Four common pricing units
| Vendor example | Pricing unit | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Metricool | Brands | Several networks can sit under one managed brand |
| Sendible | Workspaces, 6 profiles each | Client separation is built into capacity |
| SocialPilot | Social accounts + user limits | Every connected account consumes capacity |
| Buffer | Channels | Cost rises linearly with each connected channel |
Example: five clients, four channels each
You are managing 20 connected social accounts. Metricool sees five brands. Buffer sees 20 channels. SocialPilot sees 20 accounts. Sendible needs enough workspaces and profiles to keep the clients separated. The same agency therefore occupies very different plan capacity on each platform.
Feature floors can matter more than capacity
An agency with only three clients may still need a higher plan because clients must approve posts. Metricool approvals start on Advanced; SocialPilot client approval starts on Premium; Sendible approvals start on Plus; Buffer approvals require Team.
White label creates another floor
Full white label is not included in the ordinary entry plans of the vendors compared here. Treat it as a separate requirement, not a nice-to-have checkbox, because it can force a sales quote or enterprise-tier product.
How to estimate your real cost
Count clients/brands, channels per client and users. Then mark whether you need client approval, full white label or API/data access. The cheapest plan is the lowest plan that satisfies all constraints, not the lowest price on the pricing page.
Affiliate disclosure: ToolPick may earn a commission if you sign up for Metricool through links on this site.