Buffer vs Sprout Social
Side-by-side pricing, platforms and features, with a verdict for each type of team.
The simplest way to queue posts across every major network, with the most generous free plan in the category.
Premium enterprise platform with the best inbox and reporting in the category, priced per seat.
Feature by feature
| Buffer | Sprout Social | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | Yes | Trial (30 days) |
| Cheapest paid plan | $6 / channel / mo | $199 / seat / mo |
| Free trial | 14 days | 30 days |
| Pricing model | Per channel, billed monthly | Per seat, billed monthly |
| Platforms | ||
| Posts, Reels, Stories | Posts, Reels, Stories | |
| X / Twitter | Posts, threads | Posts |
| Pages and profiles | Pages and profiles | |
| TikTok | Direct publish | Direct publish |
| Pages | Pages | |
| YouTube | Shorts | Videos, Shorts |
| Pins | Pins | |
| Threads | Posts | Posts |
| Bluesky | Posts | Posts |
| Mastodon | Any instance | No |
| Google Business Profile | Updates | Reviews |
| Other networks | — | |
| Features | ||
| Content calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Approval workflow | Team plan | Professional plan+ |
| AI caption writing | Yes | Yes |
| Best time to post | Yes | ViralPost |
| Bulk upload (CSV) | No | Professional plan+ |
| Evergreen recycling | No | No |
| Analytics & reports | Basic | Advanced |
| Social inbox | No | Yes |
| Link in bio page | Yes | SproutLink |
| First comment | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile app | iOS, Android | iOS, Android |
| Browser extension | Yes | Yes |
| API access | No | Advanced plan |
| White-label reports | No | No |
| Client workspaces | No | Groups |
| Details | ||
| Editorial score | 4.7 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
| Best for | Solo creators and small teams | Enterprise teams with budget for a best-in-class inbox |
| Apps | Web, iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android |
| Founded | 2010 | 2010 |
Which should you choose?
Buffer scores 4.7 against 4.3 for Sprout Social. Buffer is the simplest way to queue posts across every major network, with the most generous free plan in the category. Sprout Social is premium enterprise platform with the best inbox and reporting in the category, priced per seat. On price, Buffer starts lower at $6 / channel / mo. Buffer publishes to 11 networks and Sprout Social to 11.
Buffer is the tool we recommend first to anyone who does not already know what they need. The composer is the cleanest in the category, the queue model is easy to understand, and the free plan covers three channels with ten posts each, which is enough to run a small personal brand.
Read the full Buffer review →Sprout Social is the most polished of the enterprise suites. The Smart Inbox, reporting and approval workflow are genuinely excellent, and the product is backed by the kind of support and security documentation large companies ask for.
Read the full Sprout Social review →