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Hootsuite vs Buffer
Both sit in social media. Here is how they differ on the things you can actually check.
On price: Buffer starts $94 a month cheaper than Hootsuite ($5 against $99, 95% less) on its Essentials tier. Both figures were read from the vendors' own pricing pages on the dates shown below.
Hootsuite
hootsuite.com
Publishing, monitoring streams, social listening, approvals and reporting for larger teams managing many accounts.
Social Media
Visit HootsuiteBuffer
buffer.com
Queue-based publishing across the major networks with a clean interface, basic analytics and a free tier for three channels.
Free planSocial Media
Visit Buffer| Hootsuite | Buffer | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry price | $99/mo | $5/mo |
| Entry plan | Standard | Essentials |
| Paid annually | $99/mo | $5/mo |
| Price checked | 21 Sept 2026 | 21 Sept 2026 |
| Pricing model | Free trial | Free plan |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Category | Social Media | Social Media |
| Around since | 2008 | 2010 |
Every price here was read from the vendor's own pricing page, most recently on 21 Sept 2026. Entry tier only — vendors change pricing without notice.
Hootsuite vs Buffer, answered
- Is Hootsuite cheaper than Buffer?
- No — Buffer is the cheaper entry point, at $5 a month against Hootsuite's $99, 95% less. Buffer's figure is its annual rate — the vendor publishes no month-to-month price we could read.
- Do Hootsuite or Buffer have a free plan?
- Buffer publishes an ongoing free plan; Hootsuite does not.
- What is the difference between Hootsuite and Buffer?
- Hootsuite: Publishing, monitoring streams, social listening, approvals and reporting for larger teams managing many accounts. Buffer: Queue-based publishing across the major networks with a clean interface, basic analytics and a free tier for three channels.
