Head to head
Buffer vs Postwise
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
Postwise is an AI ghostwriting and growth tool for X, LinkedIn, and Threads. Its GhostWriter assistant drafts posts in your voice, it schedules them, and it layers on growth features. It's text-platform only, with no visual networks.
- From
- $29.6 /mo
- Free plan
Bottom line
Buffer is the pick for solo creators, and it's the only one of the two with a free plan. Postwise fits founders and creators building an audience on X and LinkedIn better.
Buffer starts cheaper, $5 per channel / mo against $29.6 a month for Postwise. They bill on different units, so the real gap depends on how much you run. Buffer adds social inbox that Postwise leaves out.
Key differences
Where the two actually diverge, before the full tables.
- Buffer has a free plan; Postwise doesn't, though it offers a 7-day trial.
- Buffer starts at $5 per channel / mo, Postwise at $29.6 a month.
- Buffer posts to 11 networks, Postwise to 3.
- Only Buffer reaches Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Pinterest, YouTube, Bluesky, Google Business, and Mastodon.
- Buffer has social inbox; Postwise doesn't.
Features compared
| Feature | Buffer | Postwise |
|---|---|---|
| AI captions | Yes | Yes |
| Basic analytics | Yes | Yes |
| Advanced reports | Partial | Not assessed |
| Bulk upload | No | Not assessed |
| Evergreen recycling | No | Partial |
| Team roles | Yes | Not assessed |
| Approvals | Yes | Not assessed |
| Link in bio | Yes | Not assessed |
Platforms compared
| Network | Buffer | Postwise |
|---|---|---|
| Auto | No | |
| Auto | No | |
| X (Twitter) | Auto | Auto |
| Auto | Auto | |
| TikTok | Auto | No |
| Auto | No | |
| YouTube | Auto | No |
| Threads | Auto | Auto |
| Bluesky | Auto | No |
| Google Business | Auto | No |
| 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.
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.
Postwise
Basic
$29.6/mo billed annually
- Accounts
- 3
- Scheduled posts
- 500
- $37/mo, $29.60 on annual
- 3 social accounts, 500 AI posts a month, 3 months scheduling
- GhostWriter AI assistant, basic analytics
Boss
Popular$47.2/mo billed annually
- Accounts
- 5
- Scheduled posts
- 1000
- $59/mo, $47.20 on annual
- 5 social accounts, 1,000 AI posts a month, 12 months scheduling
- Advanced analytics dashboard
Unlimited
$77.6/mo billed annually
- Accounts
- Unlimited
- Scheduled posts
- Unlimited
- $97/mo, $77.60 on annual
- Unlimited accounts, posts, and scheduling
- Custom AI training, enterprise-grade analytics, priority support
- Flat plans by social accounts and AI posts. There's no free plan, only a 7-day trial; annual billing is 20% off.
- Postwise is AI-writing-first: its GhostWriter assistant and custom AI voices generate posts, and it adds growth tools on top.
- It only covers text platforms, X, LinkedIn, and Threads, with no visual networks.
- Prices are USD, read off the live pricing page.
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
Postwise
- Strong AI ghostwriting with custom voices
- Scheduling up to a year ahead with growth tools
- Covers X, LinkedIn, and Threads
- Simple flat pricing with a 20% annual discount
- Text platforms only; no visual networks
- No engagement inbox or listening
- AI posts are metered below the Unlimited tier
- No free plan
Buffer vs Postwise: FAQ
- Is Buffer or Postwise cheaper?
- Buffer is cheaper to start, from $5 against $29.6 for Postwise. The unit each one charges by differs, so the real bill depends on how many channels or seats you run.
- Does Buffer or Postwise have a free plan?
- Buffer has a free plan; Postwise does not, though it offers a 7-day trial.
- Which is better, Buffer or Postwise?
- Buffer is the stronger pick for solo creators, while Postwise is the better fit for founders and creators building an audience on X and LinkedIn. We don't score them; the right call comes down to how you post.