Buffer vs Later
Buffer
buffer.com
Later
later.comSide by side
| Figure | Buffer | Later |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $5/mo | $18.75/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 5 | 7 |
| Spec score · Social Media Management Tools | 9.5 (#1) | 9.0 (#12) |
| Spec score · Social Media Scheduling Software | 9.5 (#1) | 8.8 (#10) |
| Spec score · AI Social Media Management Software | 9.5 (#1) | 8.9 (#7) |
| Spec score · Social media schedulers | 9.5 (#1) | 8.9 (#8) |
| Analytics level | advanced | basic |
| Approval workflow | Yes | No |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Integrations | Buffer's integrations directory lists 24 apps, including Canva, ChatGPT, Claude, Dropbox, Google Drive, IFTTT, Make, n8n, WordPress, and Zapier. | Listed product integration partners include Google, Dropbox, Adobe, Mailchimp, Canva, Bazaarvoice, Yotpo, PowerReviews, and Everflow. |
| Mobile apps | Buffer's mobile app is available through the iOS App Store and Android Play Store, with minimum requirements of iOS 17 and Android 7.1. | Later offers mobile apps through the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. |
| Social accounts | 1 | 8 |
| Social inbox | Yes | No |
| Paid from | 5 | 18.75 |
| Supported networks | Facebook,Instagram,X/Twitter,LinkedIn,Pinterest,TikTok,Google Business Profile,Start Pages,Mastodon,YouTube Shorts,Threads,Bluesky | Later supports Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Threads, YouTube, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and Snapchat. |
| Team users | 1 | 1 |
Plans
Buffer
- FreeFree
- Essentials$5 a month
- Essentials$60 a year
- Team$10 a month
- Team$120 a year
Later
- FreeFree
- Starter$18.75 a month
- Growth$37.50 a month
- Scale$82.50 a month
- Starter$225 a year
- Growth$450 a year
- Scale$990 a year
In their own words
Buffer
Buffer is a social media management tool for scheduling posts, developing content, and reviewing performance across supported channels. Its tools include an idea library, an AI Assistant, and options to brainstorm, rewrite, and shape posts for specific platforms. A community inbox brings comments from multiple accounts into one dashboard for replies, while teams can edit and approve posts together. The free plan lasts indefinitely and supports up to three connected channels, 10 scheduled posts per channel, 100 ideas, and one user. Essentials and Team include a 14-day free trial; annual billing starts at $5 per month for one channel. Team adds unlimited team members and approval workflows. Buffer supports Android, iOS, web, browser extensions, and API access. Supported channels include Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn, Threads, Bluesky, YouTube Shorts, Pinterest, Google Business, Mastodon, and X. Integrations include Canva, Google Drive, Dropbox, and Zapier.
Later
Later is a social media management tool for planning content, publishing across channels, managing engagement, and analyzing performance. Its Visual Planner places media and text-only posts on a visual calendar that users can arrange with drag-and-drop. A customizable Link in Bio page can direct followers to products, videos, blogs, and brands. Later supports Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Pinterest, TikTok, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Snapchat. Automatic publishing is available for Instagram business or creator profiles, TikTok, Facebook, Threads, Pinterest, and LinkedIn. Analytics are basic, and the listed feature set does not include a social inbox or approval workflow. Later is available on web, iOS, and Android; the mobile app requires iOS 15 or newer or Android 6.0 or newer. The Starter plan costs $18.75 a month when billed yearly, with 8 profiles, 1 user, and 30 posts per profile each month. A 14-day trial is listed, while the pricing facts state there is no free plan.