Head to head
Buffer vs Publora
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
Publora is a cheap, API-first scheduler that charges per connected account. It covers eight networks, including newer ones like Bluesky and Mastodon, has AI suggestions and agency workspaces, and is built with developers and automated pipelines in mind.
- From
- $2.99 per account / mo
- Free plan
Bottom line
Publora is the pick for developers building automated content pipelines, and it's the cheaper start, from $2.99 per account / mo. Buffer fits solo creators better, and it reaches Pinterest and YouTube among others, which Publora doesn't.
Publora starts cheaper, $2.99 per account / mo against $5 per channel / mo for Buffer. They bill on different units, so the real gap depends on how much you run. Buffer adds social inbox that Publora leaves out.
Key differences
Where the two actually diverge, before the full tables.
- Publora starts at $2.99 per account / mo, Buffer at $5 per channel / mo.
- Buffer posts to 11 networks, Publora to 8.
- Only Buffer reaches Pinterest, YouTube, and Google Business.
- Buffer has social inbox; Publora doesn't.
Features compared
| Feature | Buffer | Publora |
|---|---|---|
| AI captions | Yes | Yes |
| Basic analytics | Yes | Yes |
| Advanced reports | Partial | Not assessed |
| Bulk upload | No | Not assessed |
| Evergreen recycling | No | No |
| Team roles | Yes | Not assessed |
| Approvals | Yes | Not assessed |
| Link in bio | Yes | Not assessed |
Platforms compared
| Network | Buffer | Publora |
|---|---|---|
| Auto | Auto | |
| Auto | Auto | |
| X (Twitter) | Auto | Auto |
| Auto | Auto | |
| TikTok | Auto | Auto |
| Auto | No | |
| YouTube | Auto | No |
| Threads | Auto | Auto |
| Bluesky | Auto | Auto |
| Google Business | Auto | No |
| Mastodon | Auto | Auto |
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.
Publora
Starter
- Accounts
- 1
- Scheduled posts
- 15
- Free forever
- 1 social account, 15 posts a month
- Calendar scheduler and editor
Pro
Popular- Scheduled posts
- 100
- $2.99 per account/mo
- 100 posts per account a month, schedule 2 months ahead
- Add as many accounts as you need (each billed separately)
Premium
- Scheduled posts
- 500
- $5.99 per account/mo
- 500 posts per account a month, schedule 2 months ahead
- Unlimited accounts, per-account billing
- Priced per connected social account: a free Starter plan covers one account and 15 posts a month, then Pro is $2.99 and Premium $5.99 per account a month, each adding more posts per account. You add as many accounts as you like, billed separately.
- There's a genuine free plan plus a trial of the paid features.
- Publora leans developer- and agency-friendly: a robust API, workspaces, and client management, and it covers newer networks like Bluesky and Mastodon well.
- Prices are USD, read off the live pricing page (monthly per-account rates).
What it really costs
Publora charges per account, so the headline price is for one. Here is the monthly cost as you connect more, with the 5-account row marked as a realistic setup.
| accounts | Pro | Premium |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.99/mo | $5.99/mo |
| 3 | $8.97/mo | $17.97/mo |
| 5Typical | $14.950000000000001/mo | $29.950000000000003/mo |
| 10 | $29.900000000000002/mo | $59.900000000000006/mo |
| 25 | $74.75/mo | $149.75/mo |
| 50 | $149.5/mo | $299.5/mo |
Monthly billing.
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
Publora
- Cheap per-account pricing with a free plan
- Robust API for automation
- Good coverage of newer networks (Bluesky, Mastodon)
- Smart pre-publish validations and AI suggestions
- No engagement inbox, recycling, or listening
- Eight networks; no YouTube, Pinterest, or Google Business
- Young, lightly documented company
- Per-account billing adds up with many profiles
Buffer vs Publora: FAQ
- Is Buffer or Publora cheaper?
- Publora is cheaper to start, from $2.99 against $5 for Buffer. The unit each one charges by differs, so the real bill depends on how many channels or seats you run.
- Does Buffer or Publora have a free plan?
- Both have a free plan, so you can try either one before paying.
- Which is better, Buffer or Publora?
- Buffer is the stronger pick for solo creators, while Publora is the better fit for developers building automated content pipelines. We don't score them; the right call comes down to how you post.