Buffer vs Sprout Social
Buffer scores 5.7 to Sprout Social's 5.3 among the AI social media management tools we rate, and is the better pick for 3 of the 4 kinds of buyer below.
Buffer wins, 5.7 to 5.3
Sprout Social costs $99 a month for five profiles versus $30 on Buffer, and only Sprout has an AI agent (Trellis) plus paid-ads reporting and influencer management. Buffer counters with a free plan and GDPR coverage, and both have a unified inbox, but Buffer never states SOC 2 while Sprout does.
Pick Buffer if you want five profiles for $30 a month with a free plan.
Pick Sprout Social if you need paid-ads reporting, influencer management or SOC 2.
Best for
Who each one suits, decided on the criteria that matter to that buyer and the checked facts where the two differ.
- Reports in your own or your client's branding: Buffer yes, Sprout Social no
- But Sprout Social leads on single sign-on: Sprout Social yes, Buffer no
- Free plan: Buffer yes, Sprout Social no
- Monthly cost for 5 social profiles: $30 against $99
- Schedules a first comment: Buffer yes, Sprout Social no
- Turns links, articles or videos into posts: Buffer yes, Sprout Social no
- But Sprout Social leads on an AI agent that plans or publishes for you: Sprout Social yes, Buffer no
- Tracks competitors' accounts: Sprout Social yes, Buffer no
- Tracks mentions beyond your own accounts: Sprout Social yes, Buffer no
- Manages or reports on paid ads: Sprout Social yes, Buffer no
How they score
Both are scored the same way, against the other AI social media management tools we rate, from facts on each vendor's own pages. Buffer leads on 3 of 6 criteria.
Where they differ
Every point where the two vendors' published facts disagree, with a link to where each fact was read. "Not published" means the vendor does not say either way.
Published by only one of them
Where they match (13)
Pricing, plan by plan
Every plan each vendor publishes, monthly and yearly where both are offered.
Buffer
Sprout Social
For everything else about each tool, read the full Buffer review and Sprout Social review.
Buffer vs Sprout Social: common questions
Which is better, Buffer or Sprout Social?
Buffer scores 5.7 and Sprout Social 5.3 out of 10 among the AI social media management tools we rate. Buffer is ahead on publishing, pricing and agencies and teams. Sprout Social is ahead on listening and competitors and privacy and support.
Is Buffer or Sprout Social cheaper?
Buffer's cheapest paid plan is $6/mo (Essentials, per channel) and Sprout Social's is $99/mo (Essentials, per seat). Compare what each plan includes below before going on price alone.
Do Buffer and Sprout Social have a free plan?
Buffer does and Sprout Social does not.
What can Buffer do that Sprout Social cannot?
On the facts both vendors publish: schedules a first comment, free plan, turns links, articles or videos into posts and reports in your own or your client's branding.
What can Sprout Social do that Buffer cannot?
On the facts both vendors publish: an AI agent that plans or publishes for you, single sign-on, tracks competitors' accounts, tracks mentions beyond your own accounts, manages or reports on paid ads, finds or manages influencers and sOC 2.
