Buying guide
The cheapest social media schedulers in 2026: paid entry plans compared
A cheap scheduler is only cheap for your setup if the price covers what you post. This guide ranks the paid entry plans of the low-cost schedulers by price, as each vendor listed them on 2026-10-23, and shows what that price actually buys: how many channels, brands and users, and which features are held back for the next plan. Free plans have their own guide; Postify, which makes this site, bills in euros and is listed last.
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Last updated: 2026-10-23
TL;DR: The cheapest paid plans start with Publer (from $5 a month for one account) and Buffer ($5 per channel a month billed yearly, $6 monthly). Zoho Social Standard ($10 a month billed yearly for one brand), Planoly Starter ($14) and OneUp Basic ($15) follow. Most entry plans cover one user, and many leave out the inbox, analytics or X, so check what you need before picking on price alone.
By the Postify team at Businice S.R.L. Postify makes this site. It is on this list but not ranked first, and we say where other tools are stronger.
What is the cheapest social media scheduler?
Among paid plans, Publer and Buffer are the cheapest to start: Publer from $5 a month for one account, and Buffer at $5 per channel a month billed yearly. Zoho Social Standard, at $10 a month billed yearly for one brand, and Planoly Starter, at $14, come next. Which is cheapest for you depends on what the vendor counts.
The table lists each entry plan as the vendor prices it. Yearly prices are shown as the monthly equivalent the vendor prints, and every price links to its source below.
| Tool and plan | Billed monthly | Billed yearly, per month | Price covers | Users |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Publer Professional | From $5 | About 20% less | 1 account (less per account from 2) | 1 |
| Buffer Essentials | $6 per channel | $5 per channel | Each channel | 1 |
| Zoho Social Standard | $15 | $10 | 1 brand, 13 channels | 1 |
| Planoly Starter | $16 | $14 | 1 social set | 1 |
| OneUp Basic | $25 | $15 | 5 accounts, 300 scheduled posts | 1 |
| Later Starter | $25 | $18.75 | 1 social set of 8 profiles, no X | 1 |
| ContentStudio Standard | $29 | $19 | 5 accounts | 1 |
| Metricool Starter | $25 | $20 | Up to 5 brands, X extra | Not stated |
| Pallyy Pro | $25 | $20 | 1 social set of 11 accounts | 1 |
| Postiz Standard | $29 | $23 | 5 channels | 1 |
| SocialBee Bootstrap | $29 | $24.20 | 5 profiles | 1 |
Why the cheapest price depends on your setup
Vendors count different things. Buffer charges per channel, Publer per account, Zoho Social and Metricool per brand, Planoly, Later and Pallyy per social set, Sendible and Planable per workspace, and Hootsuite per user. A per channel price is lowest for one or two networks; a per brand or per set price wins once one brand posts to many networks.
Work out your own number before comparing. For one brand on three networks, billed yearly, Buffer comes to $15 a month (three channels at $5), Zoho Social $10, Planoly $14, OneUp $15 and Metricool $20, plus $10 a month if one of the three is X on Metricool. Publer charges per account, with a lower rate per account from the second one.
Users change the maths again. Almost every entry plan here is for one person, so a team of two often means the next plan up or a paid seat. Sendible Core and Planable Basic, in the next price tier below, include unlimited users.
- Per channel or account: Buffer, Publer, OneUp (5 accounts, then $5 a month per extra account).
- Per brand: Zoho Social (one brand with up to 13 channels), Metricool (up to 5 brands on Starter).
- Per social set: Planoly (one of each network), Later (8 profiles), Pallyy (11 accounts).
- Per workspace: Sendible and Planable.
- Per user: Hootsuite.
What cheap plans usually leave out
The lowest plans usually hold back team seats, the inbox, analytics, approvals or API access for the next tier, and a few restrict X. Publer Professional has no analytics, approvals or MCP, SocialPilot and ContentStudio keep the inbox for higher plans, Later Starter does not support X, and Metricool charges extra for it.
- Users: one user on almost every entry plan here.
- Inbox: included on Buffer Essentials and Pallyy Pro; ContentStudio starts it on Advanced, SocialPilot on Standard, and Planable sells it as an add-on.
- Analytics: Publer keeps analytics and reports for Business; Planable sells analytics as an add-on.
- X: Later Starter does not support X, Metricool charges $10 a month per X account, and OneUp Basic allows up to 2 X accounts with no X analytics.
- Post limits: Later Starter allows 30 posts per profile a month and OneUp Basic 300 scheduled posts.
- AI access: Buffer, ContentStudio, OneUp, Pallyy and Postiz include API or MCP access on their entry plans; Publer keeps its API and MCP for Business.
Free plan or cheapest paid plan?
Start with a free plan if it covers your networks and posting volume: Buffer, Publer, Metricool and Pallyy all have one, with limits on channels or posts. Pay for the cheapest plan once you hit those caps, need X where the free plan excludes it, or want analytics and an inbox. Our free schedulers guide compares the free plans.
Free plans differ in what they cap. Buffer's covers 3 channels with 10 scheduled posts each, Publer's 3 accounts without X, Metricool's 1 brand with 20 posts a month and no LinkedIn or X, and Pallyy's 1 social set with 15 scheduled image posts a month. Zoho Social's free plan does not include scheduling, and Planoly's is mobile only.
The next price tier, and tools we left out
Just above the cheapest plans sit SocialPilot Essentials at $25.50 a month billed yearly, Sendible Core at $29.75 and Planable Basic at $33, the last two with unlimited users. Loomly starts at $49 billed yearly and Hootsuite at $99 per user a month billed yearly. We left out Nuelink, Tailwind and Crowdfire for the reasons below.
Nuelink Standard is $24 a month on monthly billing, but its yearly price on the day we checked was an anniversary promotion, so we did not rank it on a price that may end. Tailwind now schedules Pinterest only, priced per Pinterest account, and Crowdfire's site no longer lists scheduler pricing.
| Tool and plan | Billed monthly | Billed yearly, per month | What it covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| SocialPilot Essentials | $30 | $25.50 | 7 accounts, 1 user, no inbox |
| Sendible Core | $35 | $29.75 | 1 workspace, 6 profiles, unlimited users, inbox |
| Planable Basic | $39 | $33 | 4 pages per workspace, 60 posts a month, unlimited users |
| Loomly Starter | $65 | $49 | 12 accounts, 3 users |
| Hootsuite Standard | Not listed | $99 per user | Up to 10 accounts, inbox, analytics |
| Tool | Best for | Pricing |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Publer | The lowest entry price for one or two accounts | Professional from $5 a month for 1 account and 1 user, less per account as you add more; about 20% off on yearly billing. Business from $10. |
| 2. Buffer | A cheap, simple plan for a few channels | Essentials $6 per channel a month on monthly billing, $5 billed yearly, for channels 1 to 10; lower rates from the 11th channel. |
| 3. Zoho Social | One brand on many networks for a flat price | Standard $15 per brand a month on monthly billing, $10 billed yearly; 1 brand, 13 channels, 1 user |
| 4. Planoly | Visual planning for one creator or brand | Starter $16 a month on monthly billing, $14 billed yearly; 1 social set, 1 user, unlimited uploads |
| 5. OneUp | Several accounts with API and MCP access on a budget | Basic $15 a month billed yearly, $25 on monthly billing; 5 accounts, 300 scheduled posts, 1 user |
| 6. Later | Instagram and TikTok first creators and brands | Starter $25 a month on monthly billing, $18.75 billed yearly; 1 social set of 8 profiles, 30 posts per profile a month, 1 user |
| 7. ContentStudio | Content discovery and AI credits on a budget | Standard $19 a month billed yearly, $25 billed quarterly, $29 month to month; 5 accounts, 1 workspace, 1 user |
| 8. Metricool | Analytics heavy users with several small brands | Starter from $25 a month on monthly billing, $20 billed yearly, for up to 5 brands; X is $10 a month per account extra |
| 9. Pallyy | An inbox and approvals on a single brand budget | Pro $25 a month on monthly billing, $20 billed yearly; 1 social set of 11 accounts, extra sets $10 a month, 1 user |
| 10. Postiz | Developers who want API, CLI and self-hosting | Standard $29 a month on monthly billing, $23 billed yearly; 5 channels, unlimited posts, no team members |
| 11. SocialBee | Category based queues for evergreen content | Bootstrap $29 a month on monthly billing, $24.20 a month billed yearly ($290 a year); 5 profiles, 1 user |
| 12. Postify | One brand on nine networks for one plan price, billed in euros | Hobby €9.99 a month on monthly billing, or €8.33 a month billed yearly: 1 brand, 1 user and 15 posts a month. Up to €199.94 a month for Agency. No free plan. |
1. Publer
The lowest entry price for one or two accounts
Publer's Professional plan includes X, unlimited scheduling, workspaces and media, bulk scheduling, first comments and RSS feeds. It is priced per social account, with a lower rate per account from the second account. Analytics and reports, best times, recycling and recurring posts, approvals, the API and Publer's MCP are kept for the Business plan. Publer also has a free plan with 3 accounts, not including X.
Pros
- The lowest starting price on this list
- Bulk scheduling and first comments on the entry plan
- Per account pricing gets cheaper per account as you add more
Cons
- No analytics, approvals, recycling, API or MCP until Business
- One user; extra members cost more
- The 7-day trial of Professional is short
Verdict: The cheapest way to schedule to one or two accounts with X included. Budget for Business if you want analytics or recurring posts.
Pricing: Professional from $5 a month for 1 account and 1 user, less per account as you add more; about 20% off on yearly billing. Business from $10.
2. Buffer
A cheap, simple plan for a few channels
Buffer's Essentials plan includes unlimited posts, subject to fair use, an inbox, advanced analytics and API keys, for one user. It is priced per connected channel, so one or two channels cost very little, and the rate per channel drops for larger setups. X is included at no extra cost. Buffer's Claude, ChatGPT and Cursor integrations are on all plans, and there is a free plan with 3 channels and a 14-day trial of paid plans.
Pros
- Inbox and analytics on the entry plan
- Per channel pricing keeps one or two channels very cheap
- A free plan to start, and AI assistant integrations on every plan
Cons
- Per channel pricing grows with every network you add
- One user; teams need the Team plan
Verdict: The best value for one to three channels if you want analytics and an inbox from the first paid plan.
Pricing: Essentials $6 per channel a month on monthly billing, $5 billed yearly, for channels 1 to 10; lower rates from the 11th channel.
3. Zoho Social
One brand on many networks for a flat price
Zoho Social's Standard plan covers one brand with up to 13 channels: X, Instagram, Facebook Page, LinkedIn Company and Profile, Google Business Profile, YouTube, Pinterest, TikTok, Mastodon, Threads, Bluesky and Snapchat, with one team member and AI credits. Its free plan does not include scheduling, so Standard is the first plan that schedules. Zoho offers a 15-day all-access trial with no card.
Pros
- A flat price for one brand across up to 13 channels
- Covers Bluesky, Mastodon, Google Business Profile and Snapchat
- Part of the wider Zoho suite
Cons
- One team member on Standard
- The free plan cannot schedule, so there is no free way to try scheduling after the trial
Verdict: The cheapest flat price for one brand that posts to many networks, if one person runs it.
Pricing: Standard $15 per brand a month on monthly billing, $10 billed yearly; 1 brand, 13 channels, 1 user
4. Planoly
Visual planning for one creator or brand
Planoly's Starter plan covers one social set, which is one each of Instagram, Facebook, X, Pinterest, LinkedIn, YouTube, Threads and TikTok, with unlimited uploads and one user. Planoly is built around visual planning, especially for Instagram, and its free plan is limited to the mobile app with 10 uploads a month. Paid plans come with a 14-day trial.
Pros
- One price for a full set of networks, X included
- Unlimited uploads on the entry plan
- Strong visual grid planning
Cons
- One user and no add-ons on Starter
- One social set, so a second brand means a higher plan
Verdict: A good cheap pick for one visual brand or creator, especially if Instagram comes first.
Pricing: Starter $16 a month on monthly billing, $14 billed yearly; 1 social set, 1 user, unlimited uploads
5. OneUp
Several accounts with API and MCP access on a budget
OneUp's Basic plan includes 5 social accounts, with extra accounts at $5 a month each, 300 scheduled posts, one cross-posting workflow, three months of analytics history, and API and MCP access, for one user. Its networks include Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, X, Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest, Google Business Profile, Threads, Snapchat, Bluesky, WhatsApp and Discord. There is no free plan; paid plans have a 7-day trial.
Pros
- Five accounts on the entry plan, with cheap extra accounts
- API and MCP access included
- A wide network list, including WhatsApp and Discord
Cons
- On Basic, at most 2 X accounts, X link posts need an add-on, and there is no X analytics
- No team members on Basic
- A 300 scheduled post cap
Verdict: Good value for one person running several accounts who wants API or MCP access without paying for a team plan.
Pricing: Basic $15 a month billed yearly, $25 on monthly billing; 5 accounts, 300 scheduled posts, 1 user
6. Later
Instagram and TikTok first creators and brands
Later's Starter plan covers one social set of 8 profiles, one each of Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Pinterest, LinkedIn, YouTube, Threads and Snapchat, with 30 posts per profile a month, one user, a few AI credits and up to three months of analytics. X is not supported. Paid plans have a 14-day trial; we found no free plan on its pricing page.
Pros
- A polished planner built around Instagram and TikTok
- Analytics included on the entry plan
- Snapchat in the social set
Cons
- No X
- 30 posts per profile a month
- One user, with no extra sets or users on Starter
Verdict: Worth it for visual brands that do not need X and post less than daily per network.
Pricing: Starter $25 a month on monthly billing, $18.75 billed yearly; 1 social set of 8 profiles, 30 posts per profile a month, 1 user
7. ContentStudio
Content discovery and AI credits on a budget
ContentStudio's Standard plan includes 5 social accounts, one workspace and one user, unlimited posting, analytics, AI text credits and API requests. Its networks include Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, Bluesky, Threads, Google Business Profile, Telegram and Tumblr, and it says MCP integration is included on every plan. There is no free plan, and the trial is 7 days with no card.
Pros
- Analytics and a large AI credit allowance on the entry plan
- MCP and API access on every plan
- Covers Telegram and Tumblr as well as the main networks
Cons
- No social inbox until the Advanced plan
- One user and no capacity add-ons on Standard
- The lowest price needs yearly billing
Verdict: A good fit for one person who wants analytics and AI credits included and can do without an inbox.
Pricing: Standard $19 a month billed yearly, $25 billed quarterly, $29 month to month; 5 accounts, 1 workspace, 1 user
8. Metricool
Analytics heavy users with several small brands
Metricool's Starter plan covers up to 5 brands, where a brand is one profile per network, with unlimited publishing under fair use, LinkedIn and unlimited analytics history. X is a paid add-on at $10 a month per connected account, and it is also needed for X in the inbox. Metricool has a free plan for one brand without LinkedIn or X.
Pros
- Up to 5 brands on the entry plan
- Unlimited analytics history
- A free plan to start, with MCP access
Cons
- X costs extra per account
- The free plan has no LinkedIn or X
Verdict: The best value on this list for several small brands if analytics matter and X is not central.
Pricing: Starter from $25 a month on monthly billing, $20 billed yearly, for up to 5 brands; X is $10 a month per account extra
9. Pallyy
An inbox and approvals on a single brand budget
Pallyy's Pro plan covers one social set of up to 11 accounts, with unlimited posts, analytics, an inbox, a queue, approvals, a link in bio page and API access, for one user; extra users are not available. Its networks include Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Google Business Profile, Pinterest, TikTok, YouTube, Threads and Bluesky, and it offers MCP on every plan. A free plan covers one set with 15 scheduled image posts a month; the 14-day trial needs a card.
Pros
- Inbox, approvals and a link in bio page on the entry plan
- Cheap extra social sets for more brands
- MCP on every plan, including the free one
Cons
- One user and no extra users
- The trial needs a card
Verdict: Strong value for a solo marketer who wants an inbox and client approvals without a team plan.
Pricing: Pro $25 a month on monthly billing, $20 billed yearly; 1 social set of 11 accounts, extra sets $10 a month, 1 user
10. Postiz
Developers who want API, CLI and self-hosting
Postiz's Standard plan includes 5 channels, unlimited posts and a few AI videos a month, with MCP, CLI, API and webhooks on every plan. Team members start on the Team plan. Postiz is open source, so it can also be self-hosted instead of paying for the hosted plan. Paid plans have a 7-day trial.
Pros
- MCP, CLI, API and webhooks on the entry plan
- Open source, with a self-hosted option
- Unlimited posts
Cons
- No team members on Standard
- A higher entry price than the tools above
Verdict: The pick for technical users who want automation hooks, or no subscription at all by self-hosting.
Pricing: Standard $29 a month on monthly billing, $23 billed yearly; 5 channels, unlimited posts, no team members
11. SocialBee
Category based queues for evergreen content
SocialBee's Bootstrap plan includes 5 social profiles, one user, one workspace and up to three months of analytics. SocialBee is known for organizing posts into content categories that it recycles on a schedule. There is no free plan; it offers a 14-day trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Pros
- Content categories and recycling for evergreen posts
- A 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- One user on Bootstrap
- Five profiles at the highest entry price on this list
Verdict: Worth the extra if you run an evergreen library and want it recycled by category.
Pricing: Bootstrap $29 a month on monthly billing, $24.20 a month billed yearly ($290 a year); 5 profiles, 1 user
12. Postify
One brand on nine networks for one plan price, billed in euros
Postify, which makes this site, publishes to nine platforms from one calendar: Instagram, Facebook, Threads, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, X, Pinterest and Plative, our own social network. Its plans are priced per plan, not per channel, so adding networks for the same brand does not raise the bill. Instagram photos, carousels, Reels and Stories publish directly, captions can differ per network, and every plan includes a link in bio page, analytics, the iOS and Android apps and the MCP server, which lets your own AI assistant, such as ChatGPT or Claude, create and schedule posts. Starter adds a second user and unlimited posts; Plus adds the inbox, first comments and queue time slots.
Pros
- One plan price covers all nine networks for a brand
- Direct Instagram publishing, including Stories and carousels
- MCP server on every plan, so your own AI assistant can work with your account
- iOS and Android apps, with widgets on iOS
Cons
- No free plan, and Hobby is tight: 15 posts a month, one brand, one user, no inbox or first comments
- Bills in euros, so compare it in your own currency
- No built-in AI writer, no CSV upload, and no public REST API, Zapier or Make
- No Bluesky, Google Business Profile or Mastodon, and no TikTok or Pinterest inbox
Verdict: Worth a look if one brand posts to many of these networks and you want a single plan price. If the lowest possible entry price matters most, start with the tools ranked above and compare them in your own currency.
Pricing: Hobby €9.99 a month on monthly billing, or €8.33 a month billed yearly: 1 brand, 1 user and 15 posts a month. Up to €199.94 a month for Agency. No free plan.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cheapest social media scheduler with X?
- Publer's paid plans include X from $5 a month for one account, and Buffer includes X at its per channel price. Zoho Social Standard and Planoly Starter also include X. Later Starter does not support X, and Metricool charges $10 a month per X account.
- What is the cheapest social media scheduler for a team?
- Most entry plans are for one user. Sendible Core, at $29.75 a month billed yearly, and Planable Basic, at $33, include unlimited users, so they are often cheaper for a team than adding seats to a one-user plan.
- What is the cheapest scheduler with a social inbox?
- Buffer Essentials includes an inbox at $5 per channel a month billed yearly, and Pallyy Pro includes one at $20 a month billed yearly. SocialPilot and ContentStudio keep the inbox for higher plans, and Planable sells it as an add-on.
- Is Hootsuite expensive?
- Compared with the tools here, yes. Hootsuite's Standard plan is $99 per user a month billed yearly, with up to 10 social accounts, an inbox, analytics and listening, and it offers a 14-day trial.
- Are cheap schedulers worth it?
- Yes, if the cheap plan covers your networks, users and posting volume. Check the unit (channel, account, brand, set or user), whether X is included, and whether the inbox and analytics are on the plan you are buying.
- How much does Postify cost?
- Postify starts at €9.99 a month for Hobby, or €8.33 a month billed yearly, with one brand, one user and 15 posts a month, and goes up to €199.94 a month for Agency. Prices are in euros, and there is no free plan.
Sources
- Publer: pricing (checked October 23, 2026)
- Buffer: pricing (checked October 23, 2026)
- Zoho Social: pricing (checked October 23, 2026)
- Planoly: pricing (checked October 23, 2026)
- OneUp: pricing (checked October 23, 2026)
- Later: pricing (checked October 23, 2026)
- ContentStudio: pricing (checked October 23, 2026)
- Metricool: pricing (checked October 23, 2026)
- Pallyy: pricing (checked October 23, 2026)
- Pallyy: MCP (checked October 23, 2026)
- Postiz: pricing (checked October 23, 2026)
- SocialBee: pricing (checked October 23, 2026)
- SocialPilot: plans (checked October 23, 2026)
- Sendible: pricing (checked October 23, 2026)
- Planable: pricing (checked October 23, 2026)
- Loomly: pricing (checked October 23, 2026)
- Hootsuite: plans (checked October 23, 2026)
- Nuelink: pricing (checked October 23, 2026)
- Tailwind: pricing (checked October 23, 2026)
Put Postify to work on your calendar
Postify supports nine platforms in one workflow: plan, schedule, and publish without juggling five different tools.