Head to head
Buffer vs OneUp
Last updated 13 October 2026
Buffer offers a free three-channel plan with ten queued posts per channel, plus per-channel paid plans. It suits a solo publishing routine; teams should check its client-access limitations before using one organization for separate clients.
- From
- Free
- Free scheduling
- Yes
OneUp combines multi-network scheduling, recycling and cross-posting with an inbox, keyword listening and an Instagram grid planner. Basic includes five accounts for $25 monthly or $180 annually; approval workflows require a higher tier.
- From
- $15a month, billed yearly
- Free scheduling
- No
Bottom line
Buffer is the pick for solo creators, and it's the only one of the two with a free scheduling plan. OneUp fits power users publishing to many networks at once better, and it adds evergreen recycling that Buffer leaves out.
Buffer has a free plan and paid plans from $5 per channel a month, billed yearly, and OneUp starts at $15 a month, billed yearly. They bill on different units, so the real gap depends on how much you run. OneUp adds evergreen recycling that Buffer leaves out.
Key differences
Where the two actually diverge, before the full tables.
- Buffer has a free scheduling plan; OneUp doesn't, though it offers a 7-day trial.
- Paid plans start at $5 per channel a month, billed yearly on Buffer and $15 a month, billed yearly on OneUp.
- Buffer posts to 12 networks, OneUp to 11.
- Only Buffer reaches Mastodon.
- OneUp has evergreen recycling; Buffer doesn't.
Features compared
| Feature | Buffer | OneUp |
|---|---|---|
| AI captions | Yes | Yes |
| Basic analytics | Yes | Yes |
| Advanced reports | Partial | Not assessed |
| Bulk upload | Yes | Yes |
| Evergreen recycling | No | Yes |
| Team roles | Yes | Yes |
| Approvals | Yes | Yes |
| Link in bio | Yes | Not assessed |
Platforms compared
| Network | Buffer | OneUp |
|---|---|---|
| Auto | Auto | |
| Auto | Auto | |
| X (Twitter) | Auto | Auto |
| Auto | Auto | |
| TikTok | Auto | Auto |
| Auto | Auto | |
| YouTube | Auto | Auto |
| Threads | Auto | Auto |
| Bluesky | Auto | Auto |
| Google Business | Auto | Auto |
| Mastodon | Auto | No |
| Not assessed | Not confirmed | |
| Snapchat | Not assessed | Auto |
| Substack Notes | Auto | Not assessed |
Pricing
Prices use each tool’s billing unit. Annual equivalents are labeled as billed yearly; scaling rows show monthly costs and available annual rates.
Free plan available.
- 1 channel · Essentials
- $6/mo~$5/mo annual
- 9 channels · EssentialsTypical
- $54/mo~$45/mo annual
Lowest priced plan at each shown workload. Check the plan's included features before choosing it.
No free plan; 7-day trial.
- Lowest public entry price
- $15 a month, billed yearly
Plan set by your profile count.
Buffer
Free
- Seats
- 1
- Accounts
- 3
- Scheduled posts
- 10
- 3 connected channels
- 10 scheduled posts waiting per channel, replenished after publication
- One user; unlimited drafts
Essentials
Popular$5 per channel a month billed annually
- Seats
- 1
- Accounts
- 1
- Scheduled posts
- Unlimited
- $6 per channel/mo, $5 on annual
- Analytics
- Engagement tools
Team
$10 per channel a month billed annually
- Seats
- Unlimited
- Accounts
- 1
- Scheduled posts
- Unlimited
- $12 per channel/mo, $10 on annual
- Unlimited team members
- Approvals
- Free has three channels and ten queued posts per channel at a time. It is not a ten-post monthly allowance.
- Paid plans charge for every connected channel, including the original free three. Rates above ten channels are marginal volume bands.
- The annual figures are monthly equivalents of annual channel tariffs; the yearly Essentials rate for channels 51+ is $20, not twelve times its $1 monthly rate.
- Paid scheduling is subject to a 5,000 queued-post fair-use ceiling per channel. Prices exclude applicable taxes.
What it really costs
Monthly cost by channel count. Per-unit tiers grow with usage; flat tiers keep their whole-plan price within the published allowance, 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.
OneUp
Basic
$15 a month billed annually
- Seats
- 1
- Accounts
- 5
- Scheduled posts
- 300
- 5 social accounts; $25 monthly or $180 billed annually
- Custom Fields for account-specific text
- Post approvals require Intermediate or above
Intermediate
$48 a month billed annually
- Seats
- 3
- Accounts
- 15
- Scheduled posts
- Unlimited
- $60/mo, 15 social accounts
- 3 cross-posting workflows
Growth
Popular$84 a month billed annually
- Seats
- 9
- Accounts
- 30
- Scheduled posts
- Unlimited
- $120/mo, 30 social accounts
- 5 cross-posting workflows
Business
$240 a month billed annually
- Seats
- Not confirmed
- Accounts
- 80
- Scheduled posts
- Unlimited
- 80 social accounts; extra accounts displayed at $1/month
- Eight cross-posting workflows
- Team allowance conflicts between twenty total and twenty additional; confirm total
Enterprise
Conflicting official Enterprise figures; request current configured quote
- Accounts
- Not confirmed
- Scheduled posts
- Unlimited
- Custom Enterprise configuration; confirm accounts, seats, price and included compliance terms
- Priced by how many social accounts you connect: the plan steps up with the band you land in, 5, 15, 30, then 80 accounts. On Business you can add extra accounts at $1 a month each.
- Each connected destination consumes an account slot. Verify current destination eligibility, particularly Reddit and messaging-only channels, rather than treating analytics coverage as publishing support.
- There's no free plan, but a 7-day trial with nothing due upfront.
- Basic annual billing is $180 ($15 monthly equivalent). Each Google Business Profile location consumes one account slot.
- Basic holds 300 scheduled posts at once, not 300 per month. Cross-posting to three accounts consumes three waiting-post slots.
- Fair-use daily publication caps across accounts are 150/500/750/1,000 on Basic/Intermediate/Growth/Business.
- X link-post add-ons are sold in $50/month increments covering 250 link posts.
Pros and cons
Buffer
- Free three-channel plan with replenishing queues
- Wide network coverage including Substack Notes
- Paid plan volume bands and Team approvals
- API/MCP and automation integrations
- Per-channel pricing adds up quickly
- CSV import supports text and single images; create videos and carousels in the composer
- No evergreen recycling
- Analytics are basic
OneUp
- Broad network selection; confirm the intended destinations
- Evergreen recycling, RSS and cross-posting automation
- Account-bundled plans with additional-account options
- AI captions, first comments and X threads
- No permanent free plan
- Each Google location uses an account slot
- Post approvals start above Basic
- Basic caps the waiting queue at 300 posts
- X links require an extra paid allowance
Buffer vs OneUp: FAQ
- Is Buffer or OneUp cheaper?
- Buffer has a free entry plan. OneUp starts at $15 a month, billed yearly. The plans may cover different workloads, so check the required accounts and features.
- Does Buffer or OneUp have a free plan?
- Buffer has a free plan; OneUp does not, though it offers a 7-day trial.
- Which is better, Buffer or OneUp?
- Buffer is the stronger pick for solo creators, while OneUp is the better fit for power users publishing to many networks at once. We don't score them; the right call comes down to how you post.