Shortlist by what you need
Start here if you know why you are leaving Buffer.
Want the closest match?
TypefullyMost similar to Buffer in what it does, its category and its price.
Visit (opens Typefully in a new tab)Need a free plan?
CoScheduleHas a free plan, rated 4.2 out of 5.
Visit (opens CoSchedule in a new tab)Want to pay less than Buffer?
HookleFrom $2.99/mo, against from $5/mo for Buffer.
Visit (opens Hookle in a new tab)Want the best rated?
Vista SocialRated 4.7 out of 5 in our review, against 4.4 for Buffer.
Visit (opens Vista Social in a new tab)
At a glance
Green means better than Buffer, red means worse. Prices are starting prices per month.
| Tool | Our rating | Starts at | Free plan | Best for | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 BufferBaseline | 4.4 | $5/mo | Yes | One of the category's original tools, still known for radical simplicity | |
| Typefully | 4.5+0.1 | $12/mo$7 more | Yes | A distraction-free writing experience for X/Twitter threads, praised by creators specifically for its interface | vs Buffer |
| Hookle | 3.8−0.6 | $2.99/mo$2.01 less | Yes | AI-powered social media scheduling and content app from Hookle Inc. built for small business owners, free to start with premium plans from about $3 a month. | vs Buffer |
 Sprout Social | 4.4Same | $79/mo$74 more | No | A comprehensive, analytics-heavy suite built for larger, established brands | vs Buffer |
 Agorapulse | 4.5+0.1 | $79/mo$74 more | No | Built around a unified social inbox and listening, not scheduling alone | vs Buffer |
 Instories | 3.9−0.5 | $10/mo$5 more | Yes | Instories turns long-form video and photos into templated Reels, Stories, and social posts with AI captions and animation. | vs Buffer |
 Iconosquare | 4.3−0.1 | $49/mo$44 more | No | Built from an analytics-specialist heritage, not scheduling first | vs Buffer |
| CoSchedule | 4.2−0.2 | $29/mo$24 more | Yes | A broader marketing calendar spanning blog, email, and campaigns, not social alone | vs Buffer |
| Vista Social | 4.7+0.3 | $63.17/mo$58.17 more | No | A newer comprehensive suite positioned to replace legacy platforms directly | vs Buffer |
The alternatives in detail
In order of how closely each one matches Buffer.
Typefully
4.5$12/mo
vs Buffer$7 more+0.1
A distraction-free writing experience for X/Twitter threads, praised by creators specifically for its interface.
- Deliberately minimal, distraction-free thread-composing interface
- Live thread preview showing exactly how posts will read in sequence
- Free tier for standard use
Distraction-free interface is genuinely praised by creators for the writing experience itself
More features require a paid plan
Hookle
3.8$2.99/mo
vs Buffer$2.01 less−0.6
AI-powered social media scheduling and content app from Hookle Inc. built for small business owners, free to start with premium plans from about $3 a month.
- AI-generated post captions and content suggestions
- Scheduling across major social platforms from one mobile app
- Performance stats built for a single owner to check in a few taps
Built specifically for a solo small business owner, not a complex agency tool
Lacks the team and client-management features a growing agency would need
Sprout Social
4.4$79/mo
vs Buffer$74 moreSame
A comprehensive, analytics-heavy suite built for larger, established brands.
- Deep analytics and social listening built for strategic decision-making
- Unified inbox across connected platforms
- No free plan, paid access only
Analytics and listening depth suits detailed strategic reporting well
No free plan to test before committing
Agorapulse
4.5$79/mo
vs Buffer$74 more+0.1
Built around a unified social inbox and listening, not scheduling alone.
- Unified inbox for comments, mentions, and messages across platforms
- Social listening tracking brand and competitor mentions across the web
- No free plan, paid access only
Unified inbox handles high engagement volume more efficiently than scheduling-only tools
No free plan to test before committing
Instories
3.9$10/mo
vs Buffer$5 more−0.5
Instories turns long-form video and photos into templated Reels, Stories, and social posts with AI captions and animation.
- 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
Six years of continuous operation (since 2018) in a fast-turnover app category
Mobile-only design (iOS/Android) with no confirmed desktop or web editor
Iconosquare
4.3$49/mo
vs Buffer$44 more−0.1
Built from an analytics-specialist heritage, not scheduling first.
- Analytics-specialist heritage predating its scheduling capability
- Deep engagement benchmarking and competitor comparison
- No free plan, paid access only
Analytics depth exceeds what scheduling-first competitors typically offer
No free plan to test before committing
CoSchedule
4.2$29/mo
vs Buffer$24 more−0.2
A broader marketing calendar spanning blog, email, and campaigns, not social alone.
- Unified marketing calendar spanning social, blog, and email campaigns
- Headline Studio scoring and improving content headlines
- Free tier for limited use
Unified calendar connects social planning to the rest of marketing directly
More features require a paid plan
Vista Social
4.7$63.17/mo
vs Buffer$58.17 more+0.3
A newer comprehensive suite positioned to replace legacy platforms directly.
- Comprehensive suite: publishing, inbox, listening, analytics, and review management
- DM automation across connected platforms
- No free plan, paid access only
Newer technical foundation than several established legacy competitors
No free plan to test before committing
FAQ
Questions people ask
Is Buffer free?
Buffer has a free plan, and paid plans start from $5/mo.
What is the best free alternative to Buffer?
Typefully is the highest-rated alternative here with a free plan (4.5 out of 5). Other free options: CoSchedule, Instories, Hookle.
What is the cheapest alternative to Buffer?
Among paid plans, Hookle has the lowest starting price (from $2.99/mo). If you need it free, start with Typefully.
How did you pick these alternatives?
We match tools on what they do, their category and their price, using the details in our directory. Ratings come from our reviews and reader reviews.