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Pricing for SaaS makers

Free scheduling with Buffer

Embed scheduling in an app like Frooty. Users connect their Buffer accounts, and your SaaS pays us only for optional add-on API requests.

Try the free sandbox See onboarding capacity

The sandbox simulates publishing in a separate workspace. Connect Buffer for live scheduling.

What your SaaS pays us

Free at launch

Buffer-connected scheduling

Embed scheduling for the eligible channels your users already manage in Buffer.

$0platform fee

  • Users authorize their own Buffer account
  • Standard Buffer scheduling through our API is free
  • Users pay Buffer directly if they choose a paid Buffer plan
Planned

Optional workflow add-ons

Pay for requests your SaaS sends to our add-on endpoints for workflows beyond Buffer.

$2per 100 add-on API requests

  • Long-form YouTube scheduling is the first planned workflow
  • Custom thumbnails for eligible YouTube channels
  • Direct YouTube authorization and platform review before launch

Your users can stay on Buffer Free for up to three channels per organization, or pay Buffer for a larger plan. Estimate their Buffer cost.

How many users and channels can you onboard?

Each customer signs in to Buffer, authorizes the app, and selects eligible channels in their organization. A channel is one social profile, such as a LinkedIn Page.

Each customer connects their own workspace

If 100 Frooty users each connect their own Free Buffer organization, they could use up to 300 channels across those organizations. Users with paid Buffer plans can use the eligible slots they already have.

Everyone uses one shared workspace

A Free organization has three slots total. An Essentials organization with five paid slots has five total. Team seats let coworkers collaborate in Buffer while everyone shares the organization’s slots.

API capacity for 100 authorized accounts

One App Client gets 1,100 requests per 15 minutes, 3,000 per day, and 25,000 per 30 days in this example. Buffer counts up to 1,000 authorized accounts toward quota growth. Its public docs specify request limits without a separate enrollment maximum. Active-user capacity depends on how often users schedule and check posts.

Buffer App Client limitsBuffer authorization guideBuffer plan limits

What your users pay Buffer

Estimate one Buffer organization. Each connected social profile uses one channel slot.

Billing cycle

Free

For a small set of social profiles.

$0/ month

Your selection exceeds 3 channels

Channels
Up to 3
Queue per channel
10 posts
Buffer users
1 user
Approvals in Buffer
—
App authorization
Available

Essentials

For solo creators with a larger queue.

$30/ month

5 channels · billed monthly

Channels
Per paid slot
Queue per channel
5,000 posts
Buffer users
1 user
Approvals in Buffer
—
App authorization
Available

Team

For teams that collaborate on content.

$60/ month

5 channels · billed monthly

Channels
Per paid slot
Queue per channel
5,000 posts
Buffer users
Unlimited users
Approvals in Buffer
Included
App authorization
Available

Buffer estimates in USD before tax. Paid plans bill every slot, with lower rates at higher volumes.

View Buffer's official pricing

Where Buffer’s publishing API has gaps

The $2 per 100 requests rate applies to planned add-on workflows. The comparison shows which features have another route today.

  • Long-form YouTube and custom thumbnails

    Buffer schedules Shorts. The planned add-on would schedule regular videos through a direct YouTube connection and support custom thumbnails where the channel is eligible.

    Buffer’s YouTube support
    Planned add-on

  • File uploads through the API

    Buffer fetches media from a public URL. Your app can host its own assets for standard Buffer scheduling.

    Buffer media requirements
    Use hosted media

  • Post-level analytics and comment management

    Buffer restricts API post metrics to personal keys. Reading and replying to comments is handled in Buffer’s Community tools.

    Buffer API capabilities
    Use Buffer’s tools

  • Live status notifications

    Buffer’s public API uses polling for status changes. The simulated webhooks in the sandbox are for testing.

    Buffer status sync
    Poll Buffer

  • Start Page publishing

    Create and edit Start Page posts in Buffer’s own interface.

    Buffer API capabilities
    Use Buffer’s tools

  • Substack newsletters and articles

    Buffer publishes Notes. Schedule newsletter issues and long-form articles in Substack’s editor.

    Buffer’s Substack support
    Use Substack

  • Facebook groups and personal Instagram profiles

    These channel types use notification publishing. The user completes the post in the social app.

    Supported channel types
    Manual completion
YouTube upload and scheduling APIYouTube commercial-use policies