iHatePosting vs Buffer (2026)
6 min read
Buffer charges per connected channel, from $5 per channel per month billed yearly, so 10 channels cost $50/month. iHatePosting, an AI social media scheduler for 15 networks with unlimited accounts for $15/month (billed annually), charges one flat price. Buffer's free plan suits 1–3 channels; iHatePosting costs less from your 4th account onwards.
We make iHatePosting. Competitor details come from their official sites, checked November 2026. How we compare tools →
iHatePosting vs Buffer at a glance
| Feature | iHatePosting | Buffer |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | One flat plan: $15/month billed annually, or $19 month-to-month. Unlimited accounts, team members and brands. | Per channel: Essentials $5 and Team $10 per channel per month, billed yearly (buffer.com/pricing) |
| Cost for 10 accounts | $15/month billed annually | $50/month on Essentials, billed yearly |
| Free trial | 90 days, no credit card needed, every feature included | Free plan for up to 3 channels; 14-day free trial of paid plans |
| Networks | 15: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, X, Threads, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, Bluesky, Mastodon, Telegram, Discord, Slack, Tumblr and Google Business Profile | — |
| AI writing | ✅ Captions, hooks, threads and hashtags, no monthly limit | AI Assistant on every plan |
| AI images | ✅ AI image generation and editor, 50 images a month included, extra quota available to buy | — |
| Approvals | ✅ | Team plan |
| Recycling | ✅ Evergreen recycling and recurring posts | — |
| API / MCP for AI agents | ✅ Public REST API, hosted MCP server with 16 tools, CLI and webhooks | API on every plan (1 key on Free); MCP integration |
| Bulk CSV | ✅ Up to 500 posts at once | — |
| Analytics | ✅ Post- and channel-level, 12 months of history, CSV export, best-time suggestions | 30 days of history on Free; unlimited history on paid plans |
Source: buffer.com/pricing, checked November 2026. iHatePosting pricing checked November 2026: $15/month billed annually, or $19/month billed monthly, with unlimited accounts.
Why the pricing model is the real decision
Most scheduling comparisons count features and pick the longer list. The more useful question is what a tool costs as your account list grows.
Buffer charges per connected channel: one channel is one connected social account, so every account you add raises the bill. That is reasonable at one or two accounts and becomes a real cost at five, eight or ten.
iHatePosting has one plan: $15/month billed annually, or $19/month billed monthly. It includes unlimited social accounts, unlimited team members and unlimited brands, and is never priced per channel, per account or per seat. See iHatePosting pricing.
Buffer pricing compared with iHatePosting
Buffer's pricing page lists three plans:
- Free: up to 3 channels, 10 scheduled posts per channel, 1 user, the AI Assistant and 1 API key.
- Essentials: $5 per channel per month, billed yearly ($60 per channel a year), with unlimited scheduled posts.
- Team: $10 per channel per month, billed yearly ($120 per channel a year). Adds unlimited team members and approval workflows.
| Accounts | Buffer: Essentials, per month (billed yearly) | iHatePosting, per month (billed annually) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | $15 (or $0 on Free, 10 scheduled posts per channel) | $15 |
| 5 | $25 | $15 |
| 10 | $50 | $15 |
| 15 | up to $75 | $15 |
| 25 | up to $125 | $15 |
Buffer charges less per channel above 10 channels but doesn't publish those rates, so the 15- and 25-account figures are the most you would pay on Essentials.
Source: buffer.com/pricing, checked November 2026. iHatePosting pricing checked November 2026: $15/month billed annually, or $19/month billed monthly, with unlimited accounts.
Connecting 15 accounts costs about $75/month on a per-channel tool like Buffer Essentials. On iHatePosting it's $15/month billed annually: about $1 per account, and less with every account you add. For Buffer's plans in more detail, see our breakdown of Buffer pricing.
Where iHatePosting is different
- Costs less from your 4th account. Per-channel schedulers charge for every account you add. iHatePosting costs less from your 4th account onwards and never charges for extra accounts.
- 15 networks. Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, X, Threads, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, Bluesky, Mastodon, Telegram, Discord, Slack, Tumblr and Google Business Profile.
- AI writing and images included. Built-in AI writing for captions, hooks, threads and hashtags, with no monthly limit, plus AI image generation and an AI image editor, with 50 images a month included and extra image quota available to buy.
- Approvals and recycling for everyone. Approval workflows let your team review and approve posts before they go live, and evergreen content recycling and recurring posts keep a steady schedule from content you already have.
- Automation on the one plan. A public REST API, a hosted MCP server with 16 tools, a CLI, webhooks, and Zapier, Make and n8n integrations, all included on the plan and in the free trial.
When Buffer may suit you better
If you manage one to three channels and want a permanent free plan, Buffer's Free plan covers up to 3 channels with 10 scheduled posts per channel, at no cost (buffer.com/pricing).
Looking at other Buffer competitors too? Our guide to Buffer alternatives compares ten of them.
Switching from Buffer to iHatePosting
- Start the free trial. iHatePosting is free for 90 days, no credit card needed. Everything is included during the trial: unlimited accounts, unlimited posts, every feature.
- Connect your accounts. Add every profile you post to. There is no limit on accounts, brands or team members.
- Bring your posts over. Bulk CSV import of up to 500 posts at once is included for everyone. Our step-by-step guide to bulk scheduling from a CSV shows the whole process.
- Schedule, or let an AI agent do it. Pick a date and time for each post, or connect ChatGPT, Claude or another agent through the iHatePosting MCP server.
Leaving Buffer for good? Here is how to cancel a Buffer subscription.
Frequently asked questions
Is iHatePosting cheaper than Buffer?
From your 4th account, yes. Per-channel schedulers charge for every account you add. iHatePosting costs less from your 4th account onwards and never charges for extra accounts: it is $15/month billed annually for unlimited accounts, while 10 Buffer Essentials channels cost $50/month billed yearly.
Does iHatePosting have approval workflows like Buffer's Team plan?
Yes. Approval workflows let your team review and approve posts before they go live. They are included on iHatePosting's one plan, with unlimited team members.
Does iHatePosting support MCP?
Yes. iHatePosting includes a hosted MCP server with 16 tools, along with a public REST API, a CLI and webhooks, all included on the plan and in the free trial. Buffer also has an MCP integration.
Can I import posts from Buffer?
Yes. Bring your posts over as a CSV file: bulk CSV import of up to 500 posts at once is included for everyone, trial included. Then connect your accounts and schedule.
Does iHatePosting work with ChatGPT and Claude?
Yes. iHatePosting works with ChatGPT, Claude, Claude Code, Cursor, Codex, Grok, OpenClaw and other AI agents through its MCP server, connectors and plugins. The hosted MCP server has 16 tools and is included on the plan and in the free trial.