Buffer vs Instories (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 $10/mo
Free plan
Tie
Both have one
Higher rating
Buffer
4.4 against 3.9
Same job?
Yes
Both are Social Media tools

Side by side

Compared on	Buffer	Instories
Our rating	4.4Better	3.9
Starts at	$5/moBetter	$10/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)	From $10/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	500+ customizable templates across major social video and story formats AI-generated subtitles and captions Long-form-to-short-clip conversion for Reels and Shorts AI background removal for photos and video Text-to-audio conversion for voiceover-style content
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	Six years of continuous operation (since 2018) in a fast-turnover app category Template breadth covers every major short-form format (Stories, Reels, Shorts) in one app Annual billing brings Pro down to $10/month, competitive against single-purpose editing apps
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	Mobile-only design (iOS/Android) with no confirmed desktop or web editor Free tier's exact feature limits aren't detailed on the pricing page Faces intense competition from Canva, CapCut, and other multi-purpose editors bundling similar templates
Company	Buffer, founded 2010	Ylee Studio LTD, founded 2018

Prices come from each vendor's pricing page, last checked 20260730. Check the vendor before you buy.

FAQ

Questions people ask

Is Buffer better than Instories?

In our reviews Buffer scores 4.4 and Instories scores 3.9. The better pick depends on the job. Buffer: One of the category's original tools, still known for radical simplicity. Instories: Instories turns long-form video and photos into templated Reels, Stories, and social posts with AI captions and animation.

Which is cheaper, Buffer or Instories?

Buffer has the lower starting price: from $5/mo for Buffer and from $10/mo for Instories.

Do Buffer and Instories have free plans?

Yes, both have a free plan.

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