3 Best Buffer Pro Alternatives in 2025
Last updated: February 2026 • 10 min read
Buffer Pro is a popular tool for small businesses wanting simple social media management. While it offers a free tier (3 social accounts), its paid plans start at $15/mo. Whether you're looking for a cheaper option, better features, or an open-source solution, we've compiled the 3 best Buffer Pro alternatives to help you find the right fit.
📋 Quick Summary
- Total alternatives: 3
- Free alternatives: 1 (Later)
- Best overall: Hootsuite Professional
- Best free: Later
Why Look for Buffer Pro Alternatives?
People commonly look for Buffer Pro alternatives for several reasons:
- Cost: While Buffer Pro has a free tier, its paid plans starting at $15/mo can add up quickly for growing teams.
- Feature gaps: Limited advanced features and basic automation are common complaints.
- Simplicity: Some users find Buffer Pro 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 Pro | ✓ 3 social accounts | $15/mo | ⭐ 4.3 | No | Small businesses wanting simple social media management |
| Hootsuite Professional | ✗ No | $49/mo | ⭐ 4.1 | No | Agencies and businesses with complex social media needs |
| Sprout Social | ✗ No | $249/mo | ⭐ 4.4 | No | Mid-market brands wanting premium social management with CRM |
| Later | ✓ 5 posts/profile/mo | $25/mo | ⭐ 4.3 | No | Instagram-focused creators and visual brands |
Detailed Reviews of Each Alternative
Hootsuite Professional
Advanced social media management with analytics and team features.
Hootsuite Professional offers advanced social media management capabilities including detailed analytics, team collaboration, bulk scheduling, and integration with major social platforms. It's designed for businesses and agencies managing multiple social accounts.
Pros
- ✓ Comprehensive platform
- ✓ Good analytics
- ✓ Team features
- ✓ Multiple platform support
Cons
- ✗ Expensive
- ✗ Complex interface
- ✗ Limited free features
- ✗ Can be slow
Sprout Social
Premium social media management with CRM and listening
Sprout Social combines social media scheduling, analytics, listening, and CRM into one platform. Known for its polished UI and detailed reporting, it serves mid-market and enterprise brands.
Pros
- ✓ Best-in-class UI
- ✓ Excellent reporting
- ✓ Social CRM unique
- ✓ Strong customer support
Cons
- ✗ Very expensive
- ✗ Per-user pricing adds up
- ✗ Overkill for small teams
- ✗ Some features require add-ons
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
Best Overall Alternative:
Hootsuite Professional — Agencies and businesses with complex social media needs
Best Free Alternative:
Later — 5 posts/profile/mo
❓ FAQ
What is the best free alternative to Buffer Pro?
The best free alternative to Buffer Pro is Later, which offers 5 posts/profile/mo.
Is there an open-source alternative to Buffer Pro?
There are no widely-used open-source alternatives to Buffer Pro at this time, but several affordable options exist.
What is the cheapest alternative to Buffer Pro?
The cheapest alternatives are the free options: Later. For paid alternatives, prices start from as low as $25/mo.
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