Buffer vs Zoho Social
What’s Better in 2024?
What is Buffer?
Buffer was founded in 2010 with the goal of simplifying social media management. Initially built as a tool to schedule posts for Twitter, Buffer has since evolved into a comprehensive platform supporting multiple social media networks. Its mission is to help businesses, individuals, and teams maintain a consistent social media presence with ease.
Best suited for:
Buffer is ideal for businesses of all sizes, non-profits, digital marketing agencies, solopreneurs, and content creators. It’s a versatile tool designed for those looking to manage multiple accounts, schedule posts in advance, and analyze engagement without complex setups. Its simplicity and user-friendly interface make it particularly appealing for professionals and small-to-medium businesses (SMBs).
What is Zoho Social?
Zoho Social is part of the Zoho suite of business software, offering a range of tools for marketing, CRM, and analytics. Launched with the aim of empowering businesses to build a strong online presence, Zoho Social has grown into a robust social media management platform. It combines scheduling, social listening, and analytics in one interface, tailored to businesses and agencies.
Best suited for:
Zoho Social is an ideal choice for small to medium-sized businesses, marketing agencies, and enterprise teams that need powerful social media management features. It is particularly well-suited for businesses requiring team collaboration, social listening, and detailed performance analytics to drive their marketing strategies.
Overview
In today’s digital landscape, managing multiple social media accounts efficiently is critical for businesses looking to enhance their online presence. Social media management tools like Buffer and Zoho Social provide the essential features to schedule posts, track performance, and engage with followers across various platforms. However, with so many options available, choosing the right tool can be challenging.
This guide will provide an unbiased, in-depth comparison between Buffer and Zoho Social, two of the leading social media management platforms. Our aim is to help you evaluate the strengths, weaknesses, pricing, and ideal use cases for each tool, so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs—whether you’re an individual marketer, a digital agency, or a growing business.
Buffer vs Zoho Social: User Rating
| Rating Categories | Buffer | Zoho Social |
| Star Rating (Out of 5) | 4.6 | 4.8 |
| Meets Requirements (Out of 10) | 8.9 | 9.3 |
| Ease of Use (Out of 10) | 9.1 | 9.0 |
| Ease of Setup (Out of 10) | 9.3 | 9.1 |
| Ease of Admin (Out of 10) | 9.0 | 9.2 |
| Quality of Support (Out of 10) | 8.8 | 9.0 |
| Business Partnership (Out of 10) | 8.7 | 9.0 |
| Product Direction (% positive) | 88 | 91 |
Buffer
- G2 Rating: 4.3/5 – Users love Buffer’s ease of use and affordable pricing. It’s often praised for its simple interface and consistent performance.
- Capterra Rating: 4.5/5 – Buffer’s scheduling features and user-friendly design receive high marks, although some users desire more robust analytics.
Zoho Social
- G2 Rating: 4.6/5 – Reviewers appreciate Zoho Social’s comprehensive analytics and team collaboration tools. However, some find the interface slightly overwhelming.
- Capterra Rating: 4.7/5 – Users highlight advanced reporting and real-time listening capabilities but mention the price as a consideration.
Buffer vs Zoho Social: Feature Comparison
| Features | Buffer | Zoho Social |
| Pricing (per month in USD) | 15$ | 10$ |
| Free Trial | Yes | Yes |
| Platforms Supported | Most Major Platforms | All Major Platforms |
| Bulk Scheduling | Yes | Yes |
| RSS feeds | No | Yes |
| Content Suggestions | No | Yes |
| Social Inbox | No | Yes |
| Advanced Analytics | Yes | Yes |
| Approval Workflow | No | Yes |
| URL Shortener | Yes | Yes |
| Team Management | Yes | Yes |
a. Scheduling and Automation:
Buffer provides a user-friendly scheduling feature that allows users to plan posts in advance across multiple social media platforms. Its Smart Queue feature automatically schedules posts for optimal engagement based on the time of day. Buffer also offers bulk scheduling, making it easy to upload and schedule large batches of posts all at once.
Zoho Social offers a comprehensive Post Scheduler that supports bulk scheduling and allows you to plan content ahead of time. Additionally, it includes an RSS Feed Integration for auto-publishing new content, saving time on manual scheduling. Zoho Social’s SmartQ feature is similar to Buffer’s, intelligently suggesting the best times to post. However, unlike Buffer, Zoho Social provides more customization options for post timing based on your audience’s activity.
Buffer excels in simplicity and ease of use, particularly with its Smart Queue. However, Zoho Social offers more flexibility, especially with its custom post timing and RSS Feed Integration, making it an excellent choice for businesses looking for more advanced scheduling and automation options.
b. Supported Social Media Platforms
Buffer supports a wide range of platforms, including:
- Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest, Google Business Profile
However, Buffer’s support for platforms like YouTube and TikTok is limited compared to Zoho Social.
Zoho Social supports an extensive list of social networks, including:
- Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Google Business Profile, YouTube
Zoho Social’s platform compatibility is broader than Buffer’s, especially when it comes to supporting YouTube, which is crucial for businesses that use video content.
c. Analytics and Reporting
Buffer provides basic analytics that covers post performance, engagement metrics like likes, shares, and comments, and audience growth. The Analytics Pro plan unlocks more in-depth insights, including engagement breakdowns and post performance by time. However, it lacks advanced features like custom reporting and automatic email reporting.
Zoho Social offers advanced reporting tools, including custom reports and white-label downloadable reports. Its analytics provide detailed insights into post reach, engagement, and performance, as well as social media listening metrics to track brand mentions and sentiment. The platform also allows you to schedule reports for email delivery, a feature missing in Buffer.
Based on my testing, Zoho Social offers more advanced analytics. Its detailed reports, including custom report creation and social media listening, provide much deeper insights into post performance and brand mentions. Additionally, the ability to schedule email reports adds a level of automation that Buffer lacks, making Zoho Social the better choice for businesses needing in-depth, actionable analytics.
d. User Interface and Experience
Buffer has a clean, minimalistic interface that’s easy to navigate, making it ideal for users who want a no-frills experience. While it’s very intuitive, some users feel it’s lacking in advanced customization options for post scheduling and content curation.
Zoho Social offers a more feature-rich interface, which can sometimes feel overwhelming to new users. However, its dashboard is highly customizable, allowing teams to track brand mentions, collaborate on posts, and analyze social media data in real time. Zoho Social’s social media listening feature provides a more holistic view of your social presence, which Buffer lacks.
Zoho Social provides a more comprehensive set of analytics and features that really help me dive deeper into performance and engagement. Its customizable reports and social listening tools make it more versatile, though it may take some time to master the interface.
e. Pricing Comparison
Buffer is highly affordable for smaller teams and individuals, particularly with the low starting price of the Essentials Plan at $6 per month. It is a great option for professionals and small businesses looking for a simple solution.
Zoho Social provides more features at each pricing tier, particularly for businesses that need advanced reporting and team collaboration tools. Its Agency Plan at $320 per month offers a comprehensive solution for larger businesses and agencies.
| Plan | Buffer | Zoho Social |
| Free | 3 accounts, 30 posts | – |
| Essentials | $6/month, 1 account per platform, 2000 posts | $15/month, 10 accounts, basic features |
| Team | $12/month, 25 accounts, advanced features | $30/month, 20 accounts, collaboration |
| Agency | $120/month, 2000 posts | $320/month, 100 accounts, agency features |
f. Ideal Use Cases
Buffer
Best for:
- Individuals and small businesses looking for an affordable solution.
- Content creators seeking simple scheduling tools.
- Solo entrepreneurs who need efficient social media management.
- Small teams that need a basic tool for social media management.
Zoho Social
Best for:
- Marketing agencies needing advanced features and reporting.
- Medium to large businesses managing multiple accounts.
- Teams requiring strong collaboration and approval workflows.
- Companies needing comprehensive social media monitoring and analytics.
Pros and Cons of Using Buffer
Pros
- Affordable pricing for small businesses and individuals.
- Simple, user-friendly interface for easy navigation.
- Smart Queue for automated optimal scheduling.
- Multi-account support for managing multiple platforms.
Cons
- Limited analytics compared to other tools.
- Fewer platform integrations than competitors.
- Basic customization options for posts and reports.
Conclusion of Buffer vs. Zoho Social Comparison
In summary, both Buffer and Zoho Social offer valuable features tailored to different types of users. Buffer stands out for its affordability and ease of use, making it ideal for individuals, small businesses, and content creators who need a straightforward tool for scheduling and managing social media. On the other hand, Zoho Social shines with its advanced analytics, real-time brand monitoring, and collaboration features, making it better suited for larger teams, marketing agencies, and businesses that require a more robust solution for social media management.
When deciding between the two, consider your specific needs:
- If you’re a solo entrepreneur or small business on a budget, Buffer might be the perfect choice.
- If you’re a marketing agency or need deeper analytics and team collaboration, Zoho Social could offer the extra features you’re looking for.
While Buffer and Zoho Social are strong contenders, you may also want to explore other options like RecurPost. This tool offers unique features such as content libraries for recurring posts and advanced automation—perfect for businesses that need to maximize their content’s lifespan and streamline social media management.
Why Consider RecurPost as a Powerful Alternative?
While Buffer and Zoho Social are powerful tools in their own right, it’s always beneficial to explore alternatives that may better align with your specific needs. One such option is RecurPost, a social media management platform that brings unique features to the table, particularly for businesses looking for a more automated, long-term content strategy.
Brief Overview of RecurPost
Company Background: RecurPost is designed to help businesses and social media managers streamline their content creation and posting processes. It focuses on providing a content library that allows for easy scheduling of recurring posts, ensuring your best-performing content gets more visibility over time.
Why Should You Choose RecurPost?
- Content Libraries for Recurring Posts: Unlike Buffer and Zoho Social, RecurPost lets you set up recurring posts from a content library, extending the lifespan of your content.
- Advanced Automation: Set up posts to be scheduled automatically based on user behavior or time zones, without needing to revisit the platform every time.
More Affordable Pricing: Compared to both Buffer and Zoho Social, RecurPost offers competitive pricing, especially for small businesses and solopreneurs.
Recurpost Vs. Buffer Vs. Zoho social
| Feature | RecurPost | Buffer | Zoho Social |
| Pricing (per month in USD) | $25 | $15 (Buffer Publish Pro) | $10 (Standard Plan) |
| Free Trial | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bulk Scheduling | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| AI Content Generation | Yes | No | No |
| Advanced Analytics | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Team Management | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Platform Support | Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Google Business Profile, YouTube, TikTok | Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest | Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google My Business, Instagram |
| Caption Customization | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| URL Shortener | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| White Label Reports | Yes | No | Yes |
How RecurPost Addresses Common Pain Points
Pain Point Analysis (from Buffer and Zoho Social)
- Limited Post Recycling: Both Buffer and Zoho Social allow you to schedule posts, but they don’t offer a seamless way to recycle high-performing posts. This can be time-consuming if you want to re-share successful content frequently.
- Inconsistent Automation: While both tools offer scheduling, they lack advanced automation that works around time zones, peak audience activity, or content repurposing without constant intervention.
- Steep Learning Curve (Zoho Social): Zoho Social, while feature-rich, can feel overwhelming for new users due to its complex interface and broad range of tools.
- Analytics Gaps: Buffer’s analytics, while useful, are often seen as too basic for users who need deeper insights into post performance and audience behavior.
RecurPost’s Solutions
- Content Library for Recurring Posts: RecurPost’s content library allows businesses to easily schedule recurring posts, ensuring that your best-performing content gets reused automatically. This is a massive time-saver and boosts the reach of popular posts.
- Advanced Automation Features: RecurPost offers advanced scheduling and automation options, such as adjusting post frequency based on the best time to post or optimizing posts for different social networks automatically. This takes the guesswork out of timing and ensures maximum engagement with minimal manual effort.
- User-Friendly Interface: Unlike Zoho Social, RecurPost’s interface is clean and easy to navigate. It’s designed to cater to both beginners and seasoned social media managers, making it quick to learn and easy to use.
Feature Highlights of RecurPost
RecurPost offers a robust suite of features designed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of social media management. Below are some of the standout features that make RecurPost an excellent choice for businesses looking to take their social media strategy to the next level.
Scheduling and Automation
- Recurring Posts: Unlike Buffer and Zoho Social, RecurPost allows you to easily set up recurring posts from a content library. This feature lets you recycle your best content without having to manually reschedule it each time.
- Smart Scheduling: RecurPost’s advanced automation lets you schedule posts at optimal times based on user activity or time zone. This ensures that your posts reach the maximum number of people at the right moment, driving better engagement and performance.
- Multi-Platform Scheduling: RecurPost supports scheduling across all major social platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google My Business), giving you a unified approach to content distribution.
Supported Platforms
RecurPost supports a wide range of platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Google My Business. This makes it an ideal solution for businesses that want to manage multiple channels from a single dashboard.
Analytics and Reporting
- Advanced Analytics: RecurPost offers detailed, customizable reports that provide insights into audience engagement, post performance, and follower growth. You can track metrics like reach, impressions, clicks, and more.
- Whitelabel Reports: Just like Zoho Social, RecurPost offers whitelabel downloadable reports in PDF format, allowing you to share branded reports with clients or team members.
User Interface and Experience
- Clean and Intuitive Interface: RecurPost’s interface is designed for ease of use, with an intuitive layout that makes it simple to manage content and view analytics. Whether you’re new to social media management or a seasoned pro, the tool’s streamlined design makes it quick to learn and efficient to use.
- Visual Post Creation: RecurPost integrates with Canva for easy creation and design of social media visuals, saving time and effort in the content creation process.
Ready to streamline your social media management? Try RecurPost today and experience the difference!