2 Best Buffer Alternatives in 2025
Last updated: February 2026 • 7 min read
Buffer is a popular tool for small businesses and solopreneurs wanting simple social scheduling. While it offers a free tier (3 channels, 10 posts/channel), its paid plans start at $6/channel/mo. Whether you're looking for a cheaper option, better features, or an open-source solution, we've compiled the 2 best Buffer alternatives to help you find the right fit.
📋 Quick Summary
- Total alternatives: 2
- Free alternatives: 1 (Later)
- Best overall: Hootsuite
- Best free: Later
Why Look for Buffer Alternatives?
People commonly look for Buffer alternatives for several reasons:
- Cost: While Buffer has a free tier, its paid plans starting at $6/channel/mo can add up quickly for growing teams.
- Feature gaps: Limited compared to Hootsuite/Sprout and no social listening are common complaints.
- Simplicity: Some users find Buffer overly complex for their needs and prefer simpler solutions.
- Data ownership: Organizations wanting data sovereignty prefer open-source, self-hosted alternatives.
- Better fit: Different tools excel at different use cases — you may find a tool that's specifically built for your workflow.
📊 Quick Comparison Table
| Tool | Free Tier | Starting Price | Rating | Open Source | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffer | ✓ 3 channels, 10 posts/channel | $6/channel/mo | ⭐ 4.3 | No | Small businesses and solopreneurs wanting simple social scheduling |
| Hootsuite | ✗ No | $99/mo | ⭐ 4.1 | No | Enterprises and agencies managing multiple social accounts at scale |
| Later | ✓ 5 posts/profile/mo | $25/mo | ⭐ 4.3 | No | Instagram-focused creators and visual brands |
Detailed Reviews of Each Alternative
Hootsuite
Enterprise social media management platform with scheduling, monitoring, analytics, and team collaboration.
Hootsuite is the most established social media management platform, used by enterprises and agencies worldwide. It supports every major social network and offers comprehensive features including bulk scheduling, social listening, ad management, and detailed analytics. The unified inbox lets you manage all social conversations in one place. Hootsuite's strength is scale — managing dozens of accounts and large teams with approval workflows.
Pros
- ✓ Most comprehensive platform
- ✓ Excellent for large teams
- ✓ Strong social listening
- ✓ Wide platform support
Cons
- ✗ Expensive entry point
- ✗ UI feels cluttered
- ✗ Removed free plan
- ✗ Steep learning curve
Later
Visual-first social media scheduler built for Instagram, with a drag-and-drop content calendar.
Later started as an Instagram scheduling tool and has grown into a full social media management platform while keeping its visual-first approach. Its drag-and-drop calendar makes planning visual content intuitive. Later includes a link-in-bio tool (Linkin.bio), user-generated content collection, and the ability to schedule Instagram Stories and Reels. It also supports TikTok, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and LinkedIn.
Pros
- ✓ Best visual planning UI
- ✓ Great Instagram features
- ✓ Linkin.bio included
- ✓ Easy to use
Cons
- ✗ Instagram-centric
- ✗ Limited analytics on lower plans
- ✗ No social listening
- ✗ Fewer platforms than Hootsuite
🏆 Our Recommendations
❓ FAQ
What is the best free alternative to Buffer?
The best free alternative to Buffer is Later, which offers 5 posts/profile/mo.
Is there an open-source alternative to Buffer?
There are no widely-used open-source alternatives to Buffer at this time, but several affordable options exist.
What is the cheapest alternative to Buffer?
The cheapest alternatives are the free options: Later. For paid alternatives, prices start from as low as $25/mo.
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