Brandwave

Publer vs Sprout Social:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Publer had more branded searches than Sprout Social among social media scheduling tools worldwide. Publer had about 110,000 branded searches, while Sprout Social had 92,400. Publer made up 11% of all social media scheduling tool searches we track, and Sprout Social accounted for 9.2%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about social media scheduling tools, Publer appeared in three of the five answers and Sprout Social in two. Publer was mentioned before Sprout Social in three out of four answers.

Among social media scheduling tools worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Publer, about 19% more searches than Sprout Social

Publer 110K searchesSprout Social 92.4K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Publer, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Sprout Social in 2

Publer in 3 of 5Sprout Social in 2 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Publer, named ahead of Sprout Social in 3 of 4 answers

Publer first in 3Sprout Social first in 1

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Top social media scheduling tools in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Publer was mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Sprout Social was mentioned in two out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Publer was listed before Sprout Social 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. 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 Publer or Sprout Social more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Publer and Sprout Social 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.

Publer and Sprout Social among social media scheduling tools worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Publer, Sprout Social. 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 Publer and Sprout Social comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • The lead changed hands once in the 12 months ending September 2026: Publer took it in April 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Publer’s share of searches among social media scheduling tools worldwide moved from 9% to 11%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 74K to 110K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Sprout Social’s share of searches among social media scheduling tools worldwide moved from 16.7% to 9.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 137K to 92.4K.

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

3 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, Publer lost share of searches among social media scheduling tools worldwide, from 13.3% to 11%.

  3. In September 2026, Sprout Social lost share of searches among social media scheduling tools worldwide, from 11.1% to 9.2%.

How are branded searches counted?

14 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Publer’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.

Publer

1 branded search term

  • publer

Sprout Social

13 branded 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
  • sprout social tiktok

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among social media scheduling tools

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