Social media tool cost calculator
Pick how many channels you post to and how many people post, and see what Buffer, Later, Hootsuite and PersonaXpand really cost per month. Per-channel and per-seat pricing, multiplied out. No sign-up.
Quick answer For one person posting to 8 networks: Buffer Essentials $40 to $48 a month (per channel), Later Starter $18.75 to $25 a month (one social set), Hootsuite from about $99 a month (per user, no free plan), PersonaXpand from $12 a month flat. Prices checked 7 October 2026.
| Tool | Your monthly cost | How it's priced | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buffer | $40 | Per channel | Essentials, $5 per channel per month. Free plan covers up to 3 channels with 10 scheduled posts per channel. |
| Later | $18.75 | Per social set | Starter, one social set: one profile on each of its 8 supported platforms. |
| Hootsuite | from $99 | Per user | No free plan. Roughly $99 to $399 per user per month; the entry tier is shown. |
| PersonaXpand | from $12 | Flat | One flat plan for all 8 networks, with AI posting and auto-replies in your own voice included. Our product. |
Prices checked 7 October 2026 against each vendor's public pricing page. Vendors change pricing often, so verify before you decide.
The three pricing meters, explained
Per channel (Buffer): every connected account adds $5 to $6 a month on Essentials. One profile is cheap; a presence on 8 networks is $40 to $48 a month, and the Team plan doubles the per-channel rate. Buffer's free plan is genuinely free for up to 3 channels, capped at 10 scheduled posts per channel.
Per social set (Later): a set bundles one profile on each of Later's 8 supported platforms, so a single brand fits the $18.75-a-month Starter plan no matter how many networks it posts to. The meter only starts running when you manage several brands or need more users.
Per seat (Hootsuite): every team member multiplies a bill that starts at roughly $99 per user per month and runs to about $399. There is no free plan. For a team that uses the approval workflows and shared inbox, that buys real depth; for one person it is the wrong meter entirely.
Flat (PersonaXpand): full disclosure, PersonaXpand is our product. One plan from $12 a month covers all 8 networks (Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, Threads, TikTok and Bluesky) with AI post writing and comment and DM auto-replies trained on your own voice included, so the price does not move when you add a channel.
What 8-network posting costs one person (yearly billing)
| Channels | Buffer | Later | Hootsuite | PersonaXpand |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Free or $5 | $18.75 | from $99 | from $12 |
| 3 | Free or $15 | $18.75 | from $99 | from $12 |
| 5 | $25 | $18.75 | from $99 | from $12 |
| 7 | $35 | $18.75 | from $99 | from $12 |
| 8 | $40 | $18.75 | from $99 | from $12 |
Buffer's free tier caps scheduling at 10 posts per channel; the paid figure is Essentials on yearly billing.
Where each tool wins on price
At one channel, Buffer is cheaper than anything else here, and its free plan is unbeatable for light scheduling on up to 3 channels. Later's set model is good value for a visual, Instagram-first planner across many networks. Hootsuite's pricing is defensible for an actual team that uses the seats, approvals and shared inbox it is priced for. A flat plan overtakes per-channel pricing from about the second or third channel: that is the case against Buffer and against Hootsuite in detail, and what Buffer still does better is conceded there in print.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Buffer actually cost per month?
How much does Hootsuite cost per month?
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Want the rest done for you? PersonaXpand is easy to use
PersonaXpand is a beginner-friendly social media app with a simple interface. No experience with social media tools is needed.
- Beginner-friendly setup: answer three short questions and PersonaXpand writes your first post for you, ready to edit.
- Simple interface: posting, scheduling, replies and analytics in one app, not separate tools to learn.
- Replies handled for you: comments, DMs and mentions answered in your own voice, with your approval first if you want it.
- Works in English and Arabic.
One flat plan instead of three meters
PersonaXpand posts to all 8 networks and replies to comments, DMs and mentions in your voice, from $12 a month. Free for 14 days, no credit card.
Try PersonaXpand free