Head to head
Buffer vs ContentCal
Last updated 4 June 2026
The simplest way to schedule a few accounts, and the cheapest entry if you only run one to three channels.
- From
- $5 per channel / mo
- Free plan
ContentCal was a well-liked UK content calendar built around planning and approvals. Adobe bought it in December 2021, closed the standalone product on 31 March 2023, and rolled its features into Adobe Express, so it's here for the record rather than as a tool you can buy.
- From
- Custom
- Free plan
Bottom line
Buffer is the pick for solo creators, and it's the only one of the two with a free plan. ContentCal fits most setups better.
Buffer publishes a price, from $5 per channel / mo; ContentCal is quote-only.
Key differences
Where the two actually diverge, before the full tables.
- Buffer has a free plan; ContentCal doesn't.
- Buffer starts at $5 per channel / mo; ContentCal is quote-only.
- Buffer posts to 11 networks, ContentCal to 7.
- Only Buffer reaches YouTube, Threads, Bluesky, and Mastodon.
- Buffer auto-publishes TikTok; ContentCal sends a reminder to post.
Features compared
| Feature | Buffer | ContentCal |
|---|---|---|
| AI captions | Yes | Not assessed |
| Basic analytics | Yes | Yes |
| Advanced reports | Partial | Not assessed |
| Bulk upload | No | Not assessed |
| Evergreen recycling | No | Not assessed |
| Team roles | Yes | Yes |
| Approvals | Yes | Yes |
| Link in bio | Yes | Not assessed |
Platforms compared
| Network | Buffer | ContentCal |
|---|---|---|
| Auto | Auto | |
| Auto | Auto | |
| X (Twitter) | Auto | Auto |
| Auto | Auto | |
| TikTok | Auto | Reminder |
| Auto | Auto | |
| YouTube | Auto | No |
| Threads | Auto | No |
| Bluesky | Auto | No |
| Google Business | Auto | Auto |
| Mastodon | Auto | No |
Pricing
Headline prices are for a single unit. Here is the real monthly cost as each tool scales, costed on its own unit so the two stay honest.
Free plan available.
- 1 channel
- $6/mo~$5/mo annual
- 9 channelsTypical
- $54/mo~$45/mo annual
Cheapest plan: Essentials.
Buffer
Free
- Seats
- 1
- Accounts
- 3
- Scheduled posts
- 10
- 3 channels
- 10 scheduled posts per channel
Essentials
Popular$5/mo billed annually
- Seats
- 1
- Accounts
- 1
- Scheduled posts
- Unlimited
- $6 per channel/mo, $5 on annual
- Analytics
- Engagement tools
Team
$10/mo billed annually
- Seats
- Unlimited
- Accounts
- 1
- Scheduled posts
- Unlimited
- $12 per channel/mo, $10 on annual
- Unlimited team members
- Approvals
- Priced per channel: the headline $6 / $12 is for a single channel and scales with how many you connect.
- Volume discount lowers the per-channel rate above 10 channels (down to $1-$2 per channel at 51+).
- Annual billing saves about two months, so a channel works out near $60 / $120 per year.
What it really costs
Buffer charges per channel, so the headline price is for one. Here is the monthly cost as you connect more, with the 9-channel row marked as a realistic setup.
| channels | Essentials | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $6/mo | $12/mo |
| 3 | $18/mo | $36/mo |
| 5 | $30/mo | $60/mo |
| 9Typical | $54/mo | $108/mo |
| 10 | $60/mo | $120/mo |
| 25 | $120/mo | $180/mo |
| 50 | $195/mo | $255/mo |
Monthly billing. Volume discounts lower the per-channel rate at higher counts. Annual billing takes about 2 months off.
ContentCal
- ContentCal was acquired by Adobe in December 2021 and the standalone product closed on 31 March 2023. You can no longer buy it.
- Its content calendar and scheduling features were folded into Adobe Express as the Content Scheduler, which is reviewed separately.
- When it ran, ContentCal sold flat monthly plans (a Pro tier and a larger Company tier); those plans no longer exist, so no current pricing applies.
Pros and cons
Buffer
- Clean, fast interface
- Cheapest entry for one to three channels
- Widest network list, including Bluesky and Mastodon
- Genuinely useful free plan
- Per-channel pricing adds up quickly
- No CSV bulk upload
- No evergreen recycling
- Analytics are basic
ContentCal
- Clean, approachable content calendar and content hub
- Strong, simple approval workflows
- Good team and client collaboration
- Discontinued on 31 March 2023; no longer sold
- Folded into Adobe Express, with a different shape and focus
- Existing comparisons that still list it are out of date
Buffer vs ContentCal: FAQ
- Is Buffer or ContentCal cheaper?
- Buffer starts at $5 per channel / mo, while ContentCal is quoted custom, so Buffer is the one with a public entry price.
- Does Buffer or ContentCal have a free plan?
- Buffer has a free plan; ContentCal does not.
- Which is better, Buffer or ContentCal?
- Buffer is the stronger pick for solo creators, while ContentCal is the better fit for a different setup. We don't score them; the right call comes down to how you post.