OpenPost vs Buffer: which fits your content workflow?
By OpenPost · Reviewed
Choose Buffer when you want a free starting plan or paid scheduling for a few channels. Evaluate OpenPost when you want to turn product work into posts, edit the media, and keep channel versions and automation together. OpenPost Hosted admission is currently on a waitlist, which matters if you need to start today.
Written by the team behind OpenPost. See the linked sources when comparing tools.
When Buffer is the better fit
Buffer is a practical choice for scheduling finished content on a small number of accounts. Its Free plan lets you begin without a subscription. Team includes unlimited users and approval workflows, which can suit a large group managing relatively few channels.
- Free allows three connected channels, one user, and ten queued posts per channel. There is also a lifetime cap of eight distinct channel connections.
- Buffer supports API and MCP access as well as external automation integrations. Agent access alone is not a reason to switch tools.
Buffer costs and limits
These USD rates apply to the first ten paid channels. Each connected account is billed, including channels previously used on Free. Further channels receive volume discounts. Annual prices below are the yearly cost per channel, not a monthly invoice.
| Plan | Billing | Channels | People and scheduling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 3 | 1 user; 10 queued posts/channel |
| Essentials | $6/channel/month or $60/channel/year | Pay per connected channel | 1 user; paid scheduling subject to fair use |
| Team | $12/channel/month or $120/channel/year | Pay per connected channel | Unlimited users; approvals; paid scheduling subject to fair use |
- For five channels on monthly billing, Essentials costs $30 and Team costs $60. Use Buffer's calculator for larger account counts and check its current fair-use terms.
OpenPost Hosted costs and limits
Prices are in USD before tax. Limits apply separately to each workspace. Hosted signups are currently on a waitlist while the remaining platform approvals are completed. Check admission and your exact account and format before choosing a plan.
| Plan | Billing | Workspaces | Limits per workspace |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solo | $29/month or $290/year | 1 | 10 social accounts, 1 person, 500 scheduled posts/month, 10 GB storage and 10 GB uploads/month |
| Team | $59/month or $590/year | 3 | 10 social accounts, 5 people, 500 scheduled posts/month, 10 GB storage and 10 GB uploads/month |
| Agency | $99/month or $990/year | 10 | 10 social accounts, 10 people, 500 scheduled posts/month, 10 GB storage and 10 GB uploads/month |
- All Hosted plans include the same tools. The 14-day trial requires a card; $0 is due at checkout when admission is open.
- A scheduled post counts once across its destinations and thread segments. Monthly allowances reset by calendar month in UTC. Provider quotas can impose further limits.
- Self-hosting has no software fee. Budget separately for infrastructure, backups, storage, provider API use, and maintenance.
When OpenPost is the better fit
Evaluate OpenPost if preparing content takes more of your time than placing finished posts in a queue. Its Image Editor, Video Editor, Recorder, media library, and channel-specific versions keep creation and publishing in one workspace. Built-in Workflows can prepare drafts from releases, feeds, or API responses for review.
- OpenPost offers self-hosting if you need to operate your own instance. You own provider setup and maintenance.
- Compare the actual workflow, not a feature count. Test media editing, one destination-specific change, and a failed delivery before moving important posts.
Check the same real post in both tools
Connect the accounts and formats you actually use. Prepare the same announcement and media, adjust one channel, and inspect the schedule and outcome. Compare the complete bill for your accounts and people. Keep your existing scheduler until the replacement has passed this check.