Head to head
Buffer vs Ordinal
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
Ordinal serves executive and team publishing workflows. Its approval guide distinguishes optional requests from blocking approval, which can stop unapproved scheduled posts. Confirm the current plan and account allowances before buying.
- From
- Check current price
- Free scheduling
- No
Bottom line
Ordinal is the pick for companies running executive or founder social programs. Buffer fits solo creators better, and it's the only one of the two with a free scheduling plan.
A verified price comparison requires the same billing term, currency and eligible workload. See each pricing section for the published terms. Buffer adds a social inbox that Ordinal leaves out.
Key differences
Where the two actually diverge, before the full tables.
- Buffer has a free scheduling plan; Ordinal doesn't, though it offers a 14-day trial.
- Buffer posts to 12 networks, Ordinal to 7.
- Only Buffer reaches Pinterest, Bluesky, Google Business, and Mastodon.
- Buffer has a social inbox; Ordinal doesn't.
Features compared
| Feature | Buffer | Ordinal |
|---|---|---|
| AI captions | Yes | Yes |
| Basic analytics | Yes | Yes |
| Advanced reports | Partial | Not assessed |
| Bulk upload | Yes | Not assessed |
| Evergreen recycling | No | No |
| Team roles | Yes | Yes |
| Approvals | Yes | Yes |
| Link in bio | Yes | Not assessed |
Platforms compared
| Network | Buffer | Ordinal |
|---|---|---|
| Auto | Auto | |
| Auto | Auto | |
| X (Twitter) | Auto | Auto |
| Auto | Auto | |
| TikTok | Auto | Auto |
| Auto | No | |
| YouTube | Auto | Auto |
| Threads | Auto | Auto |
| Bluesky | Auto | No |
| Google Business | Auto | No |
| Mastodon | Auto | No |
| 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.
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.
Ordinal
Starter
Displayed $95 monthly or $85/month annually; currency unconfirmed
- Seats
- 3
- Accounts
- 4
- Scheduled posts
- 50
- Approvals
- 14-day analytics history
Pro
Displayed $265 monthly or $235/month annually
- Seats
- Unlimited
- Accounts
- 4
- Scheduled posts
- Unlimited
- API and MCP
- All-time analytics
Growth
Displayed $695 monthly or $625/month annually
- Seats
- Unlimited
- Accounts
- 4
- Webhooks and custom permissions
- Default blocking approvals
Enterprise
Custom
- SAML/SSO and expanded advocacy
- Additional scheduling profiles are displayed at $20/month; engagement-only profiles are separate and cannot schedule or supply analytics.
- Current official domain is tryordinal.com. Verify billing currency and exact annual charge; advertised dollar figures alone do not establish USD.
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
Ordinal
- Executive and team content coordination
- Documented optional and blocking approval requests
- Prices increase with added publishing profiles
- Default blocking approval policy requires Growth
- Native media features remain network-dependent
Buffer vs Ordinal: FAQ
- Is Buffer or Ordinal cheaper?
- A verified price comparison is unavailable for these configurations. Check the current billing term, currency, required capacity and plan features before comparing totals.
- Does Buffer or Ordinal have a free plan?
- Buffer has a free plan; Ordinal does not, though it offers a 14-day trial.
- Which is better, Buffer or Ordinal?
- Buffer is the stronger pick for solo creators, while Ordinal is the better fit for companies running executive or founder social programs. We don't score them; the right call comes down to how you post.