Buffer vs Later:Which is more popular by branded search?
In August 2026, Buffer had more branded searches than Later among social media scheduling tools worldwide. Buffer was estimated to have 562K branded searches compared to Later’s 15.6K, and held a 67.2% Share of Search versus Later’s 1.9%. These are worldwide searches for English-language branded terms.
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Which is more popular in search, Buffer or Later?
Compare tools for planning, scheduling, and publishing social media posts, measured through worldwide English-language branded search demand. 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.
Share of Search by month for Buffer, Later. 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 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
How has the Buffer and Later comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Buffer was ahead of Later in every measured month of the 11 months ending August 2026.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Buffer’s estimated Share of Search among social media scheduling tools worldwide moved from 56.6% to 67.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 586K to 562K.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Later’s estimated Share of Search among social media scheduling tools worldwide moved from 2% to 1.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 20.4K to 15.6K.
How did search popularity change for social media scheduling tools worldwide in August 2026?
2 changes
In August 2026, Buffer lost estimated Share of Search among social media scheduling tools worldwide, from 68.7% to 67.2%.
In August 2026, Later fell from 5th to 6th among social media scheduling tools worldwide.
How each brand is measured
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Buffer’s and Later’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
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
Later
19 branded search terms
- later app
- later com
- later influencer marketing
- later instagram planning
- later instagram scheduler
- later instagram scheduling
- later link in bio
- later pricing
- later scheduling app
- later social media
- later social media management
- later social media management tool
- later social media planning
- later social media scheduler
- later social media tool
- later social scheduling
- Later.com
- linkinbio by later
- linkinbio later
Put your own brand in this comparison
Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.