Compare Buffer and Hootsuite 
At a Glance
Market Segments
Small-Business (71.0% of reviews)
Small-Business (59.5% of reviews)
Entry-Level Pricing
Free
$199.00 1 user Per Month
Buffer
Star Rating
(1,036)4.3 out of 5
Market Segments
Small-Business (71.0% of reviews)
Pros & Cons
Entry-Level Pricing
Free
Browse all 4 pricing plansHootsuite
Star Rating
(7,037)4.3 out of 5
Market Segments
Small-Business (59.5% of reviews)
Pros & Cons
Entry-Level Pricing
$199.00 1 user Per Month
Free Trial is available
Browse all 3 pricing plansSummary
AI Generated Summary
AI-generated. Powered by real user reviews.
- G2 reviewers report that Hootsuite excels in managing multiple social media accounts, with users appreciating its ability to schedule posts across various platforms. One user highlighted, "My favorite part of Hootsuite is being able to schedule multiple posts across multiple accounts and platforms," making it a strong choice for those juggling multiple clients.
- Users say that Buffer stands out for its intuitive interface, which makes it easy to navigate and use. Reviewers have noted, "Best for scheduling and extremely easy to navigate," indicating that Buffer is particularly user-friendly for those who prioritize simplicity in their social media management tasks.
- According to verified reviews, Hootsuite's customer support is frequently praised, with users mentioning their positive experiences with representatives. One user stated, "The customer support is also great," which can be a significant factor for businesses that require reliable assistance.
- Reviewers mention that Buffer's content calendar feature is a highlight, allowing users to visually plan their posts effectively. A user remarked on its ability to "customize posts for different platforms and the content calendar used to schedule the Ad-Posts," showcasing its strength in content organization.
- G2 reviewers indicate that while Hootsuite has a higher overall satisfaction score, Buffer's ease of use and setup are notable, with users rating it highly in these areas. One user appreciated that Buffer is "feature-rich" yet still manageable for simpler tasks, making it a good fit for smaller businesses or those new to social media management.
- Users report that Hootsuite's advanced features, such as its Owly GPT for performance reporting, provide valuable insights for businesses looking to optimize their social media strategies. This capability, along with its robust scheduling options, positions Hootsuite as a comprehensive tool for more complex social media needs.
Pricing
Entry-Level Pricing
Buffer
Free
Free
For individuals and businesses getting started with social media.
- 3 social accounts
- Publish to Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, Google Business Profiles, Mastodon, Pinterest and Bluesky
- 10 scheduled posts per social account
Hootsuite
Standard
$199.00
1 user Per Month
- Up to 10 social accounts
- Unlimited post scheduling
- Best time to post recommendations
Free Trial
Buffer
Free Trial is available
Hootsuite
Free Trial is available
Ratings
Meets Requirements
8.6
907
8.4
6,191
Ease of Use
9.2
914
8.6
6,270
Ease of Setup
9.2
333
8.7
4,055
Ease of Admin
9.1
311
8.6
2,554
Quality of Support
8.5
649
8.2
4,648
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
8.8
271
8.6
2,326
Product Direction (% positive)
8.2
887
8.0
6,078
Features by Category
Social Analytics
Not enough data
7.5(won by default)
2157
Not enough data
7.9(won by default)
2353
Not enough data
8.6(won by default)
2515
Not enough data
7.4(won by default)
1813
Not enough data
7.4(won by default)
2042
Not enough data
7.6(won by default)
1491
Not enough data
7.4(won by default)
1449
Reports & Dashboards
Not enough data
8.1(won by default)
2403
Not enough data
8.3(won by default)
2367
Not enough data
8.4(won by default)
2387
Not enough data
7.1(won by default)
1391
Agentic AI - Social Media Analytics
Not enough data
6.7(won by default)
147
Not enough data
6.7(won by default)
154
Not enough data
6.6(won by default)
146
Not enough data
6.6(won by default)
148
Not enough data
6.7(won by default)
148
Content & Collaboration
9.1
143
9.0
2788
8.6
124
8.0
2567
8.2
103
8.0
2524
8.5
104
7.8
2402
8.7
113
8.2
2526
8.5
97
8.1
2538
Social Management
7.8
666
8.1
4565
9.3
794
8.9
5103
8.4
641
8.2
4496
8.3
692
8.4
4847
Feature Not Available
7.1
3467
8.6
98
8.0
2528
8.3
24
7.9
2151
Agentic AI - Social Media Management
6.9
12
6.7
278
7.4
12
7.0
277
6.7
11
7.1
295
7.1
11
7.1
277
7.0
11
7.1
271
7.3
11
7.0
272
7.0
11
7.1
268
Platform Interoperability
Not enough data
7.7
562
Agentic AI - Social Media Advertising
Not enough data
7.4
58
Not enough data
7.2
57
Not enough data
7.4
58
Not enough data
7.3
59
Not enough data
7.6
58
Not enough data
7.7
59
Social Functionality
Not enough data
8.4
666
Campaign Management
Not enough data
8.4
671
Not enough data
8.1
664
Not enough data
8.1
655
Not enough data
7.9
665
Not enough data
8.1
661
Not enough data
8.4
652
Not enough data
8.2
646
Not enough data
7.8
632
Not enough data
7.7
634
Not enough data
8.1
628
Not enough data
8.0
620
Not enough data
7.5
620
Not enough data
7.7
615
Targeting
Not enough data
8.1
627
Not enough data
7.8
615
Not enough data
7.9
615
Not enough data
7.8
608
Platform
Not enough data
7.7
599
Not enough data
8.3
616
Not enough data
8.5
611
Not enough data
8.6
610
Not enough data
8.3
600
Not enough data
8.2
597
Not enough data
8.3
600
Not enough data
8.0
587
Not enough data
8.2
592
Monitoring & Listening
Not enough data
8.1
1912
Not enough data
7.2
1507
Not enough data
8.1
709
Not enough data
8.0
680
Not enough data
7.9
672
Not enough data
7.7
648
Agentic AI - Social Media Listening Tools
Not enough data
7.3
59
Not enough data
7.2
59
Not enough data
7.4
58
Not enough data
7.3
59
Not enough data
7.4
59
Data Management & Analysis
Not enough data
7.5
1355
Not enough data
8.1
1862
Not enough data
8.2
726
Not enough data
7.8
646
Categories
Categories
Shared Categories
Buffer and Hootsuite are categorized as Social Media Management
Unique Categories
Buffer has no unique categories
Hootsuite is categorized as Social Media Suites, Social Media Listening Tools, Social Media Analytics, and Social Media Advertising
Reviews
Reviewers' Company Size
Buffer
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
Hootsuite
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
Small-Business
(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market
(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise
(> 1000 emp.)
Reviewers' Industry
Marketing and Advertising
23.0%
Computer Software
7.3%
Information Technology and Services
6.5%
Internet
5.2%
Non-Profit Organization Management
4.1%
Other
53.8%
Marketing and Advertising
15.3%
Non-Profit Organization Management
8.7%
Higher Education
4.3%
Computer Software
3.8%
Information Technology and Services
3.6%
Other
64.2%
Alternatives
Discussions
Can I have tabs open for multiple companies at a time?
4 Comments
KU
If you own the account, you can add multiple businesses/companies to your account. If you're logging in to each business / company (they own the account and...Read more
What is Buffer used for?
2 Comments
FA
In simple its a social media management tool specifically used to connect many social media platforms at once. Read more
LinkedIn workarounds
2 Comments
ED
When a data source like Facebook or LinkedIn removes an API (the way the data is shared from their warehouse to someone else’s, like Buffer’s, and the way...Read more
What do you get with free Hootsuite?
4 Comments
MW
Nothing. Hootsuite discontinued their free tier Read more
How can I use Hootsuite in Instagram?
3 Comments
BH
You cannot control Hootsuite inside of Instagram, but if you go to your Hootsuite dashboard, you can add Instagram as a social media account. This article...Read more
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