It's close: Buffer edges it 8.7 to 8.6, so the right pick depends on what you need. Buffer wins on 2 of the 5 scores, Instagram on 2, with 1 tied.
Solo creators and small teams who post to several apps
Creators and small shops who post photos and short videos
Score by score
The details
| Feature | Buffer | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Social Media & Creator Tools | Social Media & Creator Tools |
| Category rank | #2 of 17 | #3 of 17 |
| Developer | Buffer | Meta |
| Pricing | Free + paid plans | Free + paid plans |
| Usable for free | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web | ✓ | ✓ |
Common questions
Is Buffer better than Instagram?
It's close: Buffer edges it 8.7 to 8.6, so the right pick depends on what you need. Buffer wins on 2 of the 5 scores, Instagram on 2, with 1 tied.
Which is cheaper, Buffer or Instagram?
Buffer: Free for 3 channels; Essentials is $5 a month per channel, billed yearly. Instagram: Free with ads; optional Instagram Plus is $3.99 a month for Story and profile extras. On value for money, Buffer scores higher.
Do Buffer and Instagram work on the same devices?
Yes, both run on Web, iPhone & iPad, Android.
Which is more private, Buffer or Instagram?
Buffer scores higher on privacy (8.0/10). The App Store label links contact info, identifiers, usage data, diagnostics and your content to you, with no tracking. There are no ads. Buffer needs access to the social accounts you connect.
Strengths and weaknesses
Buffer
- Free plan is useful on its own
- Clean and easy to learn
- Works with Bluesky, Threads and Mastodon
- Paid plans charge per channel
- Free plan holds only 10 posts per channel
- First-comment scheduling needs a paid plan
Buffer is the easiest way to plan posts for many apps at once. Write a post, pick your channels, and it goes out at the time you choose. The free plan covers three channels with 10 scheduled posts each, which is plenty for one creator. It works with 12 networks, including Instagram, TikTok, Threads, Bluesky and YouTube. Paid plans charge per channel, so costs climb if you run many accounts.
Full Buffer review
Instagram
- Huge audience for almost any topic
- Photos, video, Stories and chat in one app
- Strong free editing tools and music
- Feed is full of ads and suggested posts
- Collects a lot of data and tracks you
- Some Story and profile extras now cost $3.99 a month
Instagram is the all-rounder. You can post photos, carousels, Reels and Stories, go live and message friends in one app, and most of your friends are likely there already. Reels can run up to 20 minutes, but only Reels of three minutes or less get shown to new people. It is free, yet the feed is packed with ads and suggested posts, and Meta collects a lot of data about you.
Full Instagram review
