Head to head

Buffer vs Later

Buffer and Later both queue posts to your social accounts. Buffer charges by the channel and publishes to a long list of networks; Later is built around planning an Instagram feed visually and charges by workspace. Here are their published facts side by side, which one fits most small teams, and the job neither of them does for you.

· Reviewed by Sergio Verdugo, co-founder of Quetzal

Quetzal is our product. Facts on the other tools were checked on 30 September 2026 on each vendor's own site; where a vendor does not say, we write "not listed".

Buffer

Scheduler

Small teams posting to many networks, X included

$5/ mo

Essentials, per channel, billed yearly. $6 month to month.

Visit Buffer
  • Its AI helps you write when you ask
  • No AI video
  • Approval before publishing
  • Inbox for comments and messages
  • Free plan and 14-day trial, no card

Later

Scheduler

Instagram-first brands that plan the grid visually

$18.75/ mo

Starter, per workspace, billed yearly. $25 month to month.

Visit Later
  • Its AI helps you write when you ask
  • No AI video
  • Approvals: not listed
  • Inbox: not listed
  • 14-day trial, no card

Quetzal

Makes the posts for you

When the hard part is making the posts, not scheduling them

$69/ mo

Starter, per brand, billed yearly. $90 month to month.

Try for free
  • Plans the week from your website and brand
  • Writes every post and designs images on every plan
  • AI reels on every plan, from 10 AI credits a month (1 credit = 1 image or 1 second of AI video)
  • Publishes to Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, X and YouTube
  • Approve each post, or let it run
  • App in English and Spanish

Prices in the currency each vendor publishes, as shown on their own page. Mind the unit: paying per channel is not the same as paying per user. 7 days free. Card required, nothing charged today.

The verdict.

Buffer is the better pick for most small teams. It starts at $6 a month per channel ($5 billed yearly), has a free plan for up to three channels, publishes to 13 networks including X, and states its refund window: 7 days on monthly plans, 30 days on annual ones.

Later wins when Instagram is the channel that matters and the work is arranging it: a visual grid planner, a media library and a link in bio, from $25 a month per workspace. Check the networks first, because X is not among the ones on Later's pricing page.

Neither lists AI video, and both expect you to arrive with the photo and the caption. If that is the part you are missing, see the third option below.

The who-fills-the-grid test

Both will lay out and queue the posts you bring. The next question is who makes them, and whether any of it is video. Ticks come from each vendor's own pages; where a vendor does not say, we write "not listed".

Writes post text with AI

Quetzal
Yes
Buffer
Yes (when you ask)
Later
Yes (when you ask)

Plans and makes the week's posts on its own

Quetzal
Yes
Buffer
No
Later
No

Makes video with AI

Quetzal
Yes
Buffer
No
Later
No

Approval step before anything posts

Quetzal
Yes
Buffer
Yes
Later
Not listed

Publishes to Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, X and YouTube

Quetzal
Yes
Buffer
Yes
Later
Partly (5 of 6)

App available in Spanish

Quetzal
Yes
Buffer
No
Later
Not listed

Changes the next posts from each post's results

Quetzal
Yes
Buffer
Not listed
Later
Not listed

Start without a card (free plan or card-free trial)

Quetzal
No (7 days free, card required)
Buffer
Yes
Later
Yes

Buffer and Later, line by line.

What it is

Buffer
A simple scheduler for individuals and small teams, priced per connected channel, with an AI assistant for post text.
Later
A visual-first scheduler built around Instagram planning, with a media library, link in bio and AI captions.

Best for

Buffer
Small teams posting to many networks, X included
Later
Instagram-first brands that plan the grid visually

Starts at

Buffer
Essentials: $6 a month per channel ($5 a month billed yearly)
Later
Starter: $25 a month per workspace ($18.75 a month billed yearly)

Pricing basis

Buffer
Per connected channel, per month, with a volume discount above 10 channels.
Later
Per workspace, per month, sized by social sets (one profile per supported network) and users.

Free plan and trial

Buffer
Free plan and 14-day trial, no card
Later
14-day trial, no card

Refunds

Buffer
Monthly plans are refunded within 7 days of starting, annual plans within 30 days.
Later
Refund requests may be considered case by case, at their sole discretion.

AI for the content

Buffer
Helps you write when you ask
Later
Helps you write when you ask

AI video

Buffer
No AI video
Later
No AI video

Approvals

Buffer
Yes
Later
Not listed

Inbox

Buffer
Yes
Later
Not listed

Networks

Buffer
13 networks: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, X, YouTube, Threads and 6 more
Later
8 networks: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, Threads, Pinterest and 1 more

App languages

Buffer
English only
Later
Not listed on their pricing page

Where each one wins.

Buffer

  • Price for a few channels: you pay per channel, from $6 a month, with a free plan for up to three.
  • Reach: 13 networks, including X, Threads, Bluesky, Mastodon and Google Business Profile.
  • A written refund window: 7 days on monthly plans, 30 days on annual plans.
  • An approval step and an inbox, both listed on its pricing page.

Later

  • A visual grid planner built around how an Instagram feed will look.
  • A media library and a link in bio in the same tool.
  • Snapchat among its networks, which Buffer's pricing page does not list.
  • Familiar to creators and social teams, so a new hire may already know it.

Pricing, plan by plan.

Buffer

Per connected channel, per month, with a volume discount above 10 channels.

  • FreeFree
  • Essentials$6 a month · $5 a month billed yearly
  • Team$12 a month · $10 a month billed yearly

Unit: per channel. Their pricing page

Later

Per workspace, per month, sized by social sets (one profile per supported network) and users.

  • Starter$25 a month · $18.75 a month billed yearly
  • Growth$50 a month · $37.50 a month billed yearly
  • Scale$110 a month · $82.50 a month billed yearly

Unit: per workspace. Their pricing page

The third option

Quetzal makes the posts.

A tidy grid still needs something in every square. Quetzal fills it: it plans the week from your brand and website, writes and designs the posts and carousels, and publishes them to Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, X and YouTube.

With Quetzal (quetzaltech.app), your accounts keep posting every week without you writing a word, in your brand's voice and look. You approve each post before it goes out, or let it run on autopilot. Unlimited posts on every plan; AI reels start on Starter.

From $90 a month per brand ($69 a month billed yearly, Starter plan), before tax.

Try for freeSee a week made with your brand

7 days free. Card required, nothing charged today.

Questions about Buffer and Later.

Is Buffer cheaper than Later?

For a few channels, usually yes. Buffer charges per connected channel, from $6 a month per channel, and has a free plan for up to three channels. Later starts at $25 a month per workspace, sized by social sets and users, and lists no free plan.

Does Later post to X?

X is not among the networks on Later's pricing page, which lists Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, Threads, Pinterest and Snapchat. Buffer publishes to X.

Do Buffer and Later have a free trial?

Buffer runs a 14-day trial and Later a 14-day trial, both without a card. Buffer also has a free plan with no time limit.

Can I get a refund from Buffer or Later?

Buffer refunds monthly plans within 7 days of starting and annual plans within 30 days. Later's terms say refund requests may be considered case by case, at its sole discretion.

Do Buffer or Later make posts or video with AI?

Both have AI help for captions when you ask. Neither lists AI video on its pricing page, and neither plans a week of posts on its own.

The third option

Skip the queue. Get the posts.

Type your website and Quetzal shows you a week of posts made for your brand, ready to approve. Free, and no account needed.

Try for freeMake my week
7 days free. Card required, nothing charged today.
Buffer vs Later (2026): prices, networks, which to pick