Buffer
Cheaper for 10 people
From$5/mo
10 people: $5 a month · $60 a year
- Free plan
- No yearly discount listed
- No startup credits listed
- 3 plans · priced per plan
Buffer vs Hootsuite: pricing compared
Plans, list prices and what a team of 5, 10 or 25 pays on each, from Surba's catalog of Marketing tools. Updated for 2026.
At a glance
Side by side
Buffer starts at $5/mo (Essentials) and Hootsuite at $99/user/mo (Standard). For 10 people that's $5 vs $990 a month: Buffer is $985 a month (99%) cheaper than Hootsuite on list price.
Hootsuite
Marketing
From$99/user/mo
10 people: $990 a month · $11,880 a year
- No free plan
- No yearly discount listed
- No startup credits listed
- 2 plans · priced per user
Plans
Buffer and Hootsuite plans
Every plan with a public price, in US dollars.
Buffer
Free
Up to 3 channels · 10 scheduled posts per channel
Free
Essentials
Per channel, $5/mo billed yearly · Unlimited scheduled posts · Advanced analytics
$5/mo
Team
Per channel, $10/mo billed yearly · Unlimited team members · Approval workflows
$10/mo
Priced per connected social channel. Monthly-billed prices not shown; page states both 'save 2 months' and a 20% annual discount (inconsistent).
Prices from Buffer's pricing page, checked 26 Oct 2026.
Hootsuite
Standard
Starting price per user · Up to 10 social accounts · AI post generation
$99/user/mo
Professional
Starting price per user · Unlimited social accounts · Custom reports
$199/user/mo
Page gives only 'starts at' prices in FAQ ($99, $199; Advanced 'up to $399'); annual billing gives a lower rate but exact monthly vs annual split not shown. Enterprise: contact sales.
Prices from Hootsuite's pricing page, checked 26 Oct 2026.
Team cost
What each costs your team
Entry paid plans, per month and per year at list price.
| Team | Buffer (Essentials) | Hootsuite (Standard) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 people | $5/mo$60/yr a year | $495/mo$5,940/yr a year | Buffer $490 less a month |
| 10 people | $5/mo$60/yr a year | $990/mo$11,880/yr a year | Buffer $985 less a month |
| 25 people | $5/mo$60/yr a year | $2,475/mo$29,700/yr a year | Buffer $2,470 less a month |
Buffer is priced per plan. Hootsuite is priced per user. Per-user prices are multiplied by the team; per-plan prices aren't. Before tax; yearly discounts not applied.
FAQ
Buffer vs Hootsuite: questions
Which is cheaper, Buffer or Hootsuite?
Buffer starts at $5/mo (Essentials) and Hootsuite at $99/user/mo (Standard). For 10 people that's $5 vs $990 a month: Buffer is $985 a month (99%) cheaper than Hootsuite on list price. Compare features too: the cheaper plan isn't always the closer match.
Do Buffer and Hootsuite have free plans?
Buffer has a free plan (Free). Hootsuite has no free plan in Surba's catalog.
More comparisons
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Paying for Buffer or Hootsuite? Track it in Surba.
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