Head to head
Buffer vs Tailwind
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
Tailwind now sells Pinterest-only tools for new subscribers: scheduling and creation, SEO, engagement, or a bundle. Instagram and Facebook remain legacy-plan capabilities. Free onboarding actions are finite and do not reset monthly.
- From
- $17.99per Pinterest account a month, billed yearly
- Free scheduling
- No
Bottom line
Buffer is the pick for solo creators, and it's the only one of the two with a free scheduling plan. Tailwind fits Pinterest-focused marketers better.
Buffer has a free plan and paid plans from $5 per channel a month, billed yearly, and Tailwind starts at $17.99 per Pinterest account a month, billed yearly. They bill on different units, so the real gap depends on how much you run. Buffer adds a social inbox that Tailwind leaves out.
Key differences
Where the two actually diverge, before the full tables.
- Buffer has a free scheduling plan; Tailwind doesn't, though a trial is advertised.
- Paid plans start at $5 per channel a month, billed yearly on Buffer and $17.99 per Pinterest account a month, billed yearly on Tailwind.
- Buffer posts to 12 networks, Tailwind to 1.
- Only Buffer reaches X (Twitter), LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, Threads, Bluesky, and Google Business.
- Buffer has a social inbox; Tailwind doesn't.
- Buffer has a Canva integration; Tailwind doesn't.
Features compared
| Feature | Buffer | Tailwind |
|---|---|---|
| AI captions | Yes | Yes |
| Basic analytics | Yes | Yes |
| Advanced reports | Partial | Yes |
| Bulk upload | Yes | Yes |
| Evergreen recycling | No | Not confirmed |
| Team roles | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Approvals | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Link in bio | Yes | Legacy only |
Platforms compared
| Network | Buffer | Tailwind |
|---|---|---|
| Auto | Legacy only | |
| Auto | Legacy only | |
| X (Twitter) | Auto | No |
| Auto | No | |
| TikTok | Auto | No |
| Auto | Auto | |
| YouTube | Auto | No |
| Threads | Auto | No |
| Bluesky | Auto | No |
| Google Business | Auto | No |
| Mastodon | Auto | Not assessed |
| 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.
No free plan; trial advertised.
- 1 unit · Pin Scheduling & Creation
- $29.99/mo~$17.99/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.
Tailwind
Pin Scheduling & Creation
$17.99 per Pinterest account a month billed annually
- Accounts
- 1
- Per Pinterest account; 300 monthly credits
Bundle
$29.98 per Pinterest account a month billed annually
- Accounts
- 1
- All three tools; 400 monthly credits per Pinterest account
- New subscriptions changed September 25, 2026. Pro, Advanced and Max are legacy plans; current plans are per Pinterest account.
- Free access consists of one-time trial actions, not a recurring monthly publishing allowance.
- Scheduling uses one credit per Pin; AI, keyword research and Turbo also consume credits. Extra 100-credit packs cost USD10.
- Annual prices shown are monthly equivalents charged annually; each additional Pinterest account requires its own subscription.
- Separate non-scheduler modules: Pinterest SEO USD14.99 monthly / USD11.99 annual-equivalent and Pinterest Engagement at the same rates, each with 50 monthly credits. These are not scheduler entry plans.
What it really costs
Monthly cost by unit count. Per-unit tiers grow with usage; flat tiers keep their whole-plan price within the published allowance.
| units | Pin Scheduling & Creation | Bundle |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $29.99/mo | $44.98/mo |
| 3 | $89.97/mo | $134.94/mo |
| 5 | $149.95/mo | $224.90/mo |
| 10 | $299.90/mo | $449.80/mo |
| 25 | $749.75/mo | $1,124.50/mo |
| 50 | $1,499.50/mo | $2,249/mo |
Monthly billing.
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
Tailwind
- Modular Pinterest tools
- Smart scheduling and Pin spacing
- Website sync and AI-assisted Pin creation
- Current plans are Pinterest-only
- Each Pinterest account is billed separately
- Publishing and other actions share credits
- Legacy-plan migration changes capabilities
Buffer vs Tailwind: FAQ
- Is Buffer or Tailwind cheaper?
- Buffer has a free entry plan. Tailwind starts at $17.99 per Pinterest account a month, billed yearly. The plans may cover different workloads, so check the required accounts and features.
- Does Buffer or Tailwind have a free plan?
- Buffer has a free plan; Tailwind does not, though a trial is advertised.
- Which is better, Buffer or Tailwind?
- Buffer is the stronger pick for solo creators, while Tailwind is the better fit for Pinterest-focused marketers. We don't score them; the right call comes down to how you post.