Buffer is a lightweight, affordable social media scheduler starting at $5/month with simplicity as its core strength, while Sprout Social is an enterprise-grade platform starting at $249/month that emphasizes advanced analytics, team collaboration, and customer engagement across multiple channels. Buffer dominates for solo creators and small teams; Sprout Social wins for mid-market and enterprise companies needing comprehensive social listening and CRM features.
Buffer vs Sprout Social — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Market-leading social media scheduling platform with 19+ years of proven reliability.
AI-powered social media management platform with advanced analytics and publishing capabilities.
Starting Price (Monthly). Supported Social Platforms. Team Members (Free Plan). Advanced Analytics & Reporting. Social Listening Capabilities. Content Calendar (Posts Per Month Limit). Customer Support Tier
Choose Buffer if you're a solo creator, small business, or startup needing a simple, affordable scheduling tool without unnecessary complexity—its $5 entry point and intuitive interface make it ideal for teams managing 1-3 social accounts. Choose Sprout Social if you're a mid-market or enterprise company requiring sophisticated analytics, social listening, team collaboration across 10+ users, and customer engagement workflows that justify the $249+ investment.
Buffer: Standard performance metrics | Sprout Social: N/A
Buffer: 8 major platforms | Sprout Social: N/A
Buffer: Up to 100 posts | Sprout Social: N/A
Buffer: Good scheduling and monitoring | Sprout Social: N/A
Buffer: Caption generation, content ideas, best time posting | Sprout Social: N/A
Buffer: Up to 3 members | Sprout Social: N/A
Buffer: Calendar, list, and grid views | Sprout Social: N/A
Buffer: Unlimited (Pro plan $99/month) | Sprout Social: N/A
Buffer: Not available | Sprout Social: N/A
Buffer: Yes, full support | Sprout Social: N/A
Buffer: 9 platforms | Sprout Social: 7+ platforms
Buffer: 4 users | Sprout Social: 25+ users
Buffer: Basic reporting (engagement, reach, followers) | Sprout Social: Advanced with custom dashboards, sentiment analysis, competitor benchmarking
Social Listening / Competitor Monitoring
Buffer: Not available | Sprout Social: Full suite with keyword tracking and sentiment analysis
Buffer: Email support (basic plans); limited to 8am-5pm EST | Sprout Social: 24/7 phone, email, chat + dedicated account manager (Standard+)
Content Calendar Capacity (Posts Per Month)
Buffer: Unlimited | Sprout Social: Unlimited
Buffer: 6 platforms | Sprout Social: N/A
Buffer: No, via third-party only | Sprout Social: N/A
Buffer: Advanced with competitor benchmarking | Sprout Social: N/A
Buffer: 14 days full access | Sprout Social: 30 days
Buffer: 1 user (Teams plan supports unlimited) | Sprout Social: N/A
Buffer: No free plan | Sprout Social: No
Buffer: Yes (engagement, reach, clicks) | Sprout Social: N/A
Buffer: Yes (included in paid plans) | Sprout Social: N/A
Buffer: Limited (scheduling video only) | Sprout Social: N/A
Buffer: 2 team members | Sprout Social: N/A
Buffer: 14 days | Sprout Social: 30 days
Buffer: 30+ integrations | Sprout Social: N/A
Scheduled Posts per Month (Professional Plan)
Buffer: iOS and Android | Sprout Social: N/A
Buffer: $15/month | Sprout Social: $249/month
Buffer: Unlimited posts | Sprout Social: N/A
Buffer: Yes (native feed + Reels) | Sprout Social: N/A
Buffer: Yes (native) | Sprout Social: N/A
Buffer: Yes (Canva native) | Sprout Social: N/A
Buffer: Unlimited team members | Sprout Social: N/A
Buffer: 8 platforms | Sprout Social: N/A
Buffer: Not included | Sprout Social: N/A
Buffer: 1-2 team members | Sprout Social: N/A
Buffer: Very low (beginner-friendly) | Sprout Social: N/A
Buffer: Basic competitor tracking | Sprout Social: N/A
Buffer: 1 level (basic) | Sprout Social: Multi-level customizable
Buffer: 2 users | Sprout Social: 5 users
Monthly Post Scheduling Limit (Entry Plan)
Buffer: 100 posts | Sprout Social: Unlimited posts
Buffer: 9 platforms | Sprout Social: 10+ platforms
Buffer: Not included | Sprout Social: Included (all plans)
Social Channels (Starter/Essentials Plan)
Buffer: 1 team member | Sprout Social: N/A
Buffer: Add-on purchase required | Sprout Social: N/A
Buffer: 19+ million | Sprout Social: N/A
Buffer: 16 years (since 2010) | Sprout Social: N/A
Buffer: Unlimited months | Sprout Social: N/A
Buffer: N/A | Sprout Social: 1 team member
Buffer: N/A | Sprout Social: Yes (all plans)
Buffer: N/A | Sprout Social: Grid-based calendar view
Buffer: N/A | Sprout Social: Feed posting only
Buffer: N/A | Sprout Social: Up to 20% discount
Social Listening Keywords (Standard Plan)
Buffer: N/A | Sprout Social: Advanced (predictive)
Buffer: N/A | Sprout Social: Table-based customizable
Buffer: N/A | Sprout Social: Advanced with attribution (20+ metric types)
Buffer: N/A | Sprout Social: All 12+ platforms
Buffer: N/A | Sprout Social: Advanced role-based with custom rules
Buffer: N/A | Sprout Social: Advanced queue, optimal send times, bulk scheduling
Buffer: N/A | Sprout Social: Basic competitor tracking
Buffer: N/A | Sprout Social: Comprehensive with routing and assignment
Buffer: N/A | Sprout Social: 50+ metrics with custom dashboards
Buffer: N/A | Sprout Social: Multi-stage with custom roles
Buffer: N/A | Sprout Social: 24 hours (all tiers)
CRM Contact Storage Limit (Free/Entry Tier)
Buffer: N/A | Sprout Social: 8+ (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, X, Pinterest, YouTube, WhatsApp, Bluesky)
AI Sentiment Analysis / Social Listening
Buffer: N/A | Sprout Social: Advanced with trend detection, competitor analysis, and custom listening rules
Team Members Supported (Free/Standard Tier)
Buffer: N/A | Sprout Social: 50+ with role-based access
Buffer: N/A | Sprout Social: Not included in social plan
Buffer: N/A | Sprout Social: Unlimited (enterprise tiers)
Buffer: N/A | Sprout Social: Advanced calendar, approval workflows, team assignments, content versioning
Buffer: N/A | Sprout Social: Advanced: sentiment analysis, competitive benchmarking, custom reports, audience insights
Buffer: N/A | Sprout Social: 6 (moderate)
Buffer: N/A | Sprout Social: Standard scheduling, hashtag recommendations, Stories, Reels support
Buffer: N/A | Sprout Social: 10 accounts
Buffer: N/A | Sprout Social: Basic contact management only
Buffer: N/A | Sprout Social: Advanced sentiment, competitor tracking
Buffer: N/A | Sprout Social: 10+ social networks
Buffer: N/A | Sprout Social: AI caption writer and content suggestions
How to choose between Buffer and Sprout Social
Buffer vs Sprout Social — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Buffer vs Sprout Social. Contains 124 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Buffer vs Sprout Social — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Buffer vs Sprout Social.
Is Buffer really unlimited for scheduling posts?
Yes, Buffer allows unlimited scheduled posts on all paid plans with no monthly post limits or throttling. The only limitation is the number of social accounts you can connect (varies by plan), but once connected, you can schedule as many posts as needed to those accounts.
Can I get Sprout Social on a month-to-month basis?
Sprout Social primarily operates on annual contracts for most plans, though they may offer month-to-month options for annual customers switching plans. Contact their sales team directly, as flexibility varies by plan level. Buffer, by contrast, offers full month-to-month flexibility on all tiers.
Which platform is better for TikTok and Instagram Reels scheduling?
Both support TikTok and Instagram scheduling, but Buffer has a slight edge with native TikTok integration and simpler Reels posting workflows. Sprout Social also supports both but requires additional setup steps. For TikTok creators specifically, Buffer's interface is more streamlined.
Does Buffer have CRM or lead generation features?
No, Buffer is purely a scheduling and publishing tool. It lacks CRM, customer engagement, or lead management features. Sprout Social includes an integrated CRM that captures and manages leads from social conversations, making it better for sales-focused teams.
What's the actual cost difference over a year for a growing team?
A solo creator using Buffer's Pro plan ($15/month) costs $180/year, while Sprout Social's entry tier ($249/month) costs $2,988/year—roughly 17x more expensive. However, Sprout Social's features (analytics, listening, team support for 20+ users) justify the cost for enterprises, while Buffer scales affordably for small teams.
How to Choose Between Buffer and Sprout Social
Starting Price (Monthly): Buffer has $5, while Sprout Social has $249.
Supported Social Platforms: Buffer has 9 platforms, while Sprout Social has 7+ platforms.
Team Members (Free Plan): Buffer has 1 user, while Sprout Social has 2 users.
Consider: Advanced Analytics & Reporting
Advanced Analytics & Reporting: Buffer has Basic reporting only, while Sprout Social has Comprehensive with custom dashboards.
Social Listening Capabilities: Buffer has Not included, while Sprout Social has Full listening and sentiment analysis.
Consider: Content Calendar (Posts Per Month Limit)
Content Calendar (Posts Per Month Limit): Buffer has Unlimited posts, while Sprout Social has Unlimited posts.
Customer Support Tier: Buffer has Email only (basic plans), while Sprout Social has 24/7 phone, email, and dedicated account manager.