Buffer vs Constant Contact — Pricing, Plans, and Verified Costs (2026)
Buffer starts at $6/mo. Constant Contact starts at $12/mo. Buffer is $6/mo cheaper on the entry tier than Constant Contact.
See price history: Buffer · Constant Contact
Social media scheduling and analytics from a fully-remote 80-person company known for radical transparency (publishes salaries, revenue publicly). Positioned as the alternative to Hootsuite for small businesses and creators. Distinctive for its calm, no-upsell culture. Priced $6-$120/mo across four tiers. Losing ground to Hootsuite (enterprise) and Later (Instagram-first) but still profitable and cash-generative.
One of the original email marketing platforms (founded 1995), positioned as the beginner-friendly alternative to Mailchimp for very-small-business and nonprofit segments. Distinctive for its 98% inbox delivery rate and dedicated live-support model — unusual in the SMB email space. Restructured 2026 with 3 published tiers (Lite/Standard/Premium) plus custom Teams tier for franchises and multi-location businesses. Lite starts at $12/mo monthly ($8.40 annual) for 500 contacts scaling by list size. 30% off first 3 months promo currently active. Owned by Endurance International / Newfold Digital.
All plans compared
| Tier role | Plan | Buffer monthly | Buffer annual | Constant Contact monthly | Constant Contact annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free / starter | Free / — | Free | Free | — | — |
| Entry paid | Essentials / Lite | $6 | $5 | $12 | $10.2 |
| Mid tier | — / Standard | — | — | $35 | $29.75 |
| Pro / power | — / Premium | — | — | $80 | $68 |
| Teams | Team / Teams | $12 | $10 | Custom | Custom |
Tier names differ across vendors. Rows are aligned by tier role, not name. Full tier structures on each tool's page.
What each is best for
Buffer is worth it if… solo creators and small marketing teams (1-10 people) that need reliable scheduling across Instagram, LinkedIn, X, Facebook, TikTok, and Threads — without Sprout Social's enterprise pricing. Free plan covers 3 channels; Team adds analytics and collaboration.
Constant Contact is worth it if… very-small businesses, nonprofits, and event organizers who want email + basic automation + live phone support — particularly if you've outgrown MailerLite's free tier and want more hand-holding than Mailchimp offers. Lite covers newsletter-only needs with 1 automation template; Standard adds A/B testing and 3 automations; Premium unlocks unlimited automations, SEO recommendations, and Google Ads manager; Teams for multi-location businesses.
Bottom line: Similar positioning, closer to a preference call than a strategic one.
Choose Buffer over Constant Contact if…
Choose Buffer if…
- You want fixed-price predictability (per seat, from $6/mo).
- You match the profile Buffer is built for: solo creators and small marketing teams (1-10 people) that need reliable scheduling across Instagram, LinkedIn, X, Facebook, TikTok, and Threads — without Sprout Social's enterprise pricing.
- You need a general-purpose marketing & email option rather than a vertical-specific one.
Choose Constant Contact if…
- You're comfortable with Constant Contact's from $12/mo entry point.
- You match the profile Constant Contact is built for: very-small businesses, nonprofits, and event organizers who want email + basic automation + live phone support — particularly if you've outgrown MailerLite's free tier and want more hand-holding than Mailchimp offers.
- You need a general-purpose marketing & email option rather than a vertical-specific one.
At a glance
| Buffer | Constant Contact | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Entry price | $6/mo | $12/mo |
| Enterprise available | No | Yes |
| Pricing model | Per Seat | — |
| Verification | Checked September 27, 2026 | Verified August 12, 2026 |
| Full pricing | View full pricing | View full pricing |
Pricing last verified September 27, 2026. Tracked daily.
Frequently asked questions
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Common questions about Buffer and Constant Contact
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- How much does Constant Contact cost in 2026?
- Does Constant Contact have a free plan?
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