Brandwave

Buffer vs Metricool:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Metricool had more branded searches than Buffer among social media scheduling tools worldwide. Metricool had about 451,000 branded searches, while Buffer had 188,000. Metricool made up 45.1% of all social media scheduling tool searches we track, and Buffer accounted for 18.8%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about social media scheduling tools, Buffer and Metricool each appeared in four of the five answers. Buffer was mentioned before Metricool in every answer.

Among social media scheduling tools worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Metricool, about 2 searches for every 1 for Buffer

Metricool 451K searchesBuffer 188K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both were mentioned in 4 of 5 answers.

Buffer in 4 of 5Metricool in 4 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Buffer, named ahead of Metricool in every answer

Buffer first in 4Metricool never first

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Top social media scheduling tools in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Buffer and Metricool 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 Metricool in every answer.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Buffer1st
  2. Later2nd
  3. Metricool3rd
  4. Publer4th
  5. Hootsuite5th
  6. Sprout Social6th
  7. Planoly–
  8. Loomly–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Metricool4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Buffer4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Later4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Hootsuite3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Publer3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Sprout Social2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Planoly1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Loomly0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about social media scheduling 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 Metricool more popular in search?

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

Buffer and Metricool among social media scheduling tools worldwide, by month

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

View monthly share of searches table
MonthMetricoolBufferHootsuitePublerSprout SocialPlanolyLoomlyLater
Oct 202536.7%3.3%25.2%9%16.7%3.4%4.1%1.6%
Nov 202538.8%2.8%26.5%9.5%14.4%2.9%3.5%1.5%
Dec 202542.1%3.4%23.7%10.3%12.9%3.2%3.1%1.4%
Jan 202635.1%4.2%29.2%10.5%13%3.3%3.2%1.5%
Feb 202638.5%6.4%26.5%9.5%11.8%2.9%2.9%1.5%
Mar 202641.1%6.1%23.1%10.1%12.5%2.6%3.1%1.5%
Apr 202640.9%7.8%19%15%10.3%2.6%3.1%1.4%
May 202642.7%7.9%17%15.6%10.7%2.2%2.6%1.3%
Jun 202643.5%7.8%18.5%13%10.9%2.2%2.7%1.5%
Jul 202642.4%16.1%13.1%12.7%10.6%1.8%2.1%1.3%
Aug 202644.4%12.1%13.6%13.3%11.1%2.3%2.2%1.1%
Sep 202645.1%18.8%11.3%11%9.2%1.9%1.8%0.93%

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

3 findings

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

2 changes

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

  2. In September 2026, Metricool gained share of searches among social media scheduling tools worldwide, from 44.4% to 45.1%.

How are branded searches counted?

17 search terms

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

Metricool

2 branded search terms

  • metricool
  • metricool social media

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among social media scheduling tools

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