Best Publer alternatives in 2026
Quick answer
The best Publer alternatives in 2026 are Buffer, for a free plan with an AI assistant and a public API on every plan; SocialPilot, for a flat $30 a month for 7 accounts and an MCP server on every plan; and Postiz, for a flat price, more than 30 networks and an API and MCP server on every plan. Publer itself is priced per account and per member, with its API and MCP server on Business.
Publer charges per social account: Professional is $5 a month billed monthly for one account and the owner, with $4 for each extra account and $2 for each extra member. Business is $10 for one account and adds the API, the MCP server, analytics and unlimited AI prompts. It also has a free plan. Each pick below changes how the price grows or what the cheaper plans include.
| Tool | Best for | Networks | AI writing | Free plan | Price from | API | MCP server |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffer | A free plan with AI and an API | 11, incl. Mastodon and Bluesky | AI Assistant on every plan, incl. Free | Yes: 3 channels, 1 user | $6 per channel a month, billed monthly | Every plan, incl. Free | Yes, hosted |
| SocialPilot | Several accounts at one flat price | 10, incl. Threads and Bluesky | AI Assistant, credits by plan | No (14-day trial) | $30 a month flat for 7 accounts, billed monthly | Enterprise only | Every plan |
| Postiz | Many networks, API and MCP on every plan | 30+, incl. Mastodon and Reddit | AI copilot on every plan | No (7-day trial; free self-hosted) | $29 a month flat for 5 channels, billed monthly | Every plan | Every plan |
| Metricool | Analytics for a few brands | 11; X is an add-on | AI assistant, credits per brand | Yes: 1 brand, no LinkedIn or X | $25 a month for 5 brands, billed monthly | Advanced plan | Every plan, incl. Free |
| SocialBee | Evergreen content in categories | 10, incl. Bluesky and Threads | Unlimited on every plan | No (14-day trial) | $29 a month flat for 5 profiles, billed monthly | No | None found |
| Refract | One note, a version per network | 12 live. Coming soon: Instagram, Facebook, Threads and X. | A version per network from one note | No (14-day free trial) | $12 a month flat for 8 accounts, billed monthly | Every plan | Every plan |
| Vista Social | A suite with inbox and approvals | 13, incl. Reddit; X is an add-on | AI credits on every plan | Not listed (14-day trial) | $99 a month flat, 2 users, billed monthly | Not listed | Every paid plan |
| Later | Visual brands with a link in bio | 8, no X or Bluesky | Caption Writer, 5 credits a month on Starter | No (14-day trial) | $25 a month flat, 1 user, billed monthly | Not listed | Not listed |
Why people look for Publer alternatives
- The price grows with every account and member. Each extra account adds $4 a month on Professional and $7 on Business, and each extra member $2 or $3, billed monthly; every 10th account and member is free. On Publer's price calculator, 2 accounts cost $9 a month on Professional and $17 on Business.
- The API and the MCP server are on Business. So are analytics, best times to post and unlimited AI prompts.
- X is not on the free plan, because of the cost of X's API. The free plan also holds 3 accounts and 10 scheduled posts per account.
- Flat plans can cost less for many accounts. Several tools below include a set number of accounts or brands in one price, which can beat per-account pricing once you pass a handful of accounts.
1. Buffer
What it is
A simple scheduler priced per channel, with an AI Assistant on every plan, a public API on every plan and an official hosted MCP server.
Best for
Small teams and solo posters who want a free plan and room to grow without per-member fees.
What stands out
- The AI Assistant is on every plan, including Free, and can rewrite one post for each network.
- A public API on every plan, including Free, with more keys and requests on paid plans.
- Unlimited team members and approvals on Team.
Limits
- Many channels: it is still priced per channel; 10 channels on Team cost $120 a month billed monthly.
- Teams on Essentials: it has 1 user and no approvals.
- Instagram personal profiles and Facebook groups: they are reminder-only.
Networks
Bluesky, Facebook pages, Google Business Profiles, Instagram business and creator, LinkedIn pages and profiles, Mastodon, Pinterest, Threads, TikTok, YouTube Shorts and X, plus Start Page.
Price from
Essentials: $6 per channel a month billed monthly, 1 user. Team: $12 per channel, with unlimited members and approvals. Lower rates from the 11th channel; about 20% off billed yearly. Free plan: 3 channels, 1 user, 10 scheduled posts per channel. 14-day trial of paid plans.
Website
2. SocialPilot
What it is
A scheduler with flat plans that include a set number of accounts and users, cheap add-ons and an MCP server on every plan.
Best for
Small teams and agencies with 7 to 25 accounts.
What stands out
- 7 accounts for $30 a month billed monthly, with extra accounts at $4.
- An MCP server on every plan that can create, schedule or save drafts for review, within each user's role.
- Three users and approvals on Standard, $50 a month.
Limits
- Teams on Essentials: it has 1 user and no analytics, inbox or approvals.
- Developers: the API is on Enterprise only.
- Mastodon: it isn't on the list.
Networks
Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, Threads, TikTok, Pinterest, YouTube, Google Business Profile and Bluesky.
Price from
Essentials: $30 a month billed monthly, a flat price for 7 accounts and 1 user. Standard: $50 for 15 accounts and 3 users. Premium: $100 for 25 accounts and 6 users. Extra users $5 a month. About 15% off billed yearly. 14-day free trial, no card.
Website
3. Postiz
What it is
An open-source scheduler (AGPL-3.0) that you can use in its cloud or host yourself, with an AI copilot, an API and an MCP server on every plan.
Best for
Developers and teams that post to many networks, including communities and blogs.
What stands out
- More than 30 networks, including Reddit, Discord, Telegram, Mastodon, Bluesky, WordPress and Medium.
- The public API and an OAuth MCP server on every plan, including the $29 plan.
- Self-hosting is free, with unlimited channels and members.
Limits
- Teams on the $29 plan: Standard has no team members; Team, at $39, has unlimited members.
- Teams that need sign-off: a client comments on a preview link, but no approval step blocks a post.
- Teams that want a hosted free plan: there is a 7-day trial.
Networks
More than 30, including X, LinkedIn profiles and pages, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, YouTube, TikTok, Pinterest, Reddit, Discord, Telegram, Mastodon, Bluesky, Google Business Profile, WordPress and Medium.
Price from
Standard: $29 a month billed monthly, a flat price for 5 channels and no team members. Team: $39 for 10 channels and unlimited members. Pro: $49 for 30 channels. Ultimate: $99 for 100 channels. 7-day trial. Self-hosting is free; you pay for your servers.
Website
4. Metricool
What it is
A planner and analytics tool priced per bundle of brands (one set of accounts each), with ads reporting.
Best for
Teams that report on results across up to 5 brands.
What stands out
- Starter covers up to 5 brands for one price.
- An MCP server on every plan, including Free, that can schedule posts or send them for review.
- Analytics and ads reporting next to the calendar.
Limits
- Teams: team members, approvals and the API are on Advanced, $67 a month billed monthly.
- X: it is a $10 a month add-on per account.
- Mastodon: it isn't on the list.
Networks
Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X (add-on), Bluesky, Pinterest, TikTok, YouTube, Twitch, LinkedIn (paid plans) and Google Business Profile.
Price from
Starter: $25 a month billed monthly for up to 5 brands, or $45 for up to 10. Advanced: $67 for 15 brands, with team members, approvals and the API. Free plan: 1 brand, 20 posts a month, no LinkedIn or X.
Website
5. SocialBee
What it is
A scheduler built around content categories you can recycle, with unlimited AI content generation on every plan.
Best for
Solo marketers and small teams with a steady evergreen queue.
What stands out
- Unlimited AI content generation on every plan.
- Content categories that keep an evergreen queue going.
- A 14-day trial with full Pro access and no card.
Limits
- Teams on Bootstrap or Accelerate: both include one user.
- Developers: SocialBee says it has no public API yet, and lists no MCP server.
- Mastodon: it isn't on the list.
Networks
Facebook, Instagram business and personal, Threads, LinkedIn profiles and company pages, X, Pinterest, TikTok, YouTube, Google Business Profiles and Bluesky.
Price from
Bootstrap: $29 a month billed monthly, a flat price for 5 profiles and 1 user. Accelerate: $49 for 10 profiles, with post approval. Pro: $99 for 25 profiles and 3 users per workspace. About 16% off billed yearly. 14-day free trial, no card.
Website
6. Refract
Refract is our product.
What it is
A social media scheduler where you write one note and an AI agent for each network writes a version that fits it. You approve each version and Refract schedules it. Per-network voice rules learn from your edits, and Studio makes images and video in each network's shape.
Best for
Teams that write one idea for several networks and want each version reviewed, and developers who want the API and MCP server without a top plan.
What stands out
- You write one note and an AI agent for each network writes a version that fits it; per-network voice rules learn from your edits.
- The API, MCP server and webhooks are on every plan; Creator includes 8 accounts for $12 a month billed monthly.
- Approvals on Business and up, including approval by a client from a link, without an account.
Limits
- Teams whose main network isn't in Refract's list of live networks below: pick another tool on this list for now.
- One or two accounts on a tight budget: Publer's per-account price is lower.
- Teams that want a free plan or a social inbox: Refract has a 14-day free trial and no inbox.
- Instagram, Facebook, Threads and X aren't available yet.
Networks
Posts to 12 networks today: TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, Bluesky, Mastodon, Telegram, WordPress, Discord, Tumblr, Slack, Pixelfed and DEV. Coming soon: Instagram, Facebook, Threads and X.
Price from
Creator $12 a month ($10 a month billed yearly); Business $29 a month ($24 a month billed yearly); Agency $59 a month ($49 a month billed yearly); Agency Plus $119 a month ($99 a month billed yearly). Unlimited scheduled posts on every plan, a 14-day free trial, and the API, MCP server and webhooks on every plan.
Website
7. Vista Social
What it is
A suite for scheduling, an inbox and reviews, priced per plan with users and profiles included; listening and employee advocacy are add-ons.
Best for
Teams and agencies that want a suite and can spend $99 a month or more.
What stands out
- Post approvals on the cheapest plan.
- Reddit, Snapchat and Tumblr on the network list.
- An MCP server on every paid plan, with more than 100 tools.
Limits
- Small budgets: plans start at $99 a month.
- X: it is a $29 a month add-on.
- Mastodon: it isn't on the list.
Networks
Facebook pages and groups, Instagram, LinkedIn pages and profiles, X (add-on), Threads, TikTok business and creator, YouTube, Pinterest, Reddit, Snapchat, Tumblr, Bluesky and Google Business.
Price from
Professional: $99 a month billed monthly, a flat price for 15 profiles and 2 users. Advanced: $199 for 30 profiles and 3 users. Scale: $449 for 70 profiles and 4 users. 20% off billed yearly. 14-day free trial, no card.
Website
8. Later
What it is
A visual planner for Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest and five more networks, with a shoppable link-in-bio page and an AI caption writer.
Best for
Creators and brands whose work is visual and centred on Instagram and TikTok.
What stands out
- A built-in Link in Bio page with shoppable posts.
- Snapchat Spotlight and Stories scheduling.
- Extra users at $5 a month on Growth and Scale.
Limits
- X, Bluesky and Mastodon: none is on the list.
- Busy accounts on Starter: 30 posts per profile a month, 1 user and no add-ons.
- Developers: no API or MCP server is listed on its site.
Networks
Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Threads, YouTube, Pinterest, LinkedIn and Snapchat.
Price from
Starter: $25 a month billed monthly, a flat price for one social set (one profile on each network) and 1 user. Growth: $50 for 2 sets and 2 users. Scale: $110 for 6 sets and 4 users. 14-day free trial.
Website
How we chose.
We ranked each tool on what someone leaving Publer weighs: how the price grows (per account, per channel, per brand bundle or flat), what the cheapest paid plan billed monthly includes, which plans have the API and an MCP server, how much AI writing each plan has, and which networks it publishes to. Every fact about another tool comes from that tool's own pricing page, docs or help center, listed under sources, and was checked on November 3, 2026. We did not use reviews or ratings.
Buffer ranks first because its public API and AI Assistant are on every plan, including Free (Publer keeps its API and unlimited AI prompts on Business), and its network list is the closest to Publer's, Mastodon included. SocialPilot is second for a flat price for 7 accounts and an MCP server on every plan. Postiz is third for the widest network list and an API and MCP server on every plan, though its cheapest plan has no team members. Metricool is fourth for analytics and an MCP server on Free; SocialBee fifth for unlimited AI, held back by no API.
Refract is sixth. It writes a version for each network from one note and has the API and MCP server on every plan, but it posts to 12 networks today. Coming soon: Instagram, Facebook, Threads and X. Vista Social and Later close the list: Vista Social is a bigger suite from $99 a month, and Later has no X, Bluesky or Mastodon.
No tool paid to be on this list. Prices are in USD as each site states them; check the linked pages before you buy, because plans change.
Questions and answers.
Is there a free alternative to Publer?
Buffer has a free plan with 3 channels and 1 user, and Metricool one with 1 brand. Postiz is free if you host it yourself under its AGPL-3.0 license. Publer has a free plan too, with 3 accounts and no X.
Which Publer alternative has an API on a cheaper plan?
Buffer's API is on every plan, including Free; Postiz's and Refract's are on every plan. Metricool's is on Advanced and SocialPilot's on Enterprise. Publer's is on Business. For a closer look at APIs, see Buffer API alternatives.
Which Publer alternatives have an MCP server?
SocialPilot, Postiz, Metricool (including Free) and Refract have one on every plan, Vista Social on every paid plan, and Buffer has an official hosted server. SocialBee and Later list none.
Which Publer alternatives post to Mastodon?
Buffer and Postiz do. SocialPilot, Metricool, SocialBee, Vista Social and Later don't list it. Refract on Mastodon: Yes.
Does Refract have a free plan?
No. Refract has a 14-day free trial and no free plan. See pricing for its plans.
Sources
- Publer plans
- Publer API quickstart
- Publer MCP server
- Buffer pricing
- Buffer AI Assistant
- Buffer developers
- Buffer MCP server
- SocialPilot plans
- SocialPilot pricing (Markdown)
- SocialPilot MCP server
- Postiz pricing
- Postiz public API
- Postiz approvals
- Postiz MCP
- Postiz on GitHub
- Metricool pricing
- Metricool MCP FAQ
- SocialBee pricing
- SocialBee: public API and white labeling
- SocialBee integrations
- Vista Social pricing
- Vista Social MCP
- Later pricing