Buffer vs Hootsuite
Buffer and Hootsuite are both social media management tools. Buffer is aimed at creators and small businesses, while Hootsuite is aimed at enterprise and agencies. Buffer costs less, from $6/mo versus $99/mo for Hootsuite. Only Buffer has a free plan.
| Pricing | Freemium · $6 | Paid · $99 |
| Starting price | $6/mo | $99/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Free trial | 14 days | 14 days |
| Built for | Creators, Small businesses | Enterprise, Agencies |
| Platforms | web, ios, android | web, ios, android |
| Country | US · 2010 | CA · 2008 |
| Rating | — | — |
Choose Buffer if
Individuals, creators and small businesses with a handful of channels.
- Simplest scheduler to learn
- Broad network coverage
- Transparent company and clear pricing
Look elsewhere if: Agencies and enterprises needing listening, approvals at scale and deep reporting.
Choose Hootsuite if
Mid-market and enterprise social teams.
- Broad feature set for enterprises
- Listening and advocacy options
- Approvals and team workflows
Look elsewhere if: Individuals and small businesses (Buffer, Publer).
Buffer vs Hootsuite pricing
Buffer
- Free$0Up to 3 channels, 10 scheduled posts per channel, 1 user
- Essentials$6/channel/mo$5/mo billed yearly; unlimited posts, 1 user
- Team$12/channel/mo$10/mo billed yearly; unlimited team members
Hootsuite
- Standard$99/user/moBilled annually; up to 10 social accounts
- Professional$199/user/moBilled annually; unlimited accounts, automation
- Advanced$399/user/moBilled annually; approvals, message routing
- EnterpriseCustomSSO, custom compliance
Buffer · Key features
- Queue-based scheduling with per-network customization
- Support for 10+ networks including Threads, Bluesky, Mastodon
- AI Assistant for drafts, rewrites and repurposing
- Analytics with best-time recommendations and reports
- Engagement inbox for comments
- Start Page link-in-bio and Canva integration
Cons
- Per-channel pricing adds up for agencies
- No social listening
- Inbox lacks DMs on several networks
Hootsuite · Key features
- Scheduling and content calendar across networks
- Unified inbox with assignments
- Analytics and competitive benchmarking
- Social listening (Talkwalker)
- Employee advocacy
- OwlyWriter AI content generation
Cons
- Expensive per user
- No free plan
- UI feels heavier than newer tools
Buffer vs Hootsuite: FAQ
Which is cheaper, Buffer or Hootsuite?
Buffer starts at $6/mo and Hootsuite at $99/mo. Both prices are checked on the vendors' own pricing pages.
Do Buffer and Hootsuite have a free plan?
Buffer has a free plan. Hootsuite has no free plan, a 14-day free trial.
Which is better for small businesses, Buffer or Hootsuite?
Buffer lists small businesses as a core audience, while Hootsuite is aimed more at enterprise and agencies.