Hootsuite vs. Buffer: Which One Is The Best Social Media Management Tool?
Social media has become an essential part of any business’s marketing strategy. To save time and effort on social media management, many companies turn to automation tools like Hootsuite and Buffer. But which one is the right fit for your needs?
Let's take a closer look at the main differences between Hootsuite and Buffer and help you make your decision.
Hootsuite
Hootsuite is a social media management tool that allows you to manage multiple social media accounts, schedule posts, monitor keywords, and track social media analytics. Hootsuite’s main selling point is its ability to manage multiple accounts in one dashboard, which is particularly useful for teams working on multiple projects.
Features
Hootsuite’s features include:
- Automated posting
- Approval workflows
- Content library
- Customizable dashboards
- Analytics and reporting
- Social listening
- Team collaboration
Pricing
Hootsuite’s pricing plans start at $19/month for one user and up to 10 social profiles. The most expensive plan is $499/month for 10 users and up to 35 social profiles. Hootsuite also offers a customizable enterprise plan for larger businesses.
Buffer
Buffer is a social media scheduling tool focused on helping individuals and small businesses to manage their social media profiles with ease. Buffer’s main selling point is its simplicity. The clean interface is easy to navigate, and the scheduled posts editor is intuitive and user-friendly.
Features
Buffer’s features include:
- Automated posting
- Content creation tools
- Analytics and reporting
- Social listening
- Team collaboration
Pricing
Buffer’s pricing plans start at $15/month for one user and up to 8 social profiles. The most expensive plan is $99/month for six users and up to 25 social profiles. Buffer also offers enterprise plans for larger businesses, with custom pricing based on their needs.
Hootsuite vs. Buffer
Both Hootsuite and Buffer are great social media management tools with some similarities and significant differences. Here are some of the main differences between the two tools:
Price:
In general, Hootsuite is more expensive than Buffer, especially if you have a large team or need to manage multiple accounts. However, Hootsuite offers more robust features, which justifies the higher price.
Features:
Hootsuite offers more features than Buffer, such as content libraries, approval workflows, and customizable dashboards. This makes Hootsuite a better fit for bigger teams, agencies, and businesses with multiple projects.
Buffer, on the other hand, offers a simpler interface and focuses on scheduled posts. It's suitable for individuals, small businesses, or businesses that have one social media account per channel.
Interface:
Hootsuite's interface can be overwhelming for new users because of the many features on the dashboard. In contrast, Buffer has a cleaner interface that’s more user-friendly and easy to navigate.
Customer Support:
Both Hootsuite and Buffer have great customer support, with 24/7 assistance available. However, Hootsuite offers enterprise customers a dedicated account manager.
Conclusion
Choosing between Hootsuite and Buffer depends on your business’s specific needs. If you have a large team and multiple social media accounts, go for Hootsuite. If you're running a small business or a solopreneur, Buffer could be a better fit.
References
Buffer. (n.d.). Plans and pricing. Buffer. https://buffer.com/pricing/
Hootsuite. (n.d.). Pricing. Hootsuite. https://www.hootsuite.com/pricing