Buffer vs. Hootsuite vs. PostFast: Which is Better in 2025?
A feature-by-feature, pricing & ROI comparison of three leading social-media management tools for creators, brands and agencies.

Which social-media scheduler suits creators, teams & agencies best?
TL;DR – Buffer wins on simplicity and freemium pricing, Hootsuite packs the deepest enterprise toolkit, while PostFast blends multi-platform publishing, white-label workspaces and full Instagram Reels automation at a creator-friendly price. Use the table of contents to jump to any section.
Table of Contents
- Supported Platforms & Publishing
- Pricing & Value
- Scheduling & Content Management
- Team Collaboration & Branding
- Analytics & Engagement
- Verdict: When to Choose PostFast
Supported Platforms & Publishing
| Network (2025) | Buffer | Hootsuite | PostFast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Facebook & Instagram | ✅ Posts, Reels | ✅ Ads & inbox | ✅ Auto-publish Reels/Stories |
| X / Twitter | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ Communities Posting |
| LinkedIn Pages + Profiles | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| TikTok | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| YouTube / Shorts | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | |
| Bluesky / Mastodon | ✅ | — | ✅ |
| Google Business | ✅ | ✅ | — |
Key Takeaways
- PostFast covers every major network Buffer does—but uniquely auto-publishes Instagram Reels, Carousels and Stories without a Facebook Page (huge time-saver for influencers).
- Hootsuite lacks Bluesky & Mastodon scheduling but adds WhatsApp Business and built-in social listening.
- Buffer is usually first to support new consumer networks, making it a safe choice for trend-watchers.
Pricing & Value
| Tier | Buffer | Hootsuite | PostFast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free plan | $0 – 3 channels | ❌ | 7-day free trial |
| Entry paid | $5 / channel/mo | $99 / mo | €12 / mo (4 accounts) |
| Growth tier | $10 / channel/mo (unlimited users) | $249 / mo | €29 / mo (12 accounts + calendar) |
| Agency | $120 / 10 channels | Custom quote | €99 / mo (120 accounts, WL, API) |
Effective Cost‐per‐Account: PostFast’s Pro works out to €0.66 per social account, undercutting both rivals at scale.
| # Social Accounts | Buffer Essentials | Hootsuite | PostFast |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | $20 / mo | $99 / mo | €12 / mo |
| 12 | $60 / mo | $249 / mo | €29 / mo |
| 120 | $600 / mo | $249 / mo | €99 / mo |
Hootsuite’s Standard plan covers up to 5 social accounts; anything above that requires the Advanced plan, which removes the account cap but is priced per user.
Scheduling & Content Management
- Buffer keeps things clean with a drag-and-drop queue and AI-assisted “Ideas” board—perfect for solo creators.
- Hootsuite layers on bulk-upload (CSV) for 350 posts at once, AutoSchedule, Canva templates and asset libraries—great, but it comes with a learning curve.
- PostFast sits in the middle: lightning-fast composer, multi-image carousels, and a colour-coded calendar that shows historic posts alongside future slots.
Nice-to-have extras
| Feature | Buffer | Hootsuite | PostFast |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI caption generator | ✅ All plans | ✅ “OwlyGPT” tokens | ⚡ Roadmap Q3 2025 |
| Platform-specific copy fields | ➖ | ✅ | ✅ |
| REST API | ➖ | Enterprise-only | Included on every plan |
Team Collaboration & Branding
| Capability | Buffer Team Plan | Hootsuite Advanced | PostFast Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Users Included | Unlimited | 5 + | 15 / workspace |
| Approval Workflows | ✅ | ✅ granular | ✅ Smart chains |
| White-label / Custom logo | — | Enterprise add-on | Basic WL built-in |
PostFast’s built-in white-label option lets agencies resell under their own brand without extra fees—a rare perk at under €80/month.
Analytics & Engagement
| Metric depth | Buffer | Hootsuite | PostFast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic post stats | Free | Standard | Starter |
| Custom dashboards | Essentials + | Advanced + | Creator + |
| Social listening | — | ✅ | (Planned) |
| Unified Inbox | Paid add-on | ✅ | (Roadmap) |
Fast Insight: If you need real-time sentiment or benchmark reports across 20 competitors, Hootsuite wins. If you mainly track likes, clicks and follower growth, Buffer or PostFast will cover it without the price premium.
Verdict: When to Choose PostFast
Choose PostFast if you:
- Need auto-publishing of Instagram Reels, Stories or Carousels without extra apps.
- Manage multiple brands and want workspace-level white-labeling.
- Prefer simple, fast UI but still need an API and team approvals.
- Want agency-scale quotas at sub-€100 pricing.
Stick with Buffer if you’re a solo creator who values a forever-free tier and minimal learning curve.
Opt for Hootsuite if you’re an enterprise team that needs deep social listening, advanced analytics and tight ad/CRM integrations.
Ready to save 10+ hours a week? → Sign up for PostFast’s free trial.
Related articles

A Practical Guide to FB Story Download Methods
Discover the safest fb story download methods for any device. Our guide breaks down how to save Facebook Stories for archiving, repurposing, and more.

Download Pinterest Video: Save It Safely (download pinterest video)
Discover how to download pinterest video safely on desktop or mobile and save ideas for later.

A Creator's Guide to Safely Downloading Your YouTube Videos
Learn safe and legal ways to download from YouTube videos you own. Turn your content into powerful social media posts and grow your audience.

A Guide to Instagram Image Download Methods for Any Device
Discover safe and effective methods for an Instagram image download on any device. Learn how to save photos for your content strategy and avoid common pitfalls.

10 Pawsitively Perfect Ideas for International Cat Day in 2026
Get ready for International Cat Day with 10 creative social media campaign ideas. Find tips, examples, and strategies to celebrate our feline friends.

10 Types of Captions for Instagram to Skyrocket Your Engagement in 2026
Discover 10 powerful types of captions for Instagram to boost your engagement. Get templates, tips, and strategies to make your posts stand out in 2026.
