Buffer vs Sprout Social
Buffer vs Sprout Social, compared side by side on 16 data points: what each one does, how big it is, what it has raised, the tech running each site, and what users report. We score both out of 100 on traction, team and visibility: Buffer is on 54/100 and Sprout Social on 56/100.
Where each one leads
Buffer
Leads on none of the measures we hold for both companies.
Sprout Social
- agent readiness: 57/100 against 43/100
At a glance
| Measure | Buffer | Sprout Social |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Social media management platform for scheduling, analytics, and engagement. | A leading social media management and analytics platform for businesses. |
| Category | Social Media Management, Marketing Automation, Content Marketing, Social Media Analytics | Social Media Management, Social Media Marketing, Social Media Analytics, Customer Engagement |
| Sells toBusiness model | B2B | B2B |
| Offering | Software | Software |
| Founded | 2010 | 2010 |
| Headquarters | Denver, United States | Chicago, United States |
| Status | Active | Active |
Size, funding and growth
| Measure | Buffer | Sprout Social |
|---|---|---|
| Employees | 310 | Not published |
| Total funding | Not published | $223M |
| Latest round | Not published | Series D |
| LinkedIn followers | 172,832 | Not published |
StartupHub scores
Our own 0-100 ratings. They measure company strength and site quality, not which product suits you.
| Measure | Buffer | Sprout Social |
|---|---|---|
| StartupHub scoreOur 0-100 rating | 54/100 | 56/100 |
| Traction | 20/100 | 40/100 |
| Team | 70/100 | 70/100 |
| Community | 15/100 | Not published |
| Search visibility | 35/100 | 26/100 |
| Quality | 68/100 | 65/100 |
| Agent readinessHow well an AI agent can read and act on the site | D (43/100) | D (57/100) |
| Domain ratingLink authority, 0-100 | 91/100 | 90/100 |
Technology
Detected on each public site, so it reflects the marketing stack as well as the product.
| Measure | Buffer | Sprout Social |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting | Not detected | AWS |
| CDN | Cloudflare | CloudFront |
| CMS | Ghost | Not detected |
| Frameworks | Next.js | Next.js |
Buffer vs Sprout Social: common questions
Which is better, Buffer or Sprout Social?
On our 0-100 score Sprout Social rates higher (56/100 against 54/100). The score weights traction, team, visibility and profile completeness, so it reflects company strength rather than which product suits you. We compare the two on 16 data points above: read the rows that match what you are buying for.
How do Buffer and Sprout Social compare on the numbers?
Sprout Social leads on agent readiness (57/100 against 43/100).
Read the full Buffer review and pricing or the Sprout Social review and pricing. You can also browse other Buffer alternatives we track.