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Compare Buffer and Sprout Social 
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At a Glance
Market Segments
Small-Business (70.8% of reviews)
Small-Business (44.9% of reviews)
Entry-Level Pricing
Free
Starting at $199.00 1 user/per month (billed annually)
Buffer
Star Rating
(1,023)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
(5,754)4.4 out of 5
Market Segments
Small-Business (44.9% 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.
- Users report that Sprout Social excels in its Content Calendar feature, scoring 9.1, which allows for seamless scheduling and planning of posts, while Buffer's similar feature scores slightly higher at 9.2, indicating a more user-friendly experience.
- Reviewers mention that Sprout Social's Social Analytics capabilities are robust, particularly in Post Performance analysis with a score of 8.8, whereas Buffer's overall social analytics score is lower at 7.9, suggesting it may lack some depth in this area.
- G2 users highlight that Buffer offers a Free Entry Level Price, making it accessible for small businesses, while Sprout Social starts at $199.00, which may be a barrier for some users looking for budget-friendly options.
- Users on G2 report that Sprout Social's Quality of Support is rated at 8.7, indicating a strong support system, while Buffer's support is rated slightly lower at 8.5, suggesting that users may find Sprout Social more reliable in times of need.
- Reviewers mention that Sprout Social's Approval Workflows feature scores 8.1, which is beneficial for teams needing content approval, while Buffer's score of 8.6 indicates a more streamlined process for content collaboration.
- Users say that Sprout Social's Sentiment Analysis feature, scoring 7.6, is less effective compared to Buffer's offerings, which may provide more insightful data for brands looking to gauge audience sentiment.
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
5,015
Ease of Use
9.2
906
8.8
5,068
Ease of Setup
9.2
325
8.7
3,454
Ease of Admin
9.1
309
8.8
2,160
Quality of Support
8.5
644
8.6
4,486
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
8.8
269
8.7
2,127
Product Direction (% positive)
8.2
880
8.9
4,940
Features by Category
Social Analytics
Not enough data
7.7(won by default)
2944
Not enough data
7.8(won by default)
3128
Not enough data
8.7(won by default)
3292
Not enough data
7.2(won by default)
2584
Not enough data
7.0(won by default)
2591
Not enough data
7.2(won by default)
2350
Not enough data
7.1(won by default)
2287
Reports & Dashboards
Not enough data
8.1(won by default)
3166
Not enough data
8.5(won by default)
3231
Not enough data
8.5(won by default)
3071
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Agentic AI - Social Media Analytics
Not enough data
6.2(won by default)
883
Not enough data
6.2(won by default)
876
Not enough data
6.2(won by default)
868
Not enough data
6.2(won by default)
874
Not enough data
6.2(won by default)
874
Content & Collaboration
9.0
142
8.9
3111
8.6
125
7.9
2901
8.2
105
8.2
2954
8.6
106
8.0
2849
8.8
115
8.3
2962
8.5
99
Feature Not Available
Social Management
7.9
666
8.6
4134
9.3
787
8.9
4125
8.4
642
8.1
3772
8.3
693
8.5
4075
Feature Not Available
Feature Not Available
8.6
99
7.9
2863
8.3
25
7.5
2461
Agentic AI - Social Media Management
7.2
12
6.2
1050
7.4
12
6.4
1041
6.9
12
6.5
1037
7.4
12
6.5
1033
7.2
12
6.4
1025
7.5
12
6.4
1026
7.2
12
6.4
1022
Monitoring & Listening
Not enough data
8.5
1887
Not enough data
7.0
1426
Not enough data
8.0
1190
Not enough data
7.9
1177
Not enough data
7.7
1148
Not enough data
7.8
1176
Agentic AI - Social Media Listening Tools
Not enough data
6.4
382
Not enough data
6.4
380
Not enough data
6.4
383
Not enough data
6.4
381
Not enough data
6.4
381
Data Management & Analysis
Not enough data
7.5
1193
Not enough data
8.6
1946
Not enough data
8.0
1212
Not enough data
7.8
1117
Generative AI
Not enough data
7.1
856
Not enough data
6.9
845
Process
Not enough data
8.4
1446
Not enough data
7.9
1233
Not enough data
7.7
999
Channels
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
8.8
1494
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Insight
Not enough data
7.4
1121
Not enough data
8.4
1417
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
23.1%
Computer Software
7.3%
Information Technology and Services
6.3%
Internet
5.3%
Non-Profit Organization Management
4.2%
Other
53.8%
Marketing and Advertising
20.8%
Non-Profit Organization Management
6.2%
Higher Education
5.5%
Information Technology and Services
3.7%
Financial Services
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?
6 Comments
EC
https://support.sproutsocial.com/hc/en-usRead 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
Is Sprout Social legit?
3 Comments
JG
Definitely! Very useful and intuitive platform to manage and analyze social media.Read more
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