Buffer vs Hootsuite in 2026: which one, for whom, at what price
Buffer charges per channel from $6 a month; Hootsuite per user from $99. Inbox, approvals, threads and real costs side by side, from both vendors' own pages.
Short answer
Buffer is the cheaper, simpler scheduler: $6 per channel a month, a free plan for 3 channels, and threads on X, Threads, Bluesky and Mastodon. Hootsuite is a full suite priced per user from $99 a month billed yearly, with an inbox on every plan, listening and deeper reports, but approvals only on Advanced at $399.
Buffer and Hootsuite side by side
| Buffer | Hootsuite | |
|---|---|---|
| Priced by | Channel | User (seat) |
| Cheapest paid plan | Essentials: $6 a channel a month ($5 yearly), 1 user | Standard: $149 a user a month ($99 yearly), 10 accounts |
| Free plan | 3 channels, 10 posts queued on each | None; a 14-day trial |
| Approvals | Team plan; approvers need a Buffer login | Advanced, $399 a user a month billed yearly |
| Inbox | Comments on 10 networks, every plan | Comments and messages, every plan |
| Threads of posts | X, Threads, Bluesky and Mastodon | Not documented |
| First comment | Instagram and LinkedIn | Instagram and LinkedIn |
| Bulk upload | CSV, 100 posts per upload | CSV, 350 posts per upload |
| Reports | Unlimited history from Essentials; branded on Team | Templates and 5 competitors on Standard; export from Professional |
| Listening | None | Quick Search on every plan; Talkwalker on Enterprise |
| Networks | 12, with Bluesky, Mastodon and Substack | 9, with Bluesky; no Mastodon |
| Link in bio | Start Page closed to new pages on 4 Nov 2026 | Hootbio on every plan |
What they cost
- One person, 5 channels: Buffer Essentials, $30 a month ($25 yearly). Hootsuite Standard, $149 a month ($99 yearly).
- Three people, 10 channels: Buffer Team, $120 a month ($100 yearly), approvals included. Hootsuite Standard for three seats, $447 a month ($297 yearly), without approvals.
- Three people who need approvals: Buffer Team stays at $120. Hootsuite Advanced is $1,497 a month ($1,197 yearly).
Buffer gets cheaper per channel past 10 ($4 each from 11 to 25 on monthly billing), while Hootsuite's cost moves with people, not accounts, and Standard stops at 10 accounts. Buffer pricing and Hootsuite pricing have every plan.
Choose Buffer if
- You mostly publish, and answering comments in the tool is a nice extra rather than the job.
- You post to Mastodon or Substack, or write threads on X, Threads, Bluesky or Mastodon.
- You're one person or a small team, and the free plan or a few channels covers you.
Choose Hootsuite if
- Your team answers comments and messages from one inbox every day.
- You report to a boss or a client, need exported reports and competitor tracking, or want listening.
- You need enterprise compliance, SSO or Salesforce on its top plan.
A third option: PostDaily
PostDaily is our product, so weigh this accordingly. It sits between the two on features: publishing only, with no inbox or listening, like Buffer, but with seats included in each plan and approval by a client from a review link with no account, on Pro. It publishes to Bluesky, Mastodon, X, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Threads, YouTube and Pinterest. PostDaily vs Buffer and PostDaily vs Hootsuite say where each of them is the better choice.
Buffer vs Hootsuite questions
Is Buffer cheaper than Hootsuite?
Yes, for most teams. Buffer starts at $6 per channel a month and has a free plan; Hootsuite starts at $149 per user a month, or $99 billed yearly.
Does Buffer have a social inbox like Hootsuite?
Buffer has an inbox for comments on 10 networks, on every plan. Hootsuite's covers comments and messages and adds automation and routing on higher plans.
Does Hootsuite have a free plan?
No. It has a 14-day trial. Buffer's free plan covers 3 channels.
Which one has approvals?
Buffer on its Team plan, with approvers who log in. Hootsuite on Advanced, $399 per user a month billed yearly.
Last checked against buffer.com/pricing, Buffer's help centre and hootsuite.com/plans.
