Brandwave

How popular isBuffer?

In September 2026, people searched for Buffer by name about 188,000 times worldwide, a 585% increase from the previous year. These searches made up 2% of all global content distribution platform searches, placing Buffer fourth out of six platforms. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about content distribution platforms, Buffer appeared in three of the five answers and was the second most recommended of the six.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Buffer is the fourth most searched of 6 competitors and the second most recommended in AI answers.

  1. NativoShare of searches 49.5%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
  2. TaboolaShare of searches 40.5%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  3. OutbrainShare of searches 6.6%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
  4. BufferShare of searches 2%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
  5. SharethroughShare of searches 0.82%Mentioned in 1 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th

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Top content distribution platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Buffer was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Buffer is the second most recommended of the six.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Taboola1st
  2. Buffer2nd
  3. Outbrain3rd
  4. Nativo4th
  5. Sharethrough5th
  6. Zemanta–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Taboola3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Outbrain3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Buffer3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Nativo2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Sharethrough1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Zemanta0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about content distribution platforms

5 answers

  • Asked ChatGPT

    “Which content distribution platform should I use?”

    1. 1Buffer

  • Asked ChatGPT

    “What are the best content distribution platforms?”

    1. 1Buffer
    2. 2Outbrain

  • Asked ChatGPT

    “What's the best content distribution platform for sponsored content placement?”

    1. 1Taboola
    2. 2Nativo
    3. 3Outbrain

  • Searched Google, AI Overview

    “content distribution platform”

    1. 1Buffer
    2. 2Taboola

  • Searched Google, AI Overview

    “native advertising platform”

    1. 1Taboola
    2. 2Outbrain
    3. 3Nativo
    4. 4Sharethrough

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 20, 2026.

Which content distribution platforms compete with Buffer?

Buffer against content distribution platforms worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Nativo, Taboola, Outbrain, Buffer. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthNativoTaboolaOutbrainBufferSharethroughZemanta
Oct 202542.7%42.7%10.4%2.1%1.1%0.92%
Nov 202542.9%42.9%10.5%1.8%0.92%0.92%
Dec 202547.5%38.9%9.5%2.1%1%1%
Jan 202652.3%35%8.5%2.4%0.92%0.92%
Feb 202652.5%35.1%8.6%2.2%0.92%0.71%
Mar 202647%38.5%9.4%3.3%1%0.78%
Apr 202647%38.5%9.4%3.4%1%0.68%
May 202648.3%39.5%7.9%3%0.8%0.57%
Jun 202648.6%39.7%7.9%2.5%0.71%0.58%
Jul 202648.7%39.9%8%2.3%0.71%0.48%
Aug 202649.4%40.4%6.6%2.3%0.82%0.39%
Sep 202649.5%40.5%6.6%2%0.82%0.48%

  1. 1.Nativo

    49.5%

    Held 1st. 60.5K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.

  2. 2.Taboola

    40.5%

    Held 2nd. 49.5K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.

  3. 3.Outbrain

    6.6%

    Held 3rd. 8.1K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  4. 4.Buffer

    2%

    Held 4th. 2.5K estimated branded searches, -14.3% vs prior month. Share -0.3 points.

  5. 5.Sharethrough

    0.82%

    Held 5th. 1K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  6. 6.Zemanta

    0.48%

    Held 6th. 590 estimated branded searches, +22.9% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.

Compare popularity between Buffer and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Buffer

28 comparisons

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

2 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Buffer worldwide rose from 27.4K to 188K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Buffer’s share of searches among content distribution platforms worldwide peaked at 3.4% in April 2026 and was lowest at 1.8% in November 2025.

How did search popularity change for content distribution platforms worldwide in September 2026?

6 changes

  1. Nativo’s share of searches among content distribution platforms worldwide has gained ground for 3 months in a row, from 48.6% to 49.5% in September 2026.

  2. Taboola’s share of searches among content distribution platforms worldwide has gained ground for 3 months in a row, from 39.7% to 40.5% in September 2026.

  3. Estimated monthly branded searches for Zemanta worldwide fell 54.6% over 12 measured months, from 1.3K to 590 in September 2026.

  4. Estimated monthly branded searches for Outbrain worldwide fell 45.3% over 12 measured months, from 14.8K to 8.1K in September 2026.

  5. Estimated monthly branded searches for Sharethrough worldwide fell 37.5% over 12 measured months, from 1.6K to 1K in September 2026.

  6. Estimated monthly branded searches for Buffer worldwide fell 19.4% over 12 measured months, from 3K to 2.5K in September 2026.

How are Buffer’s branded searches counted?

15 search terms

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.

  • buffer ai
  • buffer app for instagram
  • buffer app instagram
  • buffer app twitter
  • buffer for instagram
  • buffer for twitter
  • buffer instagram scheduling
  • buffer linkedin
  • buffer linkedin scheduling
  • buffer publish
  • buffer scheduling tool
  • buffer social
  • buffer social media
  • buffer social media management
  • buffer social media scheduling

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

Where does Buffer compete?

Buffer is ranked in six competitor sets. Each share is worked out among that set's brands, so it differs from set to set.
Competitor setRankShare of searchesRanking
Content repurposing platforms5th of 80.2%Show ranking
Social media scheduling tools2nd of 818.8%Show ranking
Social media management tools2nd of 1018.8%Show ranking
Social media analytics platforms2nd of 821.3%Show ranking
AI social media tools2nd of 821.4%Show ranking
Content distribution platforms4th of 62%Shown above
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Is Buffer your brand?

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