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7 Best Buffer Alternatives To Try in 2024

by | Last updated Oct 14, 2024

Best Overall
Hootsuite

Manage 20+ social networks with advanced scheduling & analytics. Ideal for teams. Plans from $49/month.

Best Value
SocialPilot

Affordable social media management with scheduling, analytics, and client features. Plans from $30/month.  

Most Featured
Sproutsocial

Sleek platform with robust analytics, social listening, & CRM. Perfect for serious marketers. starts from $249/month/user.

Buffer Alternatives

Tired of Buffer? Your social media game deserves better.

It’s like that comfortable pair of old jeans, but it’s time for an upgrade.

But switching tools can be a hassle.

And what if the new tool doesn’t live up to the hype?

We’ve scoured the internet to find the top Buffer alternatives that will take your social media scheduling and management to the next level.

So, are you ready to ditch Buffer and discover a whole new world of social media management tools?

Buffer logo
Buffer

Thousands of brands use Buffer to save time. Schedule Thousands of posts. 95% say it’s easy! Try it now and experience with Buffer.

What are the Best Buffer Alternatives?

Looking for something different than Buffer?

We’ve got you covered! Below, we’ve listed the top alternatives to help you find the perfect fit for your social media needs.

1. Hootsuite

Hootsuite is like the Swiss Army knife of social media management.

It’s been around forever, so it’s packed with features and can handle pretty much any social platform you throw at it.

If you’re juggling multiple accounts or need advanced scheduling and analytics, Hootsuite’s got your back.

What is Hootsuite

Our Take

0out of 10

Hootsuite is a solid choice for businesses and teams that need a comprehensive social media management tool.

Key Benefits

  • Features: Hootsuite is loaded – scheduling, analytics, social listening, team collaboration, you name it.
  • Supported social networks: It connects with over 20 major networks, from Facebook and Twitter to LinkedIn and Pinterest.
  • Ease of use: The interface can be overwhelming at first, but once you get the hang of it, it's powerful.
  • Customer support: They offer various support options, including live chat and email.
  • Integrations: Hootsuite plays well with tons of other apps, like Canva, Slack, and Salesforce.
  • Scalability: It works for solopreneurs and large teams alike, with plans to fit different needs.

Pricing

Hootsuite has a free plan with limited features. Paid plans start at $49/month and go up depending on the number of users and features you need.

Hootsuite pricing

Pros

  • Handles a ton of social networks
  • Powerful scheduling and analytics
  • Great for teams
  • Lots of integrations

Cons

  • Can be pricey
  • The interface can be a bit complex

2. Sprout Social

Sprout Social is like the luxury car of social media management tools.

It's sleek, powerful, and comes with all the bells and whistles.

If you're serious about social media marketing and want top-notch analytics and engagement features, Sprout Social is worth considering.

Sprout Social

Our Take

0out of 10

Sprout Social is a top-tier social media management platform that's ideal for businesses that prioritize analytics, engagement, and customer care.

Key Benefits

  • Features: Sprout Social offers a full suite of features, including scheduling, publishing, analytics, social listening, and customer relationship management (CRM).
  • Supported social networks: It integrates with all the major platforms, plus a few niche ones like TripAdvisor and Glassdoor.
  • Ease of use: The interface is clean & intuitive, making it easy to navigate even for beginners.
  • Customer support: Sprout Social is known for its excellent customer support, with options like phone, email, and live chat.
  • Integrations: It connects with a variety of other tools, such as Zendesk, HubSpot, and Google Analytics.
  • Scalability: Sprout Social offers plans for businesses of all sizes, from small teams to large enterprises.

Pricing

Sprout Social needs a free plan. Paid plans start at $249/month and go up depending on the number of users and features you need.

  • Standard: $249/month per seat
  • Professional: $399/month per seat
  • Advanced: $499/month per seat
  • Enterprise: Custom pricing
Sprout Social

Pros

  • Beautiful, intuitive interface
  • Powerful analytics and reporting
  • Excellent customer support

Cons

  • Free plan is not available
  • Not as many integrations as some other tools

3. Agorapulse

Agorapulse is like the friendly neighborhood social media tool.

It's easy to use, has all the essential features, and comes with a focus on community management and engagement.

If you're looking for a tool to help you build relationships with your audience, Agorapulse is a great option.

What is Agorapulse

Our Take

0out of 10

Agorapulse is a fantastic choice for businesses that prioritize community management and engagement. It's easy to use, affordable, and comes with excellent customer support.

Key Benefits

  • Features: Agorapulse offers scheduling, publishing, analytics, social listening, and a powerful inbox for managing conversations across multiple social networks.
  • Supported social networks: It integrates with Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
  • Ease of use: The interface is clean & straightforward, making it very easy to get started even if you're new to social media management.
  • Customer support: Agorapulse has a reputation for excellent customer support, with options like an email & live chat.
  • Integrations: It connects with a few key tools, such as Slack, Canva, and Google Drive.
  • Scalability: Agorapulse offers plans for businesses of all sizes, from small teams to large agencies.

Pricing

Agorapulse has a free plan with limited features. Paid plans start at $79/month and go up depending on the number of social profiles and users you need.

  • Standard: $69/month
  • Professional: $99/month
  • Advanced: $149/month
  • Custom: Custom pricing
Agorapulse pricing

Pros

  • User-friendly interface
  • Excellent for community management and engagement
  • Affordable pricing

Cons

  • Not as many features as some other tools
  • Limited integrations

4. Later

Later is like the Instagram expert of social media management tools.

It started as a visual scheduling platform for Instagram, but it's expanded to support other networks as well.

If you're focused on creating beautiful, engaging content for Instagram and other visual platforms, Later is a great option.

What is Later

Our Take

0out of 10

Later is a great choice for businesses that prioritize visual content and Instagram marketing. It's easy to use, affordable, and prefers a range of features help you to create & schedule beautiful, engaging content.

Key Benefits

  • Features: Later offers scheduling, publishing, analytics, and a visual planner for creating and previewing your social media content.
  • Supported social networks: It integrates with Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and TikTok.
  • Ease of use: The interface is drag-and-drop and very visual, making it easy to plan and schedule your content.
  • Customer support: Later offers email and chat support, as well as a comprehensive help center.
  • Integrations: It connects with a few key tools, such as Canva, Unsplash, and Dropbox.
  • Scalability: Later offers plans for businesses of all sizes, from solopreneurs to large teams.

Pricing

Later has a free plan with limited features. Paid plans start at $18/month and go up depending on the number of social profiles and users you need.

  • Starter: $16.67/month
  • Growth: $30/month
  • Advanced: $53.33/month
Later pricing

Pros

  • Excellent for visual content planning and scheduling
  • User-friendly interface
  • Affordable pricing

Cons

  • Not as many features as some other tools
  • Limited integrations

5. Sendible

Sendible is like the social media tool for agencies and teams.

It's got a clean interface, collaboration features, and client management tools.

If you're managing social media for multiple clients or need to streamline workflows within your team, Sendible is a good option.

What is Sendible

Our Take

0out of 10

Sendible is a solid choice for agencies and teams that need a social media management tool with collaboration and client management features.

Key Benefits

  • Features: Sendible offers scheduling, publishing, analytics, social listening, and a range of collaboration and client management features.
  • Supported social networks: It integrates with all the major platforms, plus a few niche ones like Tumblr and Blogger.
  • Ease of use: The interface is clean and well-organized, making it very easy to navigate & manage multiple accounts.
  • Customer support: Sendible offers email and live chat support, as well as a knowledge base and tutorials.
  • Integrations: It connects with a variety of other tools, such as Canva, Google Drive, and Slack.
  • Scalability: Sendible offers plans for businesses of all sizes, from solopreneurs to large agencies.

Pricing

Sendible doesn't have a free plan. Paid plans start at $29/month and go up depending on the number of social profiles and users you need.

  • Creator: $29/month, Unlimited scheduling, Reporting
  • Traction: $89/month, Team collaboration
  • Scale: $199/month, AI assist, Campaigns
  • Advanced: $240/month, Live report sharing
  • Enterprise: $750/month, Access to all features
Sendible pricing

Pros

  • Great for agencies and teams
  • Clean, user-friendly interface
  • Collaboration and client management features

Cons

  • Limited integrations
  • Analytics could be more robust

6. CoSchedule

CoSchedule is like the marketing calendar on steroids.

It's not just for social media, but it also helps you plan and schedule blog posts, email campaigns, and other marketing projects.

If you want to keep all your marketing efforts organized in one place, CoSchedule is a good option.

CoSchedule

Our Take

0out of 10

CoSchedule is a great choice for businesses that want to centralize their marketing efforts and streamline their workflows.

Key Benefits

  • Features: CoSchedule offers social media scheduling, publishing, analytics, and a powerful marketing calendar for planning and organizing all your marketing activities.
  • Supported social networks: It integrates with all the major platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, & Pinterest.
  • Ease of use: The interface is clean and intuitive, with a drag-and-drop calendar that makes it easy to visualize and manage your marketing schedule.
  • Customer support: CoSchedule offers email and chat support, as well as a knowledge base and webinars.
  • Integrations: It connects with a variety of other tools, such as WordPress, Google Analytics, and Mailchimp.
  • Scalability: CoSchedule offers plans for businesses of all sizes, from solopreneurs to large marketing teams.

Pricing

CoSchedule doesn't have a free plan. Paid plans start at $29/month for the social media-only plan and go up depending on the features you need.

CoSchedule pricing

Pros

  • Great for content planning and collaboration
  • Powerful marketing calendar for organizing all your activities
  • Integrates with a variety of other tools

Cons

  • Can be expensive
  • Learning curve can be a bit steep

7. SocialPilot

SocialPilot is like the budget-friendly social media management tool.

It offers a range of features at a fraction of the cost of some other platforms.

If you're looking for an affordable option that still gets the job done, SocialPilot is worth considering.

SocialPilot

Our Take

0out of 10

SocialPilot is a great option for businesses on a budget that still want a solid social media management tool.

Key Benefits

  • Features: SocialPilot offers scheduling, publishing, analytics, social listening, and a few team collaboration features.
  • Supported social networks: It integrates with all the major platforms, plus a few niche ones like Tumblr and VK.
  • Ease of use: The interface is clean and straightforward, making it easy to get started even if you're new to social media management.
  • Customer support: SocialPilot offers email and chat support, as well as a knowledge base and tutorials.
  • Integrations: It connects with a few key tools, such as Canva, Bitly, and Zapier.
  • Scalability: SocialPilot offers plans for businesses of all sizes, from solopreneurs to large agencies.

Pricing

SocialPilot has a free plan with limited features. Paid plans start at $30/month and go up depending on the number of social profiles and users you need.

  • Agency+: $200/month, 50 social media accounts, Unlimited users
  • Agency: $100/month, 30 social media accounts, 6 users
  • Small Team: $50/month, 20 social media accounts, 3 users
  • Professional: $30/month, 10 social media accounts, 1 users
SocialPilot

Pros

  • Affordable pricing
  • User-friendly interface
  • Good range of features

Cons

  • Not as many features as some other tools
  • Limited integrations

Buyers Guide

To find the best Buffer alternatives, we followed these steps:

  1. Feature Comparison: We created a detailed comparison chart of the top contenders, evaluating them based on the following factors:
  • Pricing: We looked at the cost of each product, including any free trials or discounts.
  • Features: We identified the key features of each product and compared them to see which offered the most value.
  • Negatives: We researched any potential drawbacks or limitations of each product.
  • Support or refund: We checked if each product offered a community forum, customer support, or a refund policy.
  1. User Reviews: We read through numerous user reviews & testimonials to get a sense of real-world experiences with each product.
  2. Expert Opinions: We consulted industry experts and bloggers to get their insights on the best Buffer alternatives.
  3. Hands-on Testing: Whenever possible, we tried out the products ourselves to get a feel for their user interface, ease of use, & overall functionality.

By combining these research methods, we were able to identify the top 7 Buffer alternatives and provide you with a comprehensive overview of their strengths and weaknesses.

Wrapping Up

Okay, so we've looked at the top Buffer alternatives out there.

Each one has its own strengths, whether it's awesome social media analytics, easy social media scheduling, or handling lots of social media accounts at once across major social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

The best social media management platform for you depends on what you need for your social media strategy.

Remember, a good social media management platform helps you save time and get better results from your social media efforts.

You could schedule social media posts, track your social media performance, and even see how you stack up against your competition.

Whether you're a social media manager juggling multiple clients or a small business owner trying to boost your social media presence, there's a tool out there that's perfect for you.

So feel free to try a few out and see which one feels right.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do these Buffer alternatives offer free trials?

Yes, most Buffer alternatives offer a free trial, typically ranging from 14 to 30 days. This allows you to test out the key features & see if the platform is a good fit for your needs before committing to a paid plan.

What are the key features to look for in a Buffer alternative?

Key features to consider include scheduling and publishing capabilities, social media analytics, engagement tools, and team collaboration features. Depending on your needs, you might also want to look for social listening tools, content curation features, or integrations with other platforms.

Can I manage my Google Business Profile with these alternatives?

Some Buffer alternatives, like Hootsuite and Sprout Social, allow you to manage your Google Business Profile directly within the platform. This can be a helpful way to streamline your social media management efforts and ensure consistency across all your channels.

Do these alternatives offer social listening tools?

Yes, several Buffer alternatives offer social listening tools that allow you to monitor conversations & mentions of your brand or industry keywords across social media. This could help you stay on top of trends, identify potential crises, and engage with your audience in real-time.

Which Buffer alternative is the most affordable?

SocialPilot is the most affordable Buffer alternative, with paid plans starting at $30 per month. However, it's essential to compare the features and limitations of each platform to determine the best value for your specific needs and budget. Remember, some platforms, like Hootsuite, offer a 14-day free trial to test out the all features before committing to a paid plan.

Fahim Joharder

Fahim Joharder

Author

A tech enthusiast and writer with a passion for AI and software innovations. He simplifies complex topics to help readers stay ahead in the digital world.

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