Comparisons
Free Publer Alternative
Publer is a mature SMB scheduler with bulk posting, media tools, and a free plan for three accounts. Paid plans are per account. Catpix is free with an API included.
Short version: Publer is a mature SMB scheduler; Catpix is a free cross-poster with an API.
Quick verdict
Choose Catpix for free scheduling and API access. Choose Publer for bulk scheduling, media tools, and a mature workflow.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Catpix | Publer |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes, 3 accounts |
| Drafts and queue | Yes | Yes |
| First comment | Yes | Yes |
| AI assistance | No | Yes |
| Team collaboration | Basic teams | Business+ |
| Integrations | Limited | Canva, Drive, Unsplash |
| Price | Free | Free; paid per account |
| Free plan | Yes | 3 accounts |
| Platforms | 8 | 12+ |
| Bulk scheduling | No | Yes |
| Media library | Basic | Yes |
| Analytics | Post metrics and trends | Yes |
| Unified inbox | No | Yes |
| Approvals | No | Business+ |
| API | Free API keys | Yes; verify plan |
| Mobile app | Android | iOS and Android |
| Open source | Yes | No |
What Publer does well
Publer is built for people who schedule a lot of content. Bulk scheduling, a media library, an image editor, and a content calendar make it efficient. The free plan covers three accounts; paid plans add accounts and team features.
Publer pricing
Publer has a free plan for three accounts. Paid plans are priced per social account, with additional features on higher tiers. X support is paid-only. API access exists, but plan gating and pricing should be verified.
What Catpix costs
Catpix is free. There is no per-channel fee, no per-seat fee, and the API is included with an account. X is the only metered network: Catpix passes X API costs through at cost ($0.015 for a plain post, $0.20 for a post with a link). Catpix currently supports eight platforms: Bluesky, X, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, and YouTube.
Where Catpix wins
- No per-channel or per-seat math: adding a platform does not add a new line item.
- The API is included with an account instead of being an enterprise upgrade.
- Open source: you can inspect the code, contribute, or self-host later.
- Android app, while many competitors are web-only or slower on mobile.
- X API costs passed through at cost instead of bundled into a subscription.
Where Publer still wins
- Bulk scheduling.
- Media library and image tools.
- A mature calendar.
- Team workflows and approvals.
- A broad platform list.
Who should choose which
Choose Catpix if you want free scheduling, API access, and no per-account fee.
Choose Publer if you need bulk scheduling, media tools, or a mature SMB workflow.
FAQ
Is Publer free?
Yes, for three accounts.
Does Publer have an API?
Yes, but plan access should be verified.
Can I post to X on the free plan?
X support is paid-only.
Can Catpix bulk schedule?
Catpix has queues and drafts, but not CSV bulk scheduling.
Related comparisons
Try Catpix free
Schedule across eight platforms, use the API, and keep your budget for content instead of per-channel fees.
Open Catpix- Written with AI with Human edits