# What is Buffer? > Buffer is a social media scheduler: write a post once and schedule it to several channels from one calendar. What it does, the free plan, an example. Source: https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/buffer · Updated 2026-10-20 · Free from Stepthrough (https://learn.ynteractive.com) [Web apps](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary#topic-web-apps) · [AI glossary](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary) Quick answer Buffer (buffer.com) is a social media management tool that calls itself "social media management for everyone". You connect channels such as LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Threads, Bluesky and Pinterest, write a post once, and schedule it to several of them from one composer, queue and calendar. Last updated October 20, 2026 [Take the free module →](https://learn.ynteractive.com/courses/ai-apps-worth-knowing/45)Module 45 of the free [AI Apps Worth Knowing](https://learn.ynteractive.com/courses/ai-apps-worth-knowing) course, about 12 minutes. No account needed. Updated October 20, 2026 · By [Robert Breen](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/about) ## Why it matters for a small business Posting by hand means logging into each network, copying the same words and remembering the right time. A [social media scheduler](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/social-media-scheduler) like Buffer turns that into one sitting: you write a week of posts, pick the channels, and Buffer publishes them on schedule. The calendar shows the whole plan at a glance, so gaps and double posts are easy to spot. Buffer's pricing page lists a Free plan, free forever, with up to 3 connected channels, 10 scheduled posts per channel at a time, 1 user, the AI Assistant and basic insights. Paid plans come with a 14-day free trial. For a small firm posting a few times a week, the free plan is enough to build the habit. ## In a real lesson: Buffer: Write One Post and Schedule It to Every Channel In the [Buffer lesson](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/buffer-schedule-one-post-to-every-channel) you connect a channel, write one post and send it to several channels at once. You click **+ New Post**, then **+ Channels** in the composer, and click each channel you want. Selected channel avatars turn to color and unselected ones stay gray. Then you open **Calendar** in the upper right of the publishing dashboard, switch between **Week** and **Month**, and click a date and time to schedule from the calendar. To move a post, you drag it to a new slot. The **All Channels** drop-down filters the view to one channel. [Try this lesson free](https://learn.ynteractive.com/modules/buffer-schedule-one-post-everywhere) or [read the step-by-step guide](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/buffer-schedule-one-post-to-every-channel). ## Common confusions ### One post vs one post per channel Buffer lets you write once for many channels, but after scheduling each channel gets its own copy. Edits or deletes have to be made in each channel's queue. ### Queue vs calendar The queue is the list of posts waiting for each channel. The calendar shows the same posts on dates and times, which suits a [content calendar](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/content-calendar) view. ## Tips - Write for the strictest channel first, then adjust the wording for the others. - On the free plan, the 3-channel limit includes the Start Page if you use it. - Check which channels are preselected after filtering the calendar, before you schedule. - Plan a week in one sitting, then check the Week view for gaps. ## Related terms [Social media scheduler](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/social-media-scheduler) · [Content calendar](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/content-calendar) · [Automation](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/automation) · [Workflow automation](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/workflow-automation) ## More Web apps terms [Calendly](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/calendly) · [Canva](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/canva) · [Citizen developer](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/citizen-developer) · [Conditional logic](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/conditional-logic) ## Where you use it: free lessons - [Buffer: Write One Post and Schedule It to Every Channel](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/buffer-schedule-one-post-to-every-channel) (Buffer, 12 min) - [Plan a Week of Social Posts in One Sitting using SocialBee](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/socialbee-plan-a-week-of-social-posts) (SocialBee, 12 min) - [Post to Every Channel Daily from One Sheet using n8n + Blotato](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/post-everywhere-from-google-sheets-n8n-blotato) (n8n and Blotato, 14 min) - [Routine: Plan Your Week from One Inbox](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/routine-plan-your-week-from-one-inbox) (Routine, 8 min) ## AI tools that use it - [Buffer](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/ai-tools/marketing-social#tool-buffer) ([free lesson](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/buffer-schedule-one-post-to-every-channel)) [More terms by tool](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/ai-tool-terms) ## Frequently asked questions **Is Buffer free?** Yes. Buffer has a Free plan, free forever, with up to 3 channels, 10 scheduled posts per channel and 1 user. Paid plans have a 14-day free trial. See buffer.com/pricing. **Which social networks does Buffer support?** Buffer's site lists Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, Threads, Bluesky, YouTube Shorts, Pinterest, Google Business, Mastodon, X and Substack. **Can I schedule one post to several channels in Buffer?** Yes. In the composer click + Channels and select each channel, or Select All if you have more than four connected. [All AI glossary terms, A to Z](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary) · [Free prompt templates](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/prompts)