Buffer vs Sprout Social — Pricing, Plans, and Verified Costs (2026)
Buffer starts at $6/mo. Sprout Social starts at $249/mo. Buffer is $243/mo cheaper on the entry tier than Sprout Social.
See price history: Buffer · Sprout Social
Social media scheduling and analytics from a fully-remote 80-person company known for radical transparency (publishes salaries, revenue publicly). Positioned as the alternative to Hootsuite for small businesses and creators. Distinctive for its calm, no-upsell culture. Priced $6-$120/mo across four tiers. Losing ground to Hootsuite (enterprise) and Later (Instagram-first) but still profitable and cash-generative.
Social media management platform positioned as the modern, marketer-friendly alternative to Hootsuite — known for its polished UI + better analytics + Salesforce/Zendesk-tier support integrations. Distinctive for its Smart Inbox (unified message queue) and best-in-class reporting used by 34,000+ brands. Priced $199-$499/user/mo across Standard/Professional/Advanced tiers plus custom Enterprise. Public since 2019 (NASDAQ: SPT), $1.5B market cap. Acquired Tagger (influencer marketing) in 2023 and Repustate (AI/sentiment analysis) in 2022.
All plans compared
| Tier role | Plan | Buffer monthly | Buffer annual | Sprout Social monthly | Sprout Social annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free / starter | Free / — | Free | Free | — | — |
| Entry paid | Essentials / Standard | $6 | $5 | $249 | $199 |
| Mid tier | — / Professional | — | — | $399 | $299 |
| Pro / power | — / Advanced | — | — | $599 | $499 |
| Teams | Team / — | $12 | $10 | — | — |
| Enterprise | — / Enterprise | — | — | Custom | Custom |
Tier names differ across vendors. Rows are aligned by tier role, not name. Full tier structures on each tool's page.
What each is best for
Buffer is worth it if… solo creators and small marketing teams (1-10 people) that need reliable scheduling across Instagram, LinkedIn, X, Facebook, TikTok, and Threads — without Sprout Social's enterprise pricing. Free plan covers 3 channels; Team adds analytics and collaboration.
Sprout Social is worth it if… marketing teams (5-100 people) that treat social as a revenue channel and want modern UI + deep analytics + CRM integrations — particularly if Hootsuite feels dated. Standard covers small teams (5 profiles); Professional adds unlimited profiles + competitive reports; Advanced adds chatbots + sentiment analysis; Enterprise adds SSO and advanced permissions.
Bottom line: Similar positioning, closer to a preference call than a strategic one.
Choose Buffer over Sprout Social if…
Choose Buffer if…
- You want fixed-price predictability (per seat, from $6/mo).
- You match the profile Buffer is built for: solo creators and small marketing teams (1-10 people) that need reliable scheduling across Instagram, LinkedIn, X, Facebook, TikTok, and Threads — without Sprout Social's enterprise pricing.
- You need a general-purpose marketing & email option rather than a vertical-specific one.
Choose Sprout Social if…
- You're comfortable with Sprout Social's from $249/mo entry point.
- You match the profile Sprout Social is built for: marketing teams (5-100 people) that treat social as a revenue channel and want modern UI + deep analytics + CRM integrations — particularly if Hootsuite feels dated.
- You need a general-purpose marketing & email option rather than a vertical-specific one.
At a glance
| Buffer | Sprout Social | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Entry price | $6/mo | $249/mo |
| Enterprise available | No | Yes |
| Pricing model | Per Seat | — |
| Verification | Checked September 27, 2026 | Verified August 12, 2026 |
| Full pricing | View full pricing | View full pricing |
Pricing last verified September 27, 2026. Tracked daily.
Frequently asked questions
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Common questions about Buffer and Sprout Social
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- Does Buffer have a free plan?
- How often does Buffer change prices?
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- How much does Sprout Social cost in 2026?
- Does Sprout Social have a free plan?
- How often does Sprout Social change prices?
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