Buffer vs CoSchedule (2026): Pricing, Features & Which to Choose

Who comes out ahead

Based only on the facts in our directory. The right pick still depends on the job you need done.

Lower starting price
Buffer
From $5/mo against from $29/mo
Free plan
Tie
Both have one
Higher rating
Buffer
4.4 against 4.2
Same job?
Yes
Both are Social Media tools

Side by side

Compared on	Buffer	CoSchedule
Our rating	4.4Better	4.2
Starts at	$5/moBetter	$29/mo
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Category	Social Media	Social Media
Plans	Free$0 Essentials$6 per channel/mo, or $5 billed yearly ($60/yr) Team$12 per channel/mo, or $10 billed yearly ($120/yr)	Free Calendar$0 Starter$39/mo, or $29/mo billed yearly Professional$59/mo, or $49/mo billed yearly SuiteCustom, from $69/mo
Key features	Among the first tools to popularize the social-scheduling category itself Deliberately simple, clean interface maintained across years of growth Free tier for a limited number of channels Operating since 2010 Per-channel pricing structure	Unified marketing calendar spanning social, blog, and email campaigns Headline Studio scoring and improving content headlines Free tier for limited use Operating since 2013 Marketing project and campaign management beyond social alone
Pros	Long-standing reputation for simplicity even as competitors add complexity Free tier available for a limited number of channels Approachable learning curve for solo creators and small teams	Unified calendar connects social planning to the rest of marketing directly Headline Studio adds content-quality tooling beyond scheduling Free tier available for limited use
Cons	Less feature depth than larger suites built for bigger organizations Per-channel pricing can add up for accounts managing many channels Fewer built-in listening or CRM-style features than competitors like Agorapulse	More features require a paid plan Broader marketing-calendar scope may exceed what a social-only team needs Less specialized social-specific depth than dedicated social management suites
Company	Buffer, founded 2010	CoSchedule, founded 2013

Prices come from each vendor's pricing page, last checked 2026-09-24. Check the vendor before you buy.

FAQ

Questions people ask

Is Buffer better than CoSchedule?

In our reviews Buffer scores 4.4 and CoSchedule scores 4.2. The better pick depends on the job. Buffer: One of the category's original tools, still known for radical simplicity. CoSchedule: A broader marketing calendar spanning blog, email, and campaigns, not social alone.

Which is cheaper, Buffer or CoSchedule?

Buffer has the lower starting price: from $5/mo for Buffer and from $29/mo for CoSchedule.

Do Buffer and CoSchedule have free plans?

Yes, both have a free plan.

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