Publer vs Buffer: Which Social Media Scheduler Is Worth It?
A side-by-side comparison of Publer and Buffer covering pricing, features, and which social media scheduling tool fits small teams best.
Updated 2026-10 · 2026
Publer
Social media scheduling and management for teams and agencies
Strengths
- +Pricing is per workspace, not per connected social account, which gets cheap fast if you manage many profiles
- +Built-in Chrome extension lets you curate and schedule content from any webpage
- +RSS feed auto-posting included on paid plans
Weaknesses
- -Analytics and reporting are weaker than Buffer's dedicated analytics add-on
- -UI feels more cluttered with more menus to navigate
- -No built-in link-in-bio page
Best for
Agencies and teams managing many social profiles who want per-workspace pricing instead of per-channel fees
Buffer
Simple, clean social media scheduling and analytics
Strengths
- +Clean, minimal interface that's fast to learn for new team members
- +Start Page link-in-bio tool included free
- +Strong analytics dashboard with engagement reporting
Weaknesses
- -Per-channel pricing gets expensive quickly if you manage many accounts
- -No native RSS auto-posting
- -No content curation browser extension
Best for
Solo creators and small teams managing a handful of social channels who want simple, clean scheduling
Feature Comparison
| Feature | ||
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | 3 social accounts, 1 user | 3 channels, 1 user |
| Pricing model | Per workspace/user | Per connected channel |
| Platforms supported | IG, FB, X, LinkedIn, TikTok, Pinterest, YouTube, GBP, Mastodon | IG, FB, X, LinkedIn, TikTok, Pinterest, YouTube, Mastodon, Threads |
| Bulk CSV scheduling | Yes, built in | Limited / not a core feature |
| RSS auto-posting | Yes, on paid plans | No |
| Content curation extension | Yes, Chrome extension | No |
| AI caption generation | Yes, Publer AI Assistant | Yes, Buffer AI Assistant |
| Link-in-bio page | No | Yes, Start Page (free) |
| Analytics depth | Basic on lower tiers, fuller on Business | Strong, dedicated analytics dashboard |
| Team approval workflows | Yes, on paid plans | Yes, on paid plans |
| Mobile app | Yes, fewer features than web | Yes, close feature parity with web |
The Verdict
If you manage a lot of social accounts across clients, Publer's per-workspace pricing and RSS/bulk-scheduling tools will save you real money over Buffer's per-channel model. If you run just a few channels and care more about clean analytics and a simple link-in-bio page, Buffer is the better and more polished pick. Neither is a clear universal winner — it comes down to how many channels you're juggling.
How to switch from Publer to Buffer
- 1Before canceling Publer, document your current scheduled queue manually — Publer doesn't have a bulk export for scheduled posts, so screenshot your Calendar view or note upcoming post dates/captions; you can export Analytics reports as CSV/PDF from the Analytics tab for historical performance records.
- 2Connect all your social accounts to Buffer first (Settings > Channels) and confirm each platform's permissions are approved before disconnecting them from Publer, so you don't lose posting access mid-migration.
- 3Recreate recurring content (RSS-fed posts, evergreen queues) manually in Buffer since it has no native RSS auto-posting — set up a Zapier or Make automation if you need to replicate that workflow.
- 4Rebuild your content calendar in Buffer by manually re-entering upcoming scheduled posts from your Publer notes, or bulk-upload a CSV of new content using Buffer's import tool.
- 5Recreate team roles and approval workflows in Buffer's Team settings, matching the permissions your team had set up in Publer's workspace.
- 6Run both tools in parallel for one posting cycle to confirm Buffer is publishing correctly, then disconnect accounts from Publer and cancel your subscription.
Publer vs Buffer: common questions
How do I export my data from Publer before switching to Buffer?+
Publer doesn't offer a one-click bulk export of your scheduled queue, so go into your Calendar view and manually note or screenshot upcoming scheduled posts before canceling. You can export analytics reports as CSV/PDF from the Analytics tab, but post drafts and scheduled content need to be recreated manually in Buffer.
What features will I lose moving from Publer to Buffer?+
You'll lose RSS feed auto-posting and the content curation browser extension, since Buffer doesn't offer either natively. You'll also lose Publer's bulk CSV scheduling workflow, though Buffer's calendar is simpler to use for manual scheduling.
Is Buffer's free plan enough for a small team?+
Buffer's free plan supports 1 user and 3 channels, which works for a solo operator but not a true multi-person team — you'll need the Team plan ($12/mo per channel) for collaboration features like approvals. If your team manages more than 3 channels, costs add up fast compared to Publer's per-workspace pricing.
Does Buffer integrate with the same tools Publer does?+
Both connect to the same core social platforms (Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, TikTok, Pinterest, YouTube), so most direct publishing integrations carry over. You will lose Publer's RSS feed connections and any Zapier automations built around Publer-specific triggers, so check your Zapier/Make workflows before cutting over.
Will switching to Buffer cost more or less over time?+
It depends entirely on how many channels you manage: Buffer charges per channel ($6-$12/mo each on paid tiers), so an agency with 15+ profiles will pay significantly more than on Publer's flat per-workspace pricing. For 1-3 channels, Buffer is often cheaper or comparable, especially using its free plan.