Planable vs Buffer: Choosing the best tool for social media collaboration

Social media management is essential for businesses looking to maintain a consistent and engaging online presence. Tools like Planable and Buffer allow teams to collaborate, schedule posts, and track performance from a centralized platform. They simplify the process of managing multiple social media accounts and streamline content planning.

However, with several social media management tools available, choosing the right one for your needs can be challenging. In this article, we compare two popular platforms: Planable and Buffer. By the end, you’ll understand their core features, key differences, and ideal use cases, helping you decide which tool best suits your social media strategy. Let’s dive in!

Planable and Buffer are two prominent tools in social media management software, each offering unique features tailored to different team needs and workflows.

Planable is known for its intuitive, collaboration-focused platform that allows teams to plan, create, and approve social media content seamlessly. Its real-time collaboration features make it ideal for teams that prioritize feedback loops and want a visual, calendar-based approach to managing posts. Buffer, on the other hand, has built its reputation on being a simple, easy-to-use scheduling tool with powerful analytics. Buffer is designed for those looking to efficiently schedule posts across multiple platforms while tracking performance metrics.

Now, let’s dive deeper into the Planable vs. Buffer comparison to help you choose the best tool for your social media management needs.

One of the key differences between Planable and Buffer lies in their pricing structures. Planable offers tiered plans based on the number of users and workspaces, with prices starting at $33 per workspace per month. It also provides a free plan with limited features, which is ideal for small teams or individuals just starting out. Buffer, in contrast, starts at $5 per month for its Essentials plan, which includes basic publishing and analytics features. Buffer’s more advanced plans, such as its Team plan, are priced at $10 for 1 channel per month, making it slightly more affordable for larger teams, especially for those primarily focused on post scheduling and basic analytics.

Another notable difference is their collaboration focus. Planable is built around real-time collaboration, allowing users to create, preview, and approve social media posts with team feedback directly in the platform. It’s an excellent choice for content teams looking to streamline their creative and approval workflows, offering features like comment threads, visual previews, and content approval stages. Buffer, on the other hand, focuses more on content scheduling and performance tracking. While it does allow for team collaboration, its strength lies in its simplicity and ease of scheduling across platforms, coupled with basic analytics for post-performance insights.

A final difference is their target audience and scalability. Planable is well-suited for agencies and teams that prioritize content creation, review, and approval workflows. Its calendar view and approval processes cater to teams that need tight collaboration. Buffer, with its robust analytics and affordability, is geared more toward smaller businesses and individuals who are focused on efficient social media scheduling and performance tracking without the need for extensive content collaboration features.

• Real-time collaboration: Planable allows teams to collaborate in real-time, making it easy to share, review, and approve social media content seamlessly. This is ideal for teams that rely heavily on feedback and approvals.
• Visual content calendar: The platform offers an intuitive, drag-and-drop visual content calendar, making it easy to plan, schedule, and see posts across all social media channels in a clear timeline.
• Content approval workflow: Planable’s approval system enables content to be reviewed and approved by multiple stakeholders before being posted, reducing the chance of errors or miscommunication.
• Post previews: It provides accurate post previews for different social media platforms, helping teams visualize how content will appear once published, which is especially helpful for agencies managing multiple clients.
• User-friendly interface: The platform is designed to be highly intuitive, which makes onboarding and day-to-day usage simple for teams without extensive technical knowledge.

• Limited analytics: Planable doesn’t offer deep analytics or performance tracking. Teams that need in-depth social media insights may need a separate tool to track metrics.
• Cost increases with team size: While it offers competitive pricing for small teams, larger teams can find costs scaling quickly as the platform charges per user.
• Fewer platform integrations: Planable supports fewer third-party integrations compared to some competitors, which may limit its use for teams relying on a broader tech stack.
• Mobile app limitations: The mobile app is functional but lacks the full capabilities of the desktop version, which can be frustrating for users who manage content on the go.
• Focus on collaboration, not scheduling: While great for content collaboration and approval workflows, Planable is less feature-rich in terms of post-scheduling flexibility compared to competitors like Buffer.

• Easy-to-use interface: Buffer is designed with simplicity in mind, offering an intuitive interface for scheduling posts across multiple social media platforms, making it accessible even for beginners.
• Affordable pricing: Buffer offers competitive pricing, especially for individuals and small teams, with plans starting at a lower price point compared to many competitors. It also provides a free version with basic functionality.
• Multi-platform support: Buffer allows users to schedule and publish content across various platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Pinterest, making it versatile for managing multiple social accounts.
• Built-in analytics: Buffer offers built-in analytics, allowing users to track the performance of their social media posts. It provides valuable insights into engagement, reach, and other key metrics without needing a separate tool.
• Post scheduling: Buffer excels in post scheduling, enabling users to create custom schedules for each platform. Its queuing system ensures content is posted at optimal times based on user preference or performance data.

• Limited collaboration features: Buffer is not as collaboration-focused as some competitors like Planable. It lacks detailed content approval workflows, which may be a drawback for larger teams that require multiple stages of review.
• Basic analytics: While Buffer offers basic analytics, it doesn’t provide the depth of insights that advanced users might need, especially when compared to dedicated analytics tools or competitors with more robust reporting features.
• No content previews: Buffer doesn’t provide detailed post previews, which can be a limitation when trying to visualize how content will look on different platforms, especially for visually heavy posts.
• Fewer integrations: While Buffer supports major social platforms, it has fewer integrations with other marketing or CRM tools, which can limit its functionality for teams that need a more interconnected toolset.
• Limited features in free version: The free version of Buffer is quite limited in terms of the number of accounts and scheduled posts, which can quickly necessitate upgrading to a paid plan as needs grow.

Planable and Buffer both serve as social media management tools, but they cater to different needs. Planable excels in collaboration, providing a visually intuitive platform that allows teams to create, review, and approve content in real-time. It’s ideal for agencies or businesses with a strong focus on teamwork and creative workflows. 

Buffer, on the other hand, emphasizes ease of use and scheduling. It offers streamlined post scheduling across multiple platforms and includes basic analytics for tracking performance. While Planable prioritizes collaboration and content approval, Buffer is more suited for efficient, straightforward content scheduling and basic reporting.

Whether Planable is better than Buffer depends on your specific needs. Planable is ideal for teams that require real-time collaboration, detailed content approval workflows, and a focus on visual content planning. Its ability to streamline feedback and approval processes makes it a strong choice for agencies or creative teams working on complex campaigns. 

Buffer, however, is better suited for users who prioritize simplicity and efficiency in scheduling posts. It’s an excellent tool for individuals or small teams looking to manage multiple social media accounts with minimal setup.

Planable is best used for social media teams and agencies that prioritize seamless collaboration and content approval processes. It is designed to streamline the planning, creation, and scheduling of social media posts, with a focus on real-time feedback and communication among team members. 

The platform is ideal for organizations that need a visual, calendar-based workflow for creating and organizing content, where multiple stakeholders can review, comment, and approve posts before they go live. Planable’s strengths lie in its ability to foster creative collaboration, making it a top choice for content-driven teams needing structured approval workflows.

Planable and Buffer serve different purposes, so while Planable can replace Buffer in certain scenarios, it depends on your needs. Planable excels in collaboration and content approval, making it ideal for teams that require detailed workflows, real-time feedback, and visual post previews. Buffer, on the other hand, is more focused on simplicity and efficiency in scheduling posts across platforms with basic analytics. 

If your primary need is collaborative content creation and approval, Planable could replace Buffer. However, if you value streamlined scheduling and performance tracking over collaboration, Buffer remains the more suitable choice.

Planable and Buffer have different pricing structures, and whether Planable is cheaper depends on your team's size and feature needs. Planable’s pricing starts at $33 per workspace per month, which may increase with additional users and workspaces. Buffer offers a lower starting price at $5 per month for individuals, but for teams, its plans begin at $10 per month. 

Planable also has a free plan with limited features, while Buffer’s free version supports fewer social accounts. For smaller teams, Buffer might be more cost-effective, but for larger teams needing collaboration features, Planable could offer better value.

Planable offers robust tools for social media collaboration and content approval, but it’s worth exploring whether there is a better software for your specific needs. 

Several alternatives to Planable in the social media management space, including Buffer, Hootsuite, Sprout Social, and Later, may be more suitable depending on your requirements.

The right choice depends on factors such as your team’s size, workflow needs, budget, and desired features. While Planable excels in collaboration and approval workflows, other platforms like Hootsuite or Sprout Social may offer more advanced analytics, reporting, or broader social media management capabilities, making them better suited for certain businesses.

Buffer and Planable both offer valuable tools for social media management, but they target different needs. Buffer is designed for simplicity and efficiency, focusing on easy post scheduling across multiple platforms with basic analytics for tracking performance. It is ideal for individuals or small teams that prioritize content distribution and scheduling. 

Planable, on the other hand, excels in collaboration, providing a platform for teams to create, review, and approve content in real-time. It’s best suited for agencies or businesses that require a more detailed content approval process and creative collaboration. Buffer emphasizes scheduling, while Planable focuses on teamwork and content workflows.

Whether Buffer is better than Planable depends on your social media management priorities. Buffer is ideal for users seeking an intuitive, streamlined solution for scheduling posts across multiple platforms with minimal effort. It excels in simplicity, making it a great choice for small teams or individuals focused on efficient content distribution. 

However, if your business requires extensive collaboration features, such as real-time content review and approval workflows, Planable offers a more robust solution. For those who value seamless teamwork and creative input during content creation, Planable is the superior tool, while Buffer shines in straightforward scheduling and ease of use.

Buffer is best used for scheduling and publishing social media content across multiple platforms in a simple and efficient way. It’s ideal for individuals, small businesses, or teams that want to streamline their social media posting without needing extensive collaboration or approval processes. 

Buffer allows users to queue posts, optimize posting times, and track basic engagement metrics, making it suitable for managing day-to-day social media activities. Its strength lies in its user-friendly interface and ability to efficiently manage content distribution, helping users stay consistent with their social media presence across different channels.

Buffer and Planable serve different purposes, so whether Buffer can replace Planable depends on your specific needs. Buffer is focused on simplifying social media scheduling and basic performance tracking, making it ideal for users who need efficient post management across multiple platforms. However, Buffer lacks the advanced collaboration features and content approval workflows that Planable provides. 

If your team requires real-time collaboration, content reviews, and detailed approval processes, Buffer may not be a suitable replacement. For those prioritizing content scheduling and basic analytics without the need for extensive teamwork features, Buffer could serve as a simpler alternative to Planable.

Buffer is generally cheaper than Planable, especially for individuals or small teams. Buffer’s pricing starts at $5 per month for its Essentials plan, making it a cost-effective choice for users focused on scheduling and basic analytics. 

In contrast, Planable’s pricing starts at $33 per month, which can be more expensive for larger teams, especially as workspaces are added. While Buffer offers a lower starting cost, Planable provides more advanced collaboration and approval features. For businesses needing simple scheduling, Buffer is the more affordable option, but Planable offers greater value for collaboration-heavy teams.

Buffer is a popular social media management tool, but it’s important to consider whether there might be a more suitable software solution for your specific needs.

Notable alternatives to Buffer in the social media management space include Hootsuite, Sprout Social, Later, and Planable.

The best choice depends on your team’s requirements, workflow preferences, and budget. While Buffer excels in simplicity and affordable scheduling features, other tools may offer more robust analytics, content collaboration, or platform integrations. Hootsuite, for example, provides advanced analytics, while Planable offers strong collaboration workflows.

While both Planable and Buffer offer user-friendly interfaces for social media management, Planable excels ahead of Buffer in terms of ease-of-use and collaborative features. Planable’s interface is highly intuitive, allowing users to visualize exactly how social media posts will appear across platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter before they are published. This reduces the risk of formatting issues and errors, streamlining the review and approval process. 

Additionally, Planable allows teams to collaborate directly within the platform through features like comment threads and content approval workflows, improving communication and efficiency. While Buffer is straightforward and easy to use, it lacks the real-time collaboration and post preview features that make Planable stand out for content-heavy teams.

While Buffer supports basic team collaboration and coordination, it falls short when it comes to content approval workflows. Buffer does not have a built-in system to manage multi-step approvals, which can be limiting for teams with complex review processes. In contrast, Planable excels in this area by offering highly customizable approval workflows, allowing teams to set specific stages for content reviews and approvals. 

For example, content can be routed through copywriters, designers, and managers before publication, ensuring all stakeholders sign off. This reduces the risk of errors and enhances content quality, making Planable ideal for teams that require detailed review cycles.

Although both Planable and Buffer offer features that support brand consistency across campaigns, Buffer excels with its multi-account management functionality. Buffer’s integrated dashboard allows users to view and manage all their social profiles in one place, ensuring a cohesive brand voice across platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. This is especially useful for brands with a large social media presence, enabling easy cross-platform coordination. 

While Planable supports brand consistency through version control and approval workflows, it lacks Buffer’s ability to provide a comprehensive overview of all social accounts. This makes Buffer the superior choice for maintaining a unified brand strategy across multiple platforms.

When it comes to integration possibilities, Buffer outshines Planable, offering more robust third-party connections. Buffer integrates seamlessly with a variety of productivity platforms and content curation tools, including Pinterest, RSS feeds, and apps like IFTTT, Zapier, Feedly, and Pocket. These integrations are invaluable for users looking to automate processes, curate content efficiently, and streamline workflows. For example, using Zapier, you can connect Buffer to hundreds of other apps to automatically pull in content or manage posts. 

In contrast, Planable focuses primarily on core social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, without the extensive third-party integration that Buffer offers. If your organization relies on external tools for productivity and content sourcing, Buffer is the more versatile choice.

Although both Planable and Buffer offer content scheduling, Buffer's customizable posting times provide a distinct advantage. With Buffer, users can set specific posting schedules tailored to periods of peak audience activity, optimizing content delivery for maximum visibility and engagement. For example, brands can schedule posts to go live during high-traffic hours or specific days of the week when engagement is highest. This level of customization helps ensure posts reach the right audience at the most effective times. 

In contrast, while Planable allows for scheduling, it lacks the advanced customization features that make Buffer ideal for optimizing content distribution strategies.

Planable stands out with its real-time collaboration feature, allowing team members and clients to exchange feedback, approvals, and discussions directly within the platform. This feature is particularly beneficial for agencies or teams managing multiple projects, as it ensures that content reviews and revisions happen instantly, speeding up the approval process. For example, users can leave comments on specific posts, approve or request changes in real-time, and resolve issues more efficiently. 

While Buffer promotes seamless teamwork by supporting basic collaboration, Planable’s instant feedback capabilities offer a more immediate and interactive solution, making it ideal for teams that prioritize fast, detailed collaboration.

Both Planable and Buffer provide comprehensive analytics tools that empower users to make data-driven improvements to their social media strategies. These platforms allow users to track key performance metrics such as engagement, reach, and conversion rates. For example, Buffer provides detailed reports on audience interaction and optimal posting times, while Planable offers insights into post performance and content approval workflows. 

With both tools, teams can identify trends, evaluate what content resonates most with their audience, and refine their strategies accordingly. Whether using Buffer’s streamlined reports or Planable’s workflow-centric analytics, both platforms ensure users can make informed, data-backed decisions.