Buffer vs Metricool 2026: Which Social Planner Wins?
Quick verdict: Metricool is our overall pick for Buffer vs Metricool.
Metricool pairs scheduling with built-in analytics and competitor tracking; Buffer is the simpler, cheaper pure scheduler. Buffer: free plan, paid from $5/channel/mo (annual); Metricool: free plan, paid from $20/mo (annual). Prices checked 2026-09-18.
| Tool | Rating | Pricing | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buffer Best free | 4.0/5 | Free $5/channel/mo (annual) | Buffer is a social scheduling tool built around one clean idea: queue and schedule posts a… |
| Metricool Best overall Best for teams | 4.2/5 | Free $20/mo (annual) | Metricool is an all-in-one social planner plus analytics platform: schedule across network… |
Bottom line: Metricool (4.2/5, the cluster's top rating) for teams that want scheduling, analytics and competitor tracking in one bill — free tier (1 brand, 20 posts/mo, 30-day analytics), then $25/mo monthly ($20 annual) to $67/mo monthly ($53 annual) advanced, billed by brand; X/Twitter and LinkedIn are add-ons. Buffer (4.0/5) for a cheaper, simpler per-channel scheduler with a free 3-channel tier including X/Twitter ($5/channel/mo annual). Pick Metricool when measurement matters; pick Buffer when you only want to schedule. Both are English-only.
Pricing and details
Buffer · 4.0/5
Free plan available · $5/channel/mo (annual)
Buffer bills by channel, not by user. Free $0 forever: 3 channels, 10 scheduled posts per channel, 1 user. Essentials $6/channel/mo monthly ($5 annual, 14-day trial). Team $12/channel/mo monthly ($10 annual) adds analytics and integrations. Each additional channel adds to the bill; there is no per-user charge, so it scales better for many-brand accounts than seat-based rivals.
Essentials $5/channel/mo · Team $10-12/channel/mo (annual)
Buffer is a social scheduling tool built around one clean idea: queue and schedule posts across Instagram, X, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube and Threads from a single feed. It bills per channel, not per seat, and its free tier is a real standing plan (3 channels, 1 user) rather than a trial.
Score breakdown
Pros
- Free plan is a standing plan (3 channels, 1 user), not a trial
- Per-channel, not per-seat, pricing — the cheapest paid entry in the cluster ($5/channel/mo annual)
- Covers Instagram, X, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube and Threads from one feed
- Clean, fast UI (ease 4/5) with 14-day paid trial
Cons
- Collaboration (approvers, shared feeds) is lighter than Hootsuite's team workflows
- No built-in deep analytics suite the way Metricool ships — scheduling is the strength, not measurement
- No X-removal surprises, but feature depth trails an enterprise platform
Pricing verified 2026-09-18
Metricool · 4.2/5
Free plan available · $20/mo (annual)
Metricool bills by brand, not by seat. Free $0 forever: 1 brand, all networks except X/LinkedIn, 20 posts/mo, 5 competitor tracking, 30-day analytics. Starter $25/mo monthly ($20 annual) up to 5 brands (10 brands $36/$45). Advanced $67/mo monthly ($53 annual) up to 15 brands (25 brands $107). X/Twitter costs extra at $10/account/mo. Annual saves up to 24%.
Starter $20/mo · Advanced $53/mo (annual)
Metricool is an all-in-one social planner plus analytics platform: schedule across networks, run a content calendar and get built-in analytics and competitor tracking. It bills by brand and has a genuinely useful free tier.
Score breakdown
Pros
- Highest rating in the cluster (4.2/5)
- Scheduling plus native analytics and competitor tracking in one bill
- Most capable free tier in the set (1 brand, 20 posts/mo, 30-day analytics)
- Brand-based billing with multi-brand support
Cons
- X/Twitter and LinkedIn are add-ons, not in the base plans
- Analytics and extra networks add complexity versus a pure scheduler
Pricing verified 2026-09-18
Frequently asked questions
Which is better overall, Buffer or Metricool?
Metricool is our overall pick (4.2/5 vs 4.0/5). Metricool pairs scheduling with built-in analytics and competitor tracking; Buffer is the simpler, cheaper pure scheduler. Buffer: free plan, paid from $5/channel/mo (annual); Metricool: free plan, paid from $20/mo (annual). Prices checked 2026-09-18.
Do Buffer and Metricool offer free plans?
Buffer and Metricool have a free tier. Buffer paid plans start at $5/channel/mo (annual); Metricool paid plans start at $20/mo (annual).
What does Metricool cost?
$20/mo (annual) — Metricool bills by brand, not by seat. Free $0 forever: 1 brand, all networks except X/LinkedIn, 20 posts/mo, 5 competitor tracking, 30-day analytics. Starter $25/mo monthly ($20 annual) up to 5 brands (10 brands $36/$45). Advanced $67/mo monthly ($53 annual) up to 15 brands (25 brands $107). X/Twitter costs extra at $10/account/mo. Annual saves up to 24%. Prices were last verified on 2026-09-18.