Buffer's free plan is one of the better ones around: 3 channels and 10 scheduled posts per channel, free forever. So the best free Buffer alternative for social media scheduling has to beat it on something specific, like more people in the account, a designer, an inbox or a network Buffer's free plan doesn't suit. We checked every free plan below on the vendor's own site on 13 October 2026.
The short version: if two people share the work, GoBrandIt's free plan gives you 2 team members where Buffer gives you 1. If you only post to Facebook and Instagram, Meta Business Suite costs nothing. If you're solo and just want the most queued posts across three accounts, stay on Buffer.
This post is only about free plans. For paid plans, see our head-to-head Buffer alternative page and the wider round-up of Buffer alternatives.
The short version
Buffer Free: 3 channels, 10 scheduled posts per channel, 100 ideas, 1 user.
GoBrandIt Free adds a second team member, a designer, an inbox and 50 AI credits a month, but caps you at 15 scheduled posts.
Publer and Pallyy are close matches with tighter catches: no X on Publer free, image posts only on Pallyy free.
Stay on Buffer if you work alone and want the most queued posts for $0.
What Buffer's free plan actually includes
Here's the free plan, straight from Buffer's pricing page:
Up to 3 channels (a channel is one account, such as an Instagram profile, a Facebook Page or a TikTok account)
10 scheduled posts per channel, refilled as posts go out
100 saved ideas
1 user account
AI Assistant, with AI reply suggestions capped at 5 a week
API access: 1 key and 3,000 requests a month
So at most 30 posts sit in your queue at once. For one person posting daily to three accounts, that's about ten days ahead, which is plenty for most small shops. The limits that bite are the single login and the cap if you batch a whole month at a time.
When you outgrow it, Buffer's paid plans are priced per channel: Essentials is $5 a month per channel and Team is $10 a month per channel, both on yearly billing. Team is where unlimited team members and approval workflows come in.
Free Buffer alternatives compared side by side
Free plan
Accounts
Scheduled posts
Users
The catch
Buffer
3 channels
10 per channel
1
One login only
GoBrandIt
3 accounts
15
2
Lower post cap
Publer
3 accounts
10 per account
1
No X; posts kept 24 hours
Metricool
1 brand
20 a month
Not stated
No LinkedIn or X
Pallyy
1 social set
15 a month
1
Image posts only
Adobe Express
1 per network
Up to 1,000 a month
Not stated
Design tool first
Meta Business Suite
Facebook + Instagram
Not stated
Not stated
Meta apps only
"Not stated" means the vendor's pricing page didn't give a number. Limits change, so treat this as a snapshot from 13 October 2026.
The 6 best free Buffer alternatives
1. GoBrandIt Free: best for a team of two
Yes, this one is ours. The free plan gives you 3 social accounts, 15 scheduled posts, 1 workspace, 2 team members, 250 MB of storage and 50 AI credits a month (no AI images). Beyond scheduling you get the Social Designer, the engagement inbox, the Idea Board, campaigns, Canva, the Android app and GoBrandIt Copilot. Supported networks include Google Business Profile, Threads, Bluesky, Mastodon and WordPress alongside the usual big ones.
The honest trade-off: 15 scheduled posts is fewer than Buffer's 30 across three channels. If you queue a month at a time, Buffer free holds more. If two people share the work, or you want design and replies in the same place, ours is the better free plan.
2. Publer Free: the closest like-for-like
Publer's free plan mirrors Buffer's: 3 accounts, 10 scheduled posts per account, 1 user and 25 saved drafts. Two catches. You can't connect X on free, and published posts are only stored for 24 hours, so there's no history to look back on. Pinterest accounts on free also need at least 100 followers or a claimed website.
3. Metricool Free: best if you like numbers
One brand, with one connection each for Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Threads, Bluesky, Pinterest, YouTube, Google Business Profile and a few more, and up to 20 scheduled posts a month. LinkedIn and X aren't available on free, and the Canva integration starts on paid plans.
4. Pallyy Free: fine for image-led brands
One social set, 1 user and 15 scheduled posts a month, image posts only. That rules out Reels and TikTok videos on free. Good for a boutique posting product photos. Not for video creators.
5. Adobe Express: free design plus scheduling
Adobe Express includes its Content Scheduler on the free plan: one account each on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X, Pinterest and LinkedIn, and up to 1,000 posts a month. It's a design tool first, so check that the scheduling side covers your routine before you move everything over.
6. Meta Business Suite: free if you only use Facebook and Instagram
Meta's own tool schedules posts and Stories to your Facebook Page and Instagram account at no cost, with a calendar view, according to Meta's help centre. It won't post to TikTok, LinkedIn or anything else, so the moment you add another network it becomes a second tool rather than a replacement.
Who should stay on Buffer
Switching takes an afternoon, and it isn't always worth it. Stay on Buffer's free plan if:
You work alone and don't need a second login.
You batch content and want the most queued posts for free (30 across three channels).
You grow one account at a time. With per-channel pricing, a fourth channel on Essentials costs $5 a month on yearly billing, not a whole new tier.
You already design in Canva. Buffer's Canva integration works on the free plan.
Buffer is a mature, well-documented product. If it fits, leaving it alone is often the smartest move.
How to pick the best free Buffer alternative for social media scheduling
1. List your networks. If X is on it, Publer free and Metricool free are out. If LinkedIn is, Metricool free is out.
2. Multiply posts per week, per account, by how many weeks ahead you plan. That's the scheduled-post cap you need.
3. Count the people who need to log in. More than one rules out Buffer, Publer and Pallyy on free.
4. Decide where your designs come from: a built-in designer, Canva, or files on your phone.
5. Schedule one real week on your top two picks and keep the one you open without thinking.
A worked example: a Pokhara hotel posting 4 times a week to Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, planning two weeks ahead, needs about 24 scheduled slots. Buffer free (30) fits. GoBrandIt free (15) means planning one week ahead. Metricool free (20 a month) can't cover the roughly 50 posts that schedule adds up to each month.
Tip
Check how a free plan counts posts. Buffer and Publer cap posts waiting per account; Metricool and Pallyy cap posts per month.
When free stops being enough
Every free plan here turns into a trial once you pass about three accounts or one person. At that point compare paid tiers, not free ones. Our GoBrandIt vs Buffer page covers the paid side in detail, and our guide on how to schedule social media posts helps you set a routine whichever tool you choose.
For reference, GoBrandIt Creator is $4.99 a month (or $50 a year) for 10 accounts, 30 scheduled posts and 4 team members. In Nepal it's Rs. 2,500 a year, paid by eSewa or bank transfer. Everything is on our pricing page.
Try the free plan built for two
GoBrandIt Free gives you 3 accounts, 2 team members, the Social Designer and an inbox. No card, no time limit.
Frequently asked questions
Is Buffer still free in 2026?
Yes. Buffer's free plan covers up to 3 channels, 10 scheduled posts per channel and 1 user, according to its pricing page.
What is the best free Buffer alternative for social media scheduling?
For two people sharing the work, GoBrandIt Free (2 team members). For the closest match to Buffer's limits, Publer Free. For Facebook and Instagram only, Meta Business Suite.
Does Buffer's free plan include team members?
No. The free plan has 1 user account. Unlimited team members and approvals come with the Team plan, at $10 per channel a month on yearly billing.
Which free scheduler lets you queue the most posts?
Among scheduler-first tools we checked, Buffer and Publer both allow 10 scheduled posts per account across 3 accounts. Adobe Express allows up to 1,000 posts a month, but only one account per network.
Can I schedule TikTok videos for free?
Yes. Buffer, GoBrandIt, Metricool and Adobe Express all let you connect TikTok on their free plans. Pallyy's free plan is limited to image posts.
Sources: Buffer pricing · Publer plans · Metricool pricing · Pallyy pricing · Adobe Express Content Scheduler · Meta Business Suite help: create and manage posts · Buffer Help Center: using Canva with Buffer. Prices and features checked October 2026. Tools change their plans often, so confirm on their own pricing page before you buy.