Buffer vs Sprout Social (2026 comparison)
Buffer and Sprout Social are both social media management tools. Buffer is best for solo creators and small teams wanting a simple, affordable per-channel scheduling tool (free plan for up to 3 channels and 10 scheduled posts; paid Essentials from about $5 per channel per month billed annually ($6 monthly), Team from about $10 per channel per month billed annually ($12 monthly)). Sprout Social is best for agencies and enterprise teams wanting the deepest analytics, at a per-seat rather than per-channel price (no free plan, only a 30-day free trial; paid Essentials from about $79 per seat per month billed annually, Standard from about $199 per seat per month, a 2026 repricing that added the lower Essentials tier below the previous Standard entry point).
Pricing and features verified against each vendor's published information on 2026-09-18. Sources linked below.
At a glance
| Feature | Buffer | Sprout Social |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Pricing from | Free plan for up to 3 channels and 10 scheduled posts; paid Essentials from about $5 per channel per month billed annually ($6 monthly), Team from about $10 per channel per month billed annually ($12 monthly) | No free plan, only a 30-day free trial; paid Essentials from about $79 per seat per month billed annually, Standard from about $199 per seat per month, a 2026 repricing that added the lower Essentials tier below the previous Standard entry point |
| Best for | solo creators and small teams wanting a simple, affordable per-channel scheduling tool | agencies and enterprise teams wanting the deepest analytics, at a per-seat rather than per-channel price |
| Founded | 2010 | 2010 |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android |
Quick verdict
Choose Buffer for solo creators and small teams wanting a simple, affordable per-channel scheduling tool. Choose Sprout Social for agencies and enterprise teams wanting the deepest analytics, at a per-seat rather than per-channel price. Both are compared on published information only, so confirm current pricing at each source below.
More options
Sources
FAQ
- Is Buffer or Sprout Social cheaper?
- As published, Buffer starts at Free plan for up to 3 channels and 10 scheduled posts; paid Essentials from about $5 per channel per month billed annually ($6 monthly), Team from about $10 per channel per month billed annually ($12 monthly) and Sprout Social starts at No free plan, only a 30-day free trial; paid Essentials from about $79 per seat per month billed annually, Standard from about $199 per seat per month, a 2026 repricing that added the lower Essentials tier below the previous Standard entry point. Verify current pricing at each vendor.
- Does Buffer have a free plan?
- Yes, Buffer has a free plan as of 2026-09-18.