The £10 X/Twitter Tax: Why Metricool's Pricing Hurts Creators in 2026

Metricool has long been lauded for its 'per-brand' pricing model, a refreshing alternative to the 'per-channel' approach favoured by some competitors. As of 2026, this model allows creators to connect multiple social media channels like Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, and even Google Ads under a single brand without escalating costs shows.farm. Their free plan even includes one connected brand and 20 monthly posts aixoria.com. This sounds ideal on paper, especially for businesses or creators managing a unified presence across a broad range of platforms.

However, a closer look at Metricool's pricing reveals a significant hurdle for many in 2026: the additional £10 per month, per account, for X/Twitter shows.farm. This effectively acts as an 'X/Twitter tax', undermining the very advantage its per-brand model purports to offer, particularly for solo creators and small businesses for whom every pound counts.

The Illusion of 'Per-Brand' Simplicity

Metricool's Starter plan, at around €20 a month (approximately £17, depending on exchange rates), covers five brands shows.farm. This seems generous until you factor in the X/Twitter add-on. If you manage just one brand, but that brand requires a presence on X/Twitter alongside other platforms, your monthly cost immediately jumps by £10. If you manage multiple brands, each with an X/Twitter account, the costs can quickly spiral. This isn't a small surcharge; it's a substantial percentage increase on the base price, especially for creators on tighter budgets.

Compare this to other models. Buffer, for example, operates on a per-channel basis, with paid plans starting around £5 per channel per month (billed yearly) shows.farm. While Buffer's costs can also escalate with many channels, at least the pricing is transparently tied to each connection from the outset. Later, with its 'per social set' model, bundles one profile per supported platform (excluding X/Twitter as of October 2026) into a single set for a fixed price, like its Starter plan at £18.75/month (annual billing) shows.farm.

Why X/Twitter Still Matters in 2026

Despite the evolving social media landscape, X/Twitter remains a critical platform for many. B2B brands, journalists, thought leaders, and creators focused on real-time engagement and news dissemination often rely heavily on X/Twitter shows.farm. For these users, an X/Twitter presence isn't an optional extra; it's a fundamental requirement. Charging an additional fee for such a core platform feels punitive and complicates budgeting.

This pricing structure also makes it harder for creators to adapt their strategies. If you decide to expand your X/Twitter presence, or manage multiple X/Twitter accounts for different aspects of your brand, Metricool's pricing model directly penalises that expansion. It forces creators to choose between comprehensive coverage and cost-effectiveness, a dilemma that shouldn't exist in a truly brand-centric pricing model.

The Search for True Flat-Rate Value

The median entry plan for AI social media tools in October 2026 stands at $29 a month on monthly billing postdom.com. Metricool's base plan combined with an X/Twitter add-on pushes it well into this territory, if not beyond, for many creators. This highlights a broader trend: while tools promise flexibility, hidden costs or complex add-ons often negate the perceived value.

For creators specialising in specific, high-volume content types like TikTok photo carousels and YouTube Shorts, a solution that offers a clear, flat rate for core functionalities is often more appealing. ShowsFarm, for instance, provides a Pro plan at £11 per month or £99 per year. This includes unlimited AI slideshow generation, full queue management, and the ability to schedule and publish TikTok carousels and YouTube Shorts. It focuses on solving a specific workflow pain point with transparent pricing, rather than introducing variable costs per channel or platform add-ons. Its clear, all-inclusive pricing for its niche expertise makes ShowsFarm an excellent choice for solo creators who know exactly what they need.