The best free Buffer alternative is SkedCast: its permanent free plan needs no card and includes bulk import, the inbox and an approval step, which Buffer's free tier of three channels and ten queued posts each does not. Paid SkedCast plans price by connected account rather than per channel.
Key takeaways
- Buffer's free plan covers 3 channels and 10 posts per channel.
- SkedCast has a permanent free plan with no card required.
- Compare account count and posting volume, not just the word "free."
What Buffer's free plan actually includes
Buffer's free tier covers 3 social channels and 10 scheduled posts per channel — enough for light, personal use, but a real constraint once you manage more than a few accounts or post more than occasionally.
What to check in a free alternative
- How many connected accounts the free plan actually allows
- Whether there's a posting-volume cap, and what it is
- Whether bulk import works on the free tier or is gated to paid
- Whether the plan is permanently free or a time-limited trial dressed up as free
SkedCast's free plan
SkedCast has a permanent free plan with no credit card required. See the SkedCast vs Buffer comparison for the full feature-by-feature breakdown.
FAQ
- What are the limits on Buffer's free tier?
- 3 social channels and 10 scheduled posts per channel, per Buffer's own pricing page.
- Is SkedCast's free plan permanent?
- Yes — it is a permanent tier every signup lands on, not a time-limited trial. SkedCast has a permanent Free plan as well — 2 connected accounts and up to 3 posts a day, no card and no time limit — and each workspace can additionally take one 7-day Studio trial.
- Is SkedCast a good free Buffer alternative?
- For agency-style use with more accounts or higher post volume than Buffer's 3-channel, 10-post free plan supports, it is worth comparing side by side.
- Does SkedCast have a free plan?
- Yes. SkedCast has a permanent Free plan as well — 2 connected accounts and up to 3 posts a day, no card and no time limit — and each workspace can additionally take one 7-day Studio trial. Bulk import and the inbox are included on it.
- How is SkedCast priced?
- By connected account rather than per seat, so adding team members does not raise the bill.