Metricool vs Buffer

· Reviewed by Sergio Verdugo, co-founder of Quetzal

Metricool and Buffer both have a free plan and both schedule posts, but they charge for different things: Metricool by how many brands you manage, Buffer by how many channels you connect. This page lays out their published facts, says which one fits most readers, and then looks at the job neither of them does for you.

Verdict

Buffer is the simpler pick for most readers who run one brand on a few channels. It starts at $6 a month per channel ($5 billed yearly), has a free plan for up to three channels and a 14-day trial without a card.

Metricool wins as soon as you manage several brands, need detailed reports or work in Spanish. Its app is available in Spanish and six other languages, while Buffer's help centre says its web app is in English only. Paid plans start at $25 a month per account and cover up to five brands.

Neither makes the posts for you. If that is the part you are missing, see the third option below. See the third option

Metricool and Buffer at a glance

What it is

Metricool
A planning and analytics platform priced by number of brands, popular with agencies and community managers.
Buffer
A simple scheduler for individuals and small teams, priced per connected channel, with an AI assistant for post text.

Best for

Metricool
Agencies and businesses reporting on several brands
Buffer
One brand on a few channels, scheduling its own posts

Starts at

Metricool
Starter (up to 5 brands): $25 a month per account ($20 a month billed yearly)
Buffer
Essentials: $6 a month per channel ($5 a month billed yearly)

Pricing basis

Metricool
Per account, per month, in tiers by the number of brands managed.
Buffer
Per connected channel, per month, with a volume discount above 10 channels.

Free plan and trial

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

Refunds

Metricool
No refunds for the current billing cycle; consumers have 15 days to withdraw from a first purchase, not from renewals.
Buffer
Monthly plans are refunded within 7 days of starting, annual plans within 30 days.

AI for the content

Metricool
Helps you write when you ask
Buffer
Helps you write when you ask

AI video

Metricool
No AI video
Buffer
No AI video

Approvals

Metricool
Yes
Buffer
Yes

Inbox

Metricool
Yes
Buffer
Yes

Networks

Metricool
11 networks: Instagram, Facebook, Threads, TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn, X and 4 more
Buffer
13 networks: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, X, YouTube, Threads and 6 more

App languages

Metricool
English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Dutch, Portuguese
Buffer
English only

Where Metricool wins

  • Detailed reporting and competitor analytics in the same tool as the planner.
  • Pricing by number of brands, which agencies can read at a glance, from $25 a month per account.
  • An app in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Dutch and Portuguese.
  • Ads reporting next to the organic numbers, and a free plan to start.

Where Buffer wins

  • A simple queue and calendar that takes an afternoon to learn.
  • Low cost for a handful of channels: $6 a month per channel, with a free plan for up to three.
  • A 14-day trial of the paid plans with no card.
  • A stated refund window: 7 days on monthly plans and 30 days on annual plans.

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.

Metricool

Per account, per month, in tiers by the number of brands managed.

  • FreeFree
  • Starter (up to 5 brands)$25 a month · $20 a month billed yearly
  • Starter (up to 10 brands)$45 a month · $36 a month billed yearly
  • Advanced (up to 15 brands)$67 a month · $53 a month billed yearly
  • Advanced (up to 25 brands)$107 a month · $85 a month billed yearly
  • Advanced (up to 50 brands)$210 a month · $159 a month billed yearly
  • CustomCustom price

Unit: per account. Their pricing page

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

The Spanish small business test

Picture a small business that publishes in Spanish and has nobody free to write the posts. Ticks come from each vendor's own pages; where a vendor does not say, we write "not listed".

Writes post text with AI

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

Plans and makes the week's posts on its own

Metricool
No
Buffer
No
Quetzal
Yes (from Growth)

Makes video with AI

Metricool
No
Buffer
No
Quetzal
Yes (from Pro)

Approval step before anything posts

Metricool
Yes
Buffer
Yes
Quetzal
Yes

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

Metricool
Yes
Buffer
Yes
Quetzal
Yes

App available in Spanish

Metricool
Yes
Buffer
No
Quetzal
Yes

Changes the next posts from each post's results

Metricool
Not listed
Buffer
Not listed
Quetzal
Yes

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

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

The third option: Quetzal

Metricool measures and Buffer schedules; both expect the post to exist already. Quetzal plans the week from your brand and website, writes and designs the posts in English or Spanish, publishes them to Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, X and YouTube after your approval, and changes the next week from what each post did. AI reels are included from Pro.

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 Metricool and Buffer

Is Metricool cheaper than Buffer?

It depends on what you count. Buffer charges per channel, from $6 a month. Metricool charges per account in tiers by brands, from $25 a month for up to five brands. With one brand and two or three channels Buffer usually costs less; with several brands Metricool's tiers work out better. Both have a free plan.

Is Buffer available in Spanish?

Buffer's help centre says its web app is in English only. Metricool's app is available in Spanish, English, French, German, Italian, Dutch and Portuguese.

Which has better analytics, Metricool or Buffer?

Metricool is built around reporting: detailed reports, competitor analytics and ads reporting in one tool. Buffer's strength is the simplicity of its queue and calendar.

Can I get a refund from Metricool or Buffer?

Buffer refunds monthly plans within 7 days of starting and annual plans within 30 days. Metricool does not refund the current billing cycle; consumers have 15 days to withdraw from a first purchase, not from renewals.

Do Metricool or Buffer create posts for you?

Both have an AI assistant that helps with post text when you ask, and neither lists AI video. Neither plans and makes a week of posts on its own.

How we compare: Metricool and Buffer's prices were read from their own pricing pages on 30 September 2026, on monthly billing and in the currency they publish. Features were checked on their own pages on the same date; where a vendor does not say, we write "not listed". We make Quetzal, so this is a vendor's comparison. If anything is wrong or out of date, write to hello@quetzaltech.es and we will correct it within 48 hours.

Sources: Metricool (/pricing) · Metricool (/legal-terms) · Buffer (/pricing) · Buffer (/articles/refund-policy-d1GbglDfJa)

Metricool and Buffer are trademarks of their respective owners; Quetzal is not affiliated with any of them.

Metricool vs Buffer (2026): prices, features, which to pick