Buffer vs Sprout Social: Pricing Comparison 2026
Side-by-side pricing comparison of Buffer and Sprout Social. See all plans, features, and costs at a glance.
Bottom line: Buffer starts at $14/mo, making it $185/mo cheaper than Sprout Social ($199/mo). Buffer offers a free plan.
Last updated: July 6, 2026
Buffer vs Sprout Social: Quick Pricing Facts
| Feature | Buffer | Sprout Social |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $14/mo | $199/mo |
| Number of Plans | 3 | 4 |
| Free Tier | Yes | No |
| Pricing Model | freemium | per-seat |
| Annual Discount | N/A | N/A |
Buffer is the more affordable option, starting at $14/mo compared to Sprout Social's $199/mo. Both are Other tools with 7 combined pricing plans and 18 features compared.
Buffer stands out with a free plan for getting started. Buffer uses freemium pricing while Sprout Social uses per-seat pricing, which may affect your total cost at scale.
Review the detailed tier-by-tier comparison above to see exactly which features are included at each price point and find the best fit for your Other needs.
| Pricing Plans |  Buffer Try free |  Sprout Social Try free |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | FreePopular $0/monthCheapest | Standard $199/month Includes
|
| Tier 2 | EssentialsPopular $14/monthCheapest | Professional $299/month Includes
|
| Tier 3 | TeamPopular $14/monthCheapest | Advanced $399/month Includes
|
| Tier 4 | - | Enterprise Custom pricing Includes
|
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Which Should You Choose?
Choose Buffer if:
- •You want affordable social media scheduling with a clean, intuitive interface for small teams
- •Buffer Free supports 3 channels with 10 scheduled posts per channel - enough for individuals and micro-teams
- •Budget matters - Buffer Essentials at $6/month per channel is dramatically cheaper than Sprout Social
- •Your social media needs are straightforward: schedule posts, track engagement, and manage multiple accounts
Choose Sprout Social if:
- •You need enterprise social media management with CRM, listening, and advanced analytics
- •Sprout Social's unified inbox manages conversations across all social platforms in one view
- •Social listening, sentiment analysis, and competitive benchmarking inform your social strategy
- •Your marketing team needs approval workflows, campaign planning, and team collaboration features
Buffer and Sprout Social serve social media management at vastly different price points and capability levels. Buffer Free supports 3 channels. Essentials at $6/month per channel adds analytics and engagement. Team at $12/month per channel adds collaboration. Sprout Social Standard at $249/month per user. Professional at $399/month per user. Advanced at $499/month per user. Enterprise with custom pricing. The price gap is staggering. A 3-person team managing 10 social channels: Buffer Team costs approximately $120/month. Sprout Social Standard costs $747/month - over 6x more. Buffer wins on value for small teams. Scheduling, basic analytics, and engagement tracking cover the needs of most small businesses and solo marketers. The interface is clean, fast, and requires no training. Sprout Social wins on enterprise capabilities. Social listening monitors brand mentions, competitor activity, and industry trends. CRM features track customer relationships across social platforms. Advanced analytics with custom reports and competitive benchmarking serve marketing leadership. Approval workflows and campaign planning support enterprise teams. For small teams and individual marketers, Buffer provides everything needed at an accessible price. For enterprise marketing teams needing listening, CRM, and advanced analytics, Sprout Social's capabilities justify the significant investment.
Frequently Asked Questions: Buffer vs Sprout Social
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Does Buffer or Sprout Social offer custom enterprise pricing?
What pricing models do Buffer and Sprout Social use?
How do Buffer and Sprout Social compare for Other?
Sources
- Buffer Official Pricing- Vendor pricing page
- Sprout Social Official Pricing- Vendor pricing page
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