Publer vs Buffer: free plans compared (2026)
Short version: both free plans give 1 user, 3 social accounts and 10 scheduled posts per account at a time, and a slot frees up once a post goes out. Pick Buffer if you post to X, want 30 days of insights or API access on Free. Pick Publer if you want 25 saved drafts, a Linkie link-in-bio page and free trials of its paid features; X needs a paid Publer plan.
| Tool | What you get | Limits | Card required | The catch | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Publer | Schedule posts to 3 social accounts, with up to 10 scheduled posts per account at a time, 25 saved drafts, the Linkie link-in-bio page and free trials of most paid features. | 1 user; 3 social accounts (not X); 10 scheduled posts per account; 25 saved drafts; 24-hour post history | Vendor doesn't say | You cannot connect X (Twitter) on Free, and published posts are kept for only 24 hours. | publer.com/plans checked 2026-11-02 |
| Buffer | Up to 3 channels, 10 scheduled posts per channel, 100 ideas, AI Assistant, 1 user. | 3 channels | Vendor doesn't say | 10 queued posts per channel. | buffer.com/pricing checked 2026-11-02 |
Every row is taken from the vendor's official pricing page, checked 2026-11-02. "Vendor doesn't say" means the official page does not mention it. Plans change, so confirm on the vendor's site.
Pick this if
Pros and cons
Con: No X on Free; published post history is kept for 24 hours
Con: First comment scheduling, hashtag manager and reports are paid; Essentials is $5 per channel a month billed yearly
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FAQ
Is Publer or Buffer better for free?
They have the same core limit: 3 accounts and 10 scheduled posts per account at a time (both checked 2026-11-02). Buffer supports X on Free and adds 30 days of insights; Publer adds 25 saved drafts, Linkie and free trials of paid features.
Can I schedule X (Twitter) posts for free?
On Buffer, yes. Publer says it can only support X accounts on a paid subscription because of the X API cost.
How many posts can I schedule for free?
10 per account on both. When a scheduled post is published or deleted, the slot opens again, so there is no monthly cap.
Do they need a credit card?
Neither pricing page says a card is needed for the Free plan. Buffer says you can sign up for Free without a trial; Publer offers free trials of paid features.