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Compare Buffer and Sprout Social 
At a Glance
Market Segments
Small-Business (70.8% of reviews)
Small-Business (44.5% of reviews)
Entry-Level Pricing
Free
Starting at $199.00 1 user/per month (billed annually)
Buffer
Star Rating
(1,025)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
(6,162)4.4 out of 5
Market Segments
Small-Business (44.5% of reviews)
Pros & Cons
Entry-Level Pricing
Starting at $199.00 1 user/per month (billed annually)
Free Trial is available
Browse all 4 pricing plansSummary
AI Generated Summary
AI-generated. Powered by real user reviews.
- G2 reviewers report that Sprout Social excels in overall user satisfaction, boasting a significantly higher G2 Score compared to Buffer. Users appreciate its robust analytics module, which provides clear and actionable performance insights, making it a preferred choice for businesses looking to enhance their social media strategy.
- Users say that the ease of setup is a standout feature for both platforms, but Buffer takes the lead with its seamless integration across various social media profiles. Reviewers highlight how quickly they could get started with Buffer, simplifying their workflow right from the beginning.
- Reviewers mention that Sprout Social's intuitive interface and powerful customization options make it a favorite for social publishing. Users love the ability to publish across multiple channels simultaneously, which addresses the common hassle of managing posts on different platforms.
- According to verified reviews, Buffer shines in its user-friendly content calendar, allowing users to schedule and customize posts easily. This feature is particularly appreciated by those managing less-utilized platforms, as it provides flexibility in content management.
- Users highlight that while both platforms offer solid customer support, Sprout Social's support quality is slightly higher, with users noting the helpfulness of the team when navigating complex features. However, Buffer's support is also praised for being responsive and effective.
- G2 reviewers indicate that while Buffer has a strong focus on ease of use, Sprout Social's advanced features, such as its queue management and social analytics, provide a more comprehensive toolset for businesses looking to optimize their social media campaigns.
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
Standard
Starting at $199.00
1 user/per month (billed annually)
- 5 social profiles
- All-in-one social inbox
- Social content calendar
Free Trial
Buffer
Free Trial is available
Sprout Social
Free Trial is available
Ratings
Meets Requirements
8.6
900
8.5
5,255
Ease of Use
9.2
906
8.8
5,313
Ease of Setup
9.2
325
8.7
3,679
Ease of Admin
9.1
310
8.8
2,220
Quality of Support
8.5
644
8.6
4,696
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
8.8
270
8.7
2,187
Product Direction (% positive)
8.2
880
8.9
5,170
Features by Category
Social Analytics
Not enough data
7.7(won by default)
2971
Not enough data
7.8(won by default)
3151
Not enough data
8.7(won by default)
3355
Not enough data
7.2(won by default)
2600
Not enough data
7.0(won by default)
2607
Not enough data
7.2(won by default)
2363
Not enough data
7.1(won by default)
2305
Reports & Dashboards
Not enough data
8.1(won by default)
3207
Not enough data
8.5(won by default)
3260
Not enough data
8.5(won by default)
3121
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)
889
Not enough data
6.2(won by default)
879
Not enough data
6.2(won by default)
885
Not enough data
6.3(won by default)
889
Content & Collaboration
9.0
141
8.9
3178
8.6
124
7.9
2921
8.2
104
8.2
3000
8.5
105
8.0
2884
8.8
114
8.3
2996
8.5
98
Feature Not Available
Social Management
7.9
665
8.6
4278
9.3
787
8.9
4299
8.4
641
8.1
3806
8.3
692
8.5
4167
Feature Not Available
Feature Not Available
8.6
98
7.9
2893
8.3
24
7.5
2484
Agentic AI - Social Media Management
7.2
12
6.2
1062
7.4
12
6.4
1052
6.9
12
6.5
1057
7.4
12
6.5
1045
7.2
12
6.4
1035
7.5
12
6.4
1036
7.2
12
6.5
1035
Monitoring & Listening
Not enough data
8.5
1898
Not enough data
7.0
1431
Not enough data
8.0
1212
Not enough data
7.9
1188
Not enough data
7.7
1156
Not enough data
7.8
1185
Agentic AI - Social Media Listening Tools
Not enough data
6.4
387
Not enough data
6.4
386
Not enough data
6.4
388
Not enough data
6.4
386
Not enough data
6.4
388
Data Management & Analysis
Not enough data
7.5
1203
Not enough data
8.6
1962
Not enough data
8.0
1221
Not enough data
7.8
1123
Generative AI
Not enough data
7.1
862
Not enough data
6.9
848
Process
Not enough data
8.4
1457
Not enough data
7.9
1241
Not enough data
7.7
1004
Channels
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
8.8
1513
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Insight
Not enough data
7.4
1125
Not enough data
8.4
1426
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
23.0%
Computer Software
7.3%
Information Technology and Services
6.3%
Internet
5.3%
Non-Profit Organization Management
4.2%
Other
53.9%
Marketing and Advertising
20.5%
Non-Profit Organization Management
6.2%
Higher Education
5.6%
Information Technology and Services
3.6%
Computer Software
3.2%
Other
60.9%
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?
6 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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