--- title: "Buffer vs Sprout Social: Which is searched more?" description: "Is Buffer or Sprout Social more popular in search? Compare estimated monthly branded-search demand and Share of Search inside the AI social media tools set worldwide. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time." canonical: "https://gobrandwave.com/demand/global-en/categories/ai-social-media-tools/compare/buffer-vs-sprout-social" publisher: "Brandwave" --- # Buffer vs Sprout Social: Which is searched more? Is Buffer or Sprout Social more popular in search? Compare estimated monthly branded-search demand and Share of Search inside the AI social media tools set worldwide. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time. ## Key facts - **Compared**: Buffer and Sprout Social - **Competitive set**: AI social media tools - **Market**: Global - **Month measured**: Sep 2026 - **Buffer Share of Search**: 21.4% - **Sprout Social Share of Search**: 10.5% ## Is Buffer or Sprout Social more popular in search? - In September 2026, Buffer had more branded searches than Sprout Social among AI social media tools worldwide. Buffer had about 188,000 branded searches, while Sprout Social had 92,400. Buffer made up 21.4% of all AI social media tool searches we track, and Sprout Social accounted for 10.5%. - The lead changed hands once in the 12 months ending September 2026: Buffer took it in July 2026. - Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Buffer’s share of searches among AI social media tools worldwide moved from 3.8% to 21.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 27.4K to 188K. - Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Sprout Social’s share of searches among AI social media tools worldwide moved from 19% to 10.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 137K to 92.4K. ## Top AI social media tools in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Buffer appeared in all five answers. Sprout Social was mentioned in three out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Buffer was listed before Sprout Social in every answer. Brands get a higher AI rank if they are mentioned earlier in the answers that list options. | Brand | AI rank | ChatGPT answers that named it | Google AI Overviews that named it | All answers that named it | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Buffer | 1st | 3 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 5 of 5 | | Later | 2nd | 3 of 3 | 1 of 2 | 4 of 5 | | Hootsuite | 3rd | 2 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 4 of 5 | | Predis.ai | 4th | 2 of 3 | 1 of 2 | 3 of 5 | | Metricool | 5th | 2 of 3 | 1 of 2 | 3 of 5 | | Sprout Social | 6th | 1 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 5 | | Ocoya | Not ranked | 0 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 5 | | Postwise | Not ranked | 0 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 5 | ## Every AI answer about AI social media tools - Asked ChatGPT "Which AI social media tool should I use?": 1. Buffer, 2. Later, 3. Predis.ai, 4. Metricool - Asked ChatGPT "What are the best AI social media tools?": 1. Buffer, 2. Hootsuite, 3. Predis.ai, 4. Later, 5. Sprout Social - Asked ChatGPT "What's the best AI social media tool for scheduling social posts?": 1. Buffer, 2. Later, 3. Metricool, 4. Hootsuite - Searched Google, AI Overview "social media scheduler": 1. Buffer, 2. Later, 3. Hootsuite, 4. Sprout Social, 5. Metricool - Searched Google, AI Overview "ai social media tools": 1. Buffer, 2. Hootsuite, 3. Predis.ai, 4. Sprout Social Not named in any answer: Ocoya and Postwise. Brands are listed in the order each answer named them. The answers were collected in the United States on October 20, 2026. ## How did search popularity change for AI social media tools worldwide in September 2026? - In September 2026, Buffer overtook Hootsuite to rank 2nd among AI social media tools worldwide, with 21.4% of the searches. - In September 2026, Sprout Social lost share of searches among AI social media tools worldwide, from 13% to 10.5%. ## Month by month | Month | Buffer estimated searches | Buffer Share of Search | Buffer rank | Sprout Social estimated searches | Sprout Social Share of Search | Sprout Social rank | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Oct 2025 | 27.4K | 3.8% | 4 | 137K | 19% | 3 | | Nov 2025 | 21.9K | 3.2% | 5 | 112K | 16.3% | 3 | | Dec 2025 | 24.2K | 3.9% | 4 | 92.1K | 14.7% | 3 | | Jan 2026 | 36.1K | 4.8% | 4 | 112K | 14.9% | 3 | | Feb 2026 | 50K | 7.1% | 4 | 92.3K | 13.2% | 3 | | Mar 2026 | 54.6K | 6.9% | 4 | 112K | 14.1% | 3 | | Apr 2026 | 70K | 9.3% | 4 | 92.3K | 12.2% | 3 | | May 2026 | 68.1K | 9.5% | 4 | 92.2K | 12.8% | 3 | | Jun 2026 | 65.7K | 9.1% | 4 | 92.4K | 12.8% | 3 | | Jul 2026 | 140K | 18.7% | 2 | 92.2K | 12.3% | 4 | | Aug 2026 | 100K | 14.2% | 3 | 92K | 13% | 4 | | Sep 2026 | 188K | 21.4% | 2 | 92.4K | 10.5% | 4 | ## How each brand is measured Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Buffer’s and Sprout Social’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading. - **Buffer**: Measured on the search terms “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” and “buffer social media scheduling”, summed into one figure. - **Sprout Social**: Measured on the search terms “social listening sprout social”, “social media sprout social”, “sprout social”, “sprout social analytics”, “sprout social app”, “sprout social influencers”, “sprout social listening”, “sprout social management”, “sprout social media”, “sprout social platform”, “sprout social reporting”, “sprout social social media” and “sprout social tiktok”, summed into one figure. - [Buffer profile](/demand/global-en/brands/buffer) - [Sprout Social profile](/demand/global-en/brands/sprout-social) - [All AI social media tools worldwide](/demand/global-en/categories/ai-social-media-tools): The set both shares are measured inside, 8 brands. ## Methodology - [How is the Brand Demand Index measured?](/demand/methodology): Where the figures come from, what they compare, and how they may be reused. ## Frequently asked questions ### Is Buffer or Sprout Social more popular in search? In September 2026, Buffer had more branded searches than Sprout Social among AI social media tools worldwide. Buffer had about 188,000 branded searches, while Sprout Social had 92,400. Buffer made up 21.4% of all AI social media tool searches we track, and Sprout Social accounted for 10.5%. ## Cite this page Brandwave. "Buffer vs Sprout Social: Which is searched more?". https://gobrandwave.com/demand/global-en/categories/ai-social-media-tools/compare/buffer-vs-sprout-social This page is also available as HTML at https://gobrandwave.com/demand/global-en/categories/ai-social-media-tools/compare/buffer-vs-sprout-social. Brandwave publishes an index of its Markdown pages at https://gobrandwave.com/llms.txt.