Head to head
Buffer vs Postwise
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
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
- Currency confirmation pending
- Free scheduling
- No
Bottom line
Postwise is the pick for founders and creators building an audience on X and LinkedIn. 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.
Key differences
Where the two actually diverge, before the full tables.
- Buffer has a free scheduling plan; Postwise doesn't, though it offers a 7-day trial.
- Buffer posts to 12 networks, Postwise to 3.
- Only Buffer reaches Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Pinterest, YouTube, Bluesky, Google Business, and Mastodon.
Features compared
| Feature | Buffer | Postwise |
|---|---|---|
| AI captions | Yes | Yes |
| Basic analytics | Yes | Yes |
| Advanced reports | Partial | Not assessed |
| Bulk upload | Yes | Not assessed |
| Evergreen recycling | No | Partial |
| Team roles | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Approvals | Yes | Not confirmed |
| 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 |
| 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.
Postwise
Basic
Displayed $37 monthly, $29.6 monthly equivalent with annual billing. Currency not explicitly confirmed; verify current selected tariff and invoice.
- Accounts
- 3
- Scheduled posts
- Not confirmed
- $37/mo, $29.60 on annual
- 3 social accounts, 500 AI posts a month, 3 months scheduling
- GhostWriter AI assistant, basic analytics
Boss
PopularDisplayed $59 monthly, $47.2 monthly equivalent with annual billing. Currency not explicitly confirmed; verify current selected tariff and invoice.
- Accounts
- 5
- Scheduled posts
- Not confirmed
- $59/mo, $47.20 on annual
- 5 social accounts, 1,000 AI posts a month, 12 months scheduling
- Advanced analytics dashboard
Unlimited
Displayed $97 monthly, $77.6 monthly equivalent with annual billing. Currency not explicitly confirmed; verify current selected tariff and invoice.
- Accounts
- Unlimited
- Scheduled posts
- Unlimited
- $97/mo, $77.60 on annual
- Unlimited accounts, posts, and scheduling
- Custom AI training, enterprise-grade analytics, priority support
- Basic/Boss/Unlimited display $37/$59/$97 monthly; annual billing advertises 20% off. Existing annual equivalents are calculated from that discount, not separately observed invoices.
- 500/1,000/unlimited are AI-generation allowances, not verified scheduling-volume caps. Scheduling horizons are three months/twelve months/unlimited.
- Seven-day trial advertised. Pricing FAQ says automatic paid conversion, while CTA says no card required; confirm actual checkout behavior.
- X, LinkedIn and Threads are the advertised publishing destinations. Billing currency remains to be explicitly confirmed.
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
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-platform focus; visual-network publishing not advertised
- Engagement inbox and listening not established
- AI posts are metered below Unlimited
- No permanent free plan advertised
Buffer vs Postwise: FAQ
- Is Buffer or Postwise 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 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.