I used Buffer for many years, and it's a well-made product. Over time Serge and I wanted our scheduler to do more, and that's when we decided to build Orbitwrite.
So this comparison comes from people who like Buffer. It covers what each tool does, section by section, and says where Buffer is the better pick. Every Buffer detail comes from its pricing page and help centre, checked on 13 October 2026, and the Buffer alternative page has the short version.
What Buffer does well
- A free plan with three channels and 10 scheduled posts on each.
- Per-channel pricing that stays low for one person on one or two networks: Essentials is $5 a channel a month, billed yearly.
- Pinterest, Google Business Profile and Substack Notes as channels.
- iOS and Android apps, and Canva inside the composer.
- A replies and mentions inbox across ten networks, on every plan.
Networks
Orbitwrite publishes to Discord, Slack and Telegram as well as the public networks, so a launch reaches your community server and the company Slack from the same draft. Buffer adds Pinterest, Google Business Profile and Substack Notes.
| Orbitwrite | Buffer | |
|---|---|---|
| X, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube | Yes | Yes |
| Bluesky, Mastodon and Threads | Yes | Yes |
| Discord, Slack and Telegram | Yes | No |
| Pinterest, Google Business Profile, Substack Notes | No | Yes |
Writing and scheduling
Every Orbitwrite account can carry its own copy, so a founder's LinkedIn profile and the company Page can say different things in one post. Buffer's Customize for each network option gives one text box per network, shared by every account on it. The post score grades each channel's copy before you schedule it.
| Orbitwrite | Buffer | |
|---|---|---|
| Separate copy for each account | Yes | One box per network |
| Threads on X, Bluesky, Mastodon and Threads | Yes | Yes, in beta |
| Polls on X and Mastodon | Yes | No |
| LinkedIn PDF documents | Yes | Yes |
| Post score | Yes | No |
| Posting slots per channel | Yes | Yes |
| Recurring posts | No | Yes, in beta |
| RSS feeds | No | Yes |
| Canva in the composer | No | Yes |
| iOS and Android apps | No | Yes |
After a post goes out
Auto-engagement adds a first comment, a like and a repost from any of your connected accounts, each on its own delay. Auto-DM messages everyone who replies to or reposts a post on Bluesky and Mastodon, for up to seven days.
| Orbitwrite | Buffer | |
|---|---|---|
| First comment | X, Bluesky, Mastodon, Threads, LinkedIn, Facebook | LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook |
| Automatic likes and reposts | Yes | No |
| Auto-DM to people who reply or repost | Yes | No |
Inbox
Orbitwrite's team inboxes route conversations by channel, network or keyword and assign them round robin. Buffer's Community inbox reaches more networks, including TikTok and YouTube, on every plan.
| Orbitwrite | Buffer | |
|---|---|---|
| Replies and mentions | 7 networks | 10 networks |
| Team inboxes with assignment | Yes | No |
Teams and approvals
Orbitwrite reviewers approve from the planner or straight from Slack, and can suggest edits the author accepts one at a time. The approval guide sets it up.
| Orbitwrite | Buffer | |
|---|---|---|
| Approvals | Yes | Yes |
| Suggested edits | Yes | No |
| Approve from Slack | Yes | Through Zapier |
AI
Orbitwrite's assistant reads your brand voice and learns from how your team edits its drafts. It also writes a whole campaign from a topic or a URL and holds it for review.
| Orbitwrite | Buffer | |
|---|---|---|
| AI writing assistant | Yes | Yes |
| Brand voice settings | Yes | No |
| AI campaign generation | Yes | No |
Developers
Orbitwrite's MCP server covers the inbox, approvals and analytics as well as posts, and Claude and ChatGPT connect by signing in.
| Orbitwrite | Buffer | |
|---|---|---|
| API on every plan | Yes | Yes |
| MCP server | 115 tools | 20 tools |
| CLI | Yes | Yes |
| TypeScript SDK | Yes | No |
| Signed webhooks | Yes | No |
Pricing
Orbitwrite is priced per workspace, Buffer per channel. Here's what each costs a month for three common setups, billed yearly, in US dollars before tax.
| Orbitwrite | Buffer | |
|---|---|---|
| Just you, 3 channels | $12 on Standard | Free, with 10 scheduled posts per channel, or $15 on Essentials |
| Three people, 6 channels | $55 on Pro | $60 on Team, with approvals |
| A team with approvals, 15 channels | $143 on Advanced, unlimited members | $150 on Team, before its discount past 10 channels |
Orbitwrite has a 10-day trial on every plan, and Buffer a 14-day trial on its paid plans. Billed monthly, Orbitwrite is $15, $69 and $179, and the pricing page has the rest.
When to pick which
Buffer is the better choice for one person posting to a couple of channels, where it costs less, and for anyone who needs Pinterest, Google Business Profile or a free plan.
Orbitwrite is built for teams who post to Discord or Slack alongside their public channels, want each post to keep working after it goes out, or share an inbox and an approval step. Every plan starts with a 10-day trial, so you can connect your channels and try it on a week of posts.