Choosing the right social media management tool can significantly impact your content workflow. MultiPost and Buffer are two popular options with different strengths. This guide helps you decide which one fits your needs.

Overview

MultiPost

MultiPost is a free, open-source browser extension for one-click multi-platform publishing. It supports 50+ platforms including Chinese networks (Weibo, Zhihu, Xiaohongshu, Douyin) and international platforms (X/Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok). Designed for efficiency and developer automation.

Buffer

Buffer is a well-known social media scheduling tool praised for its clean interface and simplicity. It focuses on post scheduling, performance analytics, and team collaboration, primarily supporting Western social platforms.

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Feature Comparison

1. Platform Support

Verdict: MultiPost offers significantly broader coverage, especially for Chinese platforms. Buffer focuses exclusively on Western social networks.

2. Pricing

Cost Example (5 platforms):

• MultiPost: $0/month
• Buffer: $30/month (Essentials) or $60/month (Team)

Verdict: MultiPost is completely free. Buffer's costs scale with the number of channels you manage.

3. Publishing Features

Verdict: Buffer excels at scheduled content queues and calendar planning. MultiPost focuses on immediate, streamlined publishing.

4. Content Types

Verdict: MultiPost uniquely supports long-form article publishing to platforms like Zhihu, CSDN, and WordPress. Buffer is stronger for Stories.

5. AI & Automation

Verdict: MultiPost leads in AI visual generation and developer tools. Buffer offers AI writing assistance in paid tiers.

6. Analytics

Verdict: Buffer provides more mature analytics features. MultiPost's analytics are still in development.

7. Team Collaboration

Verdict: Buffer is better for teams. MultiPost is designed for individual creators.

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Target Audience

Choose MultiPost If You:

• Need Chinese platform support (Weibo, Zhihu, Xiaohongshu, Douyin, Bilibili)
• Want a completely free solution with no usage limits
• Are a developer seeking API access for automation
• Prefer open-source tools you can trust
• Need AI image and poster generation
• Publish long-form articles across multiple platforms
• Want to start publishing immediately without complex setup

Choose Buffer If You:

• Focus exclusively on Western social platforms
• Need content calendar and queue management
• Want "best time to post" suggestions
• Require team collaboration with approval workflows
• Prefer a guided scheduling approach over immediate publishing
• Need polished analytics and reporting

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Use Case Scenarios

Scenario 1: Tech Blogger (Global Audience)

Publishing technical articles to CSDN, Juejin, Zhihu, Medium, and Dev.to.

• Recommended: MultiPost — Supports Chinese tech platforms, Markdown editor, free, and handles long-form content.

Scenario 2: Small Business (US Market)

Scheduling promotional posts to Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok with performance tracking.

• Recommended: Buffer — Clean scheduling interface, good analytics, reasonable pricing for Western platforms.

Scenario 3: Cross-Border Influencer

Creating content for both Xiaohongshu/Douyin and Instagram/TikTok audiences.

• Recommended: MultiPost — Only tool covering both Chinese and Western platforms, plus free AI visual tools.

Scenario 4: Marketing Team (5 people)

Coordinating social media posts with approval workflows and shared calendars.

• Recommended: Buffer — Team features, approval workflows, and collaborative scheduling.

Scenario 5: Developer/Automation Enthusiast

Building automated content pipelines with custom integrations.

• Recommended: MultiPost — Free API access, webhook support, and open-source flexibility.

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Summary Comparison

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Conclusion

MultiPost and Buffer serve different needs:

• MultiPost is ideal for creators who need Chinese platform support, want a free and open-source tool, or require developer-friendly automation. Its AI visual tools and Markdown editor make it perfect for technical content creators.

• Buffer is better for small businesses and teams focused on Western platforms who value scheduled queues, content calendars, and collaboration features. Its intuitive interface and reasonable pricing make it accessible.

Recommendation

• If you publish to any Chinese platforms → Choose MultiPost
• If you need team collaboration → Choose Buffer
• If budget is a concern → Choose MultiPost (free)
• If you want queue-based scheduling → Choose Buffer

Many creators use both: MultiPost for cross-platform publishing and Chinese networks, Buffer for Western platform scheduling and analytics.