let AI do the work. Ideas, posts, images, carousels. Scheduled in seconds.
Start your free trialRelated
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- Buffer Alternatives 2025
- Cheaper Than Buffer
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