Buffer vs Later
Quick verdict
Buffer and Later are both excellent social media tools, and the right pick depends on what you need. Buffer is plan and publish content across all your social channels, while Later is the social media management and scheduling platform. For most people, Buffer is the safer default thanks to its wider adoption — but Later can be the better fit for the right workflow.
If you're choosing between Buffer and Later, you're not alone — they're two of the most talked-about social media tools around, and the differences aren't always obvious from their landing pages.
We track hundreds of social media tools on DesignBookmark, so we've put them side by side below: what each one is, where they overlap, how they differ, and a clear answer to which you should choose.
No fluff and no fabricated benchmarks — just an honest, practical comparison to help you decide fast.
At a glance
| Buffer | Later | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Social Media | Social Media |
| Pricing | Freemium | Freemium |
| On DesignBookmark | Featured pick | Listed |
| Categories | 1 | 1 |
Pricing is a general guide and changes often — always confirm current plans on each tool's site.
What they have in common
At a high level, Buffer and Later are after the same thing. Both sit in our social media category, both are aimed at designers, developers and creators, and both are built to make that job faster and more enjoyable.
So if you're only going to use one, you won't be missing out on the fundamentals either way — the question is which one's particular take on social media tool suits you best. That's what the rest of this comparison digs into.
Buffer
Buffer is plan and publish content across all your social channels. The team behind it ships steadily, so it keeps improving rather than standing still.
Against Later, it tends to win people over when simplicity and speed matter more than a sprawling feature list. On the pricing side, Buffer is generally freemium — always click through to confirm current plans, since they change often.
Later
Later bills itself as the social media management and scheduling platform — and in practice that's exactly what it delivers. What stands out is how focused and dependable it feels: it does what it promises, release after release.
Compared with Buffer, it's the one to reach for when reliability beats raw feature count. On the pricing side, Later is generally freemium — always click through to confirm current plans, since they change often.
How to choose between Buffer and Later
Pick Buffer
Choose Buffer if you want the more established, widely-adopted pick that most people reach for first.
Pick Later
Choose Later if the social media management and scheduling platform sounds like exactly what you need.
Pricing & how you'll pay
Buffer and Later use broadly similar pricing models, so cost is unlikely to be the deciding factor. Focus instead on which one fits your workflow — and always confirm the latest plans on each site, since pricing changes often.
Workflow & learning curve
The best social media tool is the one that disappears into your routine. Think about which interface feels more natural to you, which integrates with the apps you already use, and which you'd actually open every day. A short free trial of each tells you more than any feature chart.
Scope — all-rounder or specialist
Both cover similar ground here, so neither is obviously the "bigger" tool. Judge them on how well they do the specific job you care about most, rather than the length of their feature lists.
Momentum & community
A tool is only as good as the team and community behind it. Both Buffer and Later are actively maintained and listed on DesignBookmark for that reason — but it's worth a quick look at each one's changelog and community to see which is moving in a direction you like.
Frequently asked questions
Is Buffer better than Later?+
Neither is universally "better" — they're both strong social media tools, which is why people compare them. Buffer suits you if you want plan and publish content across all your social channels; Later suits you if you want the social media management and scheduling platform. The best way to decide is to try both on a real project.
What's the difference between Buffer and Later?+
They overlap a lot — both are social media tools aimed at the same audience. The practical difference is emphasis: Buffer is plan and publish content across all your social channels, whereas Later is the social media management and scheduling platform. That shapes which workflows each one feels best for.
Is Buffer or Later cheaper?+
Their pricing models are broadly similar (Buffer is freemium, Later is freemium), so cost isn't the deciding factor for most people. Check each site for the current plans, since they change regularly.
Can I use Buffer and Later together?+
Often, yes. Plenty of people use more than one social media tool side by side — one as their main driver and another for the things it does best. There's no rule that says you must pick only one, though most settle on a primary tool over time.
Is there a free version of Buffer or Later?+
Both generally offer a free or freemium way in, so you can try Buffer and Later before paying for either.
The bottom line
The bottom line: Buffer is the easier one to recommend as a default, but there's no wrong answer between Buffer and Later — they're both genuinely good social media tools. Re-read the "how to choose" points above, take whichever one speaks to you for a quick spin, and keep the one that earns a permanent place in your workflow.