Social9 vs Buffer
The Buffer alternative that writes your posts too
Short answer: Buffer is simple and affordable, with a free plan for 3 channels and paid plans from $5 per channel per month. Pick Social9 if you want AI Autopilot to plan, draft, schedule and publish posts for you on 11 networks, with pricing per plan rather than per channel.
Prices checked October 2026.
At a glance
Social9 vs Buffer: comparison
Social9Free; from $12/mo
BufferFree; then $5/channel/mo| Social9 | Buffer | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free; Individual $12/mo ($120/yr); Team $39/mo ($390/yr); Agency $99/mo ($990/yr); Enterprise custom | Essentials $5/channel/mo; Team $10/channel/mo (unlimited users) |
| Free plan | Yes: 1 brand, 3 accounts (LinkedIn, Instagram, Mastodon, Bluesky), 20 AI credits/mo, 10 queued posts per account | Yes: 3 channels, 10 scheduled posts per channel, 1 user |
| Networks | 11: Facebook, Instagram, Threads, LinkedIn, X, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, Google Business Profile, Bluesky, Mastodon (Free: LinkedIn, Instagram, Mastodon, Bluesky; X from Individual, 50 to 300 X posts/mo by plan) | Facebook, Instagram, Threads, LinkedIn, X, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, Google Business Profile, Bluesky, Mastodon, Substack |
| AI features | Autopilot plans, drafts, schedules and publishes posts; drafts only on Free, you approve first on Individual (AI credits/mo: 20 Free, 150 Individual, 500 Team, 1,500 Agency) | AI Assistant with unlimited credits on all plans; AI reply suggestions |
| Approvals | Approvals for teammates and clients from Team ($39/mo: 3 brands, 9 accounts, 5 members) | Team plan only |
| Analytics | Stats history: 30 days Free, 90 days Individual, 1 year Team and Agency, 2 years Enterprise | 30-day history on Free; full analytics and reports from Essentials; branded reports on Team |
Prices in USD, checked October 2026 on each vendor's own site: Buffer pricing and Social9 pricing. Plans change; check the vendor's page before you buy.
Quick verdict
Choose Buffer if… choose Social9 if…
Pick Buffer if
- You want a simple scheduler with a free plan for up to 3 channels
- You only post to one or two channels, so per-channel pricing stays low
- You also publish to Substack
Pick Social9 if
- You want AI Autopilot to plan, draft, schedule and publish posts, not just a calendar you fill by hand
- You manage several channels per brand and prefer one plan price over paying per channel
- You want approvals at a flat price: Team is $39/mo for 3 brands, 9 accounts and 5 members
- You want the calendar filled for you, not just a queue to fill
Cost
What you pay at 3, 10 and 25 social accounts
Monthly prices in USD. Social9 prices are flat per plan, with team members included and no per-seat fees.
| Social accounts | Social9 | Buffer |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | $0 on Free (LinkedIn, Instagram, Mastodon or Bluesky), or $12/mo on Individual for any network | $15/mo on Essentials, $30/mo on Team (billed yearly) |
| 10 | $99/mo on Agency (Team at $39/mo covers 9) | $50/mo on Essentials, $100/mo on Team (billed yearly) |
| 25 | $99/mo on Agency | $125/mo on Essentials, $250/mo on Team (billed yearly) |
Social9 counts accounts per brand: 3 per brand on Team, 5 per brand on Agency, and support can raise a limit on any plan. Buffer figures are worked out from its pricing page, checked October 2026.
Switching
Switch from Buffer to Social9 in four steps
- 1
Check your networks
List the profiles you manage in Buffer. Social9 publishes to 11 networks: Facebook, Instagram, Threads, LinkedIn, X, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, Google Business Profile, Bluesky, Mastodon.
- 2
Start free and connect
Create a free Social9 account (1 brand, 3 social accounts on LinkedIn, Instagram, Mastodon or Bluesky), or pick a paid plan for other networks, then connect your accounts.
- 3
Move your queue
Copy the posts already scheduled in Buffer into Social9, or let Autopilot plan and draft the next batch for you to review.
- 4
Switch over cleanly
Run both tools for a few days, then pause the Buffer queue so nothing posts twice. Add your team on Team or Agency to use approvals.
FAQ
Buffer alternatives: FAQ
Is there a better free alternative to Buffer?
Both have free plans. Buffer Free covers 3 channels with 10 scheduled posts each. Social9 Free also covers 3 accounts with 10 queued posts each, but only on LinkedIn, Instagram, Mastodon and Bluesky, and adds 20 AI credits a month for Autopilot drafts.
Is Social9 cheaper than Buffer?
It depends on channel count. Buffer charges $5 (Essentials) or $10 (Team) per channel per month, billed yearly. For 3 channels, Buffer Essentials is $15/mo and Social9 Individual is $10/mo billed yearly ($12 monthly). For 9 channels with approvals, Buffer Team is $90/mo and Social9 Team is $32.50/mo billed yearly ($39 monthly). With one or two channels, Buffer costs the same or less.
Do Buffer and Social9 support the same networks?
Mostly. Both cover Facebook, Instagram, Threads, LinkedIn, X, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, Google Business Profile, Bluesky and Mastodon. Buffer also supports Substack.
Does Buffer have approval workflows?
Yes, on the Team plan. Social9 has approvals for teammates and clients from its Team plan ($39/mo).
Keep comparing
Related comparisons and resources
Try Social9 as your Buffer alternative
Autopilot plans, drafts, schedules and publishes your posts on 11 networks. Start on the free plan.