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Software · head to head

Buffer vs Planoly

Buffer logo

Buffer

Software

Build your audience organically on social media

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Planoly logo

Planoly

Software

Visual social media planning, scheduling, and link-in-bio platform

From
$14/month
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; Planoly the free mobile app tier is limited to 10 uploads per month, too low for active accounts.
  • They diverge on capability: Buffer covers Post scheduling, Planoly covers Visual grid planning.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Buffer and Planoly actually diverge.

Attributes where Buffer and Planoly differ
AttributeBufferPlanoly
Starting priceFree$14/month
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
Free tierYesNo
Founded2010Unknown

Identical on both: platforms (Web, iOS, Android), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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 Planoly

  • Visual grid planning
  • Auto-posting
  • AI content ideas
  • Link in bio
  • DM and comment automation
  • Media library
  • Analytics

What people use each for

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

Buffer

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

Planoly

  • Planning an Instagram feed grid before postingnot Buffer
  • Scheduling and auto-publishing across multiple social networksnot Buffer
  • Selling digital products or merch via a link-in-bio pagenot Buffer
  • Automating Instagram DM replies for lead capturenot Buffer
  • Managing content for multiple clients as an agencynot 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

Planoly

  • The free mobile app tier is limited to 10 uploads per month, too low for active accounts.
  • Additional social sets and team seats require paid add-ons rather than being included at higher volumes.
  • Auto-posting to some platforms requires a push notification and manual tap to finish publishing rather than being fully automatic.
  • Advanced monetization and automation features are gated behind paid plans with no lower-cost equivalent.

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

Planoly

$14/month
  • Starter$14/month
    • 1 social set
    • Unlimited uploads
    • 1 user
  • Growth$24/month
    • 2 social sets
    • Unlimited uploads
    • 2 users
  • Pro$47/month
    • 6 social sets
    • Unlimited uploads
    • 6 users

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 Planoly if

  • You need visual grid planning.
  • You work on web, ios, android.
  • You also want auto-posting.
Planoly review

Questions people ask

Is Buffer or Planoly better?
Neither clearly leads. Buffer starts at Free and Planoly at $14/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Buffer or Planoly?
Buffer has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Buffer and $14/month for Planoly.
Does Buffer or Planoly run on more platforms?
Buffer runs on Web, iOS, Android. Planoly runs on web, ios, android.
Can I use Buffer for free?
Yes. Buffer has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Planoly starts at $14/month.
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 Planoly is typically brought in for.
What can Buffer do that Planoly cannot?
Buffer covers Post scheduling, Content calendar, Analytics dashboard, Link shortening. Planoly covers Visual grid planning, Auto-posting, AI content ideas, Link in bio.

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
Planoly: Does Planoly offer a free trial?

All paid plans include a 14-day free trial before users are charged, letting new users test scheduling and link-in-bio features first.

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
Planoly: What are Planoly's pricing tiers?

Planoly offers Starter ($14/mo), Growth ($24/mo), and Pro ($47/mo) monthly plans, with lower per-month rates if billed annually; each tier increases the number of social sets and users included.

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
Planoly: Can I cancel or change my Planoly plan anytime?

Plans can be upgraded, downgraded, or canceled at any time according to Planoly's pricing page.

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
Planoly: Is there a free version of Planoly?

A free mobile app tier exists with a limit of 10 uploads per month; full scheduling features require a paid plan.

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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