Head to head

Buffer vs Planable

vs

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

A content-review tool first and a scheduler second, built around comments, approvals, and seeing exactly how a post will look before anyone signs off. It charges per workspace rather than per person, so the whole team can pile in at no extra cost.

From
$33 per workspace / mo
Free plan

Bottom line

Buffer and Planable both cover the basics; the right one comes down to how you post. Buffer is the stronger pick for Solo creators; choose Planable for Agencies and teams that need client sign-off before posting.

Features compared

FeatureBufferPlanable
AI captionsYesYes
Basic analyticsYesYes
Advanced reportsPartialPartial
Bulk uploadNoYes
Evergreen recyclingNoPartial
Team rolesYesYes
ApprovalsYesYes
Link in bioYesNo

Platforms compared

NetworkBufferPlanable
InstagramAutoAuto
FacebookAutoAuto
X (Twitter)AutoAuto
LinkedInAutoAuto
TikTokAutoAuto
PinterestAutoAuto
YouTubeAutoAuto
ThreadsAutoAuto
BlueskyAutoNo
Google BusinessAutoAuto
MastodonAutoNo

Pricing

Buffer

Free

Free
Seats
1
Accounts
3
Scheduled posts
10
  • 3 channels
  • 10 scheduled posts per channel

Essentials

Popular
$6 per channel / mo

$5/mo billed annually

Seats
1
Accounts
1
Scheduled posts
Unlimited
  • $6 per channel/mo, $5 on annual
  • Analytics
  • Engagement tools

Team

$12 per channel / mo

$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.

Planable

Free

Free
Seats
Unlimited
Accounts
4
Scheduled posts
50
  • 50 posts total, then you upgrade (no time limit, no card)
  • 1 workspace, up to 4 social pages
  • Unlimited users
  • Feed and Calendar views, optional approval

Basic

$39 per workspace / mo

$33/mo billed annually

Seats
Unlimited
Accounts
4
Scheduled posts
60
  • $39 per workspace/mo, $33 on annual
  • 60 posts per workspace each month, 4 social pages
  • Unlimited users
  • Feed and Calendar views, none and optional approval
  • 10GB media storage

Pro

Popular
$59 per workspace / mo

$49/mo billed annually

Seats
Unlimited
Accounts
10
Scheduled posts
150
  • $59 per workspace/mo, $49 on annual
  • 150 posts per workspace each month, 10 social pages
  • Adds Grid view and required approval
  • Team-only drafts and 30-day version history
  • 50GB media storage

Enterprise

Custom
Accounts
50
Scheduled posts
Unlimited
  • Custom pricing, for teams that need more than 5 workspaces
  • 50 social pages per workspace, unlimited posts and campaigns
  • Multi-level approvals and List view
  • SSO, 24-month post storage, dedicated account manager
  • Priced per workspace, which is Planable's word for a brand or client: the headline $39 / $59 is for one workspace, and you pay again for each one you add, up to five before Enterprise. Users are unlimited on every plan.
  • Annual billing is two months free, so Basic works out to $33 a workspace each month ($390/yr) and Pro to $49 ($590/yr).
  • Two paid add-ons sit on top, also per workspace: Analytics at $14/mo and the Engagement social inbox at $9/mo, both about two months cheaper on annual.
  • The Free plan caps you at 50 posts for the life of the account rather than by time; after that you upgrade.
  • Prices are USD from the live pricing page, which renders client-side and defaulted to the annual figures here in Australia. The monthly numbers were read by toggling the billing switch and match current third-party listings.

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

Planable

  • Approval workflows, inline comments, and version history are the strongest part
  • Per-workspace pricing means unlimited users at no extra cost
  • Per-network previews in feed, grid, calendar, and list views
  • Free plan with no time limit, capped at 50 posts
  • Analytics and the social inbox cost extra per workspace
  • Per-workspace pricing adds up fast for agencies with many clients
  • No Bluesky, Mastodon, or link-in-bio
  • Reporting is light and there is no real evergreen recycling

Buffer vs Planable: FAQ

Is Buffer or Planable cheaper?
Buffer is cheaper to start, from $5 against $33 for Planable. The unit each one charges by differs, so the real bill depends on how many channels or seats you run.
Does Buffer or Planable have a free plan?
Both have a free plan, so you can try either one before paying.
Which is better, Buffer or Planable?
Buffer is the stronger pick for solo creators, while Planable is the better fit for agencies and teams that need client sign-off before posting. We don't score them; the right call comes down to how you post.