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Marketing · head to head

Buffer vs Influential

Buffer logo

Buffer

Marketing

Build your audience organically on social media

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Influential logo

Influential

Influencer Marketing

Enterprise influencer marketing platform

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Buffer has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Buffer the free plan allows 3 connected channels and 10 scheduled posts per channel; Influential influential now presents Captiv8 as its platform, so the software is the Captiv8 product rather than a separate Influential tool
  • They diverge on capability: Buffer covers Post scheduling, Influential covers Creator discovery.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Buffer and Influential actually diverge.

Attributes where Buffer and Influential differ
AttributeBufferInfluential
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb, Api
CategoryMarketingInfluencer Marketing
Founded20102013

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Buffer

  • Post scheduling
  • Content calendar
  • Analytics dashboard
  • Link shortening
  • Hashtag manager
  • First comment
  • Instagram Stories
  • Shop Grid

Only in Influential

  • Creator discovery
  • Campaign management
  • Content tracking
  • Audience analysis
  • Performance analytics
  • ROI measurement
  • Content library
  • Advanced reporting

Both cover

  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • TikTok
  • GDPR

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Buffer

  • Social media schedulingnot Influential
  • Content planningnot Influential
  • Performance analyticsnot Influential
  • Team collaborationnot Influential
  • Client managementnot Influential

Influential

  • Matching brands to creators using audience and performance datanot Buffer
  • Running large brand influencer campaigns as a managed engagementnot Buffer

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Buffer

  • The free plan allows 3 connected channels and 10 scheduled posts per channel
  • Essentials at $5 a month covers a single user; team members need the Team plan at $10 a month
  • Approval workflows and custom permissions are Team tier only
  • API access is rationed by plan, from 3,000 monthly requests on free to 15,000 on Team
  • Content ideas are capped at 100 on the free plan

Influential

  • Influential now presents Captiv8 as its platform, so the software is the Captiv8 product rather than a separate Influential tool
  • No price, package or minimum is published; the site offers only a 30-minute call

Pricing, plan by plan

Buffer

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 3 connected accounts
    • 10 scheduled posts per channel per month
    • 100 content ideas
  • Essentials$5/month
    • Unlimited scheduled posts
    • Per-channel pricing
    • Advanced analytics
  • Team$10/month
    • Unlimited team members
    • Unlimited scheduled posts
    • Content approval workflows

Influential

On request
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Creator discovery
    • Campaign management
    • Content tracking

Which should you pick?

Choose Buffer if

  • You need post scheduling.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want content calendar.
Buffer review

Choose Influential if

  • You need creator discovery.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want campaign management.
Influential review

Questions people ask

Is Buffer or Influential better?
Neither clearly leads. Buffer starts at Free and Influential at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Buffer or Influential?
Buffer has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Buffer and On request for Influential.
Does Buffer or Influential run on more platforms?
Buffer runs on Web, iOS, Android. Influential runs on Web, Api.
Can I use Buffer for free?
Yes. Buffer has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Influential starts at On request.
What is Buffer best used for?
Buffer is most often used for social media scheduling, content planning, performance analytics, team collaboration. Of those, social media scheduling and content planning are not what Influential is typically brought in for.
What can Buffer do that Influential cannot?
Buffer covers Post scheduling, Content calendar, Analytics dashboard, Link shortening. Influential covers Creator discovery, Campaign management, Content tracking, Audience analysis. Both handle Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, GDPR.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Buffer: Does Buffer's free plan include all social media platforms?

The free plan supports 3 connected accounts across any of Buffer's 11 supported platforms (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn, X, YouTube, Threads, Pinterest, Google Business Profile, Bluesky, Mastodon) with up to 10 scheduled posts per channel per month.

Source
Influential: What is Influential's pricing?

Pricing is not publicly available. Influential operates on an enterprise-focused model requiring direct sales consultation.

Source
Buffer: Can I schedule Instagram Stories with Buffer?

No. Instagram Stories cannot be auto-published. Buffer sends a mobile notification to manually post stories, as Instagram does not provide an API for automated Story scheduling.

Source
Influential: Can I try Influential without contacting sales?

No. The website offers no self-serve trial or free tier. Access requires setting up a 30-minute call with the sales team.

Source
Buffer: What is Buffer's per-channel pricing model?

Buffer charges per social media account (channel) rather than per user. Channels 1-10 cost standard rates ($5 Essentials or $10 Team), with additional channels beyond 10 discounted per channel.

Source
Influential: How do I get pricing or schedule a demo?

Use the contact form on their website or sign in to the enterprise platform. All inquiries go through a sales consultation process.

Source
Buffer: Does Buffer have a mobile app and what platforms does it support?

Yes, Buffer offers iOS and Android apps for mobile management. The iOS app supports Mastodon and YouTube comment features, while Android support for these features is in development. Android community access works on the six most recent major Android versions.

Source
Buffer: What discount does Buffer offer for annual billing?

Buffer offers a 20% discount for annual billing across all paid plans, plus an additional 50% discount on paid plans for nonprofit organizations.

Source
Buffer: Can Buffer integrate with content creation and storage tools?

Yes. Buffer integrates with 24 tools including Canva, Google Drive, Dropbox, Unsplash for media, Zapier and Make for automation, WordPress for publishing, and Claude, ChatGPT, and Perplexity for AI-assisted content creation.

Source
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