Metricool vs Buffer: Social Media Management Software Compared (2026)
Metricool and Buffer are two widely compared social media management tools. Metricool is a social media scheduling, analytics and ads reporting tool priced by the number of brands, with Free, Starter, Advanced and Custom plans. Buffer is a social media scheduling and analytics tool priced per connected channel, with a free plan and Essentials and Team plans.
- Verified 10 Nov 2026Sources are dated on this page
- 3 sourcesLinked, typed and dated
- No winner declaredFit depends on your criteria
- Not tested by Stack18Editorial summary of documented facts
Metricool vs Buffer: the short answer
Metricool is a social media scheduling, analytics and ads reporting tool priced by the number of brands, with Free, Starter, Advanced and Custom plans. Buffer is a social media scheduling and analytics tool priced per connected channel, with a free plan and Essentials and Team plans. Both are social media management tools, but they differ in pricing model, target team size and focus.
On pricing, Metricool is described as: monthly or annual by number of brands; Buffer as: per channel per month, monthly or annual. Both have a free option. Metricool lists a free option: 1 brand. Buffer lists a free option: 3 channels. Metricool is positioned for creators, freelancers and agencies wanting analytics-rich scheduling by brand, and Buffer for creators and small businesses wanting simple, low-cost scheduling.
Everything below is drawn from the two sourced profiles and the 3 dated sources listed at the end. Where a source does not document something it is marked Unknown, and third-party estimates are labelled. No winner is declared: the better fit depends on your size, budget and requirements.
Metricool and Buffer at a glance.
One card per product, drawn from each full profile. Open a profile for features, pricing plans, limits and sources.
Metricool
Metricool · Social Media Management Software
Metricool is a social media scheduling, analytics and ads reporting tool priced by the number of brands, with Free, Starter, Advanced and Custom plans.
- Pricing
- Free (1 brand); Starter from $20, Advanced from $53 a month billed annually.
- Best for
- Creators, freelancers and agencies wanting analytics-rich scheduling by brand
Buffer
Buffer · Social Media Management Software
Buffer is a social media scheduling and analytics tool priced per connected channel, with a free plan and Essentials and Team plans.
- Pricing
- Free (3 channels); Essentials $5 and Team $10 per channel a month billed annually.
- Best for
- Creators and small businesses wanting simple, low-cost scheduling
Metricool vs Buffer: feature-by-feature comparison.
Every row is drawn from the sources listed below. Rows that differ are marked, and you can filter the table to show only those.
- YesDocumented
- PartialAvailable with limits or on some plans
- NoDocumented as unavailable
- UnknownNot documented in the sources reviewed
| Dimension |  Metricool |  Buffer |
|---|---|---|
| Product | ||
| Product typeDiffers | YesSocial media planning and analytics | YesSocial media scheduling tool |
| VendorDiffers | YesMetricool | YesBuffer |
| Best forDiffers | YesCreators, freelancers and agencies wanting analytics-rich scheduling by brand | YesCreators and small businesses wanting simple, low-cost scheduling |
| Pricing | ||
| Pricing modelDiffers | YesMonthly or annual by number of brands. | YesPer channel per month, monthly or annual. |
| Pricing summaryDiffers | YesFree (1 brand); Starter from $20, Advanced from $53 a month billed annually. | YesFree (3 channels); Essentials $5 and Team $10 per channel a month billed annually. |
| Free planDiffers | YesYes (1 brand) | YesYes (3 channels) |
| Free trialDiffers | NoNot documented | YesYes (14 days) |
| Social Media Management Software criteria | ||
| Pricing modelDiffers | YesBy brands | YesPer channel |
| Starting priceDiffers | Yes$20/mo (annual) | Yes$5/channel/mo (annual) |
| Users includedDiffers | PartialUnlimited on Advanced | Partial1 (Essentials); unlimited (Team) |
| Best forDiffers | YesCreators and agencies | YesCreators and small businesses |
| Fit and platform | ||
| Team size | YesSmall teams, Mid-size teams | YesSmall teams, Mid-size teams |
| Platforms | YesWeb, iOS, Android | YesWeb, iOS, Android |
| IntegrationsDiffers | YesCanva, Looker Studio, Ad platforms | YesMajor social networks, Canva, Zapier |
| API | UnknownNot reviewed for this profile. | UnknownNot reviewed for this profile. |
Metricool vs Buffer pricing.
Plan names, prices and billing terms as reported in each profile's sources. Taxes, add-ons and discounts are excluded unless stated.
Metricool pricing
Monthly or annual by number of brands.
- Free$0 · Free
- StarterFrom $20 per month (annual) / $25 monthly · Monthly or annual
- AdvancedFrom $53 per month (annual) / $67 monthly · Monthly or annual
- CustomContact sales · Annual
Prices from independent sources; treat as reported. Source is a competing tool; prices exclude VAT. Currency: USD. Checked 10 Nov 2026.
All Metricool plans and sources
Buffer pricing
Per channel per month, monthly or annual.
- Free$0 · Free
- Essentials$5 per channel per month · Annual ($6 monthly)
- Team$10 per channel per month · Annual ($12 monthly)
Prices from independent sources; treat as reported. Source is a competing tool; it notes Buffer's FAQ cites 20% annual savings while the table implies about 16.7%. Currency: USD. Checked 10 Nov 2026.
All Buffer plans and sourcesMetricool vs Buffer: pricing model, ecosystem and fit.
Pricing model and cost drivers
Metricool: monthly or annual by number of brands. Source is a competing tool; prices exclude VAT. Buffer: per channel per month, monthly or annual. Source is a competing tool; it notes Buffer's FAQ cites 20% annual savings while the table implies about 16.7%. Model costs at your real seat count, usage and contract term before comparing headline prices.
What sets each apart
The Metricool profile highlights: priced by brands, not users; free plan; x connection is a paid add-on. The Buffer profile highlights: per-channel pricing; volume discounts above 10 channels; unlimited users on Team.
Integrations and ecosystem
Metricool integrations named in its sources: Canva, Looker Studio and Ad platforms. Buffer: Major social networks, Canva and Zapier. Check that the connectors you rely on exist on the plan you would buy.
Deployment and team fit
Metricool runs on Web, iOS and Android and is documented for small teams and mid-size teams. Buffer runs on Web, iOS and Android and is documented for small teams and mid-size teams. We did not test setup or migration.
Metricool and Buffer: each option, in balance.
Each point is linked to a dated source on the product's profile.
Metricool
Strengths and limitations from the profile
- Free plan for one brand.
- Unlimited team members on Advanced.
- Looker Studio connector and API.
- X requires a $10 per account add-on.
- Free plan excludes LinkedIn and X.
- No team seats on Starter.
Buffer
Strengths and limitations from the profile
- Free plan for up to 3 channels.
- Unlimited users on Team.
- Volume discounts above 10 channels.
- Free plan limits queued posts to 10 per channel.
- Costs grow with every channel.
- Fair-use cap of 5,000 posts per channel.
Metricool or Buffer: which fits which situation?
No overall winner is declared. The better choice depends on the criteria that matter most to you, so test both against your own requirements.
Choose Metricool if you are…
- Creators, freelancers and agencies wanting analytics-rich scheduling by brand
- Agencies needing Looker Studio reports
- Budget-conscious teams
Less suited to: enterprises needing listening and SSO; heavy X (Twitter) users on a budget.
See the Metricool profile
Choose Buffer if you are…
- Creators and small businesses wanting simple, low-cost scheduling
- Teams that want unlimited users cheaply
- Brands with few channels
Less suited to: enterprises needing listening; customer care teams needing a full inbox.
See the Buffer profileSwitching between Metricool and Buffer.
Moving off Metricool or Buffer means reconnecting every social profile, re-creating scheduled posts and content libraries, rebuilding approval workflows, user roles and report templates, and exporting historical analytics you want to keep. Overlap both tools for one publishing cycle. Schedule one real week of posts and run one client or management report in each shortlisted tool.
- Export a sample of your data and test an import into the other product.
- List the automations, integrations and permissions you would need to rebuild.
- Compare total cost at your real volume, including add-ons and services.
- Pilot with one team before a full cut-over.
- Check contract terms and notice periods with both vendors.
General guidance, not specific to either vendor. Confirm migration options with the vendors.
Metricool vs Buffer: questions and answers
What is the difference between Metricool and Buffer?
Metricool is a social media scheduling, analytics and ads reporting tool priced by the number of brands, with Free, Starter, Advanced and Custom plans. Buffer is a social media scheduling and analytics tool priced per connected channel, with a free plan and Essentials and Team plans. Both are social media management tools, but they differ in pricing model, target team size and focus. Metricool is positioned for creators, freelancers and agencies wanting analytics-rich scheduling by brand; Buffer for creators and small businesses wanting simple, low-cost scheduling.
Is Metricool cheaper than Buffer?
It depends on your volume and plan. Metricool: Free (1 brand); Starter from $20, Advanced from $53 a month billed annually. Buffer: Free (3 channels); Essentials $5 and Team $10 per channel a month billed annually. Compare both at your real seat count, usage and contract term.
Do Metricool or Buffer have a free plan?
Both have a free option. Metricool lists a free option: 1 brand. Buffer lists a free option: 3 channels. Metricool free trial: Not documented. Buffer free trial: Yes (14 days).
Metricool or Buffer: which is better for small teams?
Metricool and Buffer are both documented for small teams. Metricool suits creators, freelancers and agencies wanting analytics-rich scheduling by brand; Buffer suits creators and small businesses wanting simple, low-cost scheduling. Neither is best for everyone.
What are the main limitations of Metricool and Buffer?
Metricool: X requires a $10 per account add-on. Buffer: Free plan limits queued posts to 10 per channel.
How much does Metricool cost?
Starter starts at $20 and Advanced at $53 a month billed annually, priced by number of brands; there is a free plan.
How much does Buffer cost?
Essentials is $5 and Team $10 per channel a month billed annually ($6 and $12 monthly); there is a free plan.
What are the alternatives to Metricool and Buffer?
Stack18 has alternatives guides for both: Metricool alternatives and Buffer alternatives, each comparing at least four other social media management tools on pricing, free plan, features and fit. The Social Media Management Software category lists every profile.
Where this comparison comes from.
- Metricool Pricing in 2026 SocialPilot (competing vendor) Third-party Accessed 10 Nov 2026
- Social Media Management Software Pricing 2026 CostBench Third-party Accessed 10 Nov 2026
- Buffer Pricing: What Per-Channel Billing Actually Costs NapoleonCat (competing vendor) Third-party Accessed 10 Nov 2026
This comparison summarises the Metricool and Buffer profiles and their sources. Third-party figures are labelled; confirm current pricing and terms with each vendor. Stack18 has not tested these products.
Ready to test Metricool and Buffer?
Check each vendor's current pricing and terms, run both against a real scenario from your business, or talk to Stack18 if off-the-shelf software is not the answer.
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