Buffer vs. Sprout Social (2026): An Honest Comparison

Buffer and Sprout Social both have plenty of great features for managing and growing your social media presence. Here’s how to figure out which one is right for you.

As a marketer, I've always wanted to be data-informed but not data-driven. I know that data on its own won't make my content stand out (originality and creativity are more important than ever!), but it can help my creative juices flow in the right direction.

Which is why I'm so glad to be writing this: we rebuilt Buffer's analytics from the ground up, and today we're launching Insights — analytics that help you figure out your next move.

Analytics is something we've wanted to re-imagine for a long time, so this one is close to my heart. I believe what we've built is powerful and unlike anything else out there. Here's how they are different.

Insights for everyone, for free

We Rebuilt Buffer's Analytics. Meet Insights.

Insights is designed for everyone on social, from the solo creator checking one channel to the agency juggling a dozen client brands.

For a long time, the choice in social analytics has been a frustrating one. You either use a simple tool and accept basic data, or you pay for an enterprise platform that gives you everything except a clear answer to the one question that matters: what should I do next? Insights gives you powerful, actionable insights on the free plan, with deeper reporting on paid plans when you need it.

We felt strongly about building this because it's what our own teammates need: analytics we can act on.

Your data wherever you want it

Insights works with the rest of your stack, including AI agents. We recently launched our public API and an MCP server, so you can query your data and build with it however you like.

Your numbers aren't trapped behind our dashboard. Pull them into your own reports and tools, or hand them straight to an agent to do the heavy lifting.

Everything you need to make your next move

Here's what you'll be able to do right from Insights:

Generate weekly takeaways: get growth tactics based on real, personalized data.
Compare performance: See data across 10 platforms in a single view, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, Threads, YouTube, X, Pinterest, Bluesky, and Mastodon. Insights supports both personal and business profiles.
Change the time period with natural language: type what you want to see, "last 90 days" or "this quarter" simply works.
Export to PDF, CSV, or markdown: whether you're handing results to a client or feeding them to an agent.
See top posts at a glance: your best performers are easy to spot and replicate.
Share your wins with share cards: for a well-earned humblebrag straight to social.

AI that works in the background

We've added AI to Insights, and it works like magic in the background, reading what's already working in your channels and helping you act on it. It points your own creativity in the right direction without trying to replace it. Our hope is that insights can help elevate what you're already doing.

A partner you can trust

We're an official partner to Meta, LinkedIn, X, and more. In practice, that means two things you never have to think about: your account stays safe, and you get the latest features on each platform as they roll out.

Built for where you're headed

Insights opens up a lot of new ground. Deeper reporting for agencies, cross-channel comparisons for brands, plain-language takeaways for creators who'd rather make things than read charts. Wherever you want to take your work next, the numbers to get you there are built in.

Take a look for yourself. Insights is live today at buffer.com/insights.