Buffer vs Hootsuite vs Sprout Social vs Later Comparison

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96% SW Score The SW Score ranks the products within a particular category on a variety of parameters, to provide a definite ranking system. Read more

Buffer

Social Media Management Software

4.4 1,121 user ratings

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98% SW Score The SW Score ranks the products within a particular category on a variety of parameters, to provide a definite ranking system. Read more

Hootsuite

Social Media Management Software

4 6,016 user ratings

View Details

93% SW Score The SW Score ranks the products within a particular category on a variety of parameters, to provide a definite ranking system. Read more

Sprout Social

Social Media Management Software

4.3 4,162 user ratings

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96% SW Score The SW Score ranks the products within a particular category on a variety of parameters, to provide a definite ranking system. Read more

Later

Social Media Management Software

4.2 971 user ratings

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Overview

Description	Buffer is an effective tool to manage more than one social media accounts through a single dashboard. You can also create posts and schedule them for future uploads. The feature of auto publishing helps to publish content as and when relevant. One added feature of Buffer helps you to create a queue of posts and uploads them according to the schedule set by you. Buffer converts the number of likes, shares, comments tweets and other reactions of your post into numerical value which helps you to measure your post’s popularity on different social media platforms. Buffer also provides free trial which allows you to judge whether all your needs are being fulfilled or not. Read more	Hootsuite is a popular social media management software that comes attractively stuffed with an array of collaboration features as well. The software contains collaboration features group calendars, cooperative writing, synchronous editing, content management, contact management, project management, task management etc. It includes other useful software features also like reputation management features, social media marketing features and social media monitoring features. Hootsuite supports multi-user collaboration. With this software, users can easily share engagement streams with your team. Users can better control multiple communication channels with this highly collaborative platform. Read more	Sprout Social is an all-in-one social media management platform that enables businesses to unlock the full potential of social media. The software not just helps in marketing strategy but also in various area of the business. It streamlines and scales social engagement to increase visibility, improve responsiveness and boost efficiency. Sprout Social also simplifies and strengthens social media publishing by scheduling content and posts it at the right time to gain more engagement. A notable feature of Sprout Social includes strategic decision-making, which uses social media analytics that saves time and speeds up the data collection process. It also analyses audience responses and generates strategies accordingly. Sprout Social helps the user to spend less time on manual tasks and more on connecting with their audiences. There are agents available on this platform that offer tailor-made solutions to scale business. The software is appropriate for enterprises, agencies, advocacy, small businesses and customer care agencies. Read more	Later is a marketing platform for Instagram that enables users to plan and schedule their posts. It also offers analytics to let users draw insights from their data and act accordingly. Users can even bulk schedule their Instagram posts, create weekly time slots and schedule their posts using initiative drag and drop functionality with the calendar. An Instagram feed can be previewed before actually posting to see how exactly it will look post uploads and make changes accordingly. There are certain calendar views accessible as well, such as 'monthly' and 'weekly'. Users can even maintain an organized media library and keep all their photos, videos, and user-generated content at a central location, accessible on any device by the user's team. It is possible to add labels to media which can be searched for and filtered. They can also import their media via Dropbox and Google drive and make use of extensive analytics for insights. Read more
Pricing Options	Free Trial Available Starts at $5.0. Offers Free-forever plan.	Free Trial Available Hootsuite Offers Custom plan.	Free Trial Available Starts at $249.0. Offers Custom plan.	Free Trial Available Starts at $15.0.
SW Score & Breakdown	96% SW Score The SW Score ranks the products within a particular category on a variety of parameters, to provide a definite ranking system. Read more Features The Feature Score % is calculated using the weighted average method, where core features hold more weight in the final calculation. Read more 100% Reviews 97% Momentum 60% Popularity 93%	98% SW Score The SW Score ranks the products within a particular category on a variety of parameters, to provide a definite ranking system. Read more Features The Feature Score % is calculated using the weighted average method, where core features hold more weight in the final calculation. Read more 100% Reviews 95% Momentum 67% Popularity 97%	93% SW Score The SW Score ranks the products within a particular category on a variety of parameters, to provide a definite ranking system. Read more Features The Feature Score % is calculated using the weighted average method, where core features hold more weight in the final calculation. Read more 100% Reviews 90% Momentum 61% Popularity 90%	96% SW Score The SW Score ranks the products within a particular category on a variety of parameters, to provide a definite ranking system. Read more Features The Feature Score % is calculated using the weighted average method, where core features hold more weight in the final calculation. Read more 100% Reviews 89% Momentum 67% Popularity 94%
SaaSworthy Awards	# 1 Most Worthy # 3 Highly Rated	# 2 Most Worthy # 1 Highly Rated	# 7 Highly Rated # 14 Most Popular	# 3 Most Worthy # 2 Highly Rated

Features

Total Features	9 Features	9 Features	9 Features	9 Features
Common Features for All	Analytics (Social Media) Helps you analyse performance based on reaction to posts Auto Publishing Publishes scheduled posts as and when they become relevant Brand Tracking Helps to know the position of your brand on the social media network Content Management Helps you to create and customize your contents to make user and SEO friendly Customer Engagement Enables the brand to maintain contact with their potential customers Multi-Account Management Facilitates the usage of multiple social media account for a wider reach Multi-User Collaboration Allows multiple users to work on one project to ensure effective team work Posts Scheduling Schedules your posts beforehand to post contents timely even in your absence Social Media Monitoring Helps to track, monitor, and manage multiple social media channels to find the responses by your followers about a specific brand/company/person online + 6 More - Show Less	Analytics (Social Media) Helps you analyse performance based on reaction to posts Auto Publishing Publishes scheduled posts as and when they become relevant Brand Tracking Helps to know the position of your brand on the social media network Content Management Helps you to create and customize your contents to make user and SEO friendly Customer Engagement Enables the brand to maintain contact with their potential customers Multi-Account Management Facilitates the usage of multiple social media account for a wider reach Multi-User Collaboration Allows multiple users to work on one project to ensure effective team work Posts Scheduling Schedules your posts beforehand to post contents timely even in your absence Social Media Monitoring Helps to track, monitor, and manage multiple social media channels to find the responses by your followers about a specific brand/company/person online + 6 More - Show Less	Analytics (Social Media) Helps you analyse performance based on reaction to posts Auto Publishing Publishes scheduled posts as and when they become relevant Brand Tracking Helps to know the position of your brand on the social media network Content Management Helps you to create and customize your contents to make user and SEO friendly Customer Engagement Enables the brand to maintain contact with their potential customers Multi-Account Management Facilitates the usage of multiple social media account for a wider reach Multi-User Collaboration Allows multiple users to work on one project to ensure effective team work Posts Scheduling Schedules your posts beforehand to post contents timely even in your absence Social Media Monitoring Helps to track, monitor, and manage multiple social media channels to find the responses by your followers about a specific brand/company/person online + 6 More - Show Less	Analytics (Social Media) Helps you analyse performance based on reaction to posts Auto Publishing Publishes scheduled posts as and when they become relevant Brand Tracking Helps to know the position of your brand on the social media network Content Management Helps you to create and customize your contents to make user and SEO friendly Customer Engagement Enables the brand to maintain contact with their potential customers Multi-Account Management Facilitates the usage of multiple social media account for a wider reach Multi-User Collaboration Allows multiple users to work on one project to ensure effective team work Posts Scheduling Schedules your posts beforehand to post contents timely even in your absence Social Media Monitoring Helps to track, monitor, and manage multiple social media channels to find the responses by your followers about a specific brand/company/person online + 6 More - Show Less

Technical Details

Organization Types Supported	Individuals Freelancers Large Enterprises Medium Business Small Business	Individuals Freelancers Large Enterprises Medium Business Small Business	Individuals Freelancers Large Enterprises Medium Business Small Business	Individuals Freelancers Large Enterprises Medium Business Small Business
Platforms Supported	SaaS/Web/Cloud Mobile - Android Mobile - iOS	SaaS/Web/Cloud Mobile - Android Mobile - iOS	SaaS/Web/Cloud Mobile - Android Mobile - iOS	SaaS/Web/Cloud Mobile - Android Mobile - iOS
Modes of Support	24/7 (Live rep) Business Hours Online	24/7 (Live rep) Business Hours Online	24/7 (Live rep) Business Hours Online	24/7 (Live rep) Business Hours Online
API Support	Available	Available	Available	Available

Reviews & Ratings

User Rating	4.4/5 1,121 user ratings	4/5 6,016 user ratings	4.3/5 4,162 user ratings	4.2/5 971 user ratings
Rating Distribution	Excellent 60% Very Good 27.9% Average 6.2% Poor 2% Terrible 3.9%	Excellent 41.1% Very Good 38.5% Average 10.8% Poor 3.1% Terrible 6.5%	Excellent 50.7% Very Good 35.8% Average 9.8% Poor 2.6% Terrible 1.2%	Excellent 60.9% Very Good 20.6% Average 6.6% Poor 3% Terrible 9%
User Sentiments	Ease of Use, Scheduling Functionality, Time Saving, Extensive Integrations Limited Features in Free Plan, Occasional Posting Errors, Instagram Integration Issues, Limited Analytics Functionality	Easy Scheduling, Comprehensive Analytics, Comprehensive Dashboard, Extensive Integrations Unreliable Instagram Integration, Inconsistent Customer Support, Inaccurate Instagram Analytics, Limited Instagram Functionality	Robust Reporting, Ease of Scheduling, User Friendly Interface, Extensive Integrations Inconsistent Instagram Integration, Limited LinkedIn Functionality, Occasional Post Failures, High Cost Per Additional User	User-Friendly Interface, Visual Content Scheduling, Comprehensive Instagram Analytics, Linkin.bio Feature Limited Functionality on Free Plan, Inconsistent Auto-Publishing, Limited Customer Support Accessibility, Lack of LinkedIn Integration
Review Summary	Buffer is generally praised for its user-friendly interface, ease of use, and robust scheduling features. Many users appreciate its compatibility with various social media platforms, while others highlight its ability to streamline their social media marketing efforts. The sentiment analysis tools and collaboration features also receive positive feedback. However, some users express concerns about limited customization options, occasional bugs and glitches, and pricing compared to competitors.	Users praise Hootsuite's user-friendly interface, comprehensive social media management capabilities, and robust analytics. They appreciate its ability to schedule posts, track engagement, and monitor multiple social media accounts from a single platform. However, some users have reported occasional technical issues and a learning curve associated with setting up and using the tool. Additionally, some users have expressed concerns about the cost of the software, particularly for small businesses or individuals with limited budgets.	Reviews of Sprout Social highlight its user-friendly interface, robust scheduling tools, and comprehensive analytics as key strengths. Users appreciate the platform's intuitive design, which makes it easy to navigate and manage social media accounts. The scheduling features are praised for their flexibility and the ability to plan and publish content in advance. Additionally, the detailed analytics and reporting capabilities provide valuable insights into social media performance. However, some users mention occasional glitches and limitations in customization as areas for improvement. Overall, Sprout Social receives positive feedback for its user-friendly interface, scheduling tools, and analytics, making it a popular choice for businesses seeking a comprehensive social media management solution.	Users praise Later's ease of use, time-saving features, and comprehensive analytics. They appreciate the user-friendly interface, drag-and-drop functionality, and ability to schedule posts in advance. The visual content calendar and post preview features are also well-received. Additionally, users commend Later's customer support, finding them responsive and helpful. However, some users have experienced occasional technical glitches and have expressed a desire for more advanced features such as A/B testing and more detailed analytics.
Pros & Cons	User-friendly interface and ease of use Robust scheduling features Compatibility with various social media platforms Streamlines social media marketing efforts Positive feedback on sentiment analysis tools and collaboration features Limited customization options Occasional bugs and glitches Pricing compared to competitors	User-friendly interface Comprehensive social media management capabilities Robust analytics Ability to schedule posts, track engagement, and monitor multiple social media accounts from a single platform Occasional technical issues Learning curve associated with setting up and using the tool Cost of the software, particularly for small businesses or individuals with limited budgets	User-friendly interface Robust scheduling tools Comprehensive analytics Strategic decision-making using social media analytics Tailor-made solutions for scaling business Occasional glitches Limitations in customization	User-friendly interface Comprehensive features Strong customer support Intuitive design Ease of scheduling and planning posts Occasional bugs or glitches
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Pricing

Pricing Options	Free Trial Available Starts at $5.0. Offers Free-forever plan.	Free Trial Available Hootsuite Offers Custom plan.	Free Trial Available Starts at $249.0. Offers Custom plan.	Free Trial Available Starts at $15.0.
Pricing Plans Monthly Plans Annual Plans	Free Free Essentials $5.00 $6.00 per month Team $10.00 $12.00 per user / month Agency $100.00 $120.00 per month	Professional Others Team Others Business Others Enterprise Custom	Standard $249.00 $249.00 per month Professional $399.00 $399.00 per month Advanced $499.00 $499.00 per month Enterprise Custom	Starter $15.00 $18.00 per month Growth $33.33 $40.00 per month Advanced $66.67 $80.00 per month Scale 15 $200.00 $200.00 per month Scale 30 $400.00 $400.00 per month
	View Detailed Pricing	View Detailed Pricing	View Detailed Pricing	View Detailed Pricing

Alternatives

	Broadcast Buffer Vs Broadcast CloudSocial 5 Based on 1 Ratings Buffer Vs CloudSocial Hootsuite 4 Based on 6016 Ratings Buffer Vs Hootsuite SocialHub 4.3 Based on 21 Ratings Buffer Vs SocialHub SocialOomph 4.1 Based on 43 Ratings Buffer Vs SocialOomph	Zoho Social 4.6 Based on 5704 Ratings Hootsuite Vs Zoho Social Sprout Social 4.3 Based on 4162 Ratings Hootsuite Vs Sprout Social Zoho Cliq 4.6 Based on 284 Ratings SocialHub 4.3 Based on 21 Ratings Hootsuite Vs SocialHub Zoho Connect 4.5 Based on 174 Ratings	CloudSocial 5 Based on 1 Ratings Sprout Social Vs CloudSocial SocialHub 4.3 Based on 21 Ratings Sprout Social Vs SocialHub Hootsuite 4 Based on 6016 Ratings Sprout Social Vs Hootsuite SendPilot 4.1 Based on 24 Ratings Sprout Social Vs SendPilot Ultimate SMM Sprout Social Vs Ultimate SMM	Social Insight 4.5 Based on 2 Ratings Postcron 4.1 Based on 109 Ratings Later Vs Postcron CloudSocial 5 Based on 1 Ratings Later Vs CloudSocial Buffer 4.4 Based on 1121 Ratings Later Vs Buffer Socialdraft 4 Based on 2 Ratings Later Vs Socialdraft
	View All Buffer Alternatives	View All Hootsuite Alternatives	View All Sprout Social Alternatives	View All Later Alternatives

Screenshots & Videos

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Vendor information

Company Details

Located in: San Francisco, California Founded in: 2010

Located in: Vancouver, Canada Founded in: 2008

Located in: Chicago, Illinois Founded in: 2010

Located in: Vancouver, Canada Founded in: 2014

Contact Details

Not available

https://buffer.com/

Not available

https://hootsuite.com/#

+1 866-878-3231

https://sproutsocial.com/

Not available

https://later.com/

Social Media Handles

Linkedin 84K

Twitter 1K

Facebook 140K

Instagram 108K

Youtube 22K

Linkedin 452K

Twitter 7M

Facebook 913K

Instagram 202K

Youtube 57K

Linkedin 116K

Twitter 120K

Facebook 93K

Instagram 52K

Youtube 9K

Linkedin 44K

Twitter 32K

Facebook 56K

Instagram 521K

Youtube 51K

FAQs

What are the key differences between Buffer, Hootsuite, Sprout Social, and Later?

Buffer is known for its user-friendly interface and scheduling features, Hootsuite excels in collaboration and social media monitoring, Sprout Social offers comprehensive analytics and strategic decision-making tools, while Later specializes in Instagram scheduling and visual content creation.

Which product offers the most comprehensive analytics and reporting capabilities?

Sprout Social provides robust analytics and reporting features that help businesses track their social media performance and make data-driven decisions.

Can I collaborate with my team on social media management tasks using these products?

Yes, Hootsuite and Sprout Social offer multi-user collaboration features, allowing teams to share engagement streams and work together on social media campaigns.

Which product is best suited for scheduling and planning Instagram posts?

Later is a specialized tool for Instagram scheduling and planning, offering features like bulk scheduling, drag-and-drop functionality, and a visual content calendar.

Can I integrate these products with other SaaS tools?

Yes, Buffer, Hootsuite, Sprout Social, and Later offer integrations with various SaaS tools, including project management, CRM, and analytics platforms.