Best Buffer Alternatives in 2025 (Free & Paid)

Looking for a Buffer alternative? We compared the top social media schedulers to find the best Buffer alternatives for every budget.

Why look for a Buffer alternative?

Buffer is a well-regarded social media scheduler, but it's not right for everyone. Common reasons people look for alternatives include:

• Buffer's free plan limits you to 3 channels and 10 scheduled posts per channel per month
• Paid plans start at $6/month per channel — costs add up quickly with multiple channels
• No AI caption generation on any plan
• Limited analytics on lower plans
• No bulk scheduling or CSV import on the free plan

Top Buffer alternatives in 2025

1. BuntingPost — Best free Buffer alternative

BuntingPost offers everything Buffer does on its free plan, plus AI caption generation. The free plan includes 10 scheduled posts per month across 3 profiles. Paid plans are more affordable than Buffer at scale, especially for businesses managing more than 5 social profiles.

Best for: Small businesses wanting AI assistance and better value

2. Later — Best for visual content

Later's free plan includes 14 posts per profile per month with a visual Instagram planner. Better than Buffer for Instagram-focused brands.

Best for: Instagram-first brands and visual content creators

3. Zoho Social — Best for Zoho users

Zoho Social offers a free plan for 1 brand with 7 social channels. If you're already using Zoho CRM, Zoho Social integrates seamlessly.

Best for: Businesses in the Zoho ecosystem

4. Hootsuite — Best for large teams

Hootsuite is more powerful than Buffer but also more expensive. Better suited for larger teams that need advanced workflows and approval processes.

Best for: Mid-market teams with complex workflows

5. Metricool — Best for analytics

Metricool's free plan includes robust analytics for a single brand. If data and reporting are your priority, Metricool outperforms Buffer significantly.

Best for: Data-driven marketers who prioritise analytics

Buffer vs BuntingPost: side-by-side comparison

Both tools offer clean interfaces and multi-platform scheduling. The main differences:

• AI captions: BuntingPost ✓ | Buffer ✗
• Free posts/month: BuntingPost 10 | Buffer 10 per channel
• Free channels: BuntingPost 3 | Buffer 3
• Paid pricing: BuntingPost from $12/month | Buffer from $6/channel/month
• Analytics: Both have basic analytics on free plans

Which Buffer alternative should you choose?

For most small businesses, BuntingPost is the best free Buffer alternative — especially if you want AI help with captions. Start with the free plan and upgrade if you need more posts or profiles.