Comparing Buffer and Planable? This breakdown focuses on fit, pricing model, and operational tradeoffs so you can choose faster.
Your social media workspace
Best for: Solo creators managing 1–3 accounts who want a simple, affordable tool
Pricing model: Per channel
Platforms (11): Twitter/X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok, Threads, Bluesky, Pinterest, Mastodon, Google Business Profile
The content collaboration platform for teams
Best for: Agencies managing multiple clients who need approval workflows
Pricing model: flat
Platforms (9): Twitter/X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok, Pinterest, Threads, Google Business Profile
| Feature | Buffer | Planable |
|---|---|---|
| Social Accounts | Free ($0)3 Essentials ($6/mo)$6/channel Team ($12/mo)$12/channel NotePer-channel pricing | Free ($0)4 Basic ($39/mo)4/workspace Pro ($59/mo)10/workspace Enterprise (Custom)50/workspace |
| Scheduled Posts | Free ($0)10 Essentials ($6/mo)unlimited Team ($12/mo)unlimited | Free ($0)50 total Basic ($39/mo)60/workspace/month Pro ($59/mo)150/workspace/month Enterprise (Custom)unlimited |
| Team Members | Free ($0)1 Essentials ($6/mo)1 Team ($12/mo)unlimited | Free ($0)unlimited Basic ($39/mo)unlimited Pro ($59/mo)unlimited Enterprise (Custom)unlimited |
| Workspaces | Free ($0)1 Basic ($39/mo)$39/workspace Pro ($59/mo)$59/workspace | |
| Media Library | Free ($0)10GB Basic ($39/mo)10GB Pro ($59/mo)50GB Enterprise (Custom)custom | |
| API Access | ||
| MCP Access | ||
| CLI Access | ||
| AI Text Generations | Free ($0)✓ Basic ($39/mo)✓ Pro ($59/mo)✓ Enterprise (Custom)✓ | |
| AI Image Generations | Free ($0)✗ Basic ($39/mo)✗ Pro ($59/mo)✗ Enterprise (Custom)✗ | |
| AI Video Generations | Free ($0)✗ Basic ($39/mo)✗ Pro ($59/mo)✗ Enterprise (Custom)✗ | |
| Analytics | Free ($0)30 days history Essentials ($6/mo)unlimited Team ($12/mo)unlimited | Free ($0)✗ Basic ($39/mo)extra $14/workspace/month Pro ($59/mo)extra $14/workspace/month Enterprise (Custom)extra $14/workspace/month |
| First Comment Scheduling | Free ($0)✗ Essentials ($6/mo)✓ Team ($12/mo)✓ | Free ($0)✓ Basic ($39/mo)✓ Pro ($59/mo)✓ Enterprise (Custom)✓ |
| Approval Workflows | Free ($0)✗ Essentials ($6/mo)✗ Team ($12/mo)✓ | Free ($0)✓ Basic ($39/mo)✓ Pro ($59/mo)✓ Enterprise (Custom)✓ |
| Bulk Scheduling |
Buffer focuses on simple social media scheduling and publishing, targeting solo creators, small businesses, and freelancers who want a clean, simple tool. Its key strengths include clean, intuitive interface with minimal learning curve and transparent company culture with a strong brand reputation.
Planable focuses on content planning, approval workflows, and team collaboration for social media, targeting marketing teams, agencies, and freelancers who need client approval workflows. Its key strengths include best-in-class approval workflows with multiple levels and flexible configurations and unlimited team members on all plans including free — excellent for agencies.
Bottom line: Choose Buffer if solo creators managing 1–3 accounts who want a simple, affordable tool. Choose Planable if agencies managing multiple clients who need approval workflows.
Buffer uses per channel pricing, starting at $0. A free tier is available.
Planable uses flat pricing, starting at $0. A free tier is available.
Bottom line: Compare total cost at your expected usage — account count, team size, and feature tier all affect the final number.
Buffer: Email-based support, typically same-day on paid plans. Channels include Email support, Help center, Community resources.
Planable: Chat support on Pro, priority on Enterprise. Channels include Knowledge base, Chat support (Pro+), Priority support (Enterprise).
Bottom line: Evaluate support based on your team size and how critical response time is to your workflow.
Per channel pricing — free tier available
Free: $0
Essentials: $6/month
Team: $12/month
flat pricing — free tier available
Free: $0
Basic: $39/month
Pro: $59/month
Enterprise: Custom
PublishQIf you are comparing both tools because they feel heavy or expensive for your current stage, PublishQ is a leaner option focused on publishing speed, flat pricing, and CLI/MCP/API access on the free plan.
| Category | Buffer | Planable | PublishQ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Per channel | flat | Flat pricing |
| Platform support | 11 (Twitter/X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok, Threads, Bluesky, Pinterest, Mastodon, Google Business Profile) | 9 (Twitter/X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok, Pinterest, Threads, Google Business Profile) | 8 (Twitter/X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok, Threads, Bluesky) |
| CLI/MCP/API access | Not available | Not available | Included on free plan |
| Best for | Solo creators managing 1–3 accounts who want a simple, affordable tool | Agencies managing multiple clients who need approval workflows | Solo creators posting across multiple platforms who want flat pricing |
No credit card required • Set up in under 3 minutes
I left my Software Engineer role at Amazon to build tools that solve real problems — the kind big companies ignore because they read spreadsheets instead of using their own products.
I was spending over an hour daily just scheduling 2 shorts across 3 platforms — logging in, reformatting, uploading one by one. That felt broken. So I built PublishQ. Now I create 4 shorts in 3 minutes and schedule them to 4 platforms in under 30 seconds.
PublishQ is bootstrapped. No investors, no vanity metrics. I build what actually helps you — because I use it every day myself.
Upgrade or cancel anytime. No bloated pricing.
Social Accounts: 3
Scheduled Posts: 10
Team Members: 2
Workspaces: 2
Media Library
AI Text Generations: 5
AI Image Generations: 5
AI Video Generations: 1
API Access
MCP Access
CLI Access
Analytics
Approval Workflows
Bulk Scheduling
First Comment Scheduling
Social Accounts: 10
Scheduled Posts: unlimited
Team Members: unlimited
Workspaces: unlimited
Media Library: 100GB
AI Text Generations: 100
AI Image Generations: 100
AI Video Generations: 10
API Access
MCP Access
CLI Access
Analytics
Approval Workflows
Bulk Scheduling
First Comment Scheduling
Social Accounts: 25
Scheduled Posts: unlimited
Team Members: unlimited
Workspaces: unlimited
Media Library: 200GB
AI Text Generations: 500
AI Image Generations: 500
AI Video Generations: 50
API Access
MCP Access
CLI Access
Analytics
Approval Workflows
Bulk Scheduling
First Comment Scheduling
Social Accounts: unlimited
Scheduled Posts: unlimited
Team Members: unlimited
Workspaces: unlimited
Media Library: unlimited
AI Text Generations: unlimited
AI Image Generations: unlimited
AI Video Generations: unlimited
API Access
MCP Access
CLI Access
Analytics
Approval Workflows
Bulk Scheduling
First Comment Scheduling
VAT is not included. Final price is calculated at checkout. 14-day refund policy on all paid plans.