Software · head to head
Mailgun vs Buffer
The short version
- Only Buffer has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Mailgun free plan caps at 100 emails per day; Buffer the free plan allows 3 connected channels and 10 scheduled posts per channel
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Mailgun and Buffer actually diverge.
Identical on both: 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 Mailgun
Nothing recorded that Buffer does not also cover.
Only in Buffer
- Post scheduling
- Content calendar
- Analytics dashboard
- Link shortening
- Hashtag manager
- First comment
- Instagram Stories
- Shop Grid
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Mailgun
No use cases recorded yet. See the Mailgun review.
Buffer
- Social media schedulingnot Mailgun
- Content planningnot Mailgun
- Performance analyticsnot Mailgun
- Team collaborationnot Mailgun
- Client managementnot Mailgun
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Mailgun
- Free plan caps at 100 emails per day
- Basic plan starts at $15/mo for 10,000 emails then overages from $1.80 per 1,000; Foundation and Scale plans discount overage rates but still meter every email beyond the included volume
- Foundation ($35/mo) and Scale ($90/mo) plans are free for the first month only, then bill at full price
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
Pricing, plan by plan
Mailgun
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Mailgun review.
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
Which should you pick?
Choose Mailgun if
Nothing in the data separates Mailgun from Buffer on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.
Choose Buffer if
- You need post scheduling.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want content calendar.
Questions people ask
- Is Mailgun or Buffer better?
- Neither clearly leads. Mailgun starts at On request and Buffer at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Mailgun or Buffer?
- Buffer has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Mailgun and Free for Buffer.
- Does Mailgun or Buffer run on more platforms?
- Mailgun runs on Web. Buffer runs on Web, iOS, Android.
- Can I use Buffer for free?
- Yes. Buffer has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Mailgun starts at On request.
- What can Mailgun do that Buffer cannot?
- Buffer covers Post scheduling, Content calendar, Analytics dashboard, Link shortening.
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.
SourceBuffer: 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.
SourceBuffer: 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.
SourceBuffer: 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.
SourceBuffer: 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.
SourceBuffer: 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.
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