Head to head

Buffer vs Planable for Agencies

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

Planable for Agencies is the same Planable, framed for client work. Each client gets a workspace with its own pages and approval flow, comments sit inline on the post, and users are unlimited, so the whole team and the client can pile in at no extra cost. It's priced per workspace.

From
$33 per workspace / mo
Free plan

Bottom line

Buffer is the pick for solo creators, and it's the cheaper start, from $5 per channel / mo. Planable for Agencies fits agencies whose bottleneck is client review and approval better.

Buffer starts cheaper, $5 per channel / mo against $33 per workspace / mo for Planable for Agencies. They bill on different units, so the real gap depends on how much you run.

Key differences

Where the two actually diverge, before the full tables.

  • Buffer starts at $5 per channel / mo, Planable for Agencies at $33 per workspace / mo.
  • Buffer posts to 11 networks, Planable for Agencies to 9.
  • Only Buffer reaches Bluesky and Mastodon.

Features compared

FeatureBufferPlanable for Agencies
AI captionsYesYes
Basic analyticsYesYes
Advanced reportsPartialNot assessed
Bulk uploadNoNot assessed
Evergreen recyclingNoNot assessed
Team rolesYesYes
ApprovalsYesYes
Link in bioYesNot assessed

Platforms compared

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

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.

Bufferper channel / mo

Free plan available.

1 channel
$6/mo~$5/mo annual
9 channelsTypical
$54/mo~$45/mo annual

Cheapest plan: Essentials.

Planable for Agenciesper workspace / mo

Free plan available.

1 workspace
$39/mo~$33/mo annual
5 workspacesTypical
$195/mo~$165/mo annual

Cheapest plan: Basic.

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.

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.

channelsEssentialsTeam
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.

Planable for Agencies

Basic

$39 per workspace / mo

$33/mo billed annually

Seats
Unlimited
Accounts
4
Scheduled posts
60
  • $39 per workspace/mo, $33 on annual
  • Unlimited users, 4 social pages and 60 posts per workspace
  • Feed and Calendar views, optional approval

Pro

Popular
$59 per workspace / mo

$49/mo billed annually

Seats
Unlimited
Accounts
10
Scheduled posts
150
  • $59 per workspace/mo, $49 on annual
  • Unlimited users, 10 pages and 150 posts per workspace
  • Grid view, required approval, version history

Enterprise

Custom
Seats
Unlimited
Accounts
50
Scheduled posts
Unlimited
  • Custom pricing, for more than 5 workspaces
  • Multi-level approvals, SSO, dedicated account manager
  • 50 pages per workspace, unlimited posts
  • This is the same product as Planable, reviewed in full separately; this entry frames its agency use, a separate workspace per client with unlimited users.
  • Priced per workspace (Planable's word for a brand or client): $39 or $59 a month each, up to five before Enterprise. Users are unlimited on every plan, which is the key agency saving.
  • Two paid add-ons sit on top per workspace: Analytics at $14/mo and the Engagement inbox at $9/mo.
  • Prices are USD; the full plan and feature detail are in the main Planable review.

What it really costs

Planable for Agencies charges per workspace, so the headline price is for one. Here is the monthly cost as you connect more, with the 5-workspace row marked as a realistic setup.

workspacesBasicPro
1$39/mo$59/mo
3$117/mo$177/mo
5Typical$195/mo$295/mo
10$390/mo$590/mo
25$975/mo$1475/mo
50$1950/mo$2950/mo

Monthly billing. Annual billing takes about 2 months off.

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 for Agencies

  • A workspace per client with its own approval flow
  • Unlimited users and client reviewers at no extra cost
  • Inline comments, per-network previews, and version history
  • Multi-level approvals on Enterprise
  • Same product as Planable, just the agency lens
  • Per-workspace pricing adds up across many clients
  • Analytics and inbox are paid add-ons
  • No recycling, Bluesky, or Mastodon

Buffer vs Planable for Agencies: FAQ

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

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