In my experience, I'd suggest comparing Buffer Free Plan vs Make.com Free Tier. Buffer has amazing AI tools, but Make.com allows for crazy technical automation with the OpenAI API if you're handy with logic workflows!! Honestly, Buffer Free Plan is the best choice for most cuz it's basically plug-and-play... love it! gl

Actually, you might want to consider these alternatives, but be careful with automation... platforms can be ban-heavy if you overdo it.

1. Metricool Free Plan - Highkey the most stable for IG and X scheduling.
2. Publer Free Plan - Their AI assist is built-in so it's way safer than messy workarounds.
3. Pabbly Connect Free Plan - Reliable for simple logic.

Make sure to double-check those API permissions tho! Gl!

Tbh, the market for "forever free" AI scheduling is getting pretty squeezed lately because API costs are rising for these devs. If you're really looking to save every cent, I’d suggest checking out Zoho Social. Their free plan is a solid, no-frills workhorse for one brand, even if it lacks some of the flashier AI-heavy features found in paid tiers. Another angle is using Zapier to bridge ChatGPT directly to your socials. It's a bit more technical, and the free tier only gives you about 100 tasks a month, but it eliminates that manual copy-pasting struggle entirely. Well, actually, you might hit that limit fast if you're a heavy poster, so you gotta be strategic. I’m also pretty sure Later still offers a basic free version that’s okay for Instagram, though they’re definitely pushing their paid AI tools hard now. Honestly, when you compare the different brands, most are moving toward a model where the AI stuff is the first thing they lock behind a paywall. It’s kinda a balancing act between how much time you wanna save vs. how much you're willing to mess with workarounds.

I've been trying to go the DIY route lately because I'm a bit of a nerd about this stuff but honestly it's been a total learning curve since I'm still figuring out the basics!!! Instead of a monthly sub, I tried to cobble together a custom script using some open-source code I found online. Here is basically how my little experiment has gone: 1. I spent way too long trying to figure out how to keep my tokens from expiring... it's so frustrating and I still don't totally get why it happens. 2. My current setup uses a "headless browser" thingy to try and mimic me clicking buttons, but it breaks every time the site updates its layout. 3. I learned that even the "free" ways to do it yourself can end up costing money if you accidentally loop your prompts and burn through your credits! It's definitely way more of a headache than just using a pre-made tool, but I like knowing how the things actually work. Has anyone else tried to build their own automation from scratch or is that just making it way too complicated for a beginner???

Seconding the recommendation above for Metricool!! Its definitely a solid choice for stability but if ur really trying to avoid that annoying copy-paste struggle and want AI built directly into the scheduler for $0, I've tried many over the years and these 2 stand out for value:

1. Simplified Free Plan
- Pros: Basically an all-in-one beast. It has a built-in AI writer that syncs directly to their social media scheduler. Seriously, you dont even have to leave the tab to go from prompt to post.
- Cons: The free tier limits ur monthly posts, so you gotta be strategic with ur content.

2. FeedHive Free Plan
- Pros: Highkey the best for X and LinkedIn. It has AI tools for generating ideas and "recycling" content which is lowkey a lifesaver for growth.
- Cons: You can usually only link one or two accounts on the free tier so it might be tight for multi-platform users.

Honestly, Simplified Free Plan is probably the best bang for ur buck if you want everything under one roof. gl!