Z
ZNo-code workflow automation and AI agents across 9,000+ apps for businesses
Free, from $19.99/mo
Buffer vs Smartsheet
Pricing, features, platforms and who each one suits — side by side.
B
Choose Buffer if…
- you want a free plan to start with
- you want the lower entry price ($5/mo vs $9/mo)
- you work on Chrome
- you're in its core audience: creators, small businesses
S
Choose Smartsheet if…
- you work on Slack
- you're in its core audience: project managers and pmos, it teams
Side by side
Feature Buffer Smartsheet
Pricing modelFreemiumFree trial
Starting price$5/mo$9/mo
Free plan
Free trial
API
Open source
Security and compliance—SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, FedRAMP, HIPAA
Updates, last 90 days8—
Auto-publishing—
Content calendar—
Social inbox—
Post analytics—
Approval workflow—
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, Chrome, APIWeb, iOS, Android, Slack
CategorySocial MediaWorkflow Automation
CompanyBuffer, IncSmartsheet Inc.
Based inUnited StatesUnited States
Founded—2005
Part of——
Key features
B Buffer
- Scheduling to 12 social platforms including Substack and Bluesky
- Visual content calendar and posting queue
- AI Assistant for drafting and repurposing posts
- Community inbox with AI reply suggestions
- Analytics, reports and custom UTM parameters
- Team approval workflows and access permissions
- Start Page link-in-bio builder
- API and MCP connection to Claude or ChatGPT
S Smartsheet
- Gantt, grid, board, calendar and timeline views
- Dashboards, reports and forms
- Automated approvals, reminders and update requests
- AI dashboard builder and formula generation
- Connect data to Claude, ChatGPT, Copilot and Gemini
- Workload tracking and resource planning
- Portfolio management and scenario planning
- Integrations with Microsoft 365, Google Workspace and Slack
Plans and prices
From each vendor's site. Prices change — confirm before buying.
Buffer
FreeFree
Essentials$5/mo per channel ($60 billed yearly)
Team$10/mo per channel ($120 billed yearly)
Smartsheet
Pro$9 per member/mo billed yearly ($12 billed monthly)
Business$19 per member/mo billed yearly ($24 billed monthly)
EnterpriseCustom
Advanced Work ManagementCustom
Strengths and limitations
Buffer
- Free plan connects up to 3 channels with no credit card
- Per-channel pricing from $5/month
- API access included on every plan, free plan too
- Supports 12 platforms including Substack, Bluesky and Mastodon
- Free plan limited to 10 scheduled posts per channel and 30-day insights
- Approval workflows and branded reports only on Team plan
- Costs scale with the number of connected channels
Smartsheet
- Unlimited free Contributors on the Pro plan
- AI tools included on every plan
- Mobile apps for Android and iOS
- Nearly 100 integrations, plus connections to major AI assistants
- Pro plan caps automations at 250 per month and allows at most 10 Members
- API access and external AI connections require Business or higher
- Many advanced features are paid add-ons
- Enterprise plans have no published prices
More comparisons
Other options to consider
ZZ
Free, from $19.99/mo
Z
No-code workflow automation and AI agents across 9,000+ apps for businesses
Workflow AutomationFree planAPI
N
NN
Freemium
N
Visual workflow automation and AI agent builder, cloud or self-hosted
Workflow AutomationFree plan
M
MM
Free, from $9/mo
M
Visual no-code platform for building AI agents and automated workflows
Workflow AutomationFree planAPI
M
MLow-code cloud, desktop RPA and process mining automation for enterprises
From $15/mo
M
From $15/mo
M
Low-code cloud, desktop RPA and process mining automation for enterprises
Workflow Automation
W
WEnterprise platform to connect apps and data and govern AI agents and workflows
Free, from $100/mo
W
Free, from $100/mo
W
Enterprise platform to connect apps and data and govern AI agents and workflows
Workflow AutomationFree planAPI
T
TT
From $50/mo
T
Enterprise iPaaS for integrations, automations, AI agents and governed MCP
Workflow AutomationAPI
Built from each vendor's public website; we haven't tested them hands-on. Editorial policy