If you're looking to upgrade your social media game, you need the best management tools. Two of the top names are Buffer and Hootsuite. To find out which you should choose, here's a head-to-head comparison of these two to help you decide.
An Overview of Buffer
Launched in November of 2012, Buffer is a social media management tool that has gained significant popularity. Founded by Joel Gascoigne and Leo Widrich, it aids businesses and individuals in scheduling posts, analyzing performance, and engaging with audiences primarily on social media platforms. With Gascoigne at the helm, Buffer has grown to have over 85 employees working remotely from 15 countries. Its user base has surpassed 4.5 million, and it has reported an estimated $20 million in annual revenues.
An Overview of Hootsuite
Created by Ryan Holmes in 2008, Hootsuite is an application businesses use to manage their social media accounts. Along with founders Dario Meli and David Tedman, this team has built the company to employ more than 1,500, catering to over 16 million users as of March 2018. Its estimated annual revenue is currently at $300.3 million per year.
Key Features of Buffer
To find out if Buffer is the social media management tool for you, take a look at its key features:
For Scheduling
- It lets you plan by allowing you to schedule your posts in advance for different platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
- You can queue up your content to ensure a consistent flow of social media posts and help maintain a solid online presence.
- It lets you create recurring posts by scheduling them to repeat automatically at your desired intervals.
For Content Curation
- It lets you discover content ideas by finding and sharing content from other sources that are relevant and engaging to your audience.
- It offers Pablo by Buffer, a built-in image creation tool that lets you design social media graphics even if you don't have the graphic design chops.
For Collaboration
- Its team management features let you assign roles and permissions for managing your social media accounts collaboratively.
- It enables you to implement approval processes for content before you publish them, ensuring consistency in the brand voice.
For Engagement
- It allows you to manage comments and messages to foster better audience communications.
- It monitors mentions across social media to inform you about online conversations.
For Analytics
- It tracks your posts' performances, such as the number of likes, shares, and click-through rates.
- It lets you identify your top performers and discover the content that resonates most with your audience.
Key Features of Hootsuite
On the other hand, Hootsuite also delivers features you'll find helpful in your social media strategies. These are:
A Unified Management Hub
- It allows you to manage multiple social media accounts within a single dashboard.
- It enables you to switch between accounts and platforms effortlessly.
For Advanced Scheduling and Content Planning
- It lets you schedule a vast number of posts in advance.
- It allows for posting variations of the same post to test different elements that can help optimize performance.
For Engagement and Social Listening
- It lets you manage comments, messages, and mentions from a centralized location.
- It can automate your workflows by replying to common questions or mentions.
- It helps with social listening by tracking mentions and industry conversations across the web.
For Analytics and Reporting
- It provides you with valuable insights into follower growth, engagement metrics, and content performance.
- It lets you customize the reports you get, tailored to your specific needs.
- It provides you with competitor analysis to benchmark your social media performance against your competitors.
Buffer vs Hootsuite: A Comparison
Buffer and Hootsuite are two of the biggest names in social media management. However, they have slight differences. Let's take a closer look at what they are good at, where they shine, and where they struggle:
User Interface
Buffer: Has an intuitive and clean user interface. It is easy to navigate, which makes it an excellent option for beginners.
Hootsuite: Has a more complicated user interface, but includes more comprehensive features than Buffer. It may require a slight learning curve for new users.
Scheduling Features
Buffer: Has robust scheduling features that focus on simplicity. This is the software for those looking to schedule basic texts and image posts.
Hootsuite: Has more advanced scheduling features such as bulk scheduling, post variations, and approval workflows. This is the software for you if you employ more complex social media strategies.
Analytics and Reporting
Buffer: Offers basic analytics and reporting, such as likes, comments, and shares. If you need additional insights, you can get their "Analyze" add-on.
Hootsuite: Boasts more in-depth analytics and customizable reporting. It will give you follower demographics, brand mentions, and competitor analysis.
Integration Capabilities
Buffer: Integrates with the most popular social media platforms and a few marketing tools.
Hootsuite: Has a broader range of integrations, marketing tools, and analytics platforms.
In Summary
Choose Buffer: If you require a user-friendly interface and cost-effectiveness.
Choose Hootsuite: If you need more advanced features and in-depth analytics.
Pros and Cons
To help you make your decision, here is a list of the pros and cons of Buffer and Hootsuite:
Buffer Pros
- Simple and user-friendly interface
- Strong focus on scheduling
- Free plan available
- Cost-effective paid plans
- Pablo by Buffer
Buffer Cons
- Limited features
- Limited reporting capabilities
- Not suitable for large teams
Hootsuite Pros
- Advanced features
- Powerful analytics and reporting
- Scalable solution
- Social listening capabilities
- Enhanced collaboration features
Hootsuite Cons
- Steeper learning curve
- No free plan
- Not suitable for social media novices
Buffer vs Hootsuite: Who Wins?
Buffer and Hootsuite are both excellent social media management tools. However, they cater to different business needs. This means, the winner is the one who fits your requirements to a tee. Choose Buffer if you are a newbie in social media management or a small business with limited finances.
On the other hand, you must go with Hootsuite if you are a large team with complex social media management needs. In addition, if you require extensive integrations, this is the clear choice.
