Sprout Social vs Buffer
A detailed comparison of Sprout Social and Buffer to help you choose the right tool for your needs.
Buffer
Simple, affordable social media scheduling and analytics tool for small businesses and creators.
💰 Pricing Comparison
| Plan | Sprout Social | Buffer |
|---|---|---|
| Free Tier | ✗ No | ✓ 3 channels, 10 posts/channel |
| Lowest Paid | $249/mo | $6/channel/mo |
| Enterprise | $499/mo | $12/channel/mo |
⚡ Feature Comparison
| Feature | Sprout Social | Buffer |
|---|---|---|
| Smart Inbox | ✓ | — |
| Social CRM | ✓ | — |
| Listening | ✓ | — |
| Publishing | ✓ | — |
| Analytics | ✓ | — |
| Employee Advocacy | ✓ | — |
| Post scheduling | — | ✓ |
| Analytics dashboard | — | ✓ |
| Start Page bio link | — | ✓ |
| AI assistant | — | ✓ |
| Engagement tools | — | ✓ |
| Team collaboration | — | ✓ |
| Content calendar | — | ✓ |
| Instagram first comment | — | ✓ |
| Hashtag manager | — | ✓ |
| Approval workflows | — | ✓ |
| Open Source | ✗ | ✗ |
| Rating | ⭐ 4.4 | ⭐ 4.3 |
Pros & Cons
Sprout Social
Pros
- ✓ Best-in-class UI
- ✓ Excellent reporting
- ✓ Social CRM unique
- ✓ Strong customer support
Cons
- ✗ Very expensive
- ✗ Per-user pricing adds up
- ✗ Overkill for small teams
- ✗ Some features require add-ons
Buffer
Pros
- ✓ Extremely simple to use
- ✓ Affordable per-channel pricing
- ✓ Great free tier
- ✓ Clean analytics
Cons
- ✗ Limited compared to Hootsuite/Sprout
- ✗ No social listening
- ✗ Basic reporting
- ✗ No inbox management on free
🏆 The Verdict
Choose Sprout Social if: You need mid-market brands wanting premium social management with crm. Sprout Social excels with its best-in-class ui and excellent reporting.
Choose Buffer if: You need small businesses and solopreneurs wanting simple social scheduling. Buffer stands out with its extremely simple to use and affordable per-channel pricing.
Best free option: Buffer offers a free tier (3 channels, 10 posts/channel).
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sprout Social better than Buffer?
It depends on your needs. Sprout Social is better for mid-market brands wanting premium social management with crm, while Buffer is better for small businesses and solopreneurs wanting simple social scheduling. Both are excellent tools rated 4.4 and 4.3 respectively.
Which is cheaper, Sprout Social or Buffer?
Sprout Social starts at $249/mo while Buffer starts at $6/channel/mo. Buffer also has a free tier.
Can I switch from Sprout Social to Buffer?
Most tools offer import/export features to help you migrate. We recommend trying Buffer's free tier before fully committing to a switch.
💰 Stop Overpaying for SaaS
Join smart professionals who receive our weekly roundup of the best SaaS deals, free alternatives, and money-saving tips.
Free forever. Unsubscribe anytime. No spam.