Buffer free plan: 3 channels, 10 queued posts, no bulk scheduling. SocialMate free plan: no caps, bulk scheduler, 12 AI tools included.
Buffer
Simple scheduler, fragmented feature set
SocialMate
Everything in one. No add-ons. No caps.
The free plan queue limit is unusable for real content
Buffer lets you queue only 10 posts per channel on the free plan. That is less than two weeks of daily posting. Once you hit the limit you either pay or manually delete old posts to make room. SocialMate has no queue limit at all.
Buffer dropped bulk scheduling entirely
Buffer has never had a true bulk scheduler. If you want to upload 30 posts at once from a CSV or spreadsheet, you cannot do it in Buffer on any plan. SocialMate's bulk scheduler is free and supports mass CSV uploads.
Analytics and Reply are separate paid products now
Buffer spun off their analytics and engagement inbox into add-ons after years of being bundled. You now need to pay separately for features that used to be included. SocialMate keeps analytics and engagement built in at no extra cost.
SocialMate covers platforms Buffer does not
Discord, Telegram, and Mastodon are not supported by Buffer. If your community exists on any of these platforms, Buffer simply cannot help you. SocialMate covers all three on the free plan.
How limited is Buffer's free plan really?
Buffer free limits you to 3 connected channels and only 10 queued posts per channel at any given time. That means if you post daily, you can only schedule 10 days out. There is no bulk scheduling, no AI tools, and no analytics on the free plan. SocialMate's free plan has none of these caps.
Did Buffer remove their analytics and reply tools?
Yes. Buffer separated their analytics (formerly Buffer Analyze) and engagement inbox (formerly Buffer Reply) into paid add-ons. If you want a complete tool in one product, you will pay extra — or choose SocialMate, where analytics and engagement are built in.
Does SocialMate have a post queue like Buffer?
Yes. SocialMate has a full scheduling calendar and queue system. Unlike Buffer, there is no 10-post limit on the queue. You can schedule months of content at once using the bulk scheduler — free.
Is SocialMate actually free with no catch?
Yes. Free tier includes unlimited posts, 75 AI credits/month, bulk scheduling, link in bio, hashtag manager, competitor tracking, RSS import, and evergreen recycling. No credit card required.
SocialMate is unlimited posts, bulk scheduling, 12 AI tools, 16 platforms — completely free to start. No credit card required.
Create free account →No card required · Free forever