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Free alternatives to Buffer
Buffer's listing, checked October 15, 2026, says the free plan includes 10 scheduled posts per channel, 100 ideas, 1 user, and the AI assistant. Publer is listed first among the alternatives. Its listing, checked October 15, 2026, says the free plan is 3 social accounts except X, and 10 scheduled posts per account. Typefully is next. Its listing, checked October 16, 2026, says free is 10 posts a month, 1 social set, and 1 user, and that it writes and schedules posts for X and LinkedIn. Metricool is listed after those. Its listing, checked October 14, 2026, says the free plan is $0 and can schedule up to 20 posts a month. A scheduler does not get followers.
A longer note on Buffer, Metricool, Publer, and Repurpose.io is in the scheduler guide. Best social media schedulers for beginners.
The tool itself
Buffer
- What it does
- Schedules posts to social accounts and includes an AI assistant for draft ideas.
- Who it is for
- People posting to one or two accounts who want a queue instead of posting live every time.
- Free plan
- The free plan includes 10 scheduled posts per channel, 100 ideas, 1 user, and the AI assistant.
- Price we checked
- Free plan. Essentials is listed at $5 per month for 1 channel, with $60 billed yearly. Team is listed at $10 per month for 1 channel, with $120 billed yearly. The page says yearly billing saves 2 months.
- The catch
- Some plan cards were labeled Placeholder, so confirm the plan name at checkout. The 'save 2 months' line does not match $5 times 12 equaling $60. Pricing is per channel, so a second account raises the bill.
1 · Free tier
Publer
- What it does
- Schedules social posts and includes an AI assistant for writing them.
- Who it is for
- People who want a scheduler with a free starting plan and can live with its account limits.
- Free plan
- The free plan is ongoing. It cannot connect X (Twitter) accounts and caps scheduled posts at 10 per account.
- Price we checked
- A free-forever plan is listed (3 social accounts except X/Twitter, 10 scheduled posts per account). Professional starts at $5 per month for 1 social account and 1 user. Business starts at $10 per month for 1 social account and 1 user. Annual billing is offered (help says about 20% off vs monthly). Prices scale with more accounts and members.
- The catch
- If you need X, the free plan will not do it. Professional and Business prices start at one account and rise when you add accounts or members.
Affiliate link: we may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.
2 · Free tier
Typefully
- What it does
- Writes and schedules posts for X and LinkedIn, and advertises an AI writing feature.
- Who it is for
- People who post short text often and want a draft queue.
- Free plan
- Free is 10 posts a month, 1 social set, and 1 user. Creator raises that to 1,000 posts a month for 1 social set.
- Price we checked
- Free plan at $0 with 10 posts a month. Creator is $99 a year, billed yearly only (about $8.25 a month). Business is $20 per social set per month, or $216 per set per year.
- The catch
- Open the pricing page while logged out and read the number next to the button. A tool that posts for you can also post a draft you did not mean to send.
Affiliate link: we may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.
3 · Free tier
Metricool
- What it does
- Schedules posts and shows simple analytics for several social accounts.
- Who it is for
- People managing more than one brand who want planning and numbers in one login.
- Free plan
- The free plan is $0 and caps how many posts you can schedule.
- Price we checked
- Free is $0 per month (the page also showed €0) and can schedule up to 20 posts a month. Starter starts at €16 per month. The same page listed €16 for up to 5 brands, €29 for up to 10, €43 for up to 15, and €69 for up to 25. Paid US dollar amounts were not in the text.
- The catch
- Paid prices came through in euros. Do not assume the dollar checkout matches the euro number. The brand bundles change the price inside the same plan name.
Affiliate link: we may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.
Questions
- Which free plan allows more posts?
- The listings are not in the same units. Buffer says 10 scheduled posts per channel, checked October 15, 2026. Publer says 10 per account, checked the same day. Typefully says 10 posts a month, checked October 16, 2026. Metricool says up to 20 posts a month, checked October 14, 2026. Compare the unit, not just the number.
- Can I post to X on Publer's free plan?
- No. The listing says the free plan cannot connect X accounts.
- Is Typefully the same kind of scheduler as Buffer?
- No. The Typefully listing says it writes and schedules posts for X and LinkedIn. It does not say it covers every network a Buffer account can use.
- Will a scheduler get followers?
- No. Scheduling a post is not an audience.