Buffer alternative: the cheapest way to schedule posts for one or two accounts
The cheapest Buffer alternative for a small number of accounts is Timalio, at $1.99 per connected account and per month, with unlimited reviewers included. Buffer starts at $6 per channel (Essentials) and needs its $12-per-channel Team plan just to add an approval step.
Price, per connected account
Buffer is transparent about its volume pricing, published on buffer.com/pricing.md: $6 per channel on Essentials for the first 10 channels, down to $1 past 50. Its Team plan, the only one with approvals, is $12 per channel for the first 10.
| Accounts | Timalio | Buffer Essentials | Buffer Team (with approvals) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.99 | $6.00 | $12.00 |
| 3 | $5.97 | $18.00 | $36.00 |
| 5 | $9.95 | $30.00 | $60.00 |
| 10 | $19.90 | $60.00 | $120.00 |
Timalio has no free plan. Buffer does, for up to 3 channels with basic scheduling. If you only need to post to one or two accounts by hand with no review step, Buffer Free may cost you nothing at all.
What Timalio does that Buffer’s cheap plans do not
- Approval is included at $1.99, with unlimited reviewers. On Buffer, approval only exists on Team, at double the per-channel price.
- No per-account minimum. Buffer’s Essentials and Team plans both let you buy exactly the number of channels you use, same as Timalio.
- A REST API and an MCP server, so any AI agent can schedule a post through the same approval loop as a human. See the MCP guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free Timalio plan, like Buffer Free?
No. Timalio is $1.99 per connected account, excl. tax, with no free tier. Buffer Free covers up to 3 channels with basic scheduling and no approval step.
Does Buffer’s approval feature cost more than Timalio’s?
Yes. Buffer only offers approval on its Team plan, $12 per channel per month. Timalio includes approval, with unlimited reviewers, in its $1.99 base price: there is no separate approval plan to buy.
Sources
- Buffer Essentials and Team pricing, $6 and $12 per channel : https://buffer.com/pricing (17/09/2026)
- Buffer’s published volume discount table (6/4/3/1 $ and 12/4/3/2 $ per channel by tier) : https://buffer.com/pricing.md (17/09/2026)