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How to switch from Buffer to Loomly in 2026

A step-by-step migration from Buffer to Loomly, including what you give up.

10 min read
1 prompts
8 steps
beginner

If you're a solopreneur managing multiple platforms on a budget, stick with Buffer in 2026. If your team needs serious approval workflows and unlimited calendars for clients, Loomly is your next step. This guide is for those making that switch.

The gains

What actually changes

Loomly
Buffer
Calendar-centric planning, approval workflows, unlimited calendars, post ideas. Best for in-house marketing teams and small agencies focused on content review and sign-off.
Simple scheduling, multi-platform, limited LinkedIn features, basic analytics. Best for solopreneurs managing multiple social platforms on a budget.
Customizable approval processes, user roles, audit trails.
No formal approval workflows.
Unlimited calendars for brands, regions, or clients.
Limited calendar management.
Post ideas and best-time-to-post suggestions.
No integrated post ideas.
Standard LinkedIn posting, but no carousel support.
Basic LinkedIn posting, no carousel support.
Basic built-in analytics, requires external tools for deep insights.
Basic analytics, less detailed than dedicated reporting tools.
Your move plan

The migration process: step by step

1

Audit current Buffer usage

Review all scheduled posts, connected accounts, and existing content. Identify what you need to keep.

2

Export Buffer data

Download historical post data and analytics. Direct post import to Loomly is not possible. You will manually re-add content.

3

Set up Loomly accounts and calendars

Create your Loomly account. Add team members. Set up separate calendars for each client or brand.

4

Connect social accounts to Loomly

Link your LinkedIn profiles, pages, and other social platforms. Ensure correct permissions are granted.

5

Recreate workflows in Loomly

Configure approval processes and user roles. This reflects your team's content review pipeline.

6

Import or manually add content

Manually transfer evergreen content or key drafts. Schedule new posts directly in Loomly.

7

Run both in parallel (briefly)

Use Loomly for new content. Let Buffer publish its remaining scheduled posts. Avoid duplicate publishing.

8

Cancel Buffer subscription

Once Loomly is fully operational and Buffer's queue is empty, cancel your Buffer plan.

The downsides

What you give up moving to Loomly

Simplicity and affordability trade-offs

Moving to Loomly means sacrificing some of Buffer's simplicity and affordability. You'll lose the very basic free tier. LinkedIn-specific features, like carousel posts, remain unsupported. Loomly's analytics are also less detailed than dedicated reporting tools.

The investment

What it costs to move

Loomly pricing starts from $65 per month, billed monthly. This is $49 per month billed yearly ($588 per year). The Starter plan is $65/mo. The Beyond plan costs $332/mo. This creates a significant jump between tiers.

Hidden costs include team training time. Data migration also takes time. Initial workflow upheaval can impact productivity for a few weeks.

Don't forget these

Before you cancel: your Buffer export checklist

Buffer data export checklist

Parallel operations

Can I run both during the switch?

Yes, you can run Buffer and Loomly side-by-side for a short transition period. It adds a temporary cost, but reduces risk. Schedule new content in Loomly while Buffer finishes publishing older, scheduled posts. Avoid duplicate publishing by carefully managing your queues.

Pricing strategy

How do I manage Loomly's pricing jump?

14
key insight

Loomly's pricing tiers: Plan for growth

Loomly's Starter plan caps at 3 users and 12 social accounts. Many teams outgrow this within a year. The jump to Beyond is significant. Project your team and account growth for the next 12-18 months. Consider if the additional features of Beyond, like custom branding or 2FA enforcement, are critical from day one or can wait.

Helpful?
Reporting insights

What about analytics after the move?

Supplementing Loomly analytics

Claude / GPT-4
Loomly's built-in analytics are basic. You'll still need a separate analytics tool for deep insights. Consider using native platform analytics (LinkedIn, Facebook) or a dedicated social media reporting tool. For simple tracking, try this prompt: 'Give me a monthly report comparing post reach, engagement rate, and clicks across my LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram profiles for [Month, Year].'
Your next steps

Ready to make the move?