Buffer vs Hootsuite: Best Social Media Management Tool ?

Managing multiple social media accounts can be complex. It can be time-consuming task too. Thankfully, there are some social media management tools available. Two best social media scheduling tools are Buffer and Hootsuite. Managing social media for multiple platforms is henceforth easy with one of these tools. Features of Buffer and Hootsuite are rich and highly productive.

Both social media management tools are popular choices. It helps in social media scheduling and management smartly. It caters to various needs and audiences. Let us explore some of the features of Buffer and Hootsuite here. Let us understand the advantages and limitations of each in this article to help you decide which one is the best fit for your social media strategy.

Social media management tools are designed to help users in automate their posting schedules, monitor engagement metrics and manage various social media accounts from a single platform. The tools are game-changing in the world of social media. Creators can now save time and ensure a more organized social media presence.

Buffer and Hootsuite: Quick Snapshot

Buffer is best fit for creators and small businesses who are seeking a simple scheduling tool with some extra features. Hootsuite is ideal for larger organizations which look ahead requiring comprehensive social media management capabilities including advanced conversation management across various platforms.

Detailed Comparison: Buffer vs Hootsuite

User Interface and Ease of Use

Buffer has a clean and minimalist interface. It is easy to navigate. It is equipped with straightforward design and makes it accessible for users of all experience levels. It simultaneously ensures that anyone can schedule posts and manage their social media accounts with minimal hassle.

Hootsuite offers a more complex interface. It is equipped with some great features. The rich features allow for advanced functionalities. It also means a steeper learning curve. Users need to understand the dashboard properly to find the features and use those.

Scheduling and Publishing

The scheduling of Buffer relies on a queue system. Users can set specific posting times for each day. The new posts thereafter automatically fill the next available slot. Hence, maintaining a consistent posting schedule becomes easy. Manual scheduling is also made available. It is best for those who look for more control.

Hootsuite provides an AutoSchedule feature. It has the capability of choosing optimal posting times based on user settings. However, it also sacrifices some control over the exact order of posts and this is a drawback.

Hootsuite supports bulk scheduling via CSV files. It allows users to plan and upload multiple posts at once.

Analytics and Reporting

Buffer offers some basic analytics such engagement metrics and performance insights. Users can create custom reports to track campaign success and this is often sufficient for small businesses as well as individual creators.

Hootsuite is equipped with goal-oriented analytics. It aligns metrics with specific goals like driving traffic or building brand awareness. It also provides industry benchmarks for comparison. The depth of analysis can be highly valuable for larger organizations who look ahead to optimize their social media strategies.

Team and Permission Management

The Team and Agency plans of Buffer allow unlimited users with three levels of access. These are admin, full and approval-required. The simple structure works well for small to medium-sized teams. It ensures appropriate levels of control.

Hootsuite offers granular permission settings. This means the permission is at organizational, team and social channel levels. Hence, it is perfectly ideal for complex organizations. It allows detailed customization and simultaneously also increases the cost with each additional user.

Conversation Management

Buffer’s conversation management is limited to just replying to comments on Facebook Pages and Instagram Business accounts. It does not support direct message (DM) management. Hence, it limits the usefulness for comprehensive audience engagement.

Hootsuite provides extensive conversation management feature. It allows managing public and private interactions across multiple platforms and from within the tool. Its rich features include viewing entire conversation histories, using saved replies and also assigning conversations to team members. It is a robust solution for customer support.

AI and Automation Features

Buffer’s AI assistant helps in generating social media posts and hashtags. However, the generated outputs often require human editing.

Hootsuite’s OwlyWriterAI offers comparatively more advanced capabilities. It comes with repurposing feature of top posts and creates holiday-centric content. It is also equipped with an idea catalog with templates for common post types. This saves time for marketers and enhances creativity.

Free Plan and Pricing

Buffer offers a generous free plan. It supports up to three social media accounts and simultaneously 10 scheduled posts per channel. It is ideal for individual creators and small businesses. Its paid plans start from $6 per month per channel. Considering prices of other tools, it comes at an affordable option.

Hootsuite sadly does not offer a free plan. However, it comes with a 30-day trial for its paid plans. The plans start at $99 per month for up to ten social media accounts. It may be expensive to some, but considering the available features it is worth buying the plans.

Verdict

Choosing one of the perfect social media management tools can be challenging. However, here we discussed two best social media scheduling tools which are worth considering. These are Buffer and Hootsuite. Managing social media for multiple platforms is easy and time-saving with either of the two. Features of Buffer and Hootsuite are rich and highly helpful.

However, the choice between Buffer and Hootsuite depends on your specific needs and the size of your organization. Let us wrap here with a summary to help you decide which is best for you:

Choose Buffer if:

You are an individual creator or run a small business.

You need a simple and affordable scheduling tool.

You prefer a user-friendly interface.

Choose Hootsuite if:

You manage social media for a large organization or agency.

You need advanced features like comprehensive conversation management and goal-oriented analytics.

You require detailed team permission settings and can afford the higher cost.

Both Buffer and Hootsuite are considered to be powerful tools. These can enhance your social media management. Understanding the strengths and limitations of these can help you in making an informed choice. Choose it based on your goals. These will effectively manage your social media presence.