Comparison
Buffer vs Sprout Social
Buffer and Sprout Social are both popular social media tools. Here is how they compare on price, free plan and networks.
Side-by-side comparison
| Buffer | Sprout Social | Planifly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Essentials from $5/month per channel (billed yearly) | Essentials from $79 per seat/month (yearly) or $99 monthly | From $19/month |
| Free plan | Free forever: 3 channels, 10 scheduled posts per channel | No | No |
| Free trial | 14 days on paid plans | 30 days, no card | 7 days |
| Networks | 11 — Bluesky, Facebook, Google Business Profile, Instagram, LinkedIn, Mastodon, Pinterest, Threads, TikTok, X, YouTube | 8 — Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads, Pinterest, TikTok, YouTube | 10 — Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, Threads, Bluesky, Telegram |
| Telegram | No | No | Yes |
| YouTube | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Competitor prices read on their official pricing pages on November 2, 2026. They can change — check the competitor’s site before deciding.
Supported networks
Only on Buffer
Bluesky, Google Business Profile, Mastodon
On both
Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Threads, TikTok, X, YouTube
Only on Sprout Social
—
Buffer
A simple, long-established scheduler priced per connected channel.
Where Buffer shines
- Very simple interface
- Generous free plan to get started
- Supports Google Business Profile and Mastodon
What to know before choosing Buffer
- The bill grows with every channel you add
- Free plan capped at 10 scheduled posts per channel
- No Telegram
Sprout Social
A premium platform for marketing teams, with deep analytics and a unified inbox.
Where Sprout Social shines
- Excellent reporting
- Unified social inbox
- Long trial without a card
What to know before choosing Sprout Social
- Priced per seat — a team quickly costs hundreds per month
- 5 social profiles on the entry plan
- No free plan
A third option: Planifly
- Unlimited scheduled posts on every plan — no per-post quota.
- 10 networks, including TikTok Direct Post, YouTube, Pinterest, Threads, Bluesky and Telegram.
- 7-day free trial; in Africa the trial starts without a card and plans can be paid in FCFA with mobile money.
- Interface in French and English, with iOS and Android apps.
- Connects to ChatGPT and other AI assistants (MCP) to draft and schedule posts from a conversation.
Other comparisons
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