Buffer is the well-known name in this space, with a genuinely free plan for 3 channels and a $5/month Essentials tier that's hard to beat on price. It supports 11 networks including Bluesky and Mastodon, and its AI assistant and analytics are solid for a single-user setup, especially if you're just getting started.
fanout's Starter plan costs more per month, but includes a shared comments inbox, full analytics and AI suggestions for every connected account — Buffer keeps advanced analytics, approval workflows and multiple team members behind its higher tiers. fanout also supports Telegram, which Buffer's network list doesn't include, and every account gets unlimited scheduled posts from day one.
| fanout | Buffer | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $29/mo for 5 accounts | $5/mo |
| Monthly cost for 15 accounts | $39 (Creator) | $90 |
| Free tier | No — 3-day free trial | Yes |
| Networks | X, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Threads, Bluesky, Telegram, Facebook, Pinterest, Reddit, Discord, WhatsApp, Snapchat, Google Business, Slack | Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), YouTube, Threads, Pinterest, Google Business Profile, Bluesky, Mastodon |
| Telegram | Yes | No |
| Features gated by plan | None — everything on every plan | Advanced analytics and custom reports above the free plan; Multiple team members and approval workflows on paid plans; First comment scheduling and hashtag manager on paid plans |
| Open source / self-host | No | No |
Buffer facts from their pricing page, checked 2026-09. Tell us if something changed: support@tryfanout.com.
Essentials, $6 per channel per month billed monthly ($5 billed yearly).
Card required, cancel anytime, no charge during the trial.
If you're outgrowing Buffer's single-user Essentials plan or want Telegram support, yes — fanout includes comments and analytics on every plan rather than gating them higher up.
Buffer's cheapest paid plan is built for one user; team features and advanced analytics need a higher tier. fanout includes analytics and a comments inbox from the $29/month Starter plan.
fanout does support Telegram — it's not on Buffer's current network list, which covers Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn, X, YouTube, Threads, Pinterest, Google Business Profile, Bluesky and Mastodon.
Buffer's Essentials plan starts at $5/month for one user; fanout starts at $29/month for 5 accounts with comments and analytics included, which is closer to where Buffer's pricing lands once you add team members or advanced reporting.
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X (Twitter) scheduler · LinkedIn scheduler · Instagram scheduler · TikTok scheduler · YouTube scheduler · Threads scheduler · Bluesky scheduler · Telegram scheduler · Facebook scheduler · Pinterest scheduler · Reddit scheduler · Discord scheduler · WhatsApp scheduler · Snapchat scheduler · Google Business Profile scheduler · Slack scheduler