Metricool vs Buffer: Which Social Media Scheduler Should You Use in 2026?

Metricool and Buffer both let you plan posts once and publish them to Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn and more without opening each app. Both have a free plan. But they charge in completely different ways, and that decides which is cheaper for you.

This is a straight comparison of the two tools. Everything about Metricool and Buffer in this post comes from their official pricing pages, which I checked on November 1, 2026. Prices change, so check both sites before you buy.

The quick answer

• Pick Buffer if you only run a few social accounts, want the simplest possible tool, need LinkedIn or X on a free plan, or want unlimited team members at a low price.
• Pick Metricool if you manage several networks per brand or several brands, care about analytics and competitor tracking, or want ads accounts and website stats in the same dashboard.
• Both have free plans, so you can connect your accounts and see which one you'd actually open every day.

Side by side

All figures are from the official pricing pages on November 1, 2026, in US dollars and before VAT or sales tax.

Pricing compared

Metricool pricing

Metricool prices by brand. One brand can hold one profile on each network it supports: web or blog, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, Pinterest, TikTok, YouTube, Twitch, LinkedIn, Google Business Profile, Facebook Ads, Google Ads and TikTok Ads. Each Google Business Profile location needs its own brand, and X is a separate add-on.

Metricool says yearly billing saves up to 24%. It also shows euro prices (Starter from €16 a month billed yearly). Add-ons cost extra:

• X (Twitter): $10 a month per connected account.
• Advanced Analytics: from $12 a month on Starter and $36 a month on Advanced or Custom.
• Hashtag Tracker: priced per tracking period. Check the current price on their site.

You can cancel any time and the account drops to the free plan at the end of the billing cycle. Upgrades are prorated, and downgrades apply at the end of the billing period.

Buffer pricing

Buffer prices by channel, and a channel is one social account. Five accounts means five channels.

The per channel price drops as you add more. On monthly billing, channels 1 to 10 cost $6 on Essentials and $12 on Team, channels 11 to 25 cost $4 on both, channels 26 to 50 cost $3, and channels beyond 50 cost $1 on Essentials and $2 on Team.

Two details that catch people out:

• Once you upgrade, every channel is paid, including the three that were free.
• Paying is by card only. Buffer's FAQ says it doesn't take PayPal.

On the plus side, paid plans come with a 14 day free trial, and nonprofits can get 50% off.

What it costs in real life

Because one tool counts brands and the other counts accounts, the best way to compare them is with examples. These use the listed prices on November 1, 2026.

One creator with 5 accounts (say Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook and LinkedIn):

• Buffer Essentials: $30 a month, or $25 a month billed yearly.
• Metricool Starter: $25 a month, or $20 a month billed yearly.

The same creator adds X:

• Buffer Essentials: $36 a month, or $30 billed yearly.
• Metricool Starter plus the X add-on: $35 a month, or $30 billed yearly.

A small business with 2 accounts:

• Buffer Essentials: $12 a month, or $10 billed yearly. Buffer wins.
• Metricool Starter: $25 a month, or $20 billed yearly. Metricool's free plan may be enough here, though, if you post fewer than 20 times a month and don't need LinkedIn or X.

An agency with 10 clients, each on 5 networks (50 accounts):

• Buffer Essentials: $195 a month on monthly billing. Team, for approvals and multiple users: $255 a month.
• Metricool Starter for up to 10 brands: $45 a month. Advanced for up to 15 brands, which adds team and client management: $67 a month.

The pattern is simple. Buffer is cheaper when you have only a handful of accounts. Metricool gets cheaper quickly as you add networks and brands.

Free plans compared

Metricool Free gives you one brand with every supported network except LinkedIn and X, up to 20 scheduled posts a month, 5 competitor profiles, 30 days of analytics, a small number of AI assistant credits and access to the Metricool MCP for AI tools.

Buffer Free gives you up to 3 channels, including LinkedIn and X, with 10 scheduled posts per channel at a time (the queue refills as posts go out). It includes one user, the AI Assistant, 30 days of insights, a community inbox, 100 saved ideas and one API key.

If you need LinkedIn or X for free, pick Buffer. For one brand across more networks, Metricool's free plan covers more.

Scheduling and publishing

Both tools do the core job well: a calendar, a queue, best time suggestions and previews.

Metricool adds a lot around the planner. Its pricing page lists autolists (recycling evergreen posts), a post library, an image and video bank and editor, scheduled PDFs and polls, RSS feeds, music on scheduled videos and repurposing posts between brands. It also integrates with Google Drive, Canva and Adobe Express, and the paid plans include multiple link in bio pages. Metricool's Flows feature, which turns comments into DMs and replies to keywords, was listed at no extra cost for a limited time.

Buffer keeps things lean. Paid plans add a hashtag manager, first comment scheduling, channel groups, custom video covers, notes, tags and UTM tracking. It also offers Start Page, a simple link in bio page that counts as a channel, and it connects with Canva, Zapier, Make, n8n, WordPress, ChatGPT and Claude. Buffer supports Mastodon, which Metricool doesn't list.

Analytics and reporting

This is where Metricool pulls ahead.

Metricool paid plans keep unlimited analytics history and include reels and stories analytics, hashtag analysis, real time web or blog analytics and up to 100 competitor profiles. You can download PDF and PPT reports and send them automatically each month. Advanced adds custom report templates and a Data Studio connector. Because Facebook Ads, Google Ads and TikTok Ads can sit inside a brand, you can see paid and organic results in one place.

Buffer paid plans include advanced analytics, reports you can export as CSV, PDF or markdown, and branded reports on the Team plan. It's clean and readable, but it doesn't list competitor tracking or ads accounts.

Teams and approvals

Buffer wins on simple teamwork. The Team plan includes unlimited users, approval workflows and access levels, and you pay per channel, not per seat.

Metricool puts team and client management, roles and post approval on the Advanced plan, which starts at $53 a month billed yearly. For agencies that's still good value across 15 or more brands, but a two person team with three accounts will pay less on Buffer.

AI features

Both include an AI writing assistant. Metricool's runs on monthly credits: 5 per brand on Free, 20 on Starter and 35 on Advanced. Buffer's AI Assistant is on every plan, with 5 AI reply suggestions a week on the free plan. Metricool also offers an MCP connection for AI tools on every plan, and Buffer connects with ChatGPT, Claude and Cursor and offers an API key even on the free plan.

Where each tool wins

Buffer wins on:

• Cost for one to three accounts.
• LinkedIn and X on the free plan, and X without an add-on.
• A 14 day free trial on paid plans.
• Unlimited users and approvals on the Team plan.
• Simplicity, plus Mastodon support.

Metricool wins on:

• Cost once you have several networks or several brands.
• Analytics depth, unlimited history and competitor tracking.
• Ads accounts, Twitch and website stats in the same dashboard.
• Automated client reports and a Data Studio connector.
• Extra tools such as autolists, Flows and multiple link in bio pages.

Who Metricool suits

On the official pricing above, Metricool suits someone posting to many networks: one brand covers most of them for a single price, and the analytics come with it. If you only post to two or three accounts, or you need X and LinkedIn for free, Buffer may suit you better.

Try Metricool yourself

You can start on the free plan and only upgrade if you need more.

👉 Try Metricool here (Paid Link)

Reminder: that's my affiliate link. If you sign up for a paid plan through it, I earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.

Buffer, as a normal link (not an affiliate link): buffer.com

FAQ

Is Metricool cheaper than Buffer?

It depends on how many accounts you have. Buffer is cheaper for one to three accounts because it charges per channel. Metricool's Starter plan covers up to 5 brands, each with a profile on most networks, for $25 a month, so it gets cheaper as you add accounts.

Does Metricool have a free trial?

Metricool's pricing page shows a free forever plan rather than a trial. Buffer offers a 14 day free trial on its paid plans.

Can I post to X (Twitter) with Metricool?

Yes, through the X add-on, which costs $10 a month per connected account. X isn't available on Metricool's free plan. Buffer includes X as a normal channel, even on its free plan.

Which is better for agencies?

For many clients, Metricool's brand based pricing, client management and automated reports usually work out cheaper. Buffer's Team plan is simpler and includes unlimited users, which suits small teams with few accounts.

Can I cancel at any time?

Metricool says you can cancel any time and your account becomes free at the end of the billing cycle. For Buffer, check its help pages for how cancelling and refunds work.

Sources

All checked on November 1, 2026 (01-11-2026):

• Metricool pricing and FAQ: https://metricool.com/pricing/
• Buffer pricing: https://buffer.com/pricing
• Buffer pricing details and FAQ: https://buffer.com/pricing.md