Post Planner vs Buffer 2026: Which Tool Wins?
TL;DR - Quick Answer
8 min readBuffer 2026 offers better value with more features at a lower price. Post Planner excels in simplicity but costs more for similar functionality.
Post Planner: Best for content discovery and curation. (Full Post Planner review) Buffer: Best for simple, clean scheduling. (Full Buffer review)
Content curators pick Post Planner. Simple schedulers pick Buffer.
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30-Second Answer
Pricing Comparison
Post Planner
Buffer
Key difference: Post Planner finds content. Buffer just schedules. See our scheduler comparison for more options.
You manage 3 accounts wanting affordable scheduling. Which costs less?
💡 Tip: Think carefully before selecting your answer!
Where Each Tool Wins
Post Planner Wins: Content Discovery
Find viral content:
- Viral score — trending posts
- Industry feeds — curated sources
- Content buckets — organized categories
- Proven posts — high engagement
Buffer has no content discovery.
Buffer Wins: Simplicity
Clean, easy interface:
- 5-minute setup
- Intuitive design
- No learning curve
- Browser extension
- AI Assistant
You want to find proven viral content to share. Which tool?
💡 Tip: Think carefully before selecting your answer!
Buffer Wins: AI Content
AI Assistant included:
- Caption generation
- Content ideas
- Repurposing help
- Hashtag suggestions
Post Planner has no AI content generation.
Post Planner Wins: Content Buckets
Category organization:
- Group by topic — organized content
- Auto-schedule — rotate categories
- Balance mix — varied posting
- Post recycling — reuse evergreen
Buffer has basic scheduling only.
Feature Comparison
Which tool has AI-powered content generation?
💡 Tip: Think carefully before selecting your answer!
Cost Comparison
Insight: Post Planner is consistently cheaper at all account levels.
Who Should Pick What
Choose Post Planner if you:
- Curate content from sources
- Want viral content discovery
- Need content buckets
- Have tight budget
- Share third-party content
Choose Buffer if you:
- Create original content
- Want AI content help
- Prefer simple interface
- Value ease of use
- Need basic scheduling
Neither Is Perfect
Both tools lack:
Better Alternative
Want discovery AND AI content?
Try SocialRails free →Final decision: Content curator sharing viral posts from other sources. Best choice?
💡 Tip: Think carefully before selecting your answer!
Quick Answers
Which is cheaper? Post Planner. Consistently lower prices.
Which has content discovery? Only Post Planner.
Which has AI content? Only Buffer.
Which has buckets/categories? Only Post Planner.
Which is simpler? Buffer. Easier interface.
Bottom Line
Post Planner: Best for content curators who want to find and share viral content.
Buffer: Best for original creators who want simple scheduling with AI help.
Best alternative: SocialRails at $29/month with unlimited AI content and video templates.
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