SOCIAL SCHEDULERS

Buffer vs Later: Features, Pricing and Reviews in 2026

Buffer
FreemiumSubscription

Buffer is a simple social media tool to schedule, publish, and grow your content across multiple platforms.

Buffer screenshot
Later
PaidSubscription

Later is a visual social media scheduling tool for planning, publishing, and growing your presence across platforms.

Later screenshot

What Are Buffer and Later?

Buffer

Buffer

Buffer is a social media scheduling and management tool that connects to over 11 major platforms from one simple dashboard. You can write, schedule, and publish posts without logging into each account separately. It includes tools for planning and storing content ideas, managing replies and comments through a unified inbox, and tracking post performance with clear and simple reports.

Buffer also includes a built-in AI assistant that helps you write captions, repurpose content for different platforms, and think of new ideas. A Start Page feature lets you build a simple link-in-bio landing page, so you can share one link across all your social profiles.

Buffer offers a free plan and two affordable paid tiers suitable for individuals, teams, and agencies.

Later

Later

Later is an online social media scheduling tool that lets you plan, create, and publish content in advance. You can view all your upcoming posts in a visual calendar and see exactly how your Instagram grid will look before anything goes live. It supports scheduling to multiple platforms at once, keeping your content consistent and saving time.

Later also offers Auto Publish, which posts content automatically at the scheduled time without any extra steps. A built-in Link in Bio page turns your social profile into a clickable, shoppable landing page to drive traffic.

The platform includes post performance analytics, AI caption writing, hashtag suggestions, and team approval tools. Plans suit solo users, growing teams, and agencies of all sizes.

How Do Buffer and Later Compare on Features?

Buffer

Buffer

  • Schedule posts across 11 social platforms

  • AI assistant for captions and content ideas

  • Visual content calendar and queue management

  • Unified inbox for all comments and replies

  • Analytics with custom reports and PDF export

  • Team collaboration with approval workflows

  • Start Page link-in-bio builder included

  • Hashtag manager and UTM tracking

  • Chrome browser extension and mobile app

  • Free plan available with no credit card

Later

Later

  • Visual drag-and-drop content calendar

  • Instagram grid preview before publishing

  • Auto Publish across 8 social platforms

  • AI caption writer and ideas generator

  • Link in Bio page with click analytics

  • Best Time to Post for all platforms

  • Unlimited media storage for images and videos

  • Hashtag suggestions and saved caption templates

  • Team approval workflows and collaboration

  • Canva integration for fast scheduling workflow

Where Do Buffer and Later Fit?

How Much Do Buffer and Later Cost?

Buffer Pricing Plans

Free

Free
  • Up to 3 social channels
  • 10 scheduled posts per channel
  • 100 content ideas
  • AI assistant included
  • Basic analytics (30-day history)
  • Community inbox with comment and DM replies
  • Start Page (link-in-bio builder)
  • Browser extension
  • Canva, Dropbox, and Google Drive integrations
  • 1 user only
Most Popular

Essentials (Monthly)

$6/mo
  • Price is $6 per channel per month
  • Everything in Free plan
  • Unlimited scheduled posts
  • Unlimited content ideas
  • 250 tags for organization
  • First comment scheduling
  • Hashtag manager
  • Custom video covers
  • Channel groups
  • Advanced analytics with full history

Essentials (Yearly)

$60/yr
  • Price is $60 per channel per year ($5/month equivalent)
  • Save approximately 2 months vs monthly billing
  • All Essentials features included

Team (Monthly)

$12/mo
  • Price is $12 per channel per month
  • Everything in Essentials plan
  • Unlimited team members
  • Approval workflows
  • Custom access levels and permissions
  • Branded analytics reports
  • Shared content calendar
  • Internal notes on drafts
  • 5 API keys and app clients
  • Email support

Team (Yearly)

$120/yr
  • Price is $120 per channel per year ($10/month equivalent)
  • Save approximately 2 months vs monthly billing
  • All Team features included

Later Pricing Plans

Starter

$25/mo
  • 1 Social Set (8 profiles total)
  • 1 User
  • 30 posts per profile/month
  • 5 AI credits/month
  • 3 months analytics history
  • Auto Publish
  • Visual planner & Instagram grid preview
  • Best Time to Post (Instagram, TikTok, Facebook)
  • AI Caption Writer & Ideas Generator
  • Hashtag suggestions

Starter (Yearly)

$225/yr
  • Everything in Starter
  • $18.75/month equivalent β€” 25% off
  • 3 months free included
  • 1 Social Set (8 profiles total)
  • 1 User
  • 30 posts per profile/month
  • 5 AI credits/month
Most Popular

Growth

$50/mo
  • 2 Social Sets (16 profiles total)
  • 2 Users
  • 180 posts per profile/month
  • 50 AI credits/month
  • 1 year analytics history
  • Multi-profile Best Time to Post
  • Smart scheduling with future trends
  • Internal & external approval workflows
  • Social Inbox (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok)
  • UGC collection (by tags & mentions)

Growth (Yearly)

$450/yr
  • Everything in Growth
  • $37.50/month equivalent β€” 25% off
  • 3 months free included
  • 2 Social Sets (16 profiles total)
  • 2 Users
  • 180 posts per profile/month
  • 50 AI credits/month

Scale

$110/mo
  • 6 Social Sets (48 profiles total)
  • 4 Users
  • Unlimited posts
  • 100 AI credits/month
  • 2 years analytics history
  • Custom analytics & shareable reports
  • Competitive benchmarking
  • Future industry insights
  • Brand health & brand mentions
  • Social listening & brand tracking

Scale (Yearly)

$990/yr
  • Everything in Scale
  • $82.50/month equivalent β€” 25% off
  • 3 months free included
  • 6 Social Sets (48 profiles total)
  • 4 Users
  • Unlimited posts
  • 100 AI credits/month

How Are Buffer and Later Used?

Frequently Asked Questions About Buffer and Later

Buffer

Buffer

Later

Later