Buffer vs Hootsuite:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Buffer had more branded searches than Hootsuite among social media management tools in New Zealand. Buffer had about 1,650 branded searches, while Hootsuite had 330. Buffer made up 13.4% of all social media management tool searches we track, and Hootsuite accounted for 2.7%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about social media management tools, both Buffer and Hootsuite appeared in all five answers. Buffer was mentioned before Hootsuite in every answer.
Who do people search for more?
Buffer, about 5 searches for every 1 for Hootsuite
Who does AI mention more?
Both are mentioned in every answer we collected.
Who does AI recommend more?
Buffer, named ahead of Hootsuite in every answer
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Top social media management tools in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, both Buffer and Hootsuite showed up in all five answers. Buffer was listed before Hootsuite in every answer.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
- Buffer1st
Hootsuite2nd
Metricool3rd
Sprout Social4th
Later5th
Agorapulse6th
Planable7th- Meta Business Suite8th
Sendible9th
Loomly–- +1 more
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Buffer5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Metricool5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Hootsuite5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Sprout Social3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Later3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Meta Business Suite2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Planable2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Agorapulse2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Sendible1 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 management tools
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which social media management tool should I use in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best social media management tools in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best social media management tool in New Zealand for a small marketing team?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best social media management tool”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“social media scheduling tools”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand 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 11 social media management tools we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.
Share of searches by month for Buffer, Hootsuite. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Meta Business Suite | Buffer | Metricool | Hootsuite | Sprout Social | Planable | Loomly | Later | SocialPilot | Agorapulse | Sendible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 55.4% | 17% | 9.2% | 6.3% | 4.9% | 1.7% | 2.3% | 1.2% | 0.82% | 0.72% | 0.31% |
| Nov 2025 | 54.6% | 19.7% | 9% | 6.1% | 3.9% | 1.7% | 2.2% | 1% | 0.61% | 0.51% | 0.61% |
| Dec 2025 | 59.1% | 14.1% | 9.9% | 5.4% | 4.3% | 2.3% | 2% | 1.1% | 0.81% | 0.54% | 0.4% |
| Jan 2026 | 58.4% | 14.7% | 9.6% | 6.5% | 3.5% | 2.3% | 1.9% | 1.3% | 0.76% | 0.54% | 0.43% |
| Feb 2026 | 58.8% | 15.2% | 9.6% | 5.2% | 4.2% | 2.3% | 1.8% | 0.98% | 0.98% | 0.54% | 0.33% |
| Mar 2026 | 60% | 15.3% | 8.1% | 5.5% | 3.5% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 1.2% | 0.91% | 0.45% | 0.36% |
| Apr 2026 | 62.4% | 16.1% | 8.4% | 3.8% | 2.5% | 2% | 2.6% | 1% | 0.57% | 0.47% | 0.28% |
| May 2026 | 61% | 18.3% | 8.2% | 3.8% | 3% | 1.9% | 1.6% | 0.92% | 0.55% | 0.46% | 0.28% |
| Jun 2026 | 66.1% | 13.5% | 8.3% | 3.3% | 2.6% | 2.1% | 1.8% | 1.1% | 0.57% | 0.33% | 0.33% |
| Jul 2026 | 66.1% | 13.6% | 8.3% | 3.2% | 3.2% | 2.1% | 1.5% | 0.9% | 0.49% | 0.41% | 0.24% |
| Aug 2026 | 63.2% | 15.3% | 10.3% | 2.5% | 3% | 1.6% | 1.4% | 1.5% | 0.47% | 0.39% | 0.31% |
| Sep 2026 | 65.6% | 13.4% | 10.6% | 2.7% | 2.6% | 1.7% | 1.2% | 1.1% | 0.57% | 0.32% | 0.32% |
How has the Buffer and Hootsuite comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Buffer was ahead of Hootsuite in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Buffer’s share of searches among social media management tools in New Zealand moved from 17% to 13.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 1.7K to 1.6K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Hootsuite’s share of searches among social media management tools in New Zealand moved from 6.3% to 2.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 610 to 330.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand social media management tools in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Buffer lost share of searches among social media management tools in New Zealand, from 15.3% to 13.4%.
In September 2026, Hootsuite rose from 5th to 4th among social media management tools in New Zealand.
How are branded searches counted?
6 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.
Other head-to-heads among social media management tools
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