Buffer vs Sprout Social
Buffer and Sprout Social are both social media management tools. Buffer is aimed at creators and small businesses, while Sprout Social is aimed at enterprise and agencies. Buffer costs less, from $6/mo versus $99/mo for Sprout Social. Only Buffer has a free plan.
Simple social scheduling with a free plan
Enterprise social management and listening
| Pricing | Freemium · $6 | Paid · $99 |
| Starting price | $6/mo | $99/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Free trial | 14 days | 30 days |
| Built for | Creators, Small businesses | Enterprise, Agencies |
| Platforms | web, ios, android | web, ios, android |
| Country | US · 2010 | US · 2010 |
| 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 Sprout Social if
Mid-market and enterprise teams where social is a key channel.
- Best-in-class reporting
- Excellent inbox for social care
- Enterprise governance
Look elsewhere if: Small businesses and solo creators.
Buffer vs Sprout Social 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
Sprout Social
- Essentials$99/seat/mo5 profiles; $79/seat/mo billed annually
- Standard$249/seat/mo5 profiles; $199/seat/mo billed annually
- Professional$399/seat/moUnlimited profiles; $299/seat/mo billed annually
- Advanced$499/seat/moUnlimited profiles; $399/seat/mo billed annually
- EnterpriseCustomTailored plan
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
Sprout Social · Key features
- Smart inbox with tagging and routing
- Publishing with approvals and calendar
- Advanced analytics and presentation-ready reports
- Social listening and sentiment
- Employee advocacy and influencer marketing
- CRM and help desk integrations
Cons
- Expensive per seat
- Listening is an add-on
- Overkill for small teams
Buffer vs Sprout Social: FAQ
Which is cheaper, Buffer or Sprout Social?
Buffer starts at $6/mo and Sprout Social at $99/mo. Both prices are checked on the vendors' own pricing pages.
Do Buffer and Sprout Social have a free plan?
Buffer has a free plan. Sprout Social has no free plan, a 30-day free trial.
Which is better for small businesses, Buffer or Sprout Social?
Buffer lists small businesses as a core audience, while Sprout Social is aimed more at enterprise and agencies.