A comprehensive, feature-by-feature comparison of Buffer and Sprout Social to help you choose the best social media management tool in 2026.
Buffer leads in 1 categories while Sprout Social leads in 7, with 4 ties. Both are capable tools, but for the best value with AI-powered features and a free plan, consider Planify as a modern alternative to both.
See how Buffer and Sprout Social stack up across 12 key features
| Feature | Buffer | Sprout Social |
|---|---|---|
| AI-Powered Scheduling | Better | |
| AI Content Assistant | ||
| Analytics & Reporting | ||
| Team Collaboration | ||
| Bulk Scheduling | Better | |
| RSS Feed Automation | Better | |
| Content Calendar | ||
| Link in Bio | Better | |
| Social Inbox | Better | |
| Custom Reporting | Better | |
| Hashtag Suggestions | Better | |
| Media Library | Better |
The biggest differences between Buffer and Sprout Social that will affect your decision
Buffer offers link in bio while Sprout Social does not. This gives Buffer an edge for users who need this capability.
Sprout Social offers ai-powered scheduling while Buffer does not. This gives Sprout Social an edge for users who need this capability.
Sprout Social offers bulk scheduling while Buffer does not. This gives Sprout Social an edge for users who need this capability.
Sprout Social offers rss feed automation while Buffer does not. This gives Sprout Social an edge for users who need this capability.
Buffer starts at $6/channel/mo vs Sprout Social at $249/mo
Starting at $6/channel/moFree plan available
Starting at $249/mo30-day free trial
Here's our recommendation based on your needs
Common questions about Buffer vs Sprout Social
Both tools are beginner-friendly. Buffer has a simpler interface but fewer features. Planify offers more features in its free tier including AI-powered scheduling and analytics, making it better value for beginners who want to grow.
Yes! Simply connect your social accounts to Planify and start scheduling. Your existing Buffer posts remain unaffected, so you can run both side-by-side during your transition.
Sprout Social targets enterprise clients with social listening, CRM, and advanced reporting. At $249/mo minimum, it's designed for companies with large social media teams. Planify offers core scheduling and analytics features for $19/mo.
For scheduling, analytics, and content management — yes. Planify lacks social listening and CRM features, but for 90% of social media management tasks, it delivers comparable value at a fraction of the cost.
It depends on your needs. Buffer is best for solo creators who need simple scheduling for 1-3 accounts, while Sprout Social is best for large enterprises and agencies with big budgets needing advanced social crm. We recommend trying Planify as an alternative that combines the best of both with AI-powered features and a free plan.
Yes, switching between social media management tools is straightforward. Simply connect your social accounts to the new platform and start scheduling. Your existing posts on the old platform remain unaffected during the transition.
Learn more about Buffer and Sprout Social
Planify combines the best of both worlds with AI-powered scheduling, a generous free plan, and support for 7+ platforms including Bluesky and Threads.