Buffer vs Twitter / X

Self-host either: open-source alternatives compared.

Buffer and Twitter / X both have open-source self-host stand-ins. Mastodon Scheduled Posts (built-in) self-hosts as a replacement for both — listed below alongside the picks unique to each.

	Buffer	Twitter / X
Category	Social media scheduling + analytics	Microblogging social network
SaaS pricing anchor	Free tier 3 channels; Essentials $6/channel/mo; Team $12/channel/mo	Free with ads; X Premium $8/mo; Premium+ $40/mo
Self-host options listed	3	3

Replaces both — 1 shared open-source pick

These open-source projects appear on both /buffer/ and /twitter/ — picking one solves the migration off either SaaS.

Mastodon Scheduled Posts (built-in)mastodon/mastodonalivereplaces both

GitHub: ★ 49.9k · last commit today
License: AGPL-3.0
Setup time: 0min if you already run Mastodon
Monthly cost: Free — uses your existing Mastodon instance.

Picks unique to each

Buffer only

Postizalive
AGPL-3.030min docker-compose (Next.js + Postgres + Redis + workers)$10/mo VPS for the stack; OAuth credentials per platform are free but you register apps yourself.
Mixpostalive
MIT20min docker run (Laravel + MySQL + Redis)$5-10/mo VPS; Pro license is one-time ~$200, no recurring.

Twitter / X only

Misskeyalive
AGPL-3.045min docker-compose (Node app + Postgres + Redis + Meilisearch)$10/mo VPS for a small instance.
Pleromaunknown
AGPL-3.030min — single-binary Elixir release + Postgres$5/mo VPS for a personal instance — Pleroma is famously light.

In a terminal? npx os-alt buffer or npx os-alt twitter prints either side — how the CLI works →

FAQ

Which open-source self-host alternatives replace both Buffer and Twitter / X?

1 open-source project appears on both /buffer/ and /twitter/: Mastodon Scheduled Posts (built-in).

How many self-host alternatives are listed for Buffer and Twitter / X?

3 for Buffer, 3 for Twitter / X.

Are all the self-host alternatives free?

Yes — every listed option is open source. Your cost is the VPS or hardware that runs it.