Flat rate. No channel tax.
Connect every Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, and Threads account a workspace needs. Pricing doesn't move.
Buffer: charges per channel. Seven channels on Essentials runs $52.50/mo.
— Buffer alternative · Schedule for less
The Buffer alternative
The Buffer alternative
that doesn't charge per channel.
The free social media scheduler for Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, Threads, Pinterest, Facebook, and X — with flat pricing, full REST API, MCP server, and webhooks. Cancel Buffer in under a minute.
- Flat pricing, not per-channel
- Free REST API on every plan
- MCP server for AI agents
- Webhooks & Zapier-ready
— Buffer alternatives compared
Zilfu vs Buffer, side by side.
An honest look at where each Buffer alternative wins. Pricing, channels, automation, analytics — every line item that matters when you're picking a scheduler in 2026.
Z
Zilfu
B
Buffer
Pricing & limits
Pricing model
Flat per workspace
Per channel
Free plan posts
20/mo, all channels
10 per channel
Free plan channels
All 7 supported
Up to 3
Free trial on paid
30 days
14 days
Charged per teammate
Channels
Instagram
TikTok
LinkedIn
Threads
Pinterest
Facebook
X
YouTube
Coming soon
Bluesky
Mastodon
Google Business Profile
Composer & scheduling
Crosspost in one composer
Multi-part threads & replies
One composer
Per-platform only
Per-platform settings
TikTok privacy, Pinterest boards, Threads tags
Limited
Recurring time slots
Auto image optimization (WebP)
Automation & developer tools
Public REST API
Free on every plan
Deprecated
MCP server for AI agents
Hosted, ready
Webhooks (publish, fail, schedule)
Zapier, n8n, Make
Workspace & team
Multi-workspace / brand support
Up to unlimited
Agency add-on only
Unlimited team members
Free, no per-seat fee
Team plan only
Link in bio page
Starter plan +
Start Page
Analytics
Per-account analytics dashboard
Per-post performance grid
Auto-refresh interval
Every 4 hours
Daily
Analytics access
Starter plan and up
30-day history only
Pricing reflects published rates as of May 2026. Buffer Essentials is $7.50/channel/mo (monthly billing) or $6/channel/mo (annual billing). Zilfu Pro is $39/mo flat. Information accurate to the best of our knowledge — verify on each provider's pricing page.
— Buffer pricing vs Zilfu
7 channels on Buffer? $52/mo.
7 channels on Buffer? $52/mo.
7 channels on Zilfu? $39/mo flat.
Buffer charges per channel. Add Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, Threads, X, Pinterest, and Facebook and the bill compounds. Zilfu prices a workspace, not a list of channels.
Buffer Essentials
B
Buffer
$7.50 per channel per month, monthly billing.
1st channel$7.50
+2 more channels$15
+4 more channels$30
API accessunavailable
Webhooksunavailable
Monthly cost
$52.50/mo
Zilfu Pro
Z
Zilfu
Flat workspace pricing. Every feature, every channel.
All 7 channelsincluded
Unlimited postsincluded
Full REST APIincluded
MCP serverincluded
Webhooksincluded
Monthly cost
$39/mo
— Why people switch
The four reasons creators and devs leave Buffer.
It's rarely one thing. It's the slow accumulation of channels, seats, and missing developer hooks that turns a $5 plan into a $50 surprise — and sends teams shopping Buffer competitors in the first place.
Built for devs and agents.
Every endpoint is documented. Drop the hosted MCP URL into Claude or Cursor and your agent ships posts in minutes.
Buffer: deprecated their public API in 2024. No MCP server.
Real events, not polling.
Webhooks fire on publish, schedule, fail, and account events. Wire them to Slack, your CRM, or your status page.
Buffer: no native webhooks — only Zapier polling.
Brands & clients, included.
Up to 50 isolated workspaces on Pro — perfect for agencies, multi-brand operators, and personal vs. work splits.
Buffer: multi-brand requires the agency-tier add-on.
— Switching from Buffer
Migrate in under a minute.
You don't need an export, a CSV, or an import wizard. Just connect each account and Zilfu pulls your published history.
1
Sign up free.
No credit card required. The Free plan stays free forever — no countdown, no upsell pop-ups.
~ 20 seconds
2
Connect your accounts.
Authorize Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, Threads, X, Pinterest, or Facebook. Zilfu imports your posting history automatically.
~ 30 seconds per channel
3
Cancel Buffer.
Set your slots, schedule a week of content, and downgrade Buffer from inside their billing page. We won't miss them.
~ 1 minute
— FAQ
Switching from Buffer, asked and answered.
Anything Buffer hasn't published yet stays inside Buffer until you cancel — you can let those go out and switch fresh, or pause them and rebuild the queue in Zilfu in a few minutes. Already-published posts keep living on each social platform either way. The same applies if you're migrating from Hootsuite or another scheduler.
Yes — the Zilfu Free plan is a free Buffer alternative with no time limit and no credit card. You get 20 posts per month across all seven channels, full REST API access, and the MCP server. Most Buffer app alternative pages bait-and-switch you onto a paid plan after 14 days; we don't.
Zilfu covers Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, Threads, Pinterest, Facebook, and X — the seven channels most creators actually use. YouTube is in development. Mastodon, Bluesky, and Google Business Profile aren't supported yet; if you rely on them, drop us a line and we'll prioritize.
Yes. Every plan — including the Free plan — has full REST API access. Same endpoints, same rate limits. Buffer deprecated public API access for new apps in 2024, so this is a significant difference if you build automations.
MCP is the protocol Claude, Cursor, and other AI agents speak to call tools. Zilfu hosts an MCP server you drop into your agent's config — no servers to run, no glue code. Your AI agent can schedule, edit, and publish posts on its own. No other major scheduler ships this today.
One Zilfu plan covers a number of workspaces (2 on Free, 10 on Starter, 50 on Pro, unlimited on Business). Each workspace can connect any of the seven channels and invite any number of teammates — no per-channel and no per-seat add-ons. Buffer's model adds a line item every time you connect a new social account.
Absolutely — that's why the Free plan exists. Connect 1–2 channels, schedule a week of posts, and watch them go out. Once you're happy, cancel Buffer (their cancellation lives under Settings → Billing) and upgrade Zilfu if you need more posts.
No. Every Zilfu plan includes unlimited teammates per workspace. Buffer's Team plan adds $10/channel/mo for the privilege of inviting collaborators.
Yes. Zilfu authenticates each platform through its official OAuth flow — same standard Buffer uses. We never see your password, and you can revoke access from each social platform's settings any time.
Stop paying per channel.
Connect every social account in your stack, schedule the next two weeks, and ship the API automation you've been putting off. Free forever — no credit card.
Switch from Buffer free →