How popular isBuffer in search?
In August 2026, there were an estimated 562K branded searches for Buffer worldwide which held steady over the last 11 months. Buffer holds 67.2% estimated Share of Search among social media scheduling tools worldwide and is ranked 1st of 6 competitors for search popularity. These are worldwide searches for English-language branded terms.
Buffer67.2%
Hootsuite14.9%Sprout Social11.4%
Planoly2.3%
Loomly2.2%Later1.9%
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Which social media scheduling tools compete with Buffer?
Share of Search by month for Buffer, Hootsuite, Sprout Social, Planoly, Loomly. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of search table
| Month | Buffer | Hootsuite | Sprout Social | Planoly | Loomly | Later |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 56.6% | 21.6% | 13.7% | 2.8% | 3.4% | 2% |
| Nov 2025 | 58.6% | 22.5% | 11.7% | 2.4% | 2.9% | 1.9% |
| Dec 2025 | 58.7% | 22.2% | 11.6% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 1.9% |
| Jan 2026 | 56.4% | 25.3% | 11% | 2.7% | 2.7% | 1.9% |
| Feb 2026 | 56.7% | 25.3% | 10.7% | 2.6% | 2.6% | 2% |
| Mar 2026 | 59.5% | 22% | 11.4% | 2.3% | 2.8% | 2% |
| Apr 2026 | 63.8% | 19.2% | 9.8% | 2.4% | 2.9% | 1.9% |
| May 2026 | 65.7% | 17.9% | 10.1% | 2.1% | 2.4% | 1.8% |
| Jun 2026 | 62% | 19.5% | 11.3% | 2.3% | 2.7% | 2.2% |
| Jul 2026 | 68.7% | 14.4% | 11% | 1.8% | 2.1% | 1.9% |
| Aug 2026 | 67.2% | 14.9% | 11.4% | 2.3% | 2.2% | 1.9% |
| Sep 2026 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Rank | Brand | Share of Search | Estimated monthly branded searches | vs prior month | Share change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1, held 1st | 67.2% | 562K | -6.9% | -1.5 points | |
| 2, held 2nd | 14.9% | 125K | -1.1% | +0.6 points | |
| 3, held 3rd | 11.4% | 95.6K | -0.85% | +0.5 points | |
| 4, moved from 6th to 4th | 2.3% | 19.4K | +19.4% | +0.5 pointsmoved from 6th to 4th | |
| 5, moved from 4th to 5th | 2.2% | 18.8K | -0.48% | +0.1 pointsmoved from 4th to 5th | |
| 6, moved from 5th to 6th | 1.9% | 15.6K | -8% | -0.1 pointsmoved from 5th to 6th |
1.
Buffer67.2%
Held 1st. 562K estimated branded searches, -6.9% vs prior month. Share -1.5 points.
14.9%
Held 2nd. 125K estimated branded searches, -1.1% vs prior month. Share +0.6 points.
11.4%
Held 3rd. 95.6K estimated branded searches, -0.85% vs prior month. Share +0.5 points.
4.
Planoly2.3%
Moved from 6th to 4th. 19.4K estimated branded searches, +19.4% vs prior month. Share +0.5 points.
5.
Loomly2.2%
Moved from 4th to 5th. 18.8K estimated branded searches, -0.48% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.
6.
Later
1.9%
Moved from 5th to 6th. 15.6K estimated branded searches, -8% vs prior month. Share -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?
3 findings
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Buffer worldwide held steady, from 586K to 562K.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Buffer’s estimated Share of Search among social media scheduling tools worldwide increased from 56.6% to 67.2%.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Buffer’s estimated Share of Search among social media scheduling tools worldwide peaked at 68.7% in July 2026 and was lowest at 56.4% in January 2026.
How did search popularity change for social media scheduling tools worldwide in August 2026?
6 changes

In August 2026, Hootsuite gained estimated Share of Search among social media scheduling tools worldwide, from 14.4% to 14.9%.

In August 2026, Buffer lost estimated Share of Search among social media scheduling tools worldwide, from 68.7% to 67.2%.

In August 2026, Planoly rose from 6th to 4th among social media scheduling tools worldwide.
In August 2026, Later fell from 5th to 6th among social media scheduling tools worldwide.

In August 2026, Loomly fell from 4th to 5th among social media scheduling tools worldwide.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Sprout Social worldwide fell 32.5% over 11 measured months, from 142K to 95.6K in August 2026.
Where does Buffer compete?
| Competitor set | Rank | Share of Search | Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social media analytics platforms | 1st of 7 | 52.6% | Show ranking |
| Social media management tools | 1st of 6 | 63.1% | Show ranking |
| Social media management platforms | 1st of 5 | 64.4% | Show ranking |
| Social media scheduling tools | 1st of 6 | 67.2% | Shown above |
| AI social media tools | 1st of 5 | 79.3% | Show ranking |
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.
24 branded search terms
- buffer
- 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
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