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Marketing · head to head

Buffer vs Convert

Buffer logo

Buffer

Marketing

Build your audience organically on social media

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Convert logo

Convert

Marketing

A/B testing platform for enterprises

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Buffer the free plan allows 3 connected channels and 10 scheduled posts per channel; Convert pricing is driven by monthly tested users, starting at $399 per month for 100,000 monthly tested users on Growth and $599 on Pro
  • They diverge on capability: Buffer covers Post scheduling, Convert covers A/B testing.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Buffer and Convert actually diverge.

Attributes where Buffer and Convert differ
AttributeBufferConvert
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb
Founded20102012

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Marketing).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Buffer

  • Post scheduling
  • Content calendar
  • Analytics dashboard
  • Link shortening
  • Hashtag manager
  • First comment
  • Instagram Stories
  • Shop Grid

Only in Convert

  • A/B testing
  • Multivariate testing
  • Analytics
  • API access
  • Google Analytics
  • SSL encryption
  • Cloud deployment
  • Web support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Buffer

  • Social media schedulingnot Convert
  • Content planningnot Convert
  • Performance analyticsnot Convert
  • Team collaborationnot Convert
  • Client managementnot Convert

Convert

  • A/B and multivariate testing for conversion optimizationnot Buffer
  • Full-stack experimentation on web and mobilenot Buffer
  • Sequential testing and statistical confidence trackingnot Buffer

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Buffer

  • The free plan allows 3 connected channels and 10 scheduled posts per channel
  • Essentials at $5 a month covers a single user; team members need the Team plan at $10 a month
  • Approval workflows and custom permissions are Team tier only
  • API access is rationed by plan, from 3,000 monthly requests on free to 15,000 on Team
  • Content ideas are capped at 100 on the free plan

Convert

  • Pricing is driven by monthly tested users, starting at $399 per month for 100,000 monthly tested users on Growth and $599 on Pro
  • Single Sign-On requires the Pro plan at $599 per month
  • Multivariate testing, multi-page testing, full stack and feature flags, sequential testing and raw test data export are all withheld from the Growth plan
  • Phone support, change history and guided onboarding require Pro
  • The advertised $299 and $420 per month rates require paying the full year up front at $3,588 or $5,040
  • The Enterprise plan is price on request, is only available as an annual plan, and its data segregation feature carries additional costs
  • Listed prices exclude VAT, GST and other taxes, which are added at checkout
  • Above 5 million monthly tested users there is no published rate

Pricing, plan by plan

Buffer

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 3 connected accounts
    • 10 scheduled posts per channel per month
    • 100 content ideas
  • Essentials$5/month
    • Unlimited scheduled posts
    • Per-channel pricing
    • Advanced analytics
  • Team$10/month
    • Unlimited team members
    • Unlimited scheduled posts
    • Content approval workflows

Convert

Free
  • Growth$$399/month
  • Pro$$599/month
  • Enterprise$on request/mo

Which should you pick?

Choose Buffer if

  • You need post scheduling.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want content calendar.
Buffer review

Choose Convert if

  • You need a/b testing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want multivariate testing.
Convert review

Questions people ask

Is Buffer or Convert better?
Neither clearly leads. Buffer starts at Free and Convert at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Buffer or Convert?
Buffer starts at Free and Convert at Free.
Does Buffer or Convert run on more platforms?
Buffer runs on Web, iOS, Android. Convert runs on Web.
Can I use Buffer for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Buffer best used for?
Buffer is most often used for social media scheduling, content planning, performance analytics, team collaboration. Of those, social media scheduling and content planning are not what Convert is typically brought in for.
What can Buffer do that Convert cannot?
Buffer covers Post scheduling, Content calendar, Analytics dashboard, Link shortening. Convert covers A/B testing, Multivariate testing, Analytics, API access.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Buffer: Does Buffer's free plan include all social media platforms?

The free plan supports 3 connected accounts across any of Buffer's 11 supported platforms (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn, X, YouTube, Threads, Pinterest, Google Business Profile, Bluesky, Mastodon) with up to 10 scheduled posts per channel per month.

Source
Convert: What is the starting price for Convert?

The Growth plan starts at $399/month (or $299/month billed annually for 25% savings) with 100K monthly tested users, 5 projects, and 5 active experiences per project.

Source
Buffer: Can I schedule Instagram Stories with Buffer?

No. Instagram Stories cannot be auto-published. Buffer sends a mobile notification to manually post stories, as Instagram does not provide an API for automated Story scheduling.

Source
Convert: What is the difference between Growth and Pro plans?

Both cap at 100K tested users/month, but Pro ($599/month or $420/month annual) adds 30 active projects (vs 5), unlimited experiences per project (vs 5), unlimited domains (vs 10), multivariate testing, full-stack testing, sequential testing, and phone support.

Source
Buffer: What is Buffer's per-channel pricing model?

Buffer charges per social media account (channel) rather than per user. Channels 1-10 cost standard rates ($5 Essentials or $10 Team), with additional channels beyond 10 discounted per channel.

Source
Convert: How much does the Enterprise plan cost?

Enterprise pricing is available 'on request.' It supports 1M+ monthly tested users (12M+ annually), unlimited projects, experiences, and domains, plus dedicated account manager and custom terms.

Source
Buffer: Does Buffer have a mobile app and what platforms does it support?

Yes, Buffer offers iOS and Android apps for mobile management. The iOS app supports Mastodon and YouTube comment features, while Android support for these features is in development. Android community access works on the six most recent major Android versions.

Source
Convert: What is the cost to exceed my monthly tested user limit?

Growth overages cost $399 per 100K additional users. Pro/Enterprise overages cost $699 per 250K additional users. Customers can also upgrade mid-cycle at any time.

Source
Buffer: What discount does Buffer offer for annual billing?

Buffer offers a 20% discount for annual billing across all paid plans, plus an additional 50% discount on paid plans for nonprofit organizations.

Source
Buffer: Can Buffer integrate with content creation and storage tools?

Yes. Buffer integrates with 24 tools including Canva, Google Drive, Dropbox, Unsplash for media, Zapier and Make for automation, WordPress for publishing, and Claude, ChatGPT, and Perplexity for AI-assisted content creation.

Source
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