PPluckly
Comparison

Hootsuite vs Buffer

Side-by-side comparison of Hootsuite and Buffer.

Tool
Hootsuite

Schedule and monitor social media from one dashboard

Buffer

Schedule social posts across every major platform

Starting price
99/mo
5/mo
Founded
2010
Pricing model
subscription
freemium
Free option
Paid only
Free tier

What they are

Hootsuite

Hootsuite is a social media management platform that lets creators and marketing teams schedule posts, monitor mentions, and review performance across multiple networks in one place. It supports platforms including Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook, X, and Pinterest. The tool is well-suited for teams managing several accounts simultaneously, though solo creators may find the price hard to justify compared to lighter alternatives.

Buffer

Buffer is a social media scheduling tool that lets creators and small teams queue posts for Instagram, X, LinkedIn, Facebook, TikTok, and more from a single dashboard. It suits solo creators, freelancers, and small businesses who want a straightforward publishing workflow without a steep learning curve. The analytics cover the basics but stop short of the depth that larger teams or agencies typically need.

Choose
Hootsuite

if you need scheduling and analytics. Starts at 99/mo.

  • +Supports a wide range of social networks in one interface
  • +Bulk scheduling saves significant time for high-volume publishers
  • +Team collaboration and approval workflows built in
Choose
Buffer

if you need scheduling. It has a usable free tier to start with.

  • +Free plan supports 3 channels with 10 scheduled posts each
  • +Clean, minimal interface with a short onboarding curve
  • +Paid plans start at $5 per channel/month (when billed annually)

Which to choose

Hootsuite and Buffer both cover scheduling, so this is a real either-or for some teams. The right pick depends on which one's wider feature set and pricing fit how you work.

Read the full reviews for Hootsuite and Buffer.

Pricing checked 3 Jun 2026.