Postiz vs Buffer vs Craft: which Buffer alternative costs less

If you're comparing Postiz with Buffer or looking for a Buffer alternative, here's the short version: for 5 accounts, Postiz is cheapest ($29, or $23 annually), Buffer is close ($30, or $25) and Craft costs the most — $48 a month, or $42 on annual billing, because its plan also runs comment auto-replies and funnels. Below is how each tool counts accounts, what you pay in different setups, including 5 Instagram accounts, and what you get besides scheduling.

This comparison is written by the Craft team. Prices come from each vendor's pricing page. Prices as of September 21, 2026; Craft prices as of October 6, 2026.

The three tools in one paragraph each#

Buffer is one of the oldest and simplest schedulers. You pay per channel: $6 a month, or $5 on annual billing. The free plan gives 3 channels and 10 scheduled posts per channel. It covers the major networks (Facebook, LinkedIn, X, Threads, Pinterest among them), has a public API and a Team plan with approvals.

Postiz is an open-source scheduler with around 25 networks, including Telegram channels. The cloud version starts at $29 a month for 5 channels ($23 annual), with unlimited posts. There's no free cloud plan — you get a 7-day trial, or you can host it yourself for free. It has an API, webhooks and an MCP connector.

Craft schedules posts to Instagram, TikTok and YouTube — and on the same plan runs Instagram comment auto-replies, DM funnels and Telegram bot funnels. Free covers 1 account and 3 posts a month; Solo is $12 a month ($6 annual) for 2 accounts with unlimited posts, and each extra account is $12 a month.

How each one counts accounts#

All three use the same simple model: one profile = one account, any network, any mix. That's good news if you run several Instagram accounts.

• Buffer: each channel is paid separately. 5 Instagram accounts = 5 channels.
• Postiz: a plan holds a number of channels — 5, 10, 30 or 100 — and you can connect several accounts of the same network.
• Craft: Solo includes 2 accounts, each extra one is $12. Five accounts can be 5 Instagram profiles, or for example 2 Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and a Telegram bot. The same accounts serve posting and funnels.

Tools like Later and Metricool count differently — one profile per network in each "set" or "brand" — which changes the math for multiple Instagram accounts. See Buffer alternatives.

What you pay#

Over a year, for 5 Instagram accounts#

In plain words:

• One account: Buffer is cheapest ($6), then Craft ($12, with a second account included). Postiz has no smaller plan, so one account costs $29.
• 5 accounts, monthly: Postiz and Buffer are much cheaper than Craft ($48).
• 5 accounts, annually: the same picture — $23 and $25 vs $42 on Craft.
• 10 accounts: Postiz wins clearly ($39). On Craft it's Solo plus 8 extra accounts, $108, so for scheduling alone at this size Craft is the expensive choice.

What you get besides scheduling#

The last rows are the real difference. If you post to Instagram and also want "comment GUIDE, get the link in DMs", a scheduler alone won't do it — you'd add a separate DM tool on top. On Craft, it runs on the same accounts at no extra cost. How it works: Comment auto-reply for a funnel.

Which one to pick#

• Pick Buffer for one or two channels on a tight budget, for team approvals, or if you post to Facebook, LinkedIn, X, Threads or Pinterest.
• Pick Postiz for scheduling only at 5–100 channels, for Telegram channels or Stories, or if you want to self-host for free.
• Pick Craft if you want posting plus Instagram comment-to-DM and Telegram funnels under one price.

Head-to-head comparisons: Craft vs Buffer and Craft vs Postiz. For more tools: Best social media schedulers.

Frequently asked questions#

Is Postiz free?#

The code is open source, so you can host it on your own server for free. The cloud version has no free plan: a 7-day trial, then from $29 a month for 5 channels ($23 annual).

What's the cheapest Buffer alternative for 5 Instagram accounts?#

Among these three, Postiz: $29, or $23 annually. Buffer itself costs $30, or $25 annually; Craft costs $48 ($42 annually) but includes funnels.

Can I connect several Instagram accounts to Postiz, Buffer and Craft?#

Yes, all three count each Instagram profile as one account, the same as any other network. Every tool on Meta's official API needs a professional (business or creator) Instagram account.

Can I schedule posts from Claude or ChatGPT?#

With Craft's MCP connector, yes — for example, "schedule this video to Instagram and TikTok for tomorrow at 10:00". Setup: Connect your Claude. Postiz also has an MCP connector.

Try it free: https://app.craftopen.space