Head to head
Buffer vs SocialBu
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
SocialBu is an affordable, automation-leaning scheduler covering twelve networks. Alongside the usual scheduling it does RSS auto-posting, webhooks, and auto-replies, plus AI content, a social inbox, and listening on the higher plans.
- From
- $16 /mo
- Free plan
Bottom line
Buffer is the pick for solo creators, and it's the cheaper start, from $5 per channel / mo. SocialBu fits small businesses and agencies who want scheduling plus automation better, and it adds bulk upload that Buffer leaves out.
Buffer starts cheaper, $5 per channel / mo against $16 a month for SocialBu. They bill on different units, so the real gap depends on how much you run. SocialBu adds bulk upload that Buffer leaves out.
Key differences
Where the two actually diverge, before the full tables.
- Buffer starts at $5 per channel / mo, SocialBu at $16 a month.
- Buffer posts to 11 networks, SocialBu to 12.
- Only SocialBu reaches Reddit.
- SocialBu has bulk upload; Buffer doesn't.
Features compared
| Feature | Buffer | SocialBu |
|---|---|---|
| AI captions | Yes | Yes |
| Basic analytics | Yes | Yes |
| Advanced reports | Partial | Yes |
| Bulk upload | No | Yes |
| Evergreen recycling | No | Partial |
| Team roles | Yes | Yes |
| Approvals | Yes | Yes |
| Link in bio | Yes | Not assessed |
Platforms compared
| Network | Buffer | SocialBu |
|---|---|---|
| Auto | Auto | |
| Auto | Auto | |
| X (Twitter) | Auto | Auto |
| Auto | Auto | |
| TikTok | Auto | Auto |
| Auto | Auto | |
| YouTube | Auto | Auto |
| Threads | Auto | Auto |
| Bluesky | Auto | Auto |
| Google Business | Auto | Auto |
| Mastodon | Auto | Auto |
| No | 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.
SocialBu
Free
- Seats
- 1
- Accounts
- 3
- Scheduled posts
- 10
- 3 social accounts
- 10 lifetime posts
- For trying SocialBu out
Standard
$16/mo billed annually
- Seats
- 4
- Accounts
- 12
- Scheduled posts
- 800
- $19/mo, $16 on annual
- 12 social accounts, up to 4 team members, 800 posts a month
- Automations, bulk import, visual calendar, AI content
Super
Popular$49/mo billed annually
- Seats
- 8
- Accounts
- 30
- Scheduled posts
- Unlimited
- $59/mo, $49 on annual
- 30 social accounts, up to 8 team members, unlimited posts
- Adds analytics, approval workflows, social listening, more automations and AI
Supreme
$166/mo billed annually
- Seats
- 20
- Accounts
- 150
- Scheduled posts
- Unlimited
- $199/mo, $166 on annual
- 150 social accounts, up to 20 team members
- 400 automations, advanced reporting, more listening and AI credits
- Flat, quota-bundled plans by social accounts and team members, plus a free plan (3 accounts, 10 lifetime posts).
- Annual billing is about 16% cheaper. Every paid plan has a 7-day trial.
- AI content credits, automations, and listening streams are metered and scale with the plan (for example listening starts on Super).
- Custom plans are available for agencies and large teams.
- 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
SocialBu
- Real automation: RSS, webhooks, and auto-replies
- AI content and image generation plus a social inbox with reviews
- Twelve networks, including Reddit, Mastodon, and Bluesky
- Affordable, with a free plan and a clear annual discount
- Listening and richer automations are on the higher plans
- Recycling is automation-based, not a category engine
- Lightly documented company
- Standard caps monthly posts at 800
Buffer vs SocialBu: FAQ
- Is Buffer or SocialBu cheaper?
- Buffer is cheaper to start, from $5 against $16 for SocialBu. The unit each one charges by differs, so the real bill depends on how many channels or seats you run.
- Does Buffer or SocialBu have a free plan?
- Both have a free plan, so you can try either one before paying.
- Which is better, Buffer or SocialBu?
- Buffer is the stronger pick for solo creators, while SocialBu is the better fit for small businesses and agencies who want scheduling plus automation. We don't score them; the right call comes down to how you post.