Compare Buffer and Sprout Social 
Featured Products
At a Glance
Market Segments
Small-Business (70.8% of reviews)
Small-Business (44.6% of reviews)
Entry-Level Pricing
Free
Starting at $79.00 1 user/per month (billed annually)
Buffer
Star Rating
(1,030)4.3 out of 5
Market Segments
Small-Business (70.8% of reviews)
Pros & Cons
Entry-Level Pricing
Free
Browse all 4 pricing plansSprout Social
Star Rating
(6,211)4.4 out of 5
Market Segments
Small-Business (44.6% of reviews)
Pros & Cons
Entry-Level Pricing
Starting at $79.00 1 user/per month (billed annually)
Free Trial is available
Browse all 5 pricing plansSummary
AI Generated Summary
AI-generated. Powered by real user reviews.
- G2 reviewers report that Sprout Social excels in providing comprehensive features and integrations, allowing users to monitor messages, mentions, and keywords across all platforms. This capability is particularly praised for helping users spot trends or potential crises before they escalate.
- Users say that Buffer stands out for its user-friendly interface, making it more approachable compared to other products. Reviewers appreciate the bulk scheduling feature, which saves significant time when planning social media posts.
- According to verified reviews, Sprout Social's reporting tools are highly regarded, with users finding the reports and graphs very helpful for presentations. This feature enhances the overall value of the platform for businesses looking to analyze their social media performance.
- Reviewers mention that Buffer's free plan, which allows management of up to three social channels, is a major draw for small businesses. This accessibility enables users to manage their clients' social media without the need to log into individual accounts, streamlining their workflow.
- Users highlight that while Sprout Social offers a robust set of features, it may require a bit more time to learn compared to Buffer. However, once users get accustomed to it, they find the setup and scheduling processes to be quite convenient.
- G2 reviewers note that both platforms provide solid customer support, but Sprout Social's support team is frequently mentioned as being particularly helpful, which can be a crucial factor for users needing assistance during implementation or troubleshooting.
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
Sprout Social
Essentials
Starting at $79.00
1 user/per month (billed annually)
Created for social media professionals focused on simplifying publishing workflows.
- Connect up to 5 social profiles
- Increase your visibility with optimal send times
- Track performance with profile and post-level reporting
Free Trial
Buffer
Free Trial is available
Sprout Social
Free Trial is available
Ratings
Meets Requirements
8.6
903
8.5
5,288
Ease of Use
9.2
909
8.8
5,348
Ease of Setup
9.2
328
8.7
3,714
Ease of Admin
9.1
310
8.8
2,234
Quality of Support
8.5
646
8.6
4,724
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
8.8
270
8.7
2,200
Product Direction (% positive)
8.2
882
8.9
5,203
Features by Category
Social Analytics
Not enough data
7.7(won by default)
2978
Not enough data
7.8(won by default)
3156
Not enough data
8.8(won by default)
3370
Not enough data
7.2(won by default)
2603
Not enough data
7.0(won by default)
2610
Not enough data
7.3(won by default)
2370
Not enough data
7.1(won by default)
2308
Reports & Dashboards
Not enough data
8.1(won by default)
3219
Not enough data
8.5(won by default)
3268
Not enough data
8.5(won by default)
3127
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Agentic AI - Social Media Analytics
Not enough data
6.2(won by default)
893
Not enough data
6.2(won by default)
890
Not enough data
6.2(won by default)
879
Not enough data
6.2(won by default)
887
Not enough data
6.3(won by default)
889
Content & Collaboration
9.0
142
8.9
3189
8.6
125
7.9
2923
8.2
105
8.2
3010
8.6
106
8.0
2893
8.8
115
8.3
3001
8.5
99
Feature Not Available
Social Management
7.9
667
8.6
4300
9.3
789
8.9
4322
8.4
642
8.1
3811
8.3
693
8.5
4187
Feature Not Available
Feature Not Available
8.6
99
7.9
2900
8.3
25
7.5
2492
Agentic AI - Social Media Management
7.4
13
6.2
1062
7.4
13
6.4
1054
7.2
13
6.5
1060
7.6
13
6.5
1046
7.4
13
6.4
1035
7.7
13
6.4
1036
7.4
13
6.5
1036
Monitoring & Listening
Not enough data
8.5
1903
Not enough data
7.0
1436
Not enough data
8.0
1220
Not enough data
7.9
1195
Not enough data
7.7
1163
Not enough data
7.8
1192
Agentic AI - Social Media Listening Tools
Not enough data
6.4
388
Not enough data
6.4
387
Not enough data
6.4
387
Not enough data
6.4
387
Not enough data
6.4
387
Data Management & Analysis
Not enough data
7.5
1208
Not enough data
8.6
1967
Not enough data
8.1
1226
Not enough data
7.8
1126
Generative AI
Not enough data
7.1
863
Not enough data
6.9
849
Process
Not enough data
8.4
1466
Not enough data
7.9
1248
Not enough data
7.7
1009
Channels
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
8.9
1522
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Insight
Not enough data
7.4
1127
Not enough data
8.4
1431
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Categories
Categories
Shared Categories
Buffer and Sprout Social are categorized as Social Media Management
Unique Categories
Buffer has no unique categories
Sprout Social is categorized as Social Media Suites, Social Media Listening Tools, Social Media Analytics, and Social Customer Service
Reviews
Reviewers' Company Size
Buffer
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
Sprout Social
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
22.9%
Computer Software
7.3%
Information Technology and Services
6.5%
Internet
5.2%
Non-Profit Organization Management
4.2%
Other
53.8%
Marketing and Advertising
20.5%
Non-Profit Organization Management
6.2%
Higher Education
5.5%
Information Technology and Services
3.8%
Computer Software
3.2%
Other
60.8%
Alternatives
Discussions
Can I have tabs open for multiple companies at a time?
4 Comments
MM
I have one Buffer account with multiple clients on that one account, so I just click on which platform/client I want to work on within that (so just one...Read more
Which platforms are next on the Buffer integration roadmap?
2 Comments
GP
Buffer has a new feature to offer: Shop Grid.
It is a landing page made specifically for your Instagram profile, where you can direct people back to your...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
Is there a place of education for users?
7 Comments
EC
https://support.sproutsocial.com/hc/en-usRead more
Is Sprout Social legit?
4 Comments
JG
Definitely! Very useful and intuitive platform to manage and analyze social media.Read more
How can I access a more affordable reasonably priced membership with Sprout Social
3 Comments
RS
Feel free to chat us directly at Sprout and we can get you in touch with a team member who can walk through your specific use case for you and the best...Read more
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