Is HeyOrca or SocialBu cheaper?

SocialBu is cheaper to start, from $16 against $59 for HeyOrca. The unit each one charges by differs, so the real bill depends on how many channels or seats you run.

Does HeyOrca or SocialBu have a free plan?

Both have a free plan, so you can try either one before paying.

Which is better, HeyOrca or SocialBu?

HeyOrca is the stronger pick for agencies that want a calendar and approval flow per client, 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.

Head to head

HeyOrca vs SocialBu

Last updated 4 June 2026

HeyOrca

HeyOrca is an agency tool organised around the client calendar: you get a calendar per client, unlimited users on it, and a sign-off flow where clients approve posts by email without logging in. It charges per calendar, $59 on Basic or $149 on Pro, with a 40% discount once you run five or more.

From: $59 per calendar / mo
Free plan

Visit HeyOrca

SocialBu

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

Visit SocialBu

Bottom line

HeyOrca and SocialBu both cover the basics; the right one comes down to how you post. HeyOrca is the stronger pick for Agencies that want a calendar and approval flow per client; choose SocialBu for Small businesses and agencies who want scheduling plus automation.

Features compared

Feature	HeyOrca	SocialBu
AI captions	Yes	Yes
Basic analytics	Yes	Yes
Advanced reports	Yes	Yes
Bulk upload	Not assessed	Yes
Evergreen recycling	No	Partial
Team roles	Yes	Yes
Approvals	Yes	Yes
Link in bio	Yes	Not assessed

Platforms compared

Network	HeyOrca	SocialBu
Instagram	Auto	Auto
Facebook	Auto	Auto
X (Twitter)	Auto	Auto
LinkedIn	Auto	Auto
TikTok	Auto	Auto
Pinterest	Auto	Auto
YouTube	Auto	Auto
Threads	Auto	Auto
Bluesky	No	Auto
Google Business	Auto	Auto
Mastodon	No	Auto
Reddit	No	Auto

Pricing

HeyOrca

Free

Seats: 1
Accounts: 2
Scheduled posts: 15

1 calendar, 2 social accounts, 1 user
15 scheduled posts a month
Inspo library, Instagram bio link, AI tools, mobile app

Basic

$59 per calendar / mo

Seats: Unlimited
Accounts: 10
Scheduled posts: Unlimited

$59 per calendar/mo, unlimited users, 10 social accounts per calendar
Unlimited scheduling, approval workflows, Canva, best time to post, custom branding
Reporting ($59), social inbox ($39), and listening ($39) are paid add-ons per calendar

Pro

Popular

$149 per calendar / mo

Seats: Unlimited
Accounts: 10
Scheduled posts: Unlimited

$149 per calendar/mo, unlimited users, 10 social accounts per calendar
Everything in Basic, with reporting, social inbox, and listening included
Advanced and custom reports, competitor analysis, sentiment, Instagram demographics

Enterprise

Custom

Seats: Unlimited
Accounts: Unlimited
Scheduled posts: Unlimited

Custom pricing for managing many clients
White-label onboarding, priority support, ongoing training
Dedicated account management

Priced per calendar, which is HeyOrca's word for a brand or client: the headline $59 / $149 is for one calendar, and you pay again for each one. Every paid calendar includes unlimited users and 10 social accounts.
There's a 40% volume discount once you run 5 or more calendars, so the per-calendar rate drops to roughly $35 on Basic and $89 on Pro at agency scale; the cost-at-scale table reflects that. Annual billing is a further 15% off.
Extra social accounts beyond the 10 per calendar are $10 a month each.
On Basic, reporting ($59/mo), the social inbox ($39/mo), and social listening ($39/mo) are paid add-ons per calendar; Pro bundles all three in.
There's a genuine Free plan (1 calendar, 2 social accounts, 1 user, 15 posts a month) plus a 14-day trial of Pro, no card required.
Prices are USD, read off the live pricing page and cross-checked against current third-party listings.

SocialBu

Free

Seats: 1
Accounts: 3
Scheduled posts: 10

3 social accounts
10 lifetime posts
For trying SocialBu out

Standard

$19 /mo

$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

$59 /mo

$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

$199 /mo

$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

HeyOrca

Client approvals without the client needing an account
Unlimited users on every paid plan
Per-calendar pricing with a 40% volume discount at scale
Reporting, inbox, and listening all included on Pro
On Basic, reporting, inbox, and listening are paid add-ons
No evergreen recycling
Per-calendar pricing adds up before the volume discount kicks in
Paid plans are priced for teams, not solo creators

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

HeyOrca vs SocialBu: FAQ

Is HeyOrca or SocialBu cheaper?: SocialBu is cheaper to start, from $16 against $59 for HeyOrca. The unit each one charges by differs, so the real bill depends on how many channels or seats you run.
Does HeyOrca or SocialBu have a free plan?: Both have a free plan, so you can try either one before paying.
Which is better, HeyOrca or SocialBu?: HeyOrca is the stronger pick for agencies that want a calendar and approval flow per client, 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.