Buffer and Zoho Social both offer free plans and solid scheduling capabilities, but they come from completely different philosophies. Buffer is built for creators and small teams who want a clean, focused publishing tool across as many platforms as possible. Zoho Social is designed for businesses that already live inside the Zoho ecosystem and want their social media management tightly integrated with CRM, helpdesk, and marketing automation. The pricing models reflect this split: Buffer charges per channel, while Zoho Social charges per brand.
If you are deciding between these two, the choice often comes down to whether you need ecosystem depth or platform breadth. Jump to pricing comparison to see how costs scale, or skip to feature comparison for a detailed breakdown. You can also explore our full list of social media management alternatives if neither tool fits your needs.
Buffer vs Zoho Social at a Glance
| Feature | Buffer | Zoho Social |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $0/mo (Free) | $0/mo (Free) |
| Free Plan | Yes (3 channels) | Yes (1 brand, 1 member) |
| Paid Starting Price | $6/mo per channel | $15/mo (1 brand) |
| Platforms Supported | 11 | 9 |
| Unlimited Scheduling | On paid plans | On paid plans |
| AI Caption Generation | Yes (AI Assistant) | Basic AI suggestions |
| AI Image Generation | No | No |
| Bulk Scheduling | CSV import | Via publishing calendar |
| Team Collaboration | Team plan ($12/mo/channel) | Premium plan ($65/mo) |
| Approval Workflows | Team plan only | Premium plan only |
| Analytics | Basic on Essentials, advanced on Team | Standard plan and above |
| Social Inbox | Community Inbox (basic) | Unified inbox with CRM context |
| Link in Bio | Start Page | No |
| CRM Integration | No | Native Zoho CRM integration |
| G2 Rating | 4.3/5 (1,023 reviews) | 4.6/5 (2,870 reviews) |
| Trustpilot Rating | 2.1/5 (93 reviews) | 4.0/5 (~5,778 reviews) |
| Best For | Solo creators, small teams | Businesses in the Zoho ecosystem |
Buffer Overview
Buffer has been a staple in the social media scheduling space since 2010, and its appeal has always been simplicity. The platform supports 11 social networks, making it one of the most broadly compatible tools available. You connect your channels, queue up posts, and Buffer handles the rest. The AI Assistant helps generate captions, and CSV import enables bulk scheduling when you need to plan content in batches. The Start Page feature provides a basic link-in-bio builder, which is a nice addition for creators who want everything in one place.
Pricing is straightforward: the free plan covers 3 channels with limited features, Essentials runs $6/mo per channel with analytics and engagement tools, and the Team plan at $12/mo per channel adds collaboration features and approval workflows. This per-channel model is easy to understand but can add up quickly if you manage many accounts. For a deeper look at user experiences, check out our Buffer reviews roundup.
Zoho Social Overview
Zoho Social is the social media arm of the broader Zoho suite, which includes CRM, helpdesk, email marketing, and dozens of other business tools. This ecosystem integration is its defining advantage. When a lead comments on your social post, you can see their CRM history. When a customer sends a complaint via social, it can flow directly into Zoho Desk. The SmartQ feature analyzes your audience engagement patterns and suggests optimal posting times, which is genuinely useful for teams that want data-driven scheduling without manual analysis.
The platform supports 9 social networks and offers a per-brand pricing model. The free plan covers 1 brand with 1 team member. Standard ($15/mo) adds scheduling depth, Professional ($40/mo) unlocks the bulk scheduler and CRM integration, and Premium ($65/mo) introduces team collaboration for up to 3 members. The zShare browser extension lets you share content directly from any webpage. Read more in our Zoho Social reviews analysis.
Pricing Comparison
Buffer Pricing
For a full breakdown, see our Buffer pricing guide.
| Plan | Price | Channels | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0/mo | 3 | Basic scheduling, landing page |
| Essentials | $6/mo/channel | Unlimited | AI Assistant, analytics, engagement |
| Team | $12/mo/channel | Unlimited | Collaboration, approvals, reports |
Cost at scale examples:
- 5 channels on Essentials: $30/mo
- 5 channels on Team: $60/mo
- 10 channels on Essentials: $60/mo
- 10 channels on Team: $120/mo
- 20 channels on Essentials: $120/mo
- 20 channels on Team: $240/mo
Zoho Social Pricing
For a full breakdown, see our Zoho Social pricing guide.
| Plan | Price | Brands | Members | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0/mo | 1 | 1 | Basic publishing |
| Standard | $15/mo | 1 | 1 | SmartQ, analytics |
| Professional | $40/mo | 1 | 1 | CRM integration, bulk scheduler |
| Premium | $65/mo | 1 | 3 | Team collaboration, approvals |
Cost at scale examples:
- 1 brand, 1 member on Standard: $15/mo
- 1 brand, 1 member on Professional: $40/mo
- 1 brand, 3 members on Premium: $65/mo
- Multiple brands require separate subscriptions or agency pricing
Price Verdict
For a single creator managing a few channels, Buffer's free plan or Essentials tier is hard to beat on flexibility. You only pay for what you use. Zoho Social becomes more compelling when you factor in the ecosystem value -- if you are already paying for Zoho CRM or Zoho Desk, adding Social at $15-65/mo gives you integrations that would cost significantly more to replicate with Buffer plus third-party connectors. For teams managing a single brand with deep business integration needs, Zoho Social offers stronger value. For multi-channel creators who need platform breadth, Buffer's per-channel model is more predictable.
Feature Comparison
Scheduling & Publishing
| Capability | Buffer | Zoho Social |
|---|---|---|
| Visual calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Queue-based scheduling | Yes | Yes |
| Optimal time suggestions | Limited | SmartQ (data-driven) |
| Bulk scheduling | CSV import | Built-in bulk scheduler |
| Browser extension | Yes | zShare extension |
| RSS feed scheduling | No | Yes (Professional+) |
| First comment scheduling | Yes | Yes |
Winner: Zoho Social. SmartQ is a genuinely useful feature that uses your audience data to suggest the best posting times, and the built-in bulk scheduler is more polished than Buffer's CSV import approach.
AI Tools
| Capability | Buffer | Zoho Social |
|---|---|---|
| AI caption generation | AI Assistant | Basic AI suggestions |
| AI hashtag suggestions | Yes | Limited |
| AI image generation | No | No |
| AI repurposing | No | No |
Winner: Buffer. Buffer's AI Assistant is more developed and provides better caption suggestions. Neither platform offers AI image generation, but Buffer's text-based AI tools are a step ahead.
Analytics & Reporting
| Capability | Buffer | Zoho Social |
|---|---|---|
| Post-level analytics | Yes | Yes |
| Channel analytics | Essentials+ | Standard+ |
| Custom reports | Team plan | Premium plan |
| Exportable reports | Yes | Yes |
| CRM-linked analytics | No | Yes (Professional+) |
Winner: Zoho Social. The CRM integration means you can connect social engagement to actual business outcomes, which is a level of reporting depth that Buffer simply does not offer. For marketers who need to prove ROI beyond vanity metrics, this is significant.
Team Collaboration
| Capability | Buffer | Zoho Social |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-user access | Team plan ($12/channel) | Premium ($65/mo) |
| Approval workflows | Team plan | Premium plan |
| Role-based permissions | Yes | Yes |
| Content calendar sharing | Yes | Yes |
| Client management | Limited | Via Zoho ecosystem |
Winner: Tie. Buffer makes collaboration accessible at a lower price point for small teams, while Zoho Social's collaboration is more powerful when paired with the broader Zoho suite. The right choice depends on your existing toolstack.
Platform Support
| Platform | Buffer | Zoho Social |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | Yes | |
| Yes | Yes | |
| X (Twitter) | Yes | Yes |
| Yes | Yes | |
| Yes | Yes | |
| TikTok | Yes | Yes |
| YouTube | Yes | Yes |
| Mastodon | Yes | No |
| Bluesky | Yes | No |
| Google Business | Yes | Yes |
| Threads | Yes | Yes |
Winner: Buffer. With 11 platforms versus Zoho Social's 9, Buffer covers more ground. The inclusion of Mastodon and Bluesky matters for creators who are building audiences on newer, decentralized platforms.
What Real Users Say
Buffer Reviews
Buffer holds a 4.3/5 rating on G2 from 1,023 reviews. Users consistently praise the clean interface, ease of setup, and reliability of the scheduling queue. The most common complaint is that analytics feel basic compared to dedicated analytics tools, and the per-channel pricing can get expensive for agencies.
On Trustpilot, Buffer scores 2.1/5 from 93 reviews. The lower score here reflects frustrations with billing issues and customer support response times. Some users report difficulty cancelling subscriptions, which is a recurring theme in negative reviews.
Zoho Social Reviews
Zoho Social earns a 4.6/5 on G2 from 2,870 reviews, which is notably higher than Buffer. Users highlight the CRM integration, SmartQ scheduling, and the value of having social media management within the broader Zoho ecosystem. Critiques focus on the learning curve and occasional UI sluggishness.
On Trustpilot, Zoho scores 4.0/5 from approximately 5,778 reviews (across Zoho products). Users appreciate the breadth of the ecosystem and customer support quality. Some reviews note that individual Zoho products can feel less polished than best-of-breed alternatives.
Review Verdict
Zoho Social wins on aggregate review scores across both platforms. The G2 difference (4.6 vs 4.3) reflects genuine user satisfaction with the ecosystem integration. The Trustpilot gap is even more pronounced (4.0 vs 2.1), though Buffer's low Trustpilot score is partly driven by a small review sample skewed toward billing complaints. If community trust matters to your decision, Zoho Social has the stronger track record.
Who Should Use Buffer?
If you are exploring alternatives, check out our Buffer alternatives roundup or compare Buffer vs Iconosquare and Buffer vs Vista Social.
- Solo creators who need a simple tool to schedule across many platforms
- Small teams that want a clean, intuitive interface without a learning curve
- Multi-platform publishers who need support for 11+ networks including Mastodon and Bluesky
- Content creators who want a built-in link-in-bio page (Start Page)
- Budget-conscious users who want to start free and scale incrementally per channel
- Freelancers managing their own social presence without complex workflows
Who Should Use Zoho Social?
If you are exploring alternatives, check out our Zoho Social alternatives roundup and browse other comparison guides.
- Businesses already using Zoho CRM who want social data flowing into their sales pipeline
- Support teams that need social inbox messages linked to Zoho Desk tickets
- Marketing teams who want SmartQ to optimize posting schedules automatically
- Companies with a single brand that want deep integration over broad platform support
- B2B businesses that care about connecting social engagement to CRM contacts
- Teams that value ecosystem consolidation over using multiple disconnected tools
Looking for Unlimited AI and More Flexibility?
Both Buffer and Zoho Social are solid tools for their respective audiences, but neither offers unlimited AI caption generation or AI image generation on any plan. PostPlanify fills that gap with unlimited scheduling, unlimited AI captions, and access to 7 AI image generation models on every plan.
| Feature | Buffer (Essentials) | Zoho Social (Standard) | PostPlanify (Starter) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $6/mo/channel | $15/mo | $19/mo |
| Channels/Accounts | 1 per $6 | 1 brand | 3 accounts |
| Unlimited Scheduling | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| AI Captions | AI Assistant | Basic AI | Unlimited AI |
| AI Image Generation | No | No | Yes (7 models) |
| Canva Integration | No | No | Yes |
| Google Drive Integration | No | No | Yes |
| Link-in-Bio | Start Page | No | Yes |
| Approval Workflows | $12/mo/channel | $65/mo | Premium ($99/mo) |
PostPlanify gives you unlimited AI-powered content creation from day one, with Canva and Google Drive integrations that streamline your design workflow. The Growth plan ($39/mo) covers 6 accounts with full AI capabilities, and Premium ($99/mo) adds unlimited accounts, unlimited team members, and approval workflows. Learn more about PostPlanify pricing.
Try PostPlanify free for 7 days
FAQ
Is Buffer or Zoho Social better for small businesses?
It depends on your existing tools. If you use Zoho CRM or Zoho Desk, Zoho Social is the clear winner because the native integration provides value that Buffer cannot replicate. If you do not use Zoho products, Buffer's simplicity and broader platform support make it easier to get started and maintain.
Can I use Buffer and Zoho Social together?
Technically yes, but there is little practical reason to do so. Both handle scheduling and publishing, so running them simultaneously would create confusion. If you need Zoho's CRM integration for some channels and Buffer's broader platform support for others, consider whether a single tool like PostPlanify could cover both needs instead.
Which tool has better analytics?
Zoho Social has more powerful analytics when combined with Zoho CRM, allowing you to track social interactions through the sales funnel. Buffer's analytics are adequate for tracking post performance and engagement trends but lack the business context that Zoho provides. For dedicated analytics depth beyond either tool, consider a platform like Iconosquare -- see our Buffer vs Iconosquare comparison.
Does Buffer or Zoho Social support AI image generation?
Neither tool offers AI image generation. Both provide some level of AI caption assistance, with Buffer's AI Assistant being more developed. If AI image generation is important to your workflow, PostPlanify includes 7 AI image models on all plans.
Which tool is better for agencies managing multiple clients?
Buffer's per-channel pricing can become expensive at scale but offers flexibility. Zoho Social's per-brand model requires separate subscriptions for each client. Neither is ideal for large agency use cases. For agencies, consider tools specifically designed for multi-client management or explore our social media management alternatives.
How do Buffer and Zoho Social handle team approvals?
Buffer offers approval workflows on the Team plan ($12/mo per channel), where team members can submit posts for review before publishing. Zoho Social includes approvals on the Premium plan ($65/mo) with tighter integration into team roles. Both approaches work well for small teams, but neither scales gracefully for organizations with complex multi-level approval needs.
Can I migrate from Buffer to Zoho Social or vice versa?
There is no direct migration tool between the two platforms. You would need to manually recreate your posting schedule and reconnect your social accounts. Your historical analytics and engagement data will not transfer. Plan for a 1-2 week transition period where you run both tools in parallel to avoid gaps in your publishing schedule.
Which tool has better customer support?
Zoho has the stronger support reputation, with a comprehensive knowledge base, community forums, and responsive ticket-based support. Buffer offers email support and a detailed help center, but Trustpilot reviews suggest slower response times. If responsive support is a priority, Zoho Social has the edge based on user feedback across review platforms.
Does Zoho Social work without other Zoho products?
Yes, Zoho Social functions as a standalone social media management tool. You can use it without Zoho CRM, Zoho Desk, or any other Zoho product. However, much of Zoho Social's competitive advantage comes from those integrations. Without them, you are paying for a capable but less differentiated scheduling and analytics platform. If you do not plan to use the broader Zoho ecosystem, Buffer or another tool like PostPlanify may offer a better feature-to-price ratio for standalone social media management.
How do the free plans compare?
Buffer's free plan supports 3 channels with basic scheduling and the Start Page link-in-bio feature. Zoho Social's free plan covers 1 brand with 1 team member and more limited scheduling capabilities. Buffer's free tier is more generous in terms of channel count and features, making it the better option for users who want to manage multiple platforms without paying. Zoho Social's free plan is more suited to testing the platform before committing to a paid tier.
