Social media management tools are savior in helping businesses get through the complexities of online engagement. Because consumers are now increasingly inclined towards every businesses’ social media presence and interact with them accordingly.

This is where tools like Hootsuite and Buffer allow businesses to develop and maintain their social media presence. Let’s compare their pricing plans and what they offer in that price range.

A Brief Overview of Buffer and Hootsuite Features

Buffer and Hootsuite are two of the most renowned social media management platforms. Both help people and businesses simplify their journey of creating and maintaining a social media presence.

Let’s look at the common features they offer to understand their pricing plans better.

Scheduling and Publishing Content: Both platforms allow their users to create, schedule, and automate their content for publishing, ensuring they maintain a seamless social media presence.

Curating Content: It allows users to maintain diversity in content by searching for the latest and most relevant content. This is a great way to keep consumers engaged and interested.

Increasing Engagement: Both tools provide features that allow users to monitor audience engagement and send automated replies. The prompt automated responses help them build a better connection with their audience.

Team Collaboration: Both platforms offer team collaboration features for social media management teams that manage multiple accounts. This allows them to maintain smoother communication and simplify their workflow.

Reports & Analytics: These features keep the users well-informed about their content performance so they can devise content strategies accordingly.

AI Features: As AI prevails in content creation, both these tools have AI content creation features to generate captions, posts, repurpose content, etc.

The features discussed above are standard in both platforms. However, these platforms offer distinctive features or integrations as well.

One important thing to keep in mind is that the use of these social media platforms is not limited to managing content only. They help increase the social media ROI and boost engagement and web traffic.

User Base Of Buffer And Hootsuite

Buffer and Hootsuite boost a massive user base with their user-friendly and efficient features. Buffer scores over 75,000 customers annually, including content creators, small and large-scale businesses, and social media management teams.

On the other hand, Hootsuite has over 200,000 paid users who can benefit from its most creative integrations.

After learning the extent of Buffer and Hootsuite popularity and features, let’s discuss their pricing plans now.

Buffer’s Pricing Plan

Buffer is compatible with Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Google My Business, X (Twitter), TikTok, YouTube, Mastodon, Pinterest and Shopify.

Buffer offers three price plans for its users. Each plan allows different features so individuals or brands can choose the one that suits their needs. The details are:

Essentials:

The Essentials plan is a budget-friendly option for solopreneurs, freelancers, or businesses managing just a few social media accounts.

You gain access to core features for $6 per month per social channel you connect.

• Scheduling and Publishing: Schedule your social media posts in advance to maintain a consistent online presence.
• Content Curation: Discover and share relevant content to keep your audience engaged.
• Analytics and Reporting: Track the performance of your social media posts and gain valuable insights.
• Engagement Tools: Respond to comments and messages directly through Buffer.
• Landing Page Builder: Create high-converting landing pages to capture leads.
• AI Assistant (Buffer Pablo): Receive suggestions for eye-catching social media graphics.

Team

It is billed at $12 per month for a single channel. The Team plan is designed for small teams managing multiple social media accounts. It includes all the features of the Essentials plan, plus additional functionalities to improve collaboration:

• Unlimited Team Members: Invite as many team members as needed to manage your social media presence.
• Draft Collaboration Tools: Work together on drafts and streamline the content creation process.

Agency

This plan is billed at $120 per month for ten channels. The Agency plan is built for agencies and businesses managing a large client base. It offers all the features of the Team plan, with additional functionalities for managing multiple clients:

• Scalability: You can easily add more social media channels as your client base grows (additional channels cost $6 per month each).
• Customized Access and Features: Customize the access levels and features for each team member or client.

Note: Buffer offers a 14-day free trial for every price plan. If you want a 20% discount, you can choose the annual billing system.

Free Plan: Explore Buffer Before You Buy

Buffer offers a free plan to connect up to three social media channels. Before committing to a paid plan, It is a great way to test the platform’s basic features, like scheduling, publishing, and analytics.

With the free plan, you can also access Buffer Pablo, the AI assistant that helps you create engaging social media graphics.

You can check the more detailed comparison and usage of buffer pricing here.

You may also want to read: 13 Best Buffer Alternatives for Free in 2024

Hootsuite’s Pricing Plan

Hootsuite is compatible with Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), Pinterest, YouTube and TikTok.

It also offers multiple integrations like Google My Business, LinkedIn Hashtag Analytics, Hootsuite Syndicator, etc.

Hootsuite offers a range of plans designed to cater to businesses of all sizes and social media needs. Understanding what each plan includes will help you decide which one best suits your budget and requirements.

Here’s a breakdown of Hootsuite’s pricing structure:

Professional

The Professional plan is a solid choice for growing businesses managing up to ten social media accounts.

Here’s what you get for $149 per month.

• Unlimited Post Scheduling: Schedule your social media content in advance for a seamless online presence.
• Canva Integration: Design stunning visuals directly within Hootsuite using the popular Canva integration.
• Hashtag Generator: Discover relevant hashtags to maximize your content’s reach.
• Customizable Analytics and Reports: Gain valuable insights into your social media performance with customizable reports.
• Combined Inbox: Manage comments and messages from all your social accounts in one central location.
• And More: Hootsuite Professional includes additional features to enhance your social media management.

Team

The Team plan caters to mid-sized teams managing up to twenty social media accounts. It includes all the features of the Professional plan, plus functionalities designed to streamline collaboration.

• Team Management: Assign roles and permissions to team members for improved workflow control.
• Bulk Post Scheduling: Schedule large volumes of social media content efficiently.
• Link in Bio Tool: Create a customizable link in your bio to direct followers to important landing pages.
• One Custom Branded URL: Shorten and brand your social media links for a professional touch.
• Automatic Link Tracking: Track the clicks on your social media links to measure their effectiveness.
• Assigning DMs to Teammates: Route direct messages to specific team members for faster response.
• $2,000 Limit for Post Boosting: Experiment with paid social media promotion to expand your reach (additional budget required)

Enterprise Custom

The Enterprise Custom plan is built for large businesses with complex social media needs and can manage over fifty social media accounts. It offers all the features of the Team plan, with additional functionalities for advanced management and customization.

• Approval Workflow and Asset Management: Streamline content creation and ensure brand consistency.
• Advanced Automation Tools: Automate repetitive tasks within the Hootsuite inbox for increased efficiency.
• Organic and Paid Campaign Management: Manage organic and paid social media campaigns from a single platform.
• Advanced Content Curation: Discover and share highly relevant content to keep your audience engaged.
• Premium Support: Get priority access to Hootsuite’s customer support team.

Optional Add-Ons: Enhance Functionality for Specific Needs

Hootsuite offers a variety of optional add-ons that can further enhance your social media management experience.

Here are some examples:

• Social Listening: Track brand mentions and industry conversations across the web.
• Advanced Analytics: Gain deeper insights into your social media performance with more detailed reporting.
• Employee Advocacy: Empower your employees to become brand ambassadors on social media.
• Advanced Inbox: Enhance your ability to manage comments and messages across multiple social channels.
• Review Management: Monitor and respond to online reviews from customers.

Note: Hootsuite offers a 30-day Free Trial for its Professional and Team price plans. Users can skip the trial period and get the 20% discount instead.

Hoostuite does not offer a free plan to its users, which can be a major turnoff for individuals or small businesses who want to try the platform.

You may also want to read: 17+ Best Hootsuite Alternatives Free for 2024

Limitations and Benefits

Buffer and Hootsuite are powerful social media management tools that cater to slightly different needs.

Here’s a breakdown of critical factors to consider for Buffer vs Hootsuite when choosing the right platform.

User Interface and Learning Curve

Buffer: Known for its user-friendly interface and straightforward features, Buffer is easy to learn and navigate, even for social media beginners.

Hootsuite: Offers a wider range of features, but its interface can be more complex to navigate. A steeper learning curve might be involved, especially for those new to social media management tools.

Scalability

Buffer: Scales well for solopreneurs, freelancers, and small businesses managing a handful of social media accounts.

Hootsuite: Designed to handle larger teams and complex social media needs. It offers greater scalability for businesses managing numerous accounts.

Free Trial vs. Paid Plans

Buffer: Offers a free plan with limited features and a 14-day free trial for paid plans.

Hootsuite: No free plan is available, but it offers a 30-day free trial for professional and team plans.

Making the Choice

Choose Buffer if: You’re a solopreneur, freelancer, or small business with a limited budget and a need for a user-friendly platform for basic social media management.

Choose Hootsuite if: You’re a medium-sized or large business with complex social media needs, require advanced features like bulk scheduling and in-depth analytics, or have a larger team that needs collaboration functionalities.

Ultimately, the best platform depends on your specific needs and budget. Consider trying out the free trials Buffer and Hootsuite offer to see which one best suits your workflow.

Final Recommendation

Selecting the perfect social media management tool can feel overwhelming. Buffer and Hootsuite offer valuable features, but the ideal choice depends on your circumstances.

Here are some key considerations to help you make the final decision.

For Individual Users and Small Businesses

Budget: Buffer’s free plan and lower overall pricing make it more attractive for budget-conscious users.

Needs: If you only manage a few social media accounts and prioritize a user-friendly experience, Buffer might be sufficient.

For Large Businesses and Complex Needs

Advanced Features: Hootsuite’s extensive features, like bulk scheduling, advanced analytics, and social listening, cater to complex social media strategies.

Scalability: Hootsuite’s scalability is a significant advantage if you manage numerous social media accounts for multiple clients or have a large team.

Beyond Price: Value and Return on Investment (ROI)

While price is crucial, consider each platform’s potential return on investment (ROI). Buffer’s simplicity might save you time when learning the tool, while Hootsuite’s advanced features could lead to increased engagement and brand awareness, ultimately impacting your bottom line.

Here are some additional tips for making your final decision.

• List your social media management needs and priorities.
• Consider your budget and team size.
• Read online reviews and watch tutorials for both platforms.
• Take advantage of the free trials offered by Buffer and Hootsuite.

By carefully evaluating your needs and exploring both options, you can confidently choose the social media management tool that empowers you to achieve your online marketing goals.

If it still feels out of your current budget but you want the same work done then consider trying the 14-day free trial of SocialBu, a budget-friendly alternate to both.