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Marketing · head to head

Buffer vs Tumblr

Buffer logo

Buffer

Marketing

Build your audience organically on social media

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Tumblr logo

Tumblr

Social Media

Blogging and fandom platform owned by Automattic after being sold off by Verizon for a fraction of what Yahoo paid for it

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Buffer the free plan allows 3 connected channels and 10 scheduled posts per channel; Tumblr user growth has been flat to declining for years, and the platform receives comparatively little product investment relative to competitors, so new features arrive slowly.
  • They diverge on capability: Buffer covers Post scheduling, Tumblr covers Reblogging.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Buffer and Tumblr actually diverge.

Attributes where Buffer and Tumblr differ
AttributeBufferTumblr
Pricing modelUnknownFree to use, optional ad-free subscription and paid post promotion
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidiOS, Android, Web
CategoryMarketingSocial Media
Founded2010Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Tumblr

  • Reblogging
  • Tumblr Blaze
  • Ad-free browsing
  • Custom blog themes
  • Community labels
  • Post editor

What people use each for

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

Buffer

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

Tumblr

  • A fandom or fan-art community that has stayed on Tumblr specifically for its reblog and tagging culturenot Buffer
  • A writer or artist wanting a free, lightly customisable blog rather than a full websitenot Buffer
  • Someone researching how a platform behaves after a steep ownership devaluation and reduced investmentnot Buffer
  • A brand targeting niche fandom or subculture audiences that remain concentrated on Tumblr rather than mainstream platformsnot 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

Tumblr

  • User growth has been flat to declining for years, and the platform receives comparatively little product investment relative to competitors, so new features arrive slowly.
  • A 2018 ban on adult content drove away a significant part of the user base and community trust that has not fully recovered, even after some policy softening later.
  • Discovery and reach for new accounts is weaker than on algorithm-first platforms, so building an audience from zero is slower than on Instagram or TikTok.
  • The sharp drop in Tumblrs sale price between 2013 and 2019 signals real risk around long-term platform stability and continued investment under any given owner.
  • Moderation and safety tooling has historically lagged larger platforms, which matters for anyone running a brand presence that needs reliable content moderation support.

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

Tumblr

Free
  • TumblrFree
    • Free blogging, following and reblogging
  • Ad-Free Browsing$4.99/month
    • Removes ads from the browsing experience

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 Tumblr if

  • You need reblogging.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want tumblr blaze.
Tumblr review

Questions people ask

Is Buffer or Tumblr better?
Neither clearly leads. Buffer starts at Free and Tumblr at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Buffer or Tumblr?
Buffer starts at Free and Tumblr at Free.
Does Buffer or Tumblr run on more platforms?
Buffer runs on Web, iOS, Android. Tumblr runs on iOS, Android, Web.
Can I use Buffer for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 Tumblr is typically brought in for.
What can Buffer do that Tumblr cannot?
Buffer covers Post scheduling, Content calendar, Analytics dashboard, Link shortening. Tumblr covers Reblogging, Tumblr Blaze, Ad-free browsing, Custom blog themes.

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
Tumblr: Who owns Tumblr now?

Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com, which bought it from Verizon in 2019.

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
Tumblr: Is Tumblr still free?

Yes. An optional ad-free subscription and paid post promotion, Tumblr Blaze, exist, but the core platform is free.

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
Tumblr: Why did Tumblrs value drop so much between 2013 and 2019?

Years of user decline, accelerated by a 2018 ban on adult content that alienated a large part of its community, left it worth a small fraction of what Yahoo paid.

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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