Brandwave

Buffer vs Hootsuite:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Buffer had more branded searches than Hootsuite among social media management tools worldwide. Buffer had about 188,000 branded searches, while Hootsuite had 113,000. Buffer made up 18.8% of all social media management tool searches we track, and Hootsuite accounted for 11.3%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about social media management tools, Buffer and Hootsuite each appeared in four of the five answers. Buffer was mentioned before Hootsuite in three out of four answers.

Among social media management tools worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Buffer, about 67% more searches than Hootsuite

Buffer 188K searchesHootsuite 113K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both were mentioned in 4 of 5 answers.

Buffer in 4 of 5Hootsuite in 4 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Buffer, named ahead of Hootsuite in 3 of 4 answers

Buffer first in 3Hootsuite first in 1

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Top social media management tools in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Buffer and Hootsuite were each mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Buffer was listed before Hootsuite in three out of four answers.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Buffer1st
  2. Sprout Social2nd
  3. Hootsuite3rd
  4. Metricool4th
  5. Agorapulse5th
  6. Later6th
  7. Planable7th
  8. Sprinklr8th
  9. Loomly–
  10. SocialPilot–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Buffer4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Hootsuite4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Sprout Social4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Metricool3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Agorapulse3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Planable2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Later2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Sprinklr1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Loomly0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • SocialPilot0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about social media management tools

5 answers

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 21, 2026.

Is Buffer or Hootsuite more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Buffer and Hootsuite by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all ten social media management tools we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Buffer and Hootsuite among social media management tools worldwide, by month

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

View monthly share of searches table
MonthMetricoolBufferHootsuiteSprout SocialSprinklrPlanableLoomlyAgorapulseSocialPilotLater
Oct 202534.2%3.1%23.5%15.5%10.3%3.1%3.8%2.5%2.5%1.5%
Nov 202536.9%2.7%25.3%13.7%9%2.7%3.4%2.7%2.2%1.5%
Dec 202539.8%3.2%22.4%12.2%9.8%2.9%3%2.9%2.4%1.3%
Jan 202634.1%4.1%28.5%12.7%8.4%3.1%3.1%2.5%2.1%1.5%
Feb 202636.9%6.1%25.3%11.3%9.1%2.7%2.8%2.2%2.2%1.4%
Mar 202639.1%5.8%22%11.9%9.6%2.9%2.9%2.4%1.9%1.5%
Apr 202641.4%7.9%19.2%10.4%10.2%2.5%3.1%2%2%1.4%
May 202643.9%8.1%17.5%11%8.8%2.6%2.7%2.2%1.8%1.3%
Jun 202643.5%7.8%18.4%10.9%8.7%2.6%2.7%2.1%1.7%1.5%
Jul 202642.2%16%13%10.6%8.5%2.5%2.1%2.1%1.7%1.3%
Aug 202644.7%12.2%13.7%11.2%9%2.7%2.2%1.8%1.5%1.2%
Sep 202645.2%18.8%11.3%9.3%7.4%2.2%1.8%1.8%1.2%0.93%

How has the Buffer and Hootsuite comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • The lead changed hands 3 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: Buffer took it in July 2026, Hootsuite took it in August 2026, Buffer took it in September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Buffer’s share of searches among social media management tools worldwide moved from 3.1% to 18.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 27.4K to 188K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Hootsuite’s share of searches among social media management tools worldwide moved from 23.5% to 11.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 207K to 113K.

How did search popularity change for social media management tools worldwide in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Buffer overtook Hootsuite to rank 2nd among social media management tools worldwide, with 18.8% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, Hootsuite lost share of searches among social media management tools worldwide, from 13.7% to 11.3%.

How are branded searches counted?

35 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Buffer’s and Hootsuite’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

15 branded 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
  • buffer social media scheduling

Hootsuite

20 branded search terms

  • hootsuite
  • hootsuite ads
  • hootsuite analytics
  • hootsuite app
  • hootsuite application
  • hootsuite enterprise
  • hootsuite for nonprofits
  • hootsuite insights
  • hootsuite media
  • hootsuite reports
  • hootsuite sentiment analysis
  • hootsuite social
  • hootsuite social listening
  • hootsuite social marketing
  • hootsuite social media
  • hootsuite social media listening
  • hootsuite social media marketing
  • hootsuite social media monitoring
  • hootsuite social monitoring
  • social listening on hootsuite

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among social media management tools

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