Prices and features last verified September 2026
OutReply vs Buffer: AI replies that can run on autopilot (2026)
Buffer is a straightforward scheduler priced per connected channel, with an AI writing assistant and AI reply suggestions in its community inbox. OutReply adds replies that can go out automatically, sentiment on every comment and comment-to-DM, and has a free plan too.
Quick verdict
Pick Buffer if you mostly schedule posts, publish to many networks and want the lowest price for a handful of channels. Pick OutReply if answering people is the bottleneck: it drafts replies to comments and to Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp messages, tags sentiment and can reply automatically through workflows on Advanced and Elite.
| Question | OutReply | Buffer |
|---|---|---|
| Starts at | Free; paid from $30/mo | Free; $5/channel/mo, billed yearly |
| Free plan | Yes, free forever | Yes, 3 channels |
| Priced | Flat price, teammates included | Per channel |
| AI replies | Every plan, comments and DMs | Suggestions; 5 a week on Free |
OutReply vs Buffer pricing (2026)
Prices in US dollars, last verified September 2026. OutReply's plans come straight from our pricing page.
OutReply
- Free$0Free forever, no card · 1 brand × 2 social accounts, 30 AI credits a month
- Advanced$30per month, flator $300 a year · 3 brands × 5 social accounts, 10 collaborators per brand, 1,300 AI credits a month
- Elite$45per month, flator $450 a year · 10 brands × 25 social accounts, 50 collaborators per brand, 2,400 AI credits a month
Flat pricing: paid plans include collaborators instead of billing per seat. Each AI reply uses 1 credit, and top-up credit packs are available.
Buffer
| Plan | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 Free | 3 channels, 10 scheduled posts per channel, AI Assistant, community inbox with 5 AI reply suggestions a week |
| Essentials | $5per channel / month Billed yearly ($60 per channel) | Unlimited scheduled posts, community inbox, unlimited AI reply suggestions, 1 user |
| Team | $10per channel / month Billed yearly ($120 per channel) | Everything in Essentials plus unlimited team members |
Buffer charges for each connected channel. Its pricing page shows yearly billing.
With 15 channels, Buffer Essentials is $75 a month and Team is $150 a month, billed yearly. OutReply Advanced covers up to 15 accounts (3 brands × 5) for $30 a month. With up to 4 channels, Buffer Essentials costs less than Advanced billed yearly ($300).
OutReply vs Buffer: feature comparison
Replies, inbox, automation and publishing side by side. "Not listed" means the feature does not appear on Buffer's pricing page or in the sources below as of September 2026; check with Buffer if it matters to you.
| Feature | OutReply | Buffer |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes: 1 brand, 2 social accounts and 30 AI credits a month | Yes: 3 channels, 10 scheduled posts per channel source |
| How you pay | Flat monthly or yearly price | Per connected channel source |
| AI writing assistant | Yes: captions, images and video using credits | Yes, AI Assistant on every plan source |
| AI reply suggestions for comments | Every plan, 1 credit per reply | Yes: 5 a week on Free, unlimited on paid plans source |
| Comment replies on | Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube | Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Threads, Bluesky, X, TikTok, Google Business Profile, YouTube, Mastodon source |
| Direct messages | Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, with AI drafts | Not listed on Buffer's pricing page source |
| Replies sent automatically | Workflows on Advanced and Elite for Facebook and Instagram comments and DMs, and for WhatsApp messages through the AI chatbot step | Not listed on Buffer's pricing page source |
| Comment sentiment | Every comment, on every plan | Not listed on Buffer's pricing page source |
| Publishing networks | Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, X and YouTube | Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn, X, YouTube, Threads, Pinterest, Google Business Profile, Bluesky, Mastodon, Substack source |
| Team members | Up to 10 collaborators per brand on Advanced, 50 on Elite | 1 user on Free and Essentials; unlimited on Team source |
Where each tool is stronger
Where OutReply is stronger
- Replies can go out on their own. Workflows on Advanced and Elite for Facebook and Instagram comments and DMs, and for WhatsApp messages through the AI chatbot step.
- Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp messages in one chat list, each with an AI draft, in the same workspace as your comments.
- Sentiment on every comment, and a filter for each post's negative comments, so complaints are easy to find.
- Comment-to-DM, plus hide or delete actions for spam on Facebook and Instagram (Advanced and Elite).
- One flat price, however many channels you connect within your plan's limits.
Where Buffer is stronger
- More publishing networks, including Threads, Pinterest, Google Business Profile, Bluesky, Mastodon and Substack.
- Comment replies on more networks, including LinkedIn, Threads and Google Business Profile.
- Cheaper for a few channels: Essentials is $5 per channel a month billed yearly, less than OutReply Advanced for up to 4 channels.
- Unlimited team members on the Team plan.
- A free plan with 3 channels for scheduling.
Who should choose Buffer, and who should choose OutReply
Buffer is the better fit for
Creators and small teams who mostly schedule posts, publish to networks such as Pinterest, Threads, Bluesky or Google Business Profile, and pay for only a few channels.
OutReply is the better fit for
Businesses that get a steady stream of comments and DMs and want AI replies, sentiment and comment-to-DM alongside scheduling.
How to switch from Buffer to OutReply
There is no import tool, so switching is mostly connecting your accounts and teaching OutReply about your business.
- Create a free OutReply account. No credit card is needed.
- Connect your social accounts through each network's official sign-in.
- Describe your business once (products, prices, opening hours, links and tone) so AI replies sound like you.
- Move your upcoming scheduled posts across by hand. There is no automatic import from Buffer.
- Start with AI drafts in the review queue, then let workflows answer routine comments and DMs once you trust them (Advanced and Elite).
- Keep Buffer until its billing period ends so nothing is missed during the switch.
Frequently asked questions
Is OutReply free like Buffer?
Yes. OutReply's Free plan includes 1 brand, 2 social accounts and 30 AI credits a month, enough for 30 AI replies. Buffer's free plan covers 3 channels with 10 scheduled posts each and 5 AI reply suggestions a week.
Does Buffer have AI replies?
Buffer's community inbox suggests AI replies that learn your voice: 5 suggestions a week on Free and unlimited on paid plans. Its pricing page doesn't list automatic sending, direct messages or sentiment. OutReply drafts replies to comments and to Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp messages, and can send them automatically through workflows on Advanced and Elite.
Which is cheaper, Buffer or OutReply?
It depends on how many channels you connect. Buffer Essentials is $5 per channel a month billed yearly, so up to 4 channels cost less than OutReply Advanced billed yearly ($300). At 15 channels Buffer Essentials is $75 a month, while OutReply Advanced is $30 for up to 15 accounts across 3 brands.
Can I keep Buffer for scheduling and use OutReply for replies?
Yes. Connecting an account to OutReply doesn't disconnect it from Buffer, so you can keep scheduling in Buffer and handle comments and DMs in OutReply, then move publishing later if you want one tool.
How do I switch from Buffer to OutReply?
There is no automatic import from Buffer. Create a free account, connect your accounts through each network's official sign-in, describe your business so AI replies sound like you, and recreate your upcoming scheduled posts. Most teams keep Buffer until its billing period ends and run both side by side for a few days.
Which networks does OutReply support?
Publish and schedule posts on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, X and YouTube, including Stories and Reels on Facebook and Instagram. Draft AI replies to comments on Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube, and to Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp messages. Real-time automations run on Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, and Reddit is covered by keyword monitoring. A Google Analytics 4 integration adds your website traffic.
Sources
Last verified September 2026. Buffer's prices and features come from the pages below, and prices change, so check them before you buy. OutReply's come from our pricing page. We make OutReply, which is why we cite a source for every claim about Buffer.
- Buffer pricing(buffer.com)
Try OutReply free next to Buffer
Connect an account, let OutReply draft replies to your latest comments and DMs, and compare before you switch.