Buffer API
What it is
The Buffer API (developers.buffer.com) is the public GraphQL API of the Buffer scheduling app, plus a remote MCP server and a CLI. It lets you create and schedule posts, manage ideas and tags, list channels and read post metrics for your own Buffer account, or build OAuth apps that act for other Buffer users. It replaces the legacy REST API (api.bufferapp.com/1/), which has a migration guide. Peers: Zernio, Postiz, Publer; wider field in social-media-management-tools.
Maker and history
Made by Buffer. The new GraphQL API is documented with a changelog (latest entry seen 2026-10-06). The launch date of the new API was not found (see Open items).
Platforms supported
Channels on Buffer; the character-limit guide lists Facebook (pages and groups), Instagram, X, LinkedIn, Pinterest, TikTok, Threads, Bluesky, YouTube, Google Business Profile and Mastodon.
API surface
- GraphQL at
https://api.buffer.com, Bearer personal API key (Settings, API) or OAuth 2.0 Authorization Code with PKCE for app clients. - Concepts: account, organizations, channels, posts, ideas, content items (one call to many channels), tags (experimental), post metrics and aggregate metrics. You host media yourself and pass URLs.
- MCP: remote server
https://mcp.buffer.com/mcp(API key Bearer or OAuth); guides for Claude, Cursor, Raycast, ChatGPT and Perplexity-style clients; also Zapier and n8n integrations and a Buffer CLI with agent skill files. See model-context-protocol, n8n, zapier. - Webhooks: not found in the docs index.
Access policy
API access is open to account holders: the rate-limits guide shows API keys and app clients available on Free, Essentials and Team plans (1, 3 and 5 keys respectively), with per-client limits over 15-minute, 24-hour and 30-day windows that rise with plan. Requests for higher limits go to the developer support address in the guide. A personal key acts only on your own account and all its organizations; OAuth app clients are registered in Settings under API. No separate partner approval is described.
Platform approvals
Posts go through Buffer’s own platform integrations; you do not file platform app reviews. End users of your app must have Buffer accounts, so it is not a white-label multi-tenant service like Ayrshare.
Pricing model
Included with Buffer plans (Free, Essentials, Team); no separate API fee is described. Limits scale by plan. Plans: https://buffer.com/pricing.
Fit and limits (opinion)
Good for scripting or agent-driving your own Buffer queue. Per-client monthly caps are small for bulk publishing, and posting for customers who lack Buffer accounts is out of scope.
Self-learning
- https://developers.buffer.com/guides/getting-started.md
- https://developers.buffer.com/guides/api-limits.md
- https://developers.buffer.com/guides/integrations/mcp.md
- https://developers.buffer.com/guides/rest-migration.md
Sources (fetched 2026-10-09)
- https://developers.buffer.com/ , /llms.txt , /guides/introduction , /guides/authentication , /guides/building-apps.md , /guides/api-limits.md , /guides/character-limits , /guides/integrations/mcp.md , /guides/rest-migration.md , /changelog.md
Open items
- Launch date of the GraphQL API and the legacy REST sunset date: not found.
- Whether new legacy-REST apps are still accepted: not verified.
- Which channel types are available through the API vs. only in the app: not checked.