Best social media schedulers for beginners
A scheduler posts to accounts you already have. It does not get followers. Buffer is first: the free plan covers up to 3 channels and 10 scheduled posts per channel, and Buffer is not an affiliate link. Metricool is next: the free plan is one brand and up to 20 posts a month. Publer is last: the free plan is 3 social accounts except X, and 10 scheduled posts per account. Metricool and Publer are affiliate Visit links. Buffer being first is the free-plan channel count, not a commission rank.
Checked October 2026.
1 · Free tier
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
- Free forever. Up to 3 channels, and 10 scheduled posts per channel.
- Price we checked
- Essentials is $5 a month for 1 channel, with $60 billed yearly. The page says yearly billing saves 2 months. This page does not state a Team price.
- 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.
2 · 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
- Free is €0 and $0 a month. It covers 1 brand, every network except LinkedIn and Twitter, up to 20 scheduled posts a month, 5 competitor profiles, and 30 days of analytics.
- Price we checked
- The page had more than one starter figure, including €16, €20, $20, and $25, across currency and billing toggles. This page does not state a paid price.
- 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.
3 · 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
- Free forever, for 1 user and 1 workspace. It includes 3 social accounts except X, 10 scheduled posts per account, 25 saved drafts, and 24-hour post history.
- Price we checked
- The plans page showed monthly and yearly labels, but the dollar amounts did not come through in the text. This page does not state a paid price.
- 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.
Also read
Questions
- Will a scheduler get followers?
- No.
- Can I post to X on a free plan?
- Buffer's free plan lists channels and does not name an X exception on the card we read. Publer's free plan says you cannot connect X. Metricool's free plan excludes LinkedIn and Twitter.
- Why are some paid prices missing?
- Metricool's starter price did not agree with itself across the toggles on the page. Publer's dollar amounts did not appear in the text. Leaving them out is the alternative to guessing.
- Which Visit links are affiliate links?
- Metricool and Publer. Buffer is not. Buffer is first because its free plan covers more channels, not because of a commission.