Brandwave

How popular isBuffer in search?

In August 2026, there were an estimated 112K branded searches for Buffer worldwide which is up 207.2% over the last 11 months. Buffer holds 18.1% estimated Share of Search among social media analytics platforms worldwide and is ranked 2nd of 7 competitors for search popularity. Worldwide · English terms: these are worldwide searches for English-language branded terms.

Share of Search, August 2026
  1. Metricool59.6%
  2. Buffer18.1%
  3. Sprout Social15.5%
  4. SocialPilot2.9%
  5. Agorapulse2.4%
  6. Iconosquare0.88%
  7. Rival IQ0.72%
Buffer website (opens in a new tab)

Follow Buffer and get free monthly updates on what changed

By continuing you'll get index updates and occasional product news from Brandwave. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy

Which social media analytics platforms compete with Buffer?

Buffer against social media analytics platforms worldwide, by month

Share of Search by month for Metricool, Buffer, Sprout Social, SocialPilot, Agorapulse. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of search table
MonthMetricoolBufferSprout SocialSocialPilotAgorapulseIconosquareRival IQ
Oct 202554.9%6.6%25.8%4.9%4%2.2%1.5%
Nov 202558.5%5.6%22.4%5.3%4.3%2.4%1.6%
Dec 202561.4%6.9%19.5%4.5%4.5%2.1%1.1%
Jan 202657.5%8.8%22.1%4.2%4.2%1.9%1.3%
Feb 202658.8%11.5%18.8%4.3%3.5%2%1.1%
Mar 202660%10.2%19.1%4.4%3.6%1.6%1.1%
Apr 202661.6%13.1%16.1%3.7%3%1.4%1.1%
May 202661.9%13%16.2%3.7%3%1.4%0.74%
Jun 202661.3%13.9%16.2%3.7%3%1.1%0.74%
Jul 202655.2%23%14.5%2.7%2.7%1%0.82%
Aug 202659.6%18.1%15.5%2.9%2.4%0.88%0.72%
Sep 2026———————

  1. 1.Metricool

    59.6%

    held 1st · 368K estimated branded searches · 0% vs prior month · +4.3 points

  2. 2.Buffer

    18.1%

    held 2nd · 112K estimated branded searches · -27.3% vs prior month · -5 points

  3. 3.Sprout Social

    15.5%

    held 3rd · 95.6K estimated branded searches · -0.85% vs prior month · +1 points

  4. 4.SocialPilot

    2.9%

    moved from 5th to 4th · 18.1K estimated branded searches · 0% vs prior month · +0.2 points

  5. 5.Agorapulse

    2.4%

    moved from 4th to 5th · 14.8K estimated branded searches · -18.2% vs prior month · -0.3 points

  6. 6.Iconosquare

    0.88%

    held 6th · 5.4K estimated branded searches · -20.8% vs prior month · -0.2 points

  7. 7.Rival IQ

    0.72%

    held 7th · 4.5K estimated branded searches · -17.8% vs prior month · -0.1 points

Compare search popularity between Buffer and its closest rivals

How has branded search demand for Buffer changed worldwide over the last 12 months?

  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Buffer worldwide rose from 36.4K to 112K.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Buffer’s estimated Share of Search among social media analytics platforms worldwide increased from 6.6% to 18.1%.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Buffer’s estimated Share of Search among social media analytics platforms worldwide peaked at 23% in July 2026 and was lowest at 5.6% in November 2025.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Buffer rose from 3rd to 2nd among social media analytics platforms worldwide.

How did search popularity change for social media analytics platforms worldwide in August 2026?

  1. In August 2026, Metricool gained estimated Share of Search among social media analytics platforms worldwide, from 55.2% to 59.6%.

  2. In August 2026, Sprout Social gained estimated Share of Search among social media analytics platforms worldwide, from 14.5% to 15.5%.

  3. In August 2026, Buffer lost estimated Share of Search among social media analytics platforms worldwide, from 23% to 18.1%.

  4. Agorapulse’s estimated Share of Search among social media analytics platforms worldwide has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 3% to 2.4% in August 2026.

  5. Iconosquare’s estimated Share of Search among social media analytics platforms worldwide has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 1.4% to 0.88% in August 2026.

  6. In August 2026, SocialPilot rose from 5th to 4th among social media analytics platforms worldwide.

Which social media scheduling tools compete with Buffer?

Buffer against social media scheduling tools worldwide, by month

Share of Search by month for Hootsuite, Buffer, Sprout Social, Planoly, Loomly, Later. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of search table
MonthHootsuiteBufferSprout SocialPlanolyLoomlyLater
Oct 202546%7.5%29.1%5.9%7.2%4.2%
Nov 202550.8%6.6%26.4%5.4%6.6%4.2%
Dec 202548.8%9%25.5%6.3%6.3%4.1%
Jan 202652.8%9.1%22.9%5.7%5.7%3.9%
Feb 202650.7%13.2%21.5%5.3%5.3%4%
Mar 202647.3%13%24.4%5%6%4.4%
Apr 202643.6%18%22.1%5.5%6.5%4.3%
May 202642.2%19.1%23.9%4.8%5.7%4.3%
Jun 202641%20.3%23.7%4.7%5.6%4.6%
Jul 202629.5%35.8%22.5%3.8%4.4%4%
Aug 202632.3%28.9%24.8%5%4.9%4%
Sep 2026——————

  1. 1.Hootsuite

    32.3%

    moved from 2nd to 1st · 125K estimated branded searches · -1.1% vs prior month · +2.9 points

  2. 2.Buffer

    28.9%

    moved from 1st to 2nd · 112K estimated branded searches · -27.3% vs prior month · -6.9 points

  3. 3.Sprout Social

    24.8%

    held 3rd · 95.6K estimated branded searches · -0.85% vs prior month · +2.3 points

  4. 4.Planoly

    5%

    moved from 6th to 4th · 19.4K estimated branded searches · +19.4% vs prior month · +1.2 points

  5. 5.Loomly

    4.9%

    moved from 4th to 5th · 18.8K estimated branded searches · -0.48% vs prior month · +0.5 points

  6. 6.Later

    4%

    moved from 5th to 6th · 15.6K estimated branded searches · -8% vs prior month · +0.1 points

Compare search popularity between Buffer and its closest rivals

How has branded search demand for Buffer changed worldwide over the last 12 months?

  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Buffer’s estimated Share of Search among social media scheduling tools worldwide increased from 7.5% to 28.9%.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Buffer’s estimated Share of Search among social media scheduling tools worldwide peaked at 35.8% in July 2026 and was lowest at 6.6% in November 2025.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Buffer rose from 3rd to 2nd among social media scheduling tools worldwide.

How did search popularity change for social media scheduling tools worldwide in August 2026?

  1. In August 2026, Hootsuite overtook Buffer to take the highest estimated Share of Search among social media scheduling tools worldwide, at 32.3%.

  2. In August 2026, Planoly overtook Later to rank 4th among social media scheduling tools worldwide, at 5%.

  3. In August 2026, Sprout Social gained estimated Share of Search among social media scheduling tools worldwide, from 22.5% to 24.8%.

  4. In August 2026, Buffer lost estimated Share of Search among social media scheduling tools worldwide, from 35.8% to 28.9%.

  5. Estimated monthly branded searches for Loomly worldwide fell 46.4% over 11 measured months, from 35K to 18.8K in August 2026.

  6. Estimated monthly branded searches for Later worldwide fell 23.7% over 11 measured months, from 20.4K to 15.6K in August 2026.

How is Buffer measured?

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Buffer’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.

23 branded search terms

  • buffer app for instagram
  • buffer app instagram
  • buffer app twitter
  • buffer com
  • buffer for instagram
  • buffer for twitter
  • buffer instagram scheduling
  • buffer linkedin
  • buffer linkedin scheduling
  • buffer pricing
  • buffer publish
  • buffer scheduling tool
  • buffer social
  • buffer social management
  • buffer social media
  • buffer social media management
  • buffer social media management tool
  • buffer social media marketing
  • buffer social media marketing tool
  • buffer social media scheduling
  • buffer social media tool
  • buffer social tool
  • Buffer.com

Do you work for Buffer? To request corrections or removal please contact us via our support page and we will be happy to assist.

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Creator with pink hair and a pink jacket

Is Buffer your brand?

Put your own campaigns, spend and outcomes next to this demand line, so you can see which of your marketing lined up with the movements above.

Start your marketing record