Buffer Review: My Honest Take After Testing This Social Media Scheduling Tool

I’ve been using Buffer for my client’s bakery Instagram account for about 8 months now, and let me tell you – it’s been a rollercoaster of “this is amazing” and “why won’t this work?” This review covers everything from Buffer’s core strengths to its frustrating limitations, plus four solid alternatives worth considering. Whether you’re a solo entrepreneur or managing social media for a team, I’ll help you decide if Buffer deserves a spot in your marketing toolkit.

After using this thing daily for the past few months, I’ve examined Buffer’s scheduling capabilities, pricing structure, user experience, and limitations. I’ll cover what Buffer excels at, where it falls short, and provide four alternative solutions for different business needs. My goal is to give you the real story behind this popular social media tool.

Table of Contents

• TL;DR: Buffer at a Glance
• Buffer Criteria Evaluation Table
• Buffer: Social Media Scheduling Made Simple
• Alternatives to Buffer Worth Considering
• Frequently Asked Questions About Buffer
• Final Thoughts on Buffer

TL;DR: Buffer at a Glance

Here’s the thing about Buffer – it’s stupid easy to use and has a generous free plan (3 channels, 10 posts each). The scheduling works flawlessly across 8+ major platforms, though some have limitations that might surprise you.

Here’s what you need to know upfront:

• Per-channel pricing ($6/month each) gets expensive fast for multi-platform businesses
• Analytics are basic unless you upgrade to Buffer Analyze separately
• Customer support is hit-or-miss with slow response times
• Missing advanced features like social listening and optimal posting time suggestions
• Best for small businesses prioritizing simplicity over comprehensive features

Look, there’s a reason everyone talks about Buffer. It has earned its reputation through reliability rather than flashy features. Buffer focuses on doing one thing exceptionally well: making social media scheduling dead simple.

Buffer Criteria Evaluation Table

Criteria	Score	Description
Platform Coverage & Integration	4/5	Solid support for major platforms, though each comes with specific limitations. Frequent disconnection issues prevent a perfect score.
Scheduling Capabilities	4.5/5	Excellent visual calendar and unlimited posts on paid plans. Missing optimal timing suggestions keeps this from being perfect.
Analytics & Reporting	3/5	Basic analytics in the main tool, with comprehensive reporting requiring a separate Buffer Analyze subscription.
Team Collaboration Features	3.5/5	Available on Premium and Agency plans only. Features work well but the pricing barrier is significant.
Pricing Structure	3/5	Generous free plan, but per-channel pricing becomes expensive for businesses managing multiple social accounts.
User Experience	5/5	Buffer’s standout strength. The interface is clean, intuitive, and requires minimal training for new users.
Customer Support	2.5/5	Email support provides thorough responses but takes 5+ hours. Social media support can take 24+ hours.
Advanced Features	2/5	Limited compared to competitors. Missing social listening, content curation, and advanced campaign tracking capabilities.

Buffer: Social Media Scheduling Made Simple

What Buffer is Best Known For

Look, Buffer basically became a verb in the marketing world – and that’s saying something. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard “just buffer that post” in meetings. It’s like how we say “Google it” instead of “search for it online.”

The thing is, Buffer didn’t get famous by trying to do everything. They picked one thing – making social media scheduling dead simple – and actually nailed it. While other platforms were adding bells and whistles nobody asked for, Buffer kept things clean and straightforward. Honestly, that’s probably why I keep coming back to it despite my complaints.

Here’s what’s wild about Buffer – it made scheduling posts so easy that now we expect every platform to work this way. They basically set the standard for how this stuff should feel.

Features That Actually Matter

Okay, let’s talk about what Buffer actually does well. The visual calendar is pretty sweet – you can literally drag and drop posts to different days, which sounds basic but trust me, when you’re juggling multiple clients and realize you scheduled three posts for the same hour, you’ll appreciate this feature.

The browser extension is honestly a game-changer. I’m constantly browsing articles for content ideas, and being able to share something directly from any webpage without opening a million tabs? Chef’s kiss. These little conveniences add up when you’re doing this stuff every day. This buffer solution streamlines content sharing across all your connected social platforms.

Platform coverage includes Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, and YouTube. Now, about those platform quirks – and boy, are there some doozies. LinkedIn mentions only work from business pages (learned this the hard way during a client presentation), TikTok won’t let you format captions properly, and don’t even get me started on YouTube’s thumbnail limitations. It’s not Buffer’s fault exactly, but it’s still annoying when you’re trying to maintain consistent branding.

Pros: What Buffer Gets Right

Interface Design That Actually Works

I’ve onboarded interns who were scheduling posts within ten minutes of logging in. Ten minutes! Compare that to other platforms where you need a PhD in user interface design just to find the posting button.

Everything’s exactly where your brain thinks it should be. Want to schedule a post? Big obvious button. Need to see what’s going out this week? Calendar’s right there. It’s like they actually asked real people how they wanted to use the tool instead of just guessing.

Generous Free Plan for Testing

Three channels with 10 posts each – that’s actually usable, not just a teaser. Most competitors give you like one channel and three posts, which tells you absolutely nothing about whether the tool works for your needs.

I always tell people to start with the free plan because it’s the real deal, not some watered-down version designed to frustrate you into paying. You can genuinely test your workflow before spending a dime.

Reliable Core Scheduling

When Buffer says your post will go out at 2 PM, it goes out at 2 PM. Period. I’ve had other tools that would randomly decide not to post things, or post them three hours late with no explanation.

The time zone handling is solid too – no more wondering if your 9 AM post is going out at 9 AM EST or PST or whatever. Buffer just figures it out and does it right, which is honestly refreshing in a world where most software seems designed to create problems.

No Watermarks or Branding

Your posts stay clean without “Posted via Buffer” cluttering up your content. This might seem minor until you’re managing a luxury brand’s Instagram and suddenly there’s some random app logo on every post.

It’s a small thing that shows they get it – your social media should represent your brand, not advertise their tool.

Cons: Where Buffer Falls Short

Per-Channel Pricing Gets Expensive Fast

Okay, this is where I start getting cranky. Six bucks per channel doesn’t sound bad until you realize you need Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Suddenly you’re looking at $24 a month just for basic scheduling. Add a few more platforms and you’re approaching “maybe I should just hire someone” territory.

This pricing model is honestly backwards. Most businesses need multiple platforms, not just one. It feels like being charged separately for each light switch in your house instead of just paying for electricity.

Basic Analytics Without Separate Purchase

The analytics in regular Buffer are… well, let’s just say “basic” is being generous. You get follower counts and basic engagement numbers. Want to know when your audience is most active? That’ll be another subscription, please.

I literally laughed out loud when I realized Buffer Analyze was a separate product. It’s like buying a car and then finding out the speedometer costs extra.

Frequent Account Disconnections

This is the thing that makes me want to throw my laptop out the window. Accounts just randomly disconnect, usually at the worst possible times. Like, why is it always on weekends when I’m not checking the dashboard?

I’ve missed important posts because Instagram decided to have commitment issues with Buffer. The worst part? Sometimes it doesn’t even tell you the account disconnected until you log in and see a bunch of failed posts.

Missing Optimal Posting Time Suggestions

In 2024, having to guess when your audience is online feels ridiculous. Every other platform I’ve used can tell me “hey, your followers are most active at 3 PM on Tuesdays,” but Buffer just shrugs and says “figure it out yourself.”

This seems like such an obvious feature that I keep expecting it to appear in updates. Nope. Still manually tracking engagement patterns like it’s 2015.

Limited Advanced Features

Buffer is like that friend who’s really good at one thing but completely useless at everything else. Need social listening? Different tool. Want content curation? Another tool. Hashtag research? Yet another tool.

Don’t get me wrong – focusing on one thing and doing it well isn’t necessarily bad. But when you’re trying to manage a comprehensive social media strategy, you end up with like six different subscriptions.

Criteria Evaluation: How Buffer Measures Up

Platform Coverage & Integration: 4/5

The major platforms are covered, but those disconnection issues are real. It’s like having a reliable car that randomly won’t start on rainy days – mostly great, occasionally infuriating.

When everything’s working, it works really well. The integrations are smooth and posting happens exactly when it should. But that reliability takes a hit when you can’t trust that your accounts will stay connected.

Scheduling Capabilities: 4.5/5

This is Buffer’s bread and butter, and they’ve got it down to a science. The calendar view, bulk scheduling, platform customization – it all just works the way you’d expect it to.

Only reason it’s not a perfect 5? Those missing optimal timing suggestions. In a world where Instagram changes its algorithm every week, having to guess at posting times feels amateur.

Analytics & Reporting: 3/5

Basic stuff is there – likes, shares, comments, follower growth. But if you want to actually understand what’s working and why, you’re looking at another monthly subscription.

The 30-day limit on post history is particularly annoying. Want to see how that campaign performed three months ago? Too bad, that data’s gone unless you upgrade.

Team Collaboration Features: 3.5/5

When you can afford the Premium plan, the team features work pretty well. Approval workflows, user permissions, role assignments – it’s all there and functional.

The problem is getting to that point. Doubling your per-channel costs just to add team members makes it tough to justify for smaller agencies or growing businesses.

Pricing Structure: 3/5

The free plan is genuinely generous, I’ll give them that. But that per-channel pricing model feels designed to punish businesses that want comprehensive social media presence.

It’s backwards thinking in a multi-platform world. Most businesses need to be everywhere their customers are, not just pick one platform and hope for the best.

User Experience: 5/5

This is where Buffer absolutely crushes it. The interface is clean, logical, and requires zero training for anyone who’s ever used a computer.

I’ve never had to explain how Buffer works to anyone. They just get it immediately, which is honestly rare in the software world.

Customer Support: 2.5/5

When you finally get help, it’s usually pretty thorough. The problem is “finally” – we’re talking 5+ hours for email, sometimes over 24 hours for social media support.

In the world of social media where timing matters, waiting a day for help with an urgent issue is basically useless.

Advanced Features: 2/5

Buffer keeps it simple, sometimes to a fault. Missing features that competitors consider standard – social listening, content discovery, advanced analytics, campaign tracking.

It’s deliberately minimal, which works if you just need basic scheduling but falls short if you’re trying to build a comprehensive social strategy.

Community Reviews and Expert Recommendations

The Buffer community is pretty split, honestly. People either love the simplicity or they’re frustrated by the limitations and pricing.

Reddit threads about Buffer are hilarious – you’ll see someone praising how easy it is to use, followed immediately by someone complaining about paying $30 a month for basic features. The account disconnection complaints are everywhere – I’m not the only one dealing with that nonsense.

ProductHunt reviews follow the same pattern. Lots of praise for the interface and ease of use, but consistent complaints about missing features and pricing structure. The most common comment is basically “it’s great for what it does, but what it does isn’t enough anymore.”

What’s interesting is how many people stick with Buffer despite the complaints. There’s something to be said for a tool that’s just pleasant to use, even when it’s not perfect.

Pricing

Let’s break down what you’re actually looking at cost-wise. Free plan gets you 3 channels and 10 posts each – honestly pretty generous for testing things out.

Essentials at $6 per channel monthly includes unlimited posts and basic analytics. So if you’re managing 4 platforms, that’s $24 monthly. Team features bump it to $12 per channel, so now you’re at $48 monthly for collaboration tools.

The Agency plan is $120 monthly for 10 channels, plus $6 for each additional one. Math wise, this only makes sense if you’re managing a ton of accounts.

Here’s what bugs me about this pricing – it assumes each social platform provides equal value, which isn’t true for most businesses. Your Instagram might drive 80% of your social traffic, but you’re paying the same for Instagram as you are for Pinterest.

Where to Find Buffer

Buffer.com is the obvious starting point. The browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Safari are actually worth installing – they integrate seamlessly with your browsing habits.

The mobile apps work

The mobile apps work well enough for basic scheduling, though I still prefer the desktop interface for anything beyond simple posts. The mobile experience is fine for quick updates but feels cramped for serious content planning.

Alternatives to Buffer Worth Considering

Hootsuite: Comprehensive Social Media Management

Hootsuite is like Buffer’s overachieving older sibling – it does way more stuff, but you need a manual to figure it all out. Supports 35+ networks and includes social listening, which Buffer completely ignores.

Starting around $99 monthly, so definitely pricier, but you get what you pay for. Advanced analytics, team collaboration, social listening, content curation – basically all the stuff Buffer doesn’t do.

The learning curve is steeper though. Where Buffer feels intuitive from day one, Hootsuite requires some investment in figuring out where everything is. If you need comprehensive social media management and don’t mind the complexity, it’s worth considering.

Visit Hootsuite to explore their comprehensive social media management platform.

Sprout Social: Advanced Analytics and CRM Integration

Sprout Social is the premium option – starts around $249 monthly per user, which puts it in enterprise territory. But the analytics are incredible, and the customer support actually responds quickly.

The social CRM features are pretty cool – you can track customer interactions across platforms and see the full conversation history. Buffer doesn’t even attempt this level of sophistication.

If you’re managing social media for larger businesses or need detailed reporting for stakeholders, Sprout Social delivers. Just be prepared for the sticker shock – this isn’t a small business tool.

Check out Sprout Social for advanced social media analytics and CRM integration.

Later: Visual-First Social Media Scheduling

Later focuses heavily on visual content, especially Instagram. If you’re managing accounts for restaurants, fashion brands, or anything visual-heavy, it’s worth a look.

Pricing is more reasonable – starts at $18 monthly, and the visual planning tools are genuinely helpful. The media library and hashtag suggestions actually work, unlike Buffer’s basic approach.

The Instagram-first design shows – other platforms feel like afterthoughts sometimes. But if visual content is your main focus, Later understands that workflow better than Buffer.

Explore Later for visual-first social media scheduling and Instagram tools.

The Marketing Agency: Strategic Marketing Beyond Social Scheduling

Here’s the thing nobody talks about – consistent posting doesn’t automatically equal business results. I’ve seen businesses with perfect posting schedules and beautiful content that still struggle to convert social media followers into actual customers.

The Marketing Agency addresses the bigger picture – they help you build marketing systems that actually drive revenue. While Buffer handles the tactical “getting posts out there” part, they focus on the strategic “turning social media into profit” part.

Most businesses eventually realize that social media scheduling is just one piece of the puzzle. You need landing pages that convert, email sequences that nurture leads, and SEO strategies that bring in traffic. Buffer can’t solve those problems, but that’s exactly what The Marketing Agency specializes in.

Their data-driven approach to SEO, PPC, and email marketing creates the foundation that makes your social media efforts profitable. Many businesses discover that consistent posting alone doesn’t drive meaningful revenue growth. You need integrated marketing systems that capture social media traffic and convert it through optimized landing pages, email sequences, and search visibility.

The Marketing Agency’s scientific approach to market analysis identifies which marketing channels actually drive ROI for your specific business – something Buffer’s scheduling capabilities alone cannot provide. While Buffer handles tactical posting, The Marketing Agency builds the strategic foundation that makes those posts generate leads and sales.

Frequently Asked Questions About Buffer

Is Buffer worth the cost for small businesses?

Depends on your definition of “small business” and how many platforms you’re juggling. If you’re managing 2-3 accounts and prioritize simplicity over features, probably yes. If you’re trying to maintain comprehensive social presence across 5+ platforms, the math gets ugly fast.

The free plan is genuinely useful for testing, so I always recommend starting there. You’ll know pretty quickly if Buffer’s limitations are deal-breakers for your specific needs.

For context, understanding which content tools provide the best ROI can help you make smarter decisions about where to spend your marketing budget.

How does Buffer compare to free alternatives like Facebook Creator Studio?

Creator Studio is solid for Facebook and Instagram, but that’s it. Buffer’s value is in managing multiple platforms from one interface – no switching between different tools and learning different systems.

The time savings usually justify the cost if you’re managing more than just Facebook properties. But if you’re only doing Facebook and Instagram, Creator Studio gives you more features for free.

It really comes down to whether unified management is worth paying for. In my experience, it usually is once you’re managing more than two platforms regularly.

Can Buffer help improve my social media engagement rates?

Buffer keeps you posting consistently, which definitely helps with engagement – algorithms favor active accounts. But it won’t tell you what to post, when to post it, or how to optimize for better performance.

You’re on your own for strategy stuff. No hashtag research, no optimal timing suggestions, no content performance insights unless you pay extra for Buffer Analyze.

For content strategy ideas, learning how to generate engaging blog topics can help inform your social media content planning.

What happens if I exceed Buffer’s posting limits?

Free plan caps you at 10 posts per channel. Hit that limit and you’re stuck until you upgrade or wait for the next billing cycle. No overage fees, but also no flexibility.

Paid plans remove posting limits entirely, which makes sense given you’re already paying per channel. The unlimited posting is probably the main reason to upgrade from the free plan.

Does Buffer work well for team collaboration?

Team features work fine when you can afford them – approval workflows, user permissions, role assignments all function as advertised. The challenge is justifying doubled costs across multiple channels just to add team members.

A small agency managing 4 platforms goes from $24 monthly to $48 monthly just to add collaboration features. That’s a tough pill to swallow, especially when some competitors include basic team features at lower price points.

Final Thoughts on Buffer

After using Buffer for way longer than I probably should have, here’s my honest take: it’s really good at what it does, but what it does isn’t enough for most growing businesses.

Buffer succeeds because it’s genuinely pleasant to use. In a world of clunky, overcomplicated software, there’s real value in a tool that just works without making you think too hard. The interface is clean, scheduling is reliable (when accounts stay connected), and onboarding new team members takes minutes instead of hours.

But here’s where it gets tricky – Buffer’s simplicity starts feeling limiting as your social media strategy matures. You’ll find yourself wanting better analytics, social listening capabilities, or at least some guidance on optimal posting times. Buffer just shrugs and suggests you buy more products.

The per-channel pricing model feels particularly outdated in 2024. Most businesses need multi-platform presence, and Buffer’s pricing penalizes that reality. You end up paying separately for essentially the same functionality across different networks.

My honest recommendation? Start with the free plan to test the workflow and see if Buffer’s approach clicks with how you think about social media. The generous trial period gives you real insight into whether the platform’s strengths outweigh its limitations.

If you find yourself constantly wishing for more sophisticated features, that’s your cue to explore alternatives. Understanding which marketing tools offer the best value becomes crucial when you’re ready to scale beyond basic posting.

Key takeaways from my extended testing:

• Buffer’s biggest strength is also its biggest weakness – extreme simplicity
• Per-channel pricing gets expensive fast for multi-platform strategies
• Account disconnections create ongoing maintenance headaches that impact reliability
• Missing basic features like optimal posting times feels outdated in 2024
• The platform works great until you need it to do more than just schedule posts

Bottom line? Buffer is like that reliable friend who’s always there when you need them, but don’t expect them to help you move or drive you to the airport. It handles basic social media scheduling beautifully, but growing businesses will eventually need more sophisticated tools.

Would I recommend Buffer to someone just starting out with social media management? Absolutely – start with the free plan and see how it feels. Would I recommend it to an agency managing multiple clients across numerous platforms? Probably not, unless budget constraints force the decision.

The sweet spot for Buffer seems to be small businesses or solopreneurs managing 2-4 social accounts who value simplicity over comprehensive features. If that describes your situation and you don’t mind the per-channel pricing, Buffer delivers exactly what it promises.

For everyone else, it’s worth exploring alternatives that offer better value for multi-platform management or more sophisticated features for the same price point. Buffer isn’t bad – it’s just deliberately limited in a way that doesn’t match how most businesses actually use social media in 2024.