Side by side · Social media schedulers
Hootsuite vs Buffer
Who should pick which, from each company’s own pricing pages and terms.
We check it out so you don’t have to.
How we researched this page: we read each company’s own pricing pages and terms, independent tests, and customer reviews. We did not use these products ourselves. Prices change often, so each one shows the date we checked it.
In short: Hootsuite — larger teams, social listening. Buffer — simple scheduling for creators. The details, prices and honest downsides are below.
| Item | Hootsuite | Buffer |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Larger teams, social listening | Simple scheduling for creators |
| Starting price | $99/mo per user yearly, checked October 25, 2026 | Free; $5/mo per channel yearly, checked October 25, 2026 |
| Trial / refund | 14-day trial | Free plan, 14-day trial |
Who Hootsuite fits
Bigger teams that need social listening, inbox and approvals at scale.
Watch out for: The most expensive option here by far for a small business.
Who Buffer fits
Solo creators and small teams who want the simplest scheduler.
Watch out for: Per-channel pricing adds up with many accounts. Reporting is light.
Quick verdict
For most solo creators and small teams, Buffer is the simpler and much cheaper choice: a free plan, then $5/mo per channel billed yearly. Hootsuite makes sense for bigger teams that need social listening, a shared inbox and approvals, at $99 per user a month billed yearly.
Visit Hootsuite’s official site
More on each: our full Hootsuite review · our full Buffer review
See every option in Best Social Media Schedulers, including companies not covered here.
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