Craft vs Buffer (2026): pricing per channel and features compared
Buffer is $6/mo per channel, so 5 Instagram accounts cost $30 ($25 annual). Craft Pro is $39 for 5 accounts ($19 annual) and adds funnels.
Buffer is one of the oldest and simplest social media schedulers, priced per channel. Craft schedules posts to Instagram, TikTok and YouTube and, on the same plan, runs Instagram comment auto-replies and DM and Telegram funnels. Here's what each costs at different sizes and where each one wins.
Prices checked on September 21, 2026. If a price changed, message us and we'll fix the page.
Short answer#
- Pick Buffer if you only need scheduling and have up to 5 channels on monthly billing: 5 channels cost $30 vs $39 on Craft.
- Pick Buffer if you post to Facebook, LinkedIn, X, Threads or Pinterest, or need team approvals.
- Pick Craft if you pay annually: 5 accounts cost $19 a month vs $25.
- Pick Craft if you also want comment auto-replies and DM or Telegram funnels — included at the same price.
- Pick Buffer for a single channel on a tight budget: $6 vs $12, and Buffer's free plan allows 10 scheduled posts per channel vs Craft's 3 posts a month.
What it costs#
| Scenario | Craft, monthly | Craft, annual | Buffer, monthly | Buffer, annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (A) 5 Instagram accounts | $39 — Pro | $19 | $30 — 5 channels | $25 |
| (B) 2 Instagram + TikTok + YouTube | $39 — Pro | $19 | $24 — 4 channels | $20 |
| (C) 1 Instagram account | $12 — Solo | $6 | $6 — 1 channel | $5 |
| (D) posting to 5 Instagram + funnels on one | $39 — Pro | $19 | $69 — Buffer + ManyChat Pro | $54 |
💡 How we counted. Annual prices are per month, billed yearly. Craft: Solo $12 (1 account), Pro $39 (5 accounts, ~$7.80 each; ~$3.80 on annual billing), Agency $249 (unlimited); annual prices are half: $6 / $19 / $125. Buffer Essentials: $6 per channel per month, $5 billed annually ($60 a year). The Team plan is $12 per channel ($10 annually). Scenario D adds a funnel tool to Buffer: ManyChat Pro at $39 a month ($29 annually) for one Instagram account with up to 2,500 active contacts. For Instagram + a Telegram bot, ChatPlace charges $40 for 2 accounts ($32 annually). On Craft the funnel runs on one of the same 5 accounts.
Beyond 5 accounts, Buffer stays cheaper for scheduling: Craft Pro holds 5 accounts and the next plan is Agency at $249 with unlimited accounts, while 10 Buffer channels cost $60.
See the Craft pricing.
How accounts are counted#
- Buffer: a channel is one profile on any network, and you pay for each. 5 Instagram accounts = 5 channels. See Buffer pricing.
- Craft: one shared account limit per plan, any networks. Pro holds 5 Instagram accounts, or 5 different networks — for example 2 Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and a Telegram bot. The same accounts serve posting and funnels.
Features side by side#
| Feature | Craft | Buffer |
|---|---|---|
| Instagram carousels and Reels | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instagram Stories | — | not verified |
| TikTok | ✓ video | ✓ |
| YouTube Shorts | ✓ | ✓ |
| Telegram channel posting | — | — |
| Facebook, Threads, LinkedIn, Pinterest, X | — | ✓ |
| Scheduler (post now, schedule, reschedule, cancel) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Analytics | funnel stats only | ✓ |
| Team approvals | — | ✓ Team plan |
| Public API | — | ✓ |
| MCP (Claude, ChatGPT) | ✓ any plan | not listed |
| Instagram comment auto-reply | ✓ | not listed |
| Instagram DM + Telegram funnels | ✓ | — |
| Payments inside the funnel | ✓ via your Lava account | — |
| Free plan | ✓ 1 account, 3 posts a month | ✓ 3 channels, 10 scheduled posts per channel |
"Not listed" and "not verified" mean we didn't confirm it on the pages we checked — check with Buffer.
Both use the official Instagram API, so both need a professional (business or creator) Instagram account.
Where Buffer is stronger#
- Cheaper for scheduling only, monthly. 5 channels for $30 vs $39; one channel for $6 vs $12.
- More networks. Facebook, LinkedIn, X, Threads, Pinterest and others.
- Team features. The Team plan adds collaboration and approvals.
- Analytics for posts and profiles.
- More generous free plan for scheduling: 3 channels and 10 scheduled posts per channel.
- Long track record and a public API.
Where Craft is stronger#
- Annual billing at half price. 5 accounts cost $19 a month vs $25 on Buffer.
- Funnels included. Instagram comment auto-replies by keyword, DM funnels with buttons and delays, Telegram bot funnels, subscription checks and unlimited Telegram broadcasts, on the same accounts and at the same price. Buffer is a scheduler; for this you'd add a second tool.
- Payments inside the funnel through your own Lava account. The money goes straight to you; Craft takes no commission.
- One inbox for Telegram bots and Instagram DMs.
- MCP connector on every plan.
Honest limits of Craft posting#
Craft publishes to Instagram (carousels of 2–10 photos, Reels and videos, single photos), TikTok (videos) and YouTube (Shorts and videos). It doesn't post to Facebook, Threads, LinkedIn, Pinterest, X or Telegram channels. It has no team approvals and no deep reach analytics — only funnel statistics.
Schedule posts and build funnels by chatting with Claude or ChatGPT#
Craft has an MCP connector that works on any plan. Connect Craft to Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor or Claude Code and ask in plain words: "schedule this carousel to Instagram for tomorrow at 10:00", or "build a funnel that sends the guide to everyone who comments GUIDE and reminds those who didn't open it an hour later". Setup guide: Connect your Claude.
Moving from Buffer#
Message us on Telegram and we'll help you connect your accounts and set up funnels. Or start free at app.craftopen.space.
Also compare: Buffer alternatives · Craft vs Postiz · Craft vs Publer · Craft vs Later · Best social media schedulers
Frequently asked questions#
Can I connect 5 Instagram accounts to Buffer, and what does it cost?#
Yes. Buffer charges per channel, and each Instagram account is a channel: 5 × $6 = $30 a month, or $25 billed annually. On Craft it's $39 a month or $19 annually.
Is Buffer cheaper than Craft?#
For scheduling only on monthly billing, yes. On annual billing Craft is cheaper for 5 accounts ($19 vs $25). If you also need comment auto-replies and funnels, Craft replaces Buffer plus a funnel tool: $39 vs about $69.
Does Buffer have comment auto-replies or DM funnels?#
We didn't find them. Buffer helps you reply to comments by hand; automated funnels need a separate tool.
Can Craft post to LinkedIn, Facebook or X?#
No. Craft posts to Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
Does Craft have team approvals like Buffer?#
No. Craft has no approval workflow or shared team calendar.
Sources#
- Craft pricing — https://craftopen.space/#pricing — checked September 21, 2026
- Buffer pricing — https://buffer.com/pricing — checked September 21, 2026
- ManyChat pricing — https://manychat.com/pricing — checked September 21, 2026
- ChatPlace pricing — https://help.chatplace.io/en/articles/6763310 — checked September 21, 2026