If you’re looking to streamline your social media management, finding the right scheduling tool is key. Buffer is a popular choice among businesses, but it’s not the only option out there. With the ever-changing social media landscape, new and improved buffer alternatives are emerging in 2024.
From advanced analytics and team collaboration features to affordable pricing options, these alternatives offer a range of benefits that make them worth considering. In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at some of the best buffer alternatives on the market and help you decide which one is the best fit for your business.
Buffer has certain limitations even though it is straightforward to use and integrate. For starters, some users think its feature set is somewhat constrained. We now have new players on the pitch, and many of these platforms link with more social media channels than Buffer, provide more precise data and greatly simplify team communication. Some other reasons you might want to look for a Buffer alternative are:
Buffer tool does not offer streamlined content; it has separate apps to help you customize & scale your content. (Pablo by buffer).
Buffer does not allow you to set a repetition period if you want to reuse your content. Instead, you would have to reshare the content yourself.
It’s a pricier option compared to its alternatives.
If any of these reasons are a deal breaker for you, then it’s time for you to check out some alternatives to Buffer.
What to look for in a Buffer alternative?
Deciding which social media marketing tools are best for your brand is not simple. When choosing between apps like Buffer, you need to ask yourself: What is your eventual goal when investing in this particular app? Once you’ve defined your end goal, you can focus on the issues you must consider before deciding on your social media management software. In this article, we are going to try and simplify your predicament. A few important factors you should consider before investing in tools like Buffer are:
Compatibility
Compatibility should be the first and most crucial thing to consider when selecting your tool. You must ensure that your tool is compatible with all social media channels where your brand is active.
AI features
It’s essential to consider AI-driven features alongside other key factors. Platforms that offer robust AI capabilities such as smart scheduling, content recommendations, and performance prediction further streamline your social media strategy.
Metrics insights
The decision maker is primarily concerned with metrics. Therefore, select a solution that gives you real-time access to all desired metrics, such as clicks, reach, post-performance, sentiment analysis, interaction, etc.
Insightful analysis
It’s crucial to assess your metrics for use in future strategies once you have them. The software should be able to give a relevant analysis or summary of how the campaign or content performed.
Analyze, Understand, and Improve Your Social Strategy
Stack your key social metrics against those of your competitors and make targeted steps towards social media success.
The cost influences whether or not a person chooses to pursue a particular software. Therefore, when choosing social media marketing automation tools, you must ask yourself: How much money do you have to put into your tool? Does it provide a free trial so you may try it out and decide whether to buy it later? Is the service worth the investment?
User-friendly interface
Finally, you should search for a social media platform that makes your life easier. A simple user interface that conveniently delivers your required information should be your top priority. An application with a hard-to-use interface will frustrate you and will not be a valuable investment.
Ease of use
The buffer alternative should have a user-friendly interface. This will make it easier for you to schedule and manage your social media posts and reduce the learning curve for new team members.
Integrations
If you use other tools in your workflow, ensure the buffer alternatives integrate with them. This can save you time and make managing your social media presence easier. For example, if you use a CRM system to manage customer interactions, look for a buffer alternative that integrates with it.
Price
Consider the cost of the buffer alternative and compare it to your social media budget. Look for a tool that offers good value for the price and consider whether it provides a free trial or a money-back guarantee.
Customer support
Look for a buffer alternative that offers good customer support if you have any questions or issues. This could include email support, a help center, or live chat.
Security
Make sure the buffer alternative takes security seriously and has measures to protect your data. This is especially important if you handle sensitive information, such as customer data or passwords.
Customization options
Consider whether the buffer alternative offers customization options, such as the ability to customize the appearance of your scheduled content or create custom post templates. This can help create a consistent look and feel for your social media presence.
Collaboration tools
If you work with a team on social media, look for a buffer alternative that offers collaboration tools, such as the ability to assign tasks, leave comments, and track changes. This can help you work efficiently and effectively as a team.
Mobile app
If you need to manage your social media accounts on the go, make sure the buffer alternative has a mobile app available. This can be especially useful if you travel frequently or must respond to real-time social media updates.
User reviews
Check out user reviews to see what others say about the buffer alternative you’re considering. This can give you a sense of how well the tool works and whether it fits your needs. Also, look for reviews from users in similar industries or with similar social media goals to get a more accurate picture of how the tool will work for you.
Ultimately, your tool should be easy to use, compatible with the right platforms, and provide good metrics and analysis. Now that’s clear, let’s dive into the 26 best alternatives to Buffer:
Top 26 Buffer alternatives for marketing agencies
1. ContentStudio
ContentStudio is the best alternative available for the Buffer tool. It has competitive prices and is affordable compared to many available options. You can make up to 500 posts each month with its free account. Every subscription plan offers limitless monthly social media posting.
One element that ContentStudio’s rivals lack is a robust content curation and automation tool. The evergreen content tool also allows you to create a “set and forget” schedule for content you want to publish regularly.
The content discovery option syncs with the automatic posting tools, is simple to use, and helps find interesting information to publish. ContentStudio also has valuable integrations with additional tools like Pocket, content spinners, link shorteners, Feedly, and Replug that further facilitate your marketing efforts.
Sprout Social is also one of the buffer alternatives. It provides users with an ultimate package for managing social networking. Moreover, it offers a scheduling feature that recommends the ideal time for sending emails. It is possible to create, arrange, edit, and publish content using the same tool’s asset library.
Top features:
Comment moderation
Message completion
Conversation history
Engagement reporting
Task completion reporting
Social channels:
Twitter
Instagram
LinkedIn
Pinterest
TikTok
YouTube
WhatsApp
Facebook
Facebook messenger
Google my business
Platform integrations:
Bitly
Canva
Dropbox
Feedly
Glassdoor
Slack
Pricing:
Standard – $249 per month
Professional – $399 per month
Advanced -$499 per month
3. Promo Republic
PromoRepublic is a marketing software that provides marketing firms and multi-location companies with the knowledge and resources needed to manage social media and uphold the integrity of their brands. PromoRepublic places a lot of emphasis on design.
Unlike most social media marketing tools, you don’t need to open any other graphics software to create attractive posts. PromoRepublic does resemble Canva in many ways, but it’s a social media management that lets you schedule and distributes your designs. Thus, being one of the finest in buffer alternatives list.
Top features:
Activity dashboard
Alerts/notifications
Artwork management
Automated publishing
Automated scheduling
Social channels:
Twitter
Instagram
LinkedIn
Pinterest
Platform integrations:
Hootsuite
Meta
Weebly
Pricing:
Small business – $59/mo.
Agency – $99/mo.
4. Napoleon Cat
NapoleonCat is one of the best alternatives to Buffer. It’s a great publishing and analytics tool that allows you to engage with your audience meaningfully. In addition to the features typical of most social media marketing solutions,
NapoleonCat assists you in automating your customer service process so you can communicate with clients and create deeper relationships with them.