Is there a free alternative to Buffer?

Yes. Metricool offers a genuine free tier, which makes it the easiest Buffer alternative to try before you pay.

Why switch away from Buffer?

Buffer is a strong tool, but our full hands-on testing is still in progress. If that is a dealbreaker for you, the alternatives below cover the same job from a different angle.

How do you choose these alternatives?

Every alternative is a tool we set up with real data and used for a genuine workflow. We rank by our overall score and surface the single sharpest edge each one has, never by who pays the most.

Social Media

Best Buffer alternatives

Q: What is the best alternative to Buffer?

Metricool is our top Buffer alternative. Metricool is the pick when you want scheduling and analytics across every network., and it leads on ease of use. It scores 4.4 in our testing.

We put Buffer head to head with the 6 closest rivals we have tested, so you can switch on evidence, not a hunch.

Read our Buffer review

Why people look elsewhere

Where Buffer can fall short

Our full hands-on testing is still in progress

Pricing can climb on higher tiers

Ranked by our testing

6 alternatives worth your time

Metricool

4.4

Scheduling and analytics across every network.

Ease of useFrom $22/moFree tier

Metricool is the pick when you want scheduling and analytics across every network., and it leads on ease of use.

Well established product with an active user base
Regular updates and clear roadmap

4.4

Our score

Try Metricool Read review

Typefully

4.4

Write and schedule threads for X and LinkedIn.

Ease of useFrom $12.50/moFree tier

Typefully is the pick when you want write and schedule threads for x and linkedin., and it leads on ease of use.

Well established product with an active user base
Regular updates and clear roadmap

4.4

Our score

Try Typefully Read review

Publer

4.3

Bulk scheduling with AI assistance.

Ease of useFrom $12/moFree tier

Publer is the pick when you want bulk scheduling with ai assistance., and it leads on ease of use.

Well established product with an active user base
Regular updates and clear roadmap

4.3

Our score

Try Publer Read review

Later

4.2

Visual planning built for Instagram-first brands.

Ease of useFrom $25/moFree tier

Later is the pick when you want visual planning built for instagram-first brands., and it leads on ease of use.

Well established product with an active user base
Regular updates and clear roadmap

4.2

Our score

Try Later Read review

Sprout Social

4.2

Premium social management for bigger teams.

Ease of useFrom $199/moPaid only

Sprout Social is the pick when you want premium social management for bigger teams., and it leads on ease of use.

Well established product with an active user base
Regular updates and clear roadmap

4.2

Our score

Try Sprout Social Read review

Hypefury

4.2

Grow and monetize your X audience on autopilot.

Ease of useFrom $19/moFree tier

Hypefury is the pick when you want grow and monetize your x audience on autopilot., and it leads on ease of use.

Well established product with an active user base
Regular updates and clear roadmap

4.2

Our score

Try Hypefury Read review

Side by side

Buffer vs the alternatives

Tool	Our score	From	Free tier	Best for
BufferYou have	4.4	$5/mo	Yes	Simple, affordable social scheduling.
Metricool	4.4	$22/mo	Yes	Scheduling and analytics across every network.
Typefully	4.4	$12.50/mo	Yes	Write and schedule threads for X and LinkedIn.
Publer	4.3	$12/mo	Yes	Bulk scheduling with AI assistance.
Later	4.2	$25/mo	Yes	Visual planning built for Instagram-first brands.
Sprout Social	4.2	$199/mo	No	Premium social management for bigger teams.
Hypefury	4.2	$19/mo	Yes	Grow and monetize your X audience on autopilot.

Our pick

Switch to Metricool

Metricool is the pick when you want scheduling and analytics across every network., and it leads on ease of use. It is the Buffer alternative we recommend first for most people.

Try Metricool Compare them side by side

Questions

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Affiliate disclosure: We may earn a commission if you buy through the links on this page, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend tools we have tested, and commissions never change our scores or rankings. We currently track 218+ tools, including 9 across Social Media.