When it comes to managing social media, Buffer and Sprout Social are two standout tools, but both serve different needs. Buffer’s simplicity and focus on streamlining scheduling make it a go-to platform for small teams. At the same time, Sprout Social’s robust analytics and powerful collaboration features cater to large enterprises requiring deeper insights and team alignment.
So, which one is right for your brand’s growth?
In this Buffer vs Sprout Social comparison guide, we will break down their strengths, limitations, and unique features to help you decide which one to choose.
Let’s get started!
When comparing Buffer and Sprout Social, both excel in social media management, yet each offers distinct features tailored to different needs. In this side-by-side comparison table, we will highlight the key features and how these social media tools stack against each other. As a bonus, we have put SocialPilot in the comparison table to give you a broad view and options to select from.
 Buffer |
 SproutSocial |
 SocialPilot |
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| Number of Reviews | 1006 | 3483 | 814 |
| Overall Star Rating | |||
| Ease of Use | |||
| Quality of Support | |||
| Ease of Setup | |||
| Minimum Pricing | $6/Month | $249/Month | $30/Month |
| Number of Social Accounts | 1 | 5 | 10 |
| Number of Team Members | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Scheduling & Publishing |
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| Analytics |
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| Social Inbox |
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| Collaboration |
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| Whitelabel |
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| Best For | Professionals and SMBs | Small Business, Enterprise, Agencies | Marketing Agencies, SMBs, Multi-Location Brands & Professionals |
| Learn More | Learn More | 14 Days Trial |
Buffer and Sprout Social offer different value propositions for marketers and brands. Buffer, on the one hand, boasts an overall rating of 4.3/5, highlighting ease of use and setup. The low pricing of just $6 per month for one user makes it a preferred choice among professionals and SMBs. On the other hand, Sprout Social also has an overall rating of 4.3/5 on the review platform G2, with more than 3400 reviews. The platform shows slight resistance from the users when we look at the quality of support and ease of setup ratings. Sprout Social has a minimum pricing plan of $249 per month, which includes 5 social media accounts and can be used by 1 team member.
PS: If you already know what these tools are, please skip this overview and move to the Head-to-Head comparison table.
Buffer Overview
Buffer is a social media management tool designed for small businesses looking to centralize their social media activities in one dashboard. Known for its ease of use and clean interface, Buffer allows users to efficiently manage, schedule, and publish posts across major platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X/Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Mastodon, and Google My Business. Its dashboard is intuitive and user-friendly, helping users quickly master the essentials without any extensive training. While Buffer focuses on core features, its Start Page feature lets businesses create landing pages to showcase their brand without needing a full website. It is a great fit for users who seek simplicity and affordability.
Cori F.
You can connect most of your social media platforms and create a schedule. It allows you to cusomize the posts so while they may be similar, you’re putting something different on each platform.
Tracks the statistics of your X feed.
Sprout Social is an advanced social media tool built for marketers and businesses who want to have a strong hold on both the organic and paid side of social media. Known for its robust scheduling, scheduling, and analytics features, Sprout Social streamlines social media tasks while offering team collaboration tools that make it ideal for larger teams to collaborate. Its robust social listening and competitor analysis capabilities help users stay ahead by analyzing trends and spotting industry insights. The tool supports various platforms like X/Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Sprout Social brings everything into one central dashboard for a seamless management experience.
Krista S.
Easy to schedule posts to multiple platforms. Easy to find ideal posting times. The smart inbox is easy to use. I also like the reporting section and the Instagram Grid Planner. The AI assistant is helpful for creating captions. The approval process works well. Customer support has been available and helpful.
Compared to Buffer and Sprout Social, SocialPilot is a comprehensive social media management tool that bridges the gaps left by these two tools. While Buffer is limited in analytics and collaboration features, SocialPilot delivers in-depth analytics and team workflows without compromising affordability. Unlike Sprout Social, which can be costly for smaller teams, Social Pilot offers a full suite of tools at a fraction of its price, including extensive content management, scheduling, and even white-label solutions for agencies and SMBs.
Shayne W.
Social Pilot allows me to utilize automation to ensure consistent content posting. On top of this the dashboard provides a nice single pane of glass to see what I will be posting this month with the capability to edit and schedule mroe posts. Basically 4 hours of work allows me to keep constant communication for an entire month whihc has proven invaluable for us as a business who does not imploy internal marketing. The setup to my social media platforms was easy and the integration has not had a single issue.
Scheduling and Publishing
When it comes to scheduling and publishing, Buffer and Sprout Social, each bring unique strengths to the table. Buffer is known for its straightforward, intuitive, and user-friendly scheduling approach, making it easy for small teams to plan and publish content. Sprout Social, however, takes scheduling further with advanced features targeted toward larger teams, including collaboration tools and customizable workflows.
Let’s take a detailed look at how each tool handles scheduling to help you decide which aligns best with your planning needs.
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Buffer |
SproutSocial |
SocialPilot |
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| Smart & Advanced Queueing |
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| Customize Post for Each Platform |
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| Post Preview |
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| Canva Integration |
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| Unsplash Integration |
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| Slack Integration |
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| URL Shortener |
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| Visual Post Support (Image, Video, GIF) |
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| UTM Parameters |
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| Cloud Storage |
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| Hashtag Suggestions |
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| Advance Publishing Capabilities | |||
| Save Draft Posts |
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| AI Assistant |
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| Watermark on Images |
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| Bulk Scheduling |
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| Auto publishing from RSS |
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| Social media calendar |
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| Mobile App |
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| Browser Extension |
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| Advance Facebook Publishing Capabilities | |||
| Reel Scheduling |
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| Support Album Posts |
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| Support Carousel Posts |
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| Alternate Text on Image |
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| Support Facebook First Comment |
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| Audience Targeting |
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| Boost Post Scheduling |
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| Support Mention and Hashtags |
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| Advance Twitter Publishing Capabilities | |||
| Location Tagging |
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| Support Mention and Hashtags |
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| Support Multiple Image Posts |
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| Threads Scheduling |
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| Advance Instagram Publishing Capabilities | |||
| Reel Scheduling |
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| Story Scheduling |
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| Tag Profiles on Images |
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| Location Tagging |
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| Support Instagram First Comment |
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| Instagram Grid |
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| Advance LinkedIn Publishing Capabilities | |||
| Audience Targeting |
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| Support LinkedIn First Comment |
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| Advance YouTube Publishing Capabilities | |||
| Shorts Scheduling |
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| Mention of Other YouTube Accounts |
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| Learn More | Learn More | 14 Days Trial | |
Buffer and Sprout Social bring powerful scheduling and publishing features with efficient social media management tools across multiple platforms. Buffer stands out for its streamlined approach and essential features like smart queueing, Canva integration, bulk scheduling, and support for various post formats (images, videos, GIFs). It’s ideal for small teams seeking straightforward content management, including Instagram Grid and a user-friendly social media calendar.
Sprout Social, however, provides more advanced capabilities tailored for larger teams and businesses. It includes extras such as Unsplash integration, auto-publishing from RSS feed, audience targeting, social media post boosting, and location tagging for X and Instagram. Its additional features in publishing and audience segmentation make it well-suited for brands requiring in-depth publishing and targeting options.
SocialPilot stands out in publishing and scheduling with its robust features, which make publishing content on multiple platforms a cakewalk. It offers a comprehensive content library that allows you to organize all your posts and streamline publishing. If you want to create posts for the entire month and schedule them at once, you can do that with its bulk scheduling feature. Just upload a CSV file and bulk schedule up to 500 posts simultaneously, significantly saving you time and unnecessary hassle. The streamlined content calendar gives you a glimpse of your scheduled posts and lets you add tags and notes for better team communication.
Analytics are roadmaps for marketers to monitor where their strategies take their social media presence and whether they need to recalibrate. So, we have reviewed all the significant analytical capabilities of Sprout Social and Buffer.
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Buffer |
SproutSocial |
SocialPilot |
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| Whitelabel Downloadable Report in PDF Format |
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| Email PDF Report to Client |
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| Auto Schedule Report with Team and Client |
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| Custom Report Builder |
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| Learn More | Learn More | 14 Days Trial |
Both tools cater to different user needs regarding social media analytics and reporting. Buffer offers a solid foundation with capabilities such as detailed analytics and engagement metrics, allowing users to track the performance of their posts across several platforms. Its custom report builder lets users create tailored reports and download white-labeled reports in PDF format. However, Buffer lacks advanced features like emailing PDF reports to clients or scheduling reports for automated delivery. If you want to have a stronghold on analytics, you can look into different alternatives to Buffer, including Sprout Social.
Sprout Social excels in its analytics and reporting capabilities. It offers detailed engagement metrics, hashtag performance analysis, and combined analytics for multiple accounts. Sprout Social also includes advanced features such as emailing PDF reports to clients and auto-scheduling reports for team members and clients. Its custom report builder enhances its reporting, allowing users to showcase data in a way that best suits their needs.
SocialPilot balances these two tools, offering comprehensive insights into how your social media accounts and posts are performing. You can track audience engagement metrics and also find the best time to post to maximize your reach. Its user-friendly interface makes it easy for new users to navigate and interpret the data. Additionally, its reporting capabilities enable users to create customizable social media reports, making it a strong option for agencies who deal with clients and want to display only selected metrics with custom branding.
Engagement is all about how well you can interact with your customers on social media. Buffer and Sprout Social are strong options for users seeking effective engagement capabilities.
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SproutSocial |
SocialPilot |
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| Can Reply to Messages |
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| Can Reply Questions and Reviews |
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| Can Reply on Visitor Posts |
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| Learn More | Learn More | 14 Days Trial |
When establishing a brand’s online presence and reputation, engaging with customers wherever they are becomes crucial. On Buffer, users can reply to posts and comments directly. However, Buffer does not have vital functionalities such as responding to messages, questions, and reviews. Additionally, it does not provide a unified social inbox, so managing communications across multiple platforms can be cumbersome for users.
Sprout Social, on the other hand, leaps in this arena. Users can reply to messages, questions, and reviews, ensuring they maintain a strong bond with their audience. Sprout also includes a Social Inbox, allowing users to manage all conversations from a single dashboard.
SocialPilot recognizes the importance of managing a brand’s online reputation and fostering customer relations. It comes with a dedicated Social Inbox, so you can manage all your communications from a single dashboard. You can answer comments, questions, and messages without changing tabs.
When managing the social media side of a business, the involvement of a team with different roles is a given. So, the social media tools they use should be equipped to handle multiple users and have appropriate team workflows to avoid confusion and make their jobs easier.
When compared, Buffer and Sprout Social have perfect team collaboration capabilities, distinctive roles for members, permission-based access, and collaboration abilities for content creation. Let’s review the comparison table to understand how these tools compare.
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Buffer |
SproutSocial |
SocialPilot |
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| Free Unlimited Client Onboarding |
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| Per Post Multi-User Collaboration |
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| Access Management |
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| Content Approval Workflow |
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| Learn More | Learn More | 14 Days Trial |
Here is the analysis: Buffer provides a solid framework for collaboration with features like unlimited client onboarding and per-post muti-user collaboration. Users can easily manage access and set up content approval workflows, ensuring that each team member can contribute effectively while having complete control over what gets published.
While offering similar collaboration tools, Sprout Social takes the experience a step further with its comprehensive management features. It also supports unlimited client onboarding, per-post multi-user collaboration, and access management. Additionally, Sprout’s content approval workflows help streamline the publishing process, but it is worth noting that this feature is only available in its premium plans.
When comparing Buffer vs Sprout Social, SocialPilot is designed with team collaboration in mind, making it a great choice for businesses that value seamless communication and efficient workflow. It offers unlimited client onboarding, allowing agencies to easily bring on new clients without restrictions, which is essential for scaling. With access management, teams can ensure control and security. Additionally, content approval workflow streamlines the publishing process, allowing teams to ensure that all the content meets quality and branding standards before it goes live.
Pricing:
When evaluating social media management tools, understanding the pricing plans becomes crucial to making informed decisions that align with your budget and business needs. Here is a breakdown of each tool’s pricing tiers to help you choose the best fit for your business:
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Buffer |
SproutSocial |
SocialPilot |
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Free
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Standard
$249/per month
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Essentials
$30/per month
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Essential
$6/per channel
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Professional
$399/per month
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Standard
$50/per month
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Team
$12/per channel
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Advanced
$499/per month
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Premium
$100/per month
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Agency
$120/per channel
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Enterprise
Custom
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Ultimate
$200/per month
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14 Days Free Trial
No Credit Card Required
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30 Days Free Trial
No Credit Card Required
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14 Days Free Trial
No Credit Card Required
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| Learn More | Learn More | Start Your free Trial |
Buffer has four plans, starting with a Free pricing plan with limited features. The paid plan starts at $6 per month (Essential) for 1 user and 1 social media account and goes up to $120 per month (Agency), supporting 10 channels. In comparison, the lowest pricing plan of Sprout Social starts from $249 per month (Standard) for 1 seat supporting 5 social media profiles and goes up to Advanced priced at $499 per month for 1 seat and supporting unlimited profiles.
Looking at the pricing structure, Buffer seems to be the clear winner and can be considered a good alternative to Sprout Social. However, it is worth noting that Sprout brings unique capabilities and detailed insights that might be overlooked due to its pricing.
SocialPilot is known for its accessibility in pricing while offering powerful social media management capabilities. The pricing plans start from Professional, $30 per month, which covers 1 user and 10 social media profiles, going up to Agency+, priced at $200 per month for unlimited users and 50 social media profiles. The tool is designed to accommodate businesses of all sizes, from small businesses to agencies. It ensures the needs are met properly and helps you scale your social media business.
Customer Support
At last, we have customer support showing which tool supports which channels so your concerns can be quickly resolved. Here is the breakdown:
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Buffer |
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SocialPilot |
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| Live Chat Support |
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| Email Support |
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| Training |
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| Setup Support |
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| Dedicated Account Manager |
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| Learn More | Learn More | 14 Days Trial |
Buffer, being one of the leading social media platforms, does not hold its ground. It lacks live chat support, which is crucial. Also, there is no support for a dedicated support manager. However, Sprout Social on the other hand tick marks all aspects of the customer support. Meanwhile, the dedicated support manager support is only available on the high-tier pricing plans.
Another critical tool that offers all these features is SocialPilot. It offers priority customer support, live chat, phone support (24/5), and a dedicated account manager, which means all your key concerns are resolved without hiccups. Other than that, SocialPilot offers you all the vital social media marketing capabilities, i.e., publishing, analytics, engagement, collaboration, and more. This means you make decisions backed by data and grow your social media handles with automation.
Final Verdict
In conclusion, Buffer and Sprout Social offer valuable features for social media management, catering to different needs. Buffer excels with its simplicity and affordability, making it an excellent choice for small businesses and solo marketers. In contrast, Sprout Social provides advanced analytics, social listening, and comprehensive engagement tools, ideal for larger teams and agencies seeking in-depth insights and collaboration. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your specific requirements and the scale of your social media efforts.
