Buffer vs Later

· Reviewed by Sergio Verdugo, co-founder of Quetzal

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.

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. See the third option

Buffer and Later at a glance

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 Buffer wins

  • 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.

Where Later wins

  • 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

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.

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 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

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

Plans and makes the week's posts on its own

Buffer
No
Later
No
Quetzal
Yes (from Growth)

Makes video with AI

Buffer
No
Later
No
Quetzal
Yes (from Pro)

Approval step before anything posts

Buffer
Yes
Later
Not listed
Quetzal
Yes

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

Buffer
Yes
Later
Partly (5 of 6)
Quetzal
Yes

App available in Spanish

Buffer
No
Later
Not listed
Quetzal
Yes

Changes the next posts from each post's results

Buffer
Not listed
Later
Not listed
Quetzal
Yes

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

Buffer
Yes
Later
Yes
Quetzal
No (14 days free, card required)

The third option: Quetzal

A tidy grid still needs something in every square. Quetzal plans the week from your brand and website, writes and designs the posts and carousels, makes AI reels from Pro, publishes to Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, X and YouTube after your approval or on autopilot, and changes the next week from what each post did.

Quetzal (quetzaltech.app) is an AI social media manager. It reads your website and brand, plans the week, writes and designs every post, makes AI reels from the Pro plan, and publishes to Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, X and YouTube. You can approve each piece before it goes out, or let it run on full autopilot.

Price: the Starter plan is $116 a month per brand ($89 a month billed yearly), before tax.

Try for freeSee a week made with your brand

14 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.

Buffer vs Later (2026): prices, networks, which to pick