Buffer charges $6 per channel per month, forever — five channels is $360 a year, every year. PostDock is the same core workflow — compose, preview, schedule, queue, recycle — running on your machine or your $5 VPS, with your own API keys. Nobody can raise the price on you, throttle your channels, or hold your posting history hostage.
If you've searched for a Buffer alternative, PostDock is the pay-once option worth putting at the top of the list: PostDock is $49, one time, and covers the same core job Buffer charges $6/channel/mo for.
What makes PostDock the pick for 2026
- 5 pluggable channels — X/Twitter, Facebook Page + Instagram Business, LinkedIn, Mastodon — all with your own API keys, every credential on your box.
- Webhook escape hatch — POSTs the content JSON to Zapier, Make, n8n or your own endpoint with optional HMAC-SHA256 signing — your route to every other network.
- Composer with live previews — Text + up to 4 images, per-network character counters (280/500/2200/3000) and preview cards per channel.
- Timezone-aware scheduling — Pick any IANA timezone; DST handled correctly. Post now or schedule.
- Queue calendar — Month calendar and list view of everything scheduled — edit or delete before it goes out.
PostDock vs Buffer, at a glance
| PostDock | Buffer | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $49 once | $6/channel/month, forever |
| 5 channels, 3 years | $49 | $1,080 |
| Channel limit | Unlimited | Pay per channel |
| Scheduled posts | Unlimited | Capped on cheap tiers |
| Your API keys & data | SQLite on your disk | Their cloud |
| Content recycling | Built in | That's ReQueue/SmarterQueue — another $25/mo |
| Webhook / Zapier escape hatch | Built in | Paid add-ons |
| Source code | MIT, yours forever | Closed |
Eight months of a single Buffer channel pays for PostDock outright — a five-channel setup pays it back in under two months.
Common questions
Is it really free on GitHub?
Yes — the full source is MIT at github.com/bensblueprints/social-scheduler-mvp. $49 buys the signed installer, 1-click setup and updates — pure convenience, zero lock-in.
Do I need my own API keys?
Yes — that's the point. Bring-your-own-keys means every credential stays on your box and nobody can throttle or re-price your channels. In-app guides walk you through each network: Mastodon and webhooks in 2 minutes, Meta in about 20.
Does Instagram work from a desktop?
Instagram publishing needs a public URL because Meta's API downloads your images from it — so IG requires the $5 VPS mode with PUBLIC_BASE_URL set. Every other channel works fine from a desktop behind NAT.
The bottom line
PostDock won't out-feature Buffer on every axis — no subscription tool with a bigger team and a bigger roadmap loses on everything. But for the core job, $49 once against $6/channel/mo forever is a trade most people should at least look at. PostDock is part of OneTimeSuite, a catalog of pay-once apps that replace subscription SaaS.
Try PostDock — $49, once
Self-hosted social scheduling — composer, queue, content recycling & webhooks. Your API keys, your data.