Comparisons

StoryChief vs Buffer 2026: Which One Should You Pick?

Matt
Matt
8 min read

TL;DR - Quick Answer

11 min read

See which tool is better for you. We compare pricing, features, and ease of use.

Quick answer: Buffer is simpler and cheaper (free plan available). StoryChief is for content marketing teams publishing blogs + social content.

Neither has unlimited AI content generation. See our full Buffer review and StoryChief review for details.

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Quick Comparison

FeatureBufferStoryChief
Starting priceFree€19/month
Best forSocial schedulingContent marketing
Free plan3 channelsAnalytics only
Blog publishingNoYes
AI contentBasic assistant1,000-8,000 credits
Learning curveVery easyModerate

Pricing Side-by-Side

Buffer Pricing

PlanCostChannelsUsers
Free$031
Essentials$6/channelUnlimited1
Team$12/channelUnlimitedUnlimited

Example: 10 channels on Team = $120/month

StoryChief Pricing

PlanCostChannelsUsers
Individual€19/mo31
Team Social€29/user/mo4/userUnlimited
Team Editorial€69/user/mo6/userUnlimited

Example: 3-person team on Team Social = €87/month


Quick Quiz
Easy

You're a solo content creator managing 5 social accounts. Which is cheaper?

💡 Tip: Think carefully before selecting your answer!


Cost Comparison by Scenario

Solo Creator (5 accounts)

ToolMonthly Cost
Buffer Essentials$30
StoryChief Individual€19 (but 3 channel limit)
Actual choiceBuffer wins (more channels)

Small Team (3 people, 10 accounts)

ToolMonthly Cost
Buffer Team$120
StoryChief Team Social€87
DifferenceStoryChief cheaper (if you need team features)

Content Marketing Team (3 people + blogs)

ToolMonthly Cost
Buffer Team$120 (no blogs)
StoryChief Team Editorial€207
WinnerStoryChief (only option for blogs)

Pattern: Buffer wins for social-only. StoryChief wins for content marketing.


Features That Matter

Scheduling

Buffer:

  • Queue-based posting
  • Best time suggestions
  • Browser extension
  • Mobile apps

StoryChief:

  • Visual calendar
  • Multi-channel distribution
  • Blog scheduling
  • Content briefings

Winner: Buffer for simplicity. StoryChief for content marketing workflows.


Blog Publishing

Buffer:

  • No blog features
  • Social-only focus
  • Link sharing only

StoryChief:

  • Full blog publishing
  • SEO optimization
  • Multi-channel distribution
  • CMS integrations

Winner: StoryChief. Buffer doesn't compete here.


Quick Quiz
Medium

Your company publishes 2 blog posts weekly and wants to distribute them to social media. Which tool?

💡 Tip: Think carefully before selecting your answer!


Team Collaboration

Buffer:

  • Team plan required
  • Basic approve/reject
  • Comments on posts
  • No content briefings

StoryChief:

  • Built into Team plans
  • Multi-level approvals
  • Content briefings
  • Version history
  • Custom user roles

Winner: StoryChief. Much stronger collaboration features.


AI Content

Buffer:

  • AI assistant for ideas
  • Basic suggestions
  • No full content generation

StoryChief:

  • 1,000-8,000 AI credits/month
  • Content generation
  • SEO suggestions
  • Rephrasing tools

Winner: StoryChief (more AI, but credit-limited). Neither has unlimited AI.


Platform Support

Buffer: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Pinterest, TikTok, YouTube, Mastodon, Bluesky, Threads

StoryChief: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Pinterest, YouTube, Medium, WordPress, and 1000+ integrations

Winner: Buffer for newer platforms. StoryChief for blog integrations.


Quick Quiz
Easy

You want to post to Threads and Bluesky. Which tool supports both?

💡 Tip: Think carefully before selecting your answer!


Pros and Cons

Buffer Pros

  • Free plan available
  • Very easy to use
  • More social platforms
  • Great browser extension
  • Simple pricing

Buffer Cons

  • No blog publishing
  • Per-channel pricing adds up
  • Basic team features
  • No content marketing tools

StoryChief Pros

  • Full blog publishing
  • Strong collaboration
  • SEO optimization
  • Content marketing suite
  • Multi-channel distribution

StoryChief Cons

  • No free plan
  • Per-user pricing adds up
  • Overkill for social-only
  • Steeper learning curve
  • Limited newer social platforms

Who Should Use Which?

Pick Buffer if you:

  • Only need social scheduling
  • Want a free option
  • Value simplicity
  • Need Threads/Bluesky support
  • Are budget-conscious

Pick StoryChief if you:

  • Publish blogs regularly
  • Need content marketing tools
  • Have a content team
  • Want SEO optimization
  • Need approval workflows

Neither Has Unlimited AI Content

Both tools have AI features, but neither offers unlimited content generation.

If you need unlimited AI:

ToolAI FeaturesPrice
SocialRailsUnlimited AI content + 350 video templates$29-99/month

Quick Quiz
Hard

Final decision: You're a B2B company with a 4-person marketing team publishing 8 blogs/month + daily social posts. Buffer or StoryChief?

💡 Tip: Think carefully before selecting your answer!


Best Alternative: SocialRails

Neither Buffer nor StoryChief has unlimited AI content. If that matters:

FeatureBufferStoryChiefSocialRails
Starting priceFree€19/month$29/month
Team of 5$60+/month€145+/month$49/month
AI contentBasicCredit-limitedUnlimited
Video templatesNoNo350+
Blog publishingNoYesNo
Try SocialRails free →

Quick Answers

Is Buffer or StoryChief cheaper? Buffer is cheaper for social-only use. StoryChief's per-user pricing adds up for teams.

Which has blog publishing? StoryChief only. Buffer is social-only.

Does either have unlimited AI? No. Buffer has basic AI. StoryChief has credit-limited AI.

Which supports more social platforms? Buffer. Includes Threads, Bluesky, Mastodon.

Can I migrate between them? Yes, but they solve different problems. Buffer for social. StoryChief for content marketing.


Summary

Buffer: Best for social-only scheduling with simplicity and a free plan.

StoryChief: Best for content marketing teams publishing blogs + social content.

Neither: Has unlimited AI content generation.

Best alternative: SocialRails at $29-99/month with unlimited AI content and video templates.

Create content, post everywhere

Create posts, images, and carousels with AI. Schedule to 9 platforms in seconds.

Start your free trial

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