Social media marketing is cheap and accessible, allowing even the smallest brands to get public attention. The hype is not just hot air; it’s worth it!
Buffer has long been a stalwart among social media tools due to its publishing and analysis abilities. However, its expensive proposition makes it hard for agencies and small businesses to use. Hence, many Buffer alternatives have also entered the scene, giving marketers options.
Social media statistics conclude that almost 4.48 billion people use social media daily for interaction and entertainment. But, the increased noise on social media networks poses a challenge in making an audience care about your brand’s message.
Hence, marketers need tools like Buffer and its competitors to manage everything in one place.
If you’re looking for social media tools to fill the gaps that Buffer leaves, consider these 12 alternatives to buffer to execute your social media marketing plan.
How we analyze and select these tools:
Our process of curating a list of relevant tools involves thorough research and evaluation. Factors considered include platform compatibility, automation, content creation, visualization, analytics, collaboration, pricing, scalability, and user experience. These tools, curated by seasoned professionals, empower marketers with valuable insights to make informed decisions and scale their businesses.
Top Buffer Alternatives Comparison at a Glance
Here is a quick overview of the top apps similar to Buffer, including the features they possess and the price they charge, so you can make an informed decision.
SocialPilot |
Buffer |
Later |
Sendible |
Loomly |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pricing | Starts at $25/Month | Starts at $36/Month | Starts at $25/Month | Starts at $29/Month | Starts at $60/Month |
Best for | Agencies & Small Businesses | SMBs & Brands | Brands & Creators | Mid-sized Businesses | Brands & Enterprises |
Social Profiles | 10 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 10 |
Ease of Use | |||||
Support | |||||
Publishing | |||||
Bulk Scheduling | 500 Posts | 350 Posts | 400 Posts | ||
Smart Queues | |||||
Repeat Post | |||||
First Comment | Only Facebook & Instagram | Only Instagram | |||
Audience Targeting | |||||
Content Planning & Creation | |||||
Content Library | |||||
Calendar View | Easy to read | Hard-to-read | Confusing | Complex | Hard-to-read |
Holiday Calendar | |||||
AI Assistant | Only caption | ||||
Instagram Collab Posts | |||||
Location Tagging | Only Instagram | Only Instagram | |||
Custom Call-To-Actions | |||||
Image Editor | |||||
Engagement | |||||
Social Inbox | Unified inbox | Limited Features | Multiple Inboxes | Multiple inboxes | Unorganized |
Reply to Reviews & Queries | |||||
Reply to DMs & Comments | Only Facebook & Instagram | Only Facebook & TikTok | |||
Analytics | |||||
Detailed Social Media Analytics | Easy to read | Complex | Only Instagram | Complex | Complex |
Custom Report Builder | |||||
Auto-Schedule Report Sharing to Clients | |||||
Post Performance | |||||
Team and Client Collaboration | |||||
Client Management | |||||
Approval Workflows | Easy & swift | Basic | Technical glitches | Missing functions | |
Per Post Multi-User Collaboration | |||||
Approval-on-the-go | |||||
White Labeling | |||||
White Label Dashboard | |||||
White Label Downloadable Report | |||||
Learn More | Learn More | Learn More | Learn More |
12 Best Buffer Alternatives for All Business Types
Best Buffer App Alternative Tool for:
Marketing Agencies, SMBs, Multi-Location Brands & Professionals.
Star Rating:
4.5 stars on G2 & 4.4 stars on Capterra
Apps:
Android and iOS Mobile App and Web Version.
Major Social Media Platforms Supported:
Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), YouTube, Google Business Profile, Threads, and TikTok.
Key Features:
- White Label Dashboard
- Advanced Publishing
- AI Assistant
- RSS Feeds
- Clean User Interface
- Cost-Effective Pricing
- Create UTM Parameters
- Social Media Analytics and Reporting
- Content Library
- Team Collaboration
- Bulk Scheduling
- Direct Publishing to All Social Network
- Unified Social Inbox
- Faster Client Collaboration
- Intuitive Social Media Calendar
- Unsplash Integration
- First Comment Scheduling
- Image Post Customization
Pros
- SocialPilot offers hashtag suggestions and detailed insights on their performances.
- It has the clearest and most aesthetically appealing interface with advanced designs and dashboards.
- SocialPilot is a cost-effective social media management tool for marketing agencies and small businesses.
- SocialPilot publishes your scheduled content on time without any glitches or delayed publishing.
- Its White Label feature allows users to customize their clients’ dashboards and download branded White Label reports.
Fady S.
I really like the overall SocialPilot platform. It has all the features we require for the 20+ pages we manage on our account. It was also super easy to integrate with all our pages on the different platforms. We use it several times weekly to schedule posts and ensure our calendar is properly set up. I highly recommend this platform as it’s a great deal for the price as well.
Cons
- It does not offer direct posting to Instagram Stories.
- It can not offer competitor analysis abilities.
- You can see the post preview from the content calendar but not the account feed display.
David F.
Not an issue with SocialPilot but more with how Meta Business works; it can be very difficult to adding several Instagram accounts into the system. For personal Instagram accounts, the tool doesn’t really scale as if it was a professional or business Instagram account.
Our Experience:
SocialPilot is one of the best Buffer alternatives. It is specially designed for small businesses and agencies and offers useful social media management abilities and competitive pricing that outshines Buffer.
Scheduling, Collaboration and Integration
Regarding features and functionalities, SocialPilot clearly surpasses Buffer with its Bulk Scheduling abilities on multiple social media platforms simultaneously. Audience Targeting and Custom Fields are unique features that help users tailor their posts for different segments and enhance engagement.
SocialPilot has an impressive 360-degree Collaboration feature that considers users’ needs. The Approval-on-the-Go feature speeds up the process, and Team Collaboration helps smooth internal workflow. In comparison, Buffer lacks critical capabilities like bulk scheduling, custom fields, and audience targeting and does not have user-centric collaborative abilities, which makes SocialPilot a versatile tool.
In terms of useful tool integration, SocialPilot exceeds Buffer. SocialPilot is integrated with Canva, Unsplash, Drive, Slack, Zapier, Rebrandly, Bitly, and many more platforms, which are absent in Buffer. These functionalities significantly enhance marketers’ social media management efficiency while planning, scheduling, and visualizing their content.
White Label Customizations and AI Assistant
SocialPilot understands the importance of White-Label features for agencies. It offers a White-Label Dashboard that allows marketers to create branded experiences for their clients and generates White-Label Downloadable and Shareable Reports. SocialPilot also provides a Browser Extension for instant access and inbuild Customizable UTM Parameters to track social traffic.
In contrast, Buffer does not support white-label features that affect the effectiveness of agencies and big teams. SocialPilot also has an AI Assistant for fast content production and idea generation. It has pre-made prompts for creating content with hashtags and emojis for different social media channels.
Pricing and Value
Even when we moved to analyzing pricing for both tools, SocialPilot came out to be a better option. On the one hand, Buffer costs $60/month for 30 social accounts, and SocialPilot only costs $30/month with many more features.
SocialPilot has 4 different plans, designed especially based on the needs of their users.
- Professional: $30/month for ten social media profiles.
- Small Teams: $50/month for 20 accounts and 3 users.
- Agency: $100/month for 30 accounts and 6 users with unlimited client collaboration.
- Agency+: $200/month for 50 social media accounts, unlimited users, clients, and White Label.
This low-cost superiority combination with the feature-packed tool makes SocialPilot one of the best Buffer alternatives.
Overall Verdict:
SocialPilot is a comprehensive tool better than Buffer, which backs up its aim of being the best social media management platform for agencies and small businesses. SocialPilot features and pricing are carefully designed to consider marketers’ needs so they don’t have to break the bank and still set their necessities fulfilled.
Best Buffer Alternative Tool for:
Freelancers, Solopreneurs, Small Businesses, Marketing Agencies, and Social Media Managers
Star Rating
4.8 on G2 & 4.6 on Capterra
Apps
Web Version.
Social Media Platforms Supported
Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), Google Business Profile, and TikTok.
Key Features:
- Create and Customize Posts
- Category-based Scheduling
- Audience Growth Tools
- Social Inbox
- RSS Feed Integrations
- Automated Scheduling and Publishing
- Seamless Team Collaboration
- SocialBee Copilot (AI Assistant)
- Insightful Social Media Analytics
- Industry Leading Platform Integration
Pros
- You can track your brand’s position with detailed analytics.
- Never leave your queue empty with the option of recycling content.
- You can assign each post to a specific category.
Caitlin M.
We have only recently signed up with SocialBee, but so far we have found the platform and reporting very user friendly and informative. We only receive the information that is helpful; so far there has been no swamping in our inbox! The reports have helped us to determine when best to post, and has allowed us to plan out according to audience engagement.
Cons
- SocialBee lacks Instagram direct posting capabilities.
- Analytics sometimes does not work fine for all platforms.
- Their dashboard isn’t user-friendly. You need help from customer support to navigate and understand the flows.
- SocialBee does not have iOS and Android mobile applications for users.
- It has a steep learning curve that takes a lot of time for users to understand the tools.
Richie M.
Sometimes you can’t post IG post and reels at the same time, and there are pop ups to rate different part of socialbee pages which can be annoying sometimes.
Our Experience
After using SocialBee, we found that it surpasses Buffer in several key areas and is a versatile social media management tool.
Personalized Planning and Category-Based Scheduling
SocialBee hasn’t been around for very long, but it still has the potential to be a comprehensive app like Buffer for freelancers and creators. One of its stand-out features is the ability to create and customize posts without limitations. It also has a unique feature where users can categorize their posts for better organization and schedule or queue them for publishing.
This ability to assign each post to a different category is SocialBee, which helps streamline the workflow and manage priority posts. Buffer lacks several scheduling abilities, such as bulk and categorized scheduling, making it harder for brands and agencies to use.
Audience Growth Tracking, Analytics and Team Collaboration
Another aspect that we found unique in SocialBee is its audience growth tools, which help us track the nature of the audience and new followers. This helps us understand the niche and audience behavior for future campaigns. SocialBee also shares insightful analytics, which offers detailed reports to track content performance. Unlike Buffer, SocialBee has a copilot and an AI assistant to enhance content creation and optimization for higher social media presence and traction.
With a seamless team collaboration feature, SocialBee again outshines Buffer by including a more integrated approach for smooth workflow management. Buffer’s team collaboration functionalities lack the depth and flexibility that SocialBee offers marketing teams.
Pricing and Value
Even in price comparison, we found SocialBee to be a better option than Buffer. For 10 social profiles, Buffer costs $60/month, while SocialBee only costs $40/month, making it a clear winner. It also has 2 other plans: Bootstrap, which costs $24/month for 5 social profiles, and Pro, which costs $82/month for 25 social profiles.
Overall Verdict
Coming to the final stage of our review of SocialBee as a potential software like Buffer, we found that with its features, like category-based scheduling, automated publishing, detailed analytics, and cost-effective pricing, SocialBee is a better choice.
Best Buffer Alternative Tool for:
Agencies, Startups, Individuals, SMBs, Freelancers, and Creators.
Star Rating
4.5 on G2 & 4.7 on Capterra
Apps
Android and iOS Mobile App and Web Version.
Social Media Platforms Supported
Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), YouTube, Pinterest, Google Business Profile, and TikTok.
Key Features:
- Social Analytics and Insights
- AI-Powered Post Ideas and Tips
- Media + Content Library
- All-in-one Content Calendar
- Unlimited Scheduling
- Analytics and Reporting
- RSS Feeds Integration
- Audience Targeting
- Post Planning and Scheduling
- Approval and Feedback Workflow
Pros
- Loomly’s AI Assistant provides users with fresh and new ideas for post and content curation.
- It has effective tools for team and client collaboration and approval workflow.
- The tool’s platform-specific customization feature is a must-have flexibility.
Brie B.
A lot of great feautres! Love that I can separate accounts in different calendars and how easy it is to schedule posts on different platforms on their own individual day/time and even clone to other calendars. Also really enjoy that I can internally title and categorize each post!
Cons
- Considering the features and functionalities of Loomly, its cost is much higher.
- Loomly does not support direct publishing to Instagram Stories.
- There have been instances when the calendar and social media accounts have been disconnected.
- To download the shareable calendar, you have to pay extra.
Brianna H.
While it is cost-effective, it is a bit off-putting to have to pay more to download a calendar. I downgraded because I didn’t need all the features but I didn’t realise I’d lose the ability to save a calendar to send to clients.
Our Experience
The next tool we used and found a good app like Buffer was Loomly. It is a feature-rich and user-centric social media management tool for start-ups and individuals.
Content Creation and Scheduling
We were impressed with Loomly’s AI-powered post ideas and content tips, which provide fresh and innovative content ideas. These are better than Buffer, which only focuses on scheduling and does not have advanced features for content planning. Additionally, Loomly has an all-in-one content calendar that simplifies the planning and visualization process and rescheduling abilities, lacking in the Buffer content calendar. Scheduling unlimited or bulk posts in a single interface enhances the user’s efficiency.
Workflow Management and Insightful Analytics
Loomly has dedicated team and client collaboration abilities to ensure smooth workflow management inside and outside the team. Feedback and approval workflow also play an important role in streamlining the process. On the one hand, where Buffer offers a collaboration feature, Loomly’s functions are much more user-centric and flexible. Also, the media and content library mix that supports collaboration is vital to organizing assets for effective planning.
It also has something in the pocket for tracking and performance. This tool for social media offers more comprehensive social media analytics and insight than Buffer. This, along with analytical reporting, helps make better data-driven decisions. With audience targeting, post planning, and scheduling features, Loomly covers every aspect a marketer or a creator may need.
Pricing and Value
Loomly offers a range of pricing plans starting at $42/month, including 10 social accounts, 2 users, and features like AI assistant, unlimited scheduling, advanced analytics, and more. Buffer costs $60/month.
Overall Verdict
Loomly outshines Buffer in many ways, especially its seamless collaboration and content creation functions. It is user-friendly and easy to learn, making it a better option for teams and creators to enhance their social media strategy. Because of its robust features and cost-effective pricing, Loomly can be one of the alternatives to Buffer.
Best Buffer Competitor Tool for:
Small to Medium-sized Businesses, Digital Marketing Agencies, and Enterprises
Star Rating:
4.5 on G2 & 4.7 on Capterra
Apps:
Android and iOS Mobile App and Web Version.
Social Media Channels Supported:
Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), YouTube, Pinterest, Google Business Profile, Mastodon, and TikTok.
Key Features:
- Zia AI Assistant
- Visual Content Calendar
- Content Rescheduling
- Team Collaboration
- Automated SmartQ
- Multi-platform Publishing and Scheduling
- Social media monitoring
- Centralized Inbox
- Social listening
- Analytics and Custom Reports
Pros
- Zoho Social has a content approval process to save time and streamline external communications.
- It has comprehensive social listening abilities to enhance your social media engagement.
- It suggests the best time to post a slot for the post and also schedules them in their SmartQ.
John S.
Zoho Social is excellent. I have setup an entire month’s campaign for all my social media accounts, I then get detailed reports for each post, plus I have the ability to integrate with OpenAi to help draft my content.
Cons
- It has a very steep learning curve due to its complex interface.
- Many users find the analytics and reporting feature incapable of generating details about the post-performance.
- Zoho Social’s pricing structure is not very affordable but valuable for small businesses and marketers.
Zack M.
The pricing is a little high, so we are making sure that the cost is worth it for us in the end. At times, the crafting of posts from the natural social apps can be more creative/effective with some limitations on the Zoho social side.
Our Experience:
When we reviewed Zoho Social, we found an extensive range of features that make it one of the strong Buffer competitors for brands and enterprises.
Content Scheduling, SmartQ, and Collaboration
One of the standout features of Zoho Social is smartQ, which is automated and suggests a post queue based on the best time to post based on the audience activity. In contrast, Buffer has basic scheduling capabilities, limited to a few posts at once. In contrast, smartQ offers a much more intelligent approach to ensure the content gets maximum engagement. Zoho Social also has a visual content calendar that makes planning and scheduling even easier and helps them streamline the management process. These many functionalities are lacking in Buffer, such as the best time to post indications and automated queue.
Zoho Social even has dedicated features for team collaboration and approval workflow. This saves time and ensures smooth communication inside and outside the team to avoid delay. These features are particularly helpful for markers and big teams with multiple clients, similar to Buffer. While Buffer has team collaboration, Zoho offers an upgraded option of approval and workflow with a centralized inbox for team interactions.
Social Listening and Analytics
While talking about automated scheduling, we can not forget the social media listening and monitoring offered by Zoho Social. This smart feature allows us to track brand mentions, keywords, and competitors, whereas Buffer does not offer listening abilities. Zoho Social provides comprehensive analytics with in-depth details about the content performance in downloadable custom reports.
Pricing Comparison
Zoho Social has a variety of pricing plans for businesses and agencies. It has competitive pricing compared to Buffer, especially for standard and professional plans, which are rich in features and lower costs. Zoho Social’s starting price plan costs $40/month for 9 social accounts, whereas Buffer costs $60/month for 10 accounts; this clearly reflects why Zoho Social is a better option.
Overall Verdict:
Finally, Zoho Social is a superior social media tool to Buffer, especially for marketers. Its intelligent and automated features, such as scheduling, robust team collaboration, advanced social listening, and SmartQ, make it one of the attractive and cheaper Buffer alternatives.
Best Alternative to Buffer for:
Entrepreneurs, Medium to Big Businesses, and Large Enterprises.
Star Rating:
4.5 on G2 & 4.4 on Capterra
Apps:
Android and iOS Mobile App and Web Version.
Social Media Networks Supported:
Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), YouTube, Threads, Pinterest, and TikTok.
Key Features:
- Social Media Monitoring
- Custom URL Tracking
- Influencer Collaboration Features
- Social Listening Tools
- Customizable Reporting
- Robust Analytics Dashboard
- Employee Advocacy
- Advanced Social Media Scheduling Tool
- Unified Social Inbox
- Team Collaboration and Workflow Approval
Pros
- Sprout Social offers robust analytics abilities to help users understand their content performances.
- Sprout Social provides social media scheduling features that save time and can be used for better marketing.
- It eases team collaboration and client approval processes, reducing continuous approval communication.
Kavin V.
Sprout has a clean, simple and intuitive interface and main navigation. It makes it easy for new users to learn. At the same time the tool is feature packed and customizable. I love the reporting section and how easy it is to sort and filter with quick responsiveness.
Cons
- The price plan that SproutSocial offers is very high considering the features, as it does not provide integration or YouTube platform publishing.
- The social inbox might be available for different platforms but is not unified under the same roof.
- The cost of Sprout Social rises dramatically after adding different features, even minor ones.
Alisanne S.
I wish I could edit posts across different platforms on one editing page, rather than making duplicates. That is one thing about Hubspot that I always liked. At times it is difficult to get questions answered by their customer support team, as calling them is easier than email or chat.
Our Experience:
We explored Sprout Social while looking for a suitable alternative to Buffer. We found it to be a comprehensive contender. Here’s our take on Sprout Social as a better tool than Buffer.
In-depth Analytics and Monitoring
Sprout Social has robust analytics and is presented in a clear and concise dashboard. It shares insights into content performance in-depth, surpassing Buffer’s basic analytical data. With social media listening and monitoring abilities, Sprout Social impressively takes care of all the automated needs any marker could ask for. It shares real-time data and sentimental analysis, which are missing in Buffer, and helps enhance engagement and make data-driven decisions.
Advanced Scheduling and Collaboration
Even for scheduling, Sprout has planned advanced and effective dedicated features to facilitate planning and scheduling like a breeze. The unified social inbox and team and client collaboration features are available to streamline the workflow and speed it up, preventing delays due to back-and-forth communication. This puts
Custom Reporting and Influencer Collab
Sprout Social customizable reports are detailed and presentable and can be downloaded with white-label customization for sharing. At the same time, Buffer has limited reporting capabilities, which can not be personalized for clients. The special custom URL tracker and influencer collab ability help creators collaborate with brands and track their audience for more engagement effectively; in contrast, Buffer does not have an influencer or URL tracker feature.
Pricing and Plans
While Buffer pricing might appear more affordable, Sprout Social does justice with its advanced features and tools. The minimum cost of Sprout Social is $99/month, and that of Buffer is $60/month, but the feature offered by Sprout is more valuable for marketers than Buffer. Like Sprout, which provides a collaborative feature for influencers, teams, and clients, these details make Sprout Social a better option than Buffer.
Overall Verdict:
In our view, Sprout Social is a better social media tool for creators than Buffer. It has features designed specifically for their needs and helps them monitor their audience’s interests. Despite the higher cost, Sprout Social’s extensive features have a greater value, making it the better choice for social media management processes.
Best Buffer Competitor Platform for:
Creators, Agencies, Social Media Managers, and Growing Businesses.
Star Rating:
4.5 on G2 & 4.4 on Capterra
Apps:
Android and iOS Mobile App and Web Version.
Social Media Channels Supported:
Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), YouTube, Pinterest, and TikTok.
Key Features:
- Link in Bio Integration
- Visual Content Calendar
- AI-Powered Captions
- Hashtag Suggestions
- Instagram Story Scheduling
- Link In Bio
- Media Library
- Team and Client Collaboration
- Centralized Dashboard
- Content Management Hub
- Unified Social Inbox
- Comprehensive Analytics
Pros
- Later, it allows users to reschedule content directly from the visual calendar by dragging and dropping it.
- Later has a quick, affordable pricing compared to some social media tools.
- Later has a unique feature of tracking Link-in-bio, which helps users place a customized link in their social media bio and track traffic and clicks.
Casey G.
I like the full calendar view of your week’s worth of content. I also find the analytics page very helpful for my monthly overview of content performance.
Cons
- Later’s analytical data is often inaccurate compared to the actual data and is limited to just a few cs.
- It does not have the third-party integrations necessary for marketers to have a smooth workflow.
- When videos are shared with incorrect sizes through Later, the dimensions are disrupted if you do not manually resize them to the correct size.
Julianna O.
I really dislike when Later tells me a video I’m posting is too long, or the dimensions aren’t right and when I try to edit the content in Later, it doesn’t update. I then have to manually send myself the content, edit it on my phone, and post it manually. It is very time consuming and seems glitchy.
Our Experience:
Later is the next tool in our list to find one of the suitable Buffer alternatives. Its exceptional features make it a better choice for creators and entrepreneurs. Here is a detailed breakdown of our experience with Later:
Visual Content Planner, Scheduling, and Analytics
Later’s standout feature, the visual content calendar, makes it a good choice for social media planning and social media scheduling tools. You only need to drag and drop the scheduled post to another date and time on the calendar to reschedule. Later, it provides a rather clear overview of scheduled content compared to Buffer, which has less intuitive and appealing post-planning abilities. The media and content library is a vital feature that helps store and organize content and assets safely for reuse in the future. Later also offers a special feature, such as a customizable link in the bio added to the social profile for driving and tracking traffic, a unique functionality missing in Buffer.
Later, I also shared detailed insights on the scheduled content when published, using robust analytics and reporting features. This gives a deeper understanding of our social media situation and what our audience likes. Buffer does not have detailed metrics on Instagram engagement and hashtag performance, which makes Later unique.
Workflow Management
For team collaboration and smooth workflow, Later offers advanced tools and approval workflow features. It helps teams create content and plan together with any confusion and delay. Similarly, Buffer has collaborative abilities but lacks task assignment and feedback workflow, whereas Later collaborative features are particularly beneficial for large teams and multi-locational brands.
Pricing and Cost-effectiveness
While price comparison might emerge as an affordable tool, later, Buffer offers more value and cost-effectiveness. It has visual content planning, detailed analytics, and superior collaboration tools, and the pricing starts at $49/month, making Later a more cost-effective solution.
Overall Verdict:
Later is a social media management tool popular as a content management hub for creators and freelancers. It also stands out as one of the Buffer app alternatives for its unique features, keeping its users’ needs in mind. Overall, Later has some advanced functionalities with a better deal of pricing than Buffer.
Best Buffer Alternative Platform for:
Professionals, Marketers, and Large Enterprises.
Star Rating:
4 on G2 & 4.4 on Capterra
Apps:
Android and iOS Mobile App and Web Version.
Social Media Networks Supported:
Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), YouTube, Threads, Pinterest, Google Business Profile, and TikTok.
Key Features:
- Core cs Tracker
- Scheduling and Publishing
- Real-time Team Collaboration
- AI Content Creation
- Social Media Calendar
- Advanced Social Listening
- UCG and Influencer Management
- In-depth Analytics Capabilities
- Paid Social Media Ads Management
Pros
- Hootsuite allows users easy access to monitor the KPI and cs to understand their social media performance.
- The content calendar in Hootsuite provides users with a centralized space to visualize their upcoming social media strategy.
Verified User
Hootsuite provide many features in one app.Dashboard, analytics, scheduling capabilities,analytics, monitoring, etc. The app has a user friendly interface as well.
Cons
- It is hard to unsee the hefty price offered by the marketing features.
- The feature-rich dashboard of the platform has a steep learning curve for beginner-level users.
- It does not deliver value for money and charges exaggerated prices, making the tool unaffordable for SMBs and agencies.
- Considering the dashboard’s complexity, users often need to contact customer support, which is not always available and responsive.
Verified User
This is outrageous! Hootsuite is charging us an exorbitant amount – over $1,000 a month – for a service that barely meets our needs. We did our research and found several much more affordable options with way more integrations – features Hootsuite doesn’t even offer, like GBP integration & many more!
Our Experience:
In our exploration of finding a suitable Buffer competitor, we reviewed Hootsuite, a potential tool that is good for enterprises and big brands for their social media management processes.
Social Media Management
Hootsuite is a great tool if you are looking for management functionalities. It has extensive scheduling and publishing abilities across multiple social networks simultaneously. In contrast, Buffer lacks advanced scheduling options like bulk scheduling and social listening features offered by Hootsuite. It allows you to schedule unlimited social media posts and manage many social profiles and clients smoothly, which is particularly beneficial for larger teams and enterprises.
Social Listening and Engagement Tools
One of Hootsuite’s standout features is its listening abilities, allowing users to monitor brand mentions and provide competitor insights. This makes Hootsuite a better tool than Buffer, which does not offer such insights. These features enhance brand engagement and help maintain a strong online social media presence. Unlike Buffer, Hootsuite also offers the ability to respond directly from a single dashboard with the custom stream to further enhance interactions with the audience.
Pricing and Value
Hootsuite offers multiple pricing plans based on the user’s specific needs. The plans might be higher than Buffer; still, they can benefit enterprises looking for features like white labels and competitor analysis. The starter plan of Hootsuite is $249/month for 3 users and 10 social accounts.
Overall Verdict:
Even though Hootsuite is not for those looking for affordable options, it does have some impressive features that Buffer does not offer. Hootsuite offers a 30-day free trial for every plan, which helps users first try the feature and make an informed decision.
Best Buffer Alternative Tool for:
Freelancers, Mid-sized Businesses, Mid-sized Agencies, and some Enterprise Brands.
Star Rating:
4.5 on G2 & 4.6 on Capterra
Apps:
Android and iOS Mobile App and Web Version.
Major Social Media Platforms Supported:
Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), YouTube, Pinterest, Google Business Profile, and TikTok.
Key Features:
- Simplified Content Scheduling
- Smooth Workflows and Approval Process
- Ad Performance Insights
- Priority Inbox
- White Label Dashboard
- Analytics and Reporting
- Smart Compose Box
- Team and Client Collaboration
- Shareable Social Media Calendar
- RSS Feeds Automation
Pros
- Sendible offers a comprehensive social media listening feature to help marketers manage and enhance their social media engagement.
- Its shareable calendar makes it easier to plan and track content strategy collaboratively.
- Collaboration workflow makes it easier for agency marketers to work with multiple clients.
Lolla L.
My favorite thing about sendible is the ability to schedule in advance for multiple platforms, posting constantly every day is a hassle but when you can sit down and schedule it in advance it makes things so much easier
Cons
- For the users with the basic plan, Sendible does not have optimum features for effective social media management.
- The mobile version of Sendible does not support all the advanced features of the web version.
- The reporting and analytics capabilities are minimal and may be enhanced.
Charles K D.
It doesn’t auto-rotate evergreen content. It doesn’t highlight posts with high engagement rates that can be reposted. It doesn’t have a way to integrate with other software.
Our Experience:
In our search for good Buffer app alternatives, we found Sendible. This can be one of the comprehensive social media tools for those looking to switch from Buffer because of its lack of features.
Social Media Scheduling and Content Calendar
Sendible is known for its calendar and management capabilities for effective planning and efficient scheduling. It also has a bulk-scheduling feature, allowing users to schedule multiple posts on multiple platforms simultaneously. Sendible’s content calendar is clear and organized, which can help users schedule multiple posts and visualize them manageably. In contrast, Buffer has only a few scheduling options and advanced options are missing, particularly bulk scheduling, which is a vital need for today’s marketers.
Client Management and Social Listening
Sendible has a comprehensive CRM integration that makes it an excellent client management tool, which Buffer lacks. This integration helps users seamlessly interact with their clients and speeds up the approval and feedback process. Furthermore, you can collaborate with team members and assign tasks for scheduling, editing, and managing content.
Additionally, Sendible has a social listening feature that helps manage social interactions, mentions, comments, DMs, etc. It also has a unified social inbox that automatically replies to repetition queries. This is similar to Buffer’s social networking package but is more basic than advanced, making Sendible a better option for marketers.
Furthermore, Sendible has unique features that benefit users, such as RSS feed automation and content suggestions, which help users discover and share relevant content without manual work. Overall, this can make the job of social media marketers a lot easier in their hectic lives when coming up with fresh campaigns and planning them.
Price Comparison
In price comparison, it might look like Buffer is a better deal; despite being a little costlier, Sendible is a better choice as a management tool. It costs $89/month, which includes 25 social media profiles, and Buffer costs $60/month for 10 social accounts. Sebdible gives more features and benefits than Buffer.
Overall Verdict:
This proves that Sendible can be a strong Buffer competitor with powerful features like client management, advanced scheduling, comprehensive social listening and inbox, and automated scheduling and publishing. The stack of features is versatile and completes any social media needs.
Best Buffer Alternative Software for:
Marketing Agencies, Individuals, and Small and Medium Businesses.
Star Rating:
4.3 on G2
Apps:
Android and iOS Mobile App and Web Version.
Social Media Channels Supported:
Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.
Key Features:
- Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram Scheduler
- Content Calendar
- Hashtag Suggestions
- Tailwind Communities “Tribe”
- Personalized Content
- SmartLoop Content Recycling
- Mockups and Previews
- Insightful Analysis
- Smart.Bio
Pros
- It can bulk-schedule Instagram and Pinterest posts in just a few clicks.
- Tailwind has a Hashtag monitoring capability that helps marketers.
- With Smart.bio, you can create customizable clickable licks and place them in your profile bio.
Verified User in Consumer Services.
The best feature of Tailwind was the ability to batch schedule Pins to Pinterest. Additionally, the SmartSchedule feature was helpful to an extent. Their marketing materials around Pinterest were also useful when Pinterest was more popular for my business niche.
Cons
- Tailwind is only available for Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook.
- It is a time-consuming tool as loading is quite slow.
- It does not have accurate analytical and reporting data.
- Tailwind can’t be used to schedule posts for other social media accounts like LinkedIn and Twitter.
Kate B.
It could be due to the API, but its Pinterest analytics are fairly limited, so I tend not to use these.
Our Experience:
As we dived deeper into the search for good Buffer app alternatives, we came across Tailwind. A tool suitable for individuals and freelancers needing only Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest management tools.
Content Scheduling and Calendar
If you are extensively looking for Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest scheduling, Tailwind is a game-changer. Unlike Buffer, Tailwind allows you to bulk schedule content on multiple platforms in just a few clicks and streamline your content planning. Its intuitive content calendar gathers all content planned or scheduled and brings it together under one roof for effective visualization of the posting schedule, which Buffer lacks. Not just that, Tailwind also provides users with hashtag suggestions that support effective planning and even tracking performance for better social media presence and engagement.
Community Management, Smart.Bio and Analytics
Tailwind has a unique feature, “Tribe,” designed for community management. This feature fosters collaboration and content sharing between brands and audiences, which is missing in Buffer. This community-driven approach makes Tailwind a better app than Buffer and Smart.Bio allows users to customize clickable links and add them to their profile bio, such as on Instagram. This feature is somewhat similar to Buffer’s link-in-bio feature.
Tailwind also has features like SmartLoop, designed for content recycling and hashtag monitoring. These features set it apart from other Buffer alternatives and enhance the experience of any social media enthusiast for tracking and planning content.
Pricing Comparison
In comparison to Buffer, Tailwind has extremely low pricing plans. It has different plans, including a lifetime free plan with some main features to help facilitate effective social media management. The starter-paid plan costs $25/month for 1 account on each of the 3 platforms and 1 user.
Overall Verdict:
Overall, in our experience, Tailwind is a great tool for new users of social media management platforms. It has all the basics, a few advanced features, and unique features like Smart.Bio and SmartLopop make it special and streamline the effective management of content and schedule without much manual effort.
Best Buffer Alternative Software for:
Marketing Agencies, Individuals, and Small and Medium Businesses.
Star Rating:
4.4 on G2 & 4.4 on Capterra
Apps:
Android and iOS Mobile App and Web Version.
Social Media Platforms Supported:
Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), YouTube, Pinterest, Google Business Profile, and TikTok.
Key Features:
- Marketing Tools Integration
- Social and Content Calendar
- Hire Mia AI Assistant
- Team Collaboration
- Bulk Scheduling
- ReQueue Feature Automates Rescheduling
- Analytics and Reporting
- Centralized Content Scheduling
Pros
- The color coding feature on the marketing calendar makes task visualization effortless.
- CoScehdule helps users with its comprehensive task management and seamless team collaboration feature.
- One content calendar to schedule posts on multiple networks.
Dara W.
While it is cost-effective, it is a bit off-putting to have to pay more to download a calendar. I I would love to see multi-date projects or marketing campaigns to be more visible for the date range. It is usually easier to see the time-lapse of the project by clicking it.
Cons
- It is difficult to share the editorial calendar with the rest of the team. It isn’t even available in a print-friendly version.
- It is costly compared to other content calendar alternatives.
- The big learning curve for an already established team can make adoption difficult.
Verified CoSchedule User.
The best part about this tool is the ability to see my social media plan month-by-month. The calendar overview is very descriptive. It’s easy to take in a lot of information at once.
Our Experience:
The next tool we explored in search of potential Buffer app alternatives was CoSchedule. We used and experienced its primary and secondary features like calendar, team collaboration, and management, and here is our breakdown of its abilities:
Unified Marketing Calendar
CoSchedule is dedicated to its marketing calendar, content planning, and management. Unlike Buffer, it focuses on social media scheduling abilities. CoSchedule calendar gives a unified view and can be used to schedule blogs, emails, events, and campaigns.
You can simply drag and drop any scheduled post to another date and time to reschedule. It helps visualize the entire schedule clearly and ensures nothing slips through the cracks. Buffer may have a clear and comprehensive social media calendar for planning, but scheduling abilities through the calendar interface are lacking.
Comprehensive Team Collaboration
CoSchedule has proven its worth by designing a seamless collaboration tool for internal and external communication and management. It offers discussion threads, task assignments, and approval functions for team collaboration and approval and feedback workflow for client collaboration. Each project has a detailed task list, attachments, and comments for team collaboration to ensure clear communication.
Buffer lacks this level of seamless collaboration as it does not have project integration and approval workflow abilities. You can not assign tasks and track progress within the same collaboration in Buffer, which is something that CoSchedule promotes productivity and timely execution.
Social Media Management
With CoSchedule, you can schedule posts on multiple social media platforms like Buffer. However, CoSchedule is a step further with features like campaign management, ReQueueand, and a social message optimizer. These features help enhance post timing and social media engagement. CoSchedule also has an AI Assistant, namely “Mia,” to save you time.
Pricing Comparison
The starting paid plan that CoSchedule has is $29/month for a social calendar for 3 users and 5 social profiles. CoSchedule charges $49/month for agencies’ calendars, which contain collaborative abilities. Buffer costs nearly $99 for the same abilities, making it a difficult choice for users who need a more pocket-friendly option.
Overall Verdict:
If you are a team or a business, CoSchedule is a good option to manage your social media effectively. Its comprehensive features and robust management capabilities are suited for organizations needing an affordable management tool. Unlike Buffer, CoScheudle has taken a holistic approach to amplify your social media efforts beyond just social media scheduling.
Best Buffer Competitor Tool for:
Small Businesses, Marketing Agencies, Retail, Large Enterprises, and E-commerce
Star Rating:
4.5 on G2 & 4.6 on Capterra
Apps:
Android and iOS Mobile App and Web Version.
Social Media Software Supported:
Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), YouTube, Google Business Profile, and TikTok.
Key Features:
- Direct Publishing Tool
- Social Media Bulk-Scheduling
- Content Calendar
- Team Collaboration
- Social Listening Capability
- Smart AI Image and Content Assistant
- PulseLink in Bio
- Unified Social Inbox
- Social Media ROI Tracker
- Detailed Analytics & Reporting
Pros
- It has effective team collaboration features that reduce communication time and speed up the workflow.
- Agorapulse is trusted for its social media management and responsive customer care support by many users.
Sandra H.
Agorapulse is incredibly intuitive and user-friendly, making it easy for me to schedule posts, engage with our audience, and track performance across multiple platforms. The reporting features are also robust, providing valuable insights.
Cons
- Agorapulse does not allow Instagram Story scheduling.
- It has a complex interface comparatively, which consumes a lot of time learning.
- Many users have faced the issue of the Agorapulse web version crashing due to occasional bugs and glitches.
- The mobile version of Agorapulse is not as intuitive as its web version and lacks several features.
Verified User in Computer Games
I dislike that Agorapulse regularly fails to publish scheduled social media posts. I dislike that Agorapulse regularly loses connection with our multiple social media accounts. I dislike that Agorapulse cripples its features, like Listening to the point of making it useless, then has the audacity to try and upsell me an even more premium account just to make it functional.
Our Experience:
Because of its management abilities, Agorapulsecan be one of the Buffer alternatives. Its unique features make it mainly suitable for e-commerce and retail brands.
Social Inbox, Listening, and Engagement
Agorapulse has a unified social inbox that seamlessly gathers interactions, responses, and reviews from all social channels. The social listening features monitor and track keywords and automate responses to enhance engagement. Buffer is critically limited in terms of its engagement advancements. It does not offer user listening or automated engagement options, which makes Agorapulse stay at the top for its engagement abilities.
Publishing, Scheduling, and Analytics
For planning and scheduling, Agorapulse has dedicated features like an intuitive calendar and bulk scheduling options that make planning and post-management simple across multiple social networks. Agorapulse not only provides a single post preview but also gives Instagram grip view to help understand the aesthetic of content on the feed.
Unlike Buffer, Agorapulse also provides insights on hashtag performance and groups them for future repurposing. Hence, it streamlines your social media strategy and ensures a consistent flow of content. Its robust analytics and reporting features provide detailed insights into social media performance. You can customize white-label reports for sharing with clients and track ROI to understand engagement and audience growth, which is far more advanced than Buffer.
Additionally, Agorapulse has seamless CMR integration for effective client management, content labeling for post-categorization and performance analyses, and team collaboration for robust collaboration features, which is limited in Buffer.
Pricing and Value
The price plans of Agorapulse and Buffer are not very different, but Agorapulse surely provides an impressive stack of features. It has 4 different plans, each with a 15-day free trial; the starting paid plan comes at $69/per month. It also has an all-time free plan for 1 user and 3 social profiles.
Overall Verdict:
Agorapulse is one of the superior Buffer alternatives. It is well-suited for large teams, brands, and enterprises. With advantageous features like social inbox, publishing, and analytics, Agorapulse is significantly more valuable than Buffer and has much lower pricing.
Best Buffer Alternative Tool for:
Individuals, Small Businesses, Content Marketers, and Marketing Agencies
Star Rating:
4.6 on G2 & 4.7 on Capterra
Apps:
Android and iOS Mobile App and Web Version.
Social Media Channels Supported:
Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), YouTube, Threads, Pinterest, and TikTok.
Key Features:
- Social Media Bulk Scheduling
- In-depth Competitor Analysis
- Unifies Social Inbox
- Content Discovery
- Influencer Discovery
- Team Collaboration
- AI Content Curation Assistant
- Approval Workflow
- Robust Analytics and Reporting
- Visual Social Media Calendar
Pros
- The content discovery and curation feature of the ContentStudio is decent.
- The interface is sleek and easy to use and helps boost productivity.
- Supports content management across multiple social media channels.
Rogelyn T.
What I like most about Content Studio is that it makes my life easier. Before, it took a lot of time to manage different social media accounts for my clients. Now, it’s faster than I expected.
Cons
- A complex interface makes initial learning for new users steep and time-consuming.
- When you upgrade, new features are locked behind paywalls and upsells.
- Content curation results are not always as satisfying as other social media tools.
- Customer support is not always instantly responsive.
Alisanne S.
Their support is now dreadful and has gotten worse over time. It is a damn shame. A week or two can go by with several emails to them, and all we hear are crickets. There is no response sometimes until the third or fourth email. This is terribly unprofessional and is horrible for our agency and clients.
Our Experience:
The last tool in our list of Buffer alternatives is ContentStudio. A feature-rich management tool that is most suited for individuals and content marketers. In our experience, we found the following capabilities of ContentStuio impressive:
Content Management, Discovery, and Curation
We found that effective content planning means a great deal to ContentStudio. It has several dedicated features to help marketers plan, prepare, and execute their content correctly. ContntStudio has advanced content discovery curation and scheduling features. It helps you discover game-changing content that is most liked and trending, which is missing in Buffer. Similarly, with AI Assistant, ContentStudio helps with content curation, ideas, and hashtag generation, which is necessary to speed up planning and boost productivity.
A visual content calendar ensures a unified representation of the schedule, offering a more interactive and detailed planning interface, which is rather basic in Buffer. The ContentStudio calendar is also multi-view, allowing you to view and organize your content with filters and flexibility. Bulk scheduling helps publish multiple posts on multiple platforms all at once, another feature that is lacking in Buffer. Additionally, ContentStudio allows you to customize publishing queues for the best time to post and share content smartly.
Collaboration, Engagement, and Advancements
ContentStudio brings team members together with team collaboration to work on the same projects and speeds up their workflow. It supports task assignments, tagging, and live commenting and enhances team productivity and approval workflow management, whereas Buffer does not provide dedicated features to reduce the chances of error.
With a unified social inbox, ContentStudio collects all messages in one place for faster engagement and responds to the audience’s queries. It also has an AI toolkit that automates repetitive tasks, including content automation, which saves time, another feature missing in Buffer.
Pricing Comparison
ContentStudio has 3 paid plans and a 14-day free trial for each. The starting paid plan is $25/month for 3 social accounts and 1 user with limited features and functionalities. Whereas for the same features, Buffer costs double, making it less attractive for brands looking for affordable options to manage their social media.
Overall Verdict:
ContentStudio is a great option and one of the alternatives to Buffer when it comes to effective automation and advanced scheduling and publishing options. It can be good for marketers and businesses because of its management capabilities as a low-cost solution.
Summing Up
The automation tool you decide to use should support your implementation process from beginning to end to execute your social media marketing as seamlessly and cohesively as possible.
Buffer is one of the popular social media automation tools for this venture. Still, other available platforms go beyond what Buffer does at a competitive price.
Find out why SocialPilot will best suit your business needs from most Buffer alternatives listed above by taking up its free trial.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Buffer app free?
Yes, Buffer has a free plan with minimal features. Instead, you can use a social media tool like SocialPilot and take advantage of all functionalities at an affordable plan.
How expensive is Buffer?
Buffer offers 2 plans at varied price range:
- Essential plan is $5 per month per social channel
- Teams plan is $10 per month per social channel
What does the Buffer app do?
Buffer app is a social media automation tool that lets you schedule posts for various social media posts. You can also analyze the performance of each post.
Is Buffer the best tool?
Buffer may not be the best social media management tool. But over 75,000+ businesses use this tool. So, you cannot simply ignore it. It may not be the best fit for someone looking for an all-in-one tool that covers the whole nine yards of social media management. There are various similar tools in the market like SocialPilot that are available at an extremely affordable price.
What are the best Buffer alternatives?
Some of the best Buffer alternatives are:
- SocialPilot
- SocialBee
- Loomly
- Zoho Social
- Sprout Social
- Later
- Hootsuite
- Sendible
- Tailwind
- CoSchedule
- Agorapulse
- ContentStudio
Is SocialPilot better than Buffer?
It depends on what your requirements are. If you are a growing agency looking for a social tool that manages everything without eating away your profit margins, then SocialPilot is better than Buffer.
In addition to organic posts management, SocialPilot also provides Facebook Boost Post and Lead Ads management, which is missing in Buffer. SocialPilot also offers technical support to its clients 5 days a week.