Buffer vs Sprout Social (2026): Pricing, Features & Which to Choose

Who comes out ahead

Based only on the facts in our directory. The right pick still depends on the job you need done.

Lower starting price
Buffer
From $5/mo against from $79/mo
Free plan
Buffer
Only Buffer has one
Higher rating
Tie
4.4 against 4.4
Same job?
Yes
Both are Social Media tools

Side by side

Compared on	Buffer	Sprout Social
Our rating	4.4	4.4
Starts at	$5/moBetter	$79/mo
Free plan	YesBetter	No
Category	Social Media	Social Media
Plans	Free$0 Essentials$6 per channel/mo, or $5 billed yearly ($60/yr) Team$12 per channel/mo, or $10 billed yearly ($120/yr)	Essentials$99 per seat/mo, or $79 billed yearly Standard$199 per seat/mo, billed yearly Professional$299 per seat/mo, billed yearly Advanced$399 per seat/mo, billed yearly EnterpriseQuote only
Key features	Among the first tools to popularize the social-scheduling category itself Deliberately simple, clean interface maintained across years of growth Free tier for a limited number of channels Operating since 2010 Per-channel pricing structure	Deep analytics and social listening built for strategic decision-making Unified inbox across connected platforms No free plan, paid access only Operating since 2010 Strong reputation for customer support quality
Pros	Long-standing reputation for simplicity even as competitors add complexity Free tier available for a limited number of channels Approachable learning curve for solo creators and small teams	Analytics and listening depth suits detailed strategic reporting well Strong, widely recognized reputation for customer support Long operating history as an established category leader
Cons	Less feature depth than larger suites built for bigger organizations Per-channel pricing can add up for accounts managing many channels Fewer built-in listening or CRM-style features than competitors like Agorapulse	No free plan to test before committing Among the higher prices in this category Feature depth exceeds what a solo creator or very small business typically needs
Company	Buffer, founded 2010	Sprout Social, founded 2010

Prices come from each vendor's pricing page, last checked 2026-09-24. Check the vendor before you buy.

FAQ

Questions people ask

Is Buffer better than Sprout Social?

In our reviews Buffer scores 4.4 and Sprout Social scores 4.4. The better pick depends on the job. Buffer: One of the category's original tools, still known for radical simplicity. Sprout Social: A comprehensive, analytics-heavy suite built for larger, established brands.

Which is cheaper, Buffer or Sprout Social?

Buffer has the lower starting price: from $5/mo for Buffer and from $79/mo for Sprout Social.

Do Buffer and Sprout Social have free plans?

Only Buffer has a free plan.

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Sprout Social compared with

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