Inboxapp vs Buffer: the Buffer alternative for your DMs
Keep scheduling posts in Buffer. Run the conversations they start in one inbox that remembers every person.
Short answerBuffer and Inboxapp do different jobs. Buffer schedules and publishes posts on 12 social channels and lets you reply to comments, but it doesn't handle direct messages. Inboxapp is a shared inbox and CRM for DMs on X, LinkedIn and WhatsApp, so many teams post with Buffer and run their conversations in Inboxapp.
Start 7-day free trialInboxapp vs Buffer at a glance
Based on each product's public pricing page and Buffer's help docs, as of November 13, 2026. See Inboxapp pricing.
| Feature | Inboxapp | Buffer |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Direct messages: one inbox and CRM | Scheduling and publishing posts, analytics and comment replies |
| Platforms | X, LinkedIn and WhatsApp | Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn, X, YouTube, Threads, Pinterest, Google Business Profile, Bluesky, Mastodon and Substack. No WhatsApp |
| Direct messages | Yes, on X, LinkedIn and WhatsApp | No. Community covers comments, not DMs |
| Post scheduling and publishing | No | Yes, with a queue and a content calendar |
| Replies to comments on your posts | No | Yes, on 10 platforms, with saved replies |
| CRM and pipeline | One contact per person across platforms, with notes, tags, statuses, reminders and pipelines | Not listed |
| Team features | On Pro: unlimited seats, shared accounts and conversation assignment, without sharing passwords | On Team: unlimited users, access levels and approval workflows for posts |
| Integrations and API | Public API, MCP server and webhooks on Basic | API on every plan, plus an MCP server. Webhooks not listed |
| Free plan or trial | 7-day free trial | Free plan for up to 3 channels, and a 14-day trial of paid plans |
| Pricing | $35/month or $250/year for one seat. Pro is custom | From $6 per channel a month ($5 per channel/month billed yearly) |
Key differences
Posts vs conversations
Buffer gets your posts out. It queues and publishes them on 12 channels with a content calendar, shows follower growth, engagement and post performance, and its Community inbox handles comment replies on 10 platforms. It doesn't handle direct messages.
Inboxapp doesn't publish posts or read comments. The replies that turn into deals arrive as DMs, and Inboxapp puts them in one inbox, with reminders, snippets and keyboard shortcuts, so no follow-up slips.
Platforms
Buffer works on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn, X, YouTube, Threads, Pinterest, Google Business Profile, Bluesky, Mastodon and Substack. WhatsApp isn't one of its channels.
Inboxapp puts your DMs on X, LinkedIn and WhatsApp in one inbox, on every plan. If your audience lives on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook or Pinterest, Inboxapp isn't the right tool.
Contacts and pipeline
Inboxapp keeps one contact per person across X, LinkedIn and WhatsApp, with notes, tags, a pipeline status and reminders. Its AI sales process reads new messages and applies your tags and pipeline statuses for you. On Pro, your team shares accounts without sharing passwords, assigns conversations and sees who's replying.
Buffer's team features are built around posts: on Team, unlimited users, access levels and approval workflows. Contacts and pipelines aren't listed.
How pricing works
The two price different things. Buffer charges per social channel for publishing, and Inboxapp charges per seat, with the API, MCP server and webhooks included.
| Inboxapp | Buffer |
|---|---|
|
|
Which one should you pick?
Pick Buffer if…
- You need to schedule posts. Inboxapp doesn't publish posts. Buffer queues and publishes them on 12 channels, with a content calendar.
- Your audience is on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook or Pinterest. Inboxapp covers X, LinkedIn and WhatsApp only.
- Your conversations happen in comments. Buffer's Community inbox handles comment replies on 10 platforms. Inboxapp doesn't read comments.
- You need post analytics and reports. Buffer shows follower growth, engagement and post performance, with branded reports on Team.
- You're starting with no budget. Buffer has a free plan for up to 3 channels. Inboxapp starts at $35/month after a 7-day free trial.
Pick Inboxapp if…
- Your deals start in DMs. Buffer doesn't handle direct messages. Inboxapp puts X, LinkedIn and WhatsApp in one inbox.
- You need to remember people, not just reply to them. Each person gets one contact across platforms, with notes, tags, a pipeline status and reminders.
- No follow-up can slip. Set a reminder and the thread leaves your inbox. If they haven't replied by then, it comes back.
- Your team works the same accounts. On Pro, share accounts without sharing passwords and assign each conversation. Collision detection shows when a teammate is replying.
- You want to plug in your own tools. The API, MCP server and webhooks come with Basic. Route conversations, sync your CRM and build automated workflows.
Using both
Buffer and Inboxapp don't overlap, so most teams that need both keep them side by side. Buffer schedules the posts and handles the comments. Inboxapp handles the DMs those posts start, where a person writes every reply and tracks each contact in a pipeline.
Switching from Buffer
- Start your free trial. Try everything on Basic for 7 days before you pay.
- Connect your accounts. Link X, LinkedIn and WhatsApp. Your existing conversations come with them.
- Keep posting with Buffer. Nothing changes in Buffer. When a post starts a DM, the conversation lands in Inboxapp.
- Invite your team. On Pro, share accounts and assign each conversation to the right person.
Frequently asked questions
Is Inboxapp a Buffer alternative?
For direct messages, yes. Buffer schedules posts and replies to comments, and Inboxapp handles DMs on X, LinkedIn and WhatsApp. Most teams that need both use Buffer for posting and Inboxapp for their DMs.
Can Buffer manage direct messages?
No. As of November 13, 2026, Buffer's Community inbox handles comments on your posts, not direct messages. Inboxapp puts your DMs on X, LinkedIn and WhatsApp in one inbox.
Does Buffer support WhatsApp?
No. WhatsApp isn't one of Buffer's channels as of November 13, 2026. Inboxapp supports WhatsApp alongside X and LinkedIn.
Can Inboxapp schedule social media posts?
No. Inboxapp is built for conversations, not publishing posts. Use a scheduler like Buffer for posts and Inboxapp for the DMs they bring in.
Is Buffer cheaper than Inboxapp?
Buffer has a free plan and paid plans from $6 per channel a month, so it costs less to start. The two price different things. Buffer charges per social channel for publishing, and Inboxapp's Basic plan is $35/month or $250/year for one seat, with the API, MCP and webhooks included.
Can I use Buffer and Inboxapp together?
Yes. They don't overlap. Keep publishing with Buffer and connect your X, LinkedIn and WhatsApp accounts to Inboxapp to handle the DMs.
Does Inboxapp work for teams?
Yes. Pro adds unlimited seats, unlimited linked accounts, shared accounts and conversation assignment, with enterprise support for larger teams.
Try Inboxapp free for 7 days.