In this guide · 8 sections
Short answer
For Facebook and Instagram only, Meta Business Suite is free and enough. For several networks including LinkedIn and TikTok, Buffer is simplest, free or from US$5 per channel a month. Hootsuite suits teams needing a shared inbox and listening, from US$99 per user.
Buffer vs Hootsuite vs Meta Business Suite at a glance
Prices below are from each vendor's pricing page, approximate as of October 2026, in US dollars before GST. Buffer prices are per connected channel; Hootsuite prices are per user.
Meta Business Suite
FreeFree
- Facebook Pages and connected Instagram accounts
- Planner, inbox and insights in one place
- No LinkedIn, TikTok or X
- Team access through Meta's business settings
Best for: Businesses that post only to Facebook and Instagram.
Buffer
Best valueFree, then from US$5/channel/mo
- Free plan: 3 channels, 10 scheduled posts each
- Wide network list including TikTok, LinkedIn, Threads and Google Business Profile
- Approval workflows on the Team plan
- Simple to learn
Best for: Small teams posting to several networks.
Hootsuite
For larger teamsFrom US$99/user/mo
- No free plan; 14-day trial
- Standard: up to 10 social accounts
- Unified inbox, listening and benchmarking
- Approvals emphasised on Advanced (US$399/user)
Best for: Marketing teams handling high message volume or several brands.
Sources: Buffer pricing, Hootsuite plans and Meta Business Suite.
Prices in detail
The price models are different enough that the cheapest option depends on how many networks and people you have.
| Plan | Price (approx., Oct 2026) | Key limits |
|---|---|---|
| Meta Business Suite | Free | Facebook and Instagram only |
| Buffer Free | US$0 | Up to 3 channels; 10 scheduled posts per channel at a time |
| Buffer Essentials | US$5 per channel/mo, billed yearly (US$60/yr) | Unlimited scheduled posts and team members; no approval workflow |
| Buffer Team | US$10 per channel/mo, billed yearly (US$120/yr) | Adds approval workflows and custom access per channel |
| Hootsuite Standard | US$99 per user/mo | Up to 10 social accounts; inbox, analytics, listening |
| Hootsuite Professional | US$199 per user/mo | Unlimited social accounts; inbox automation |
| Hootsuite Advanced | US$399 per user/mo | Approvals and team collaboration |
TikTok, LinkedIn and other networks
Network support is often the deciding factor. Meta Business Suite only handles Meta's own platforms. Buffer's supported channels list includes Facebook Pages, Instagram business and creator accounts, LinkedIn Pages and profiles, TikTok, X, Pinterest, YouTube Shorts, Threads, Bluesky, Mastodon and Google Business Profiles, though analytics and engagement tools are not available for every network.
Hootsuite's help centre documents connecting a TikTok account and scheduling TikTok videos, alongside the major networks.
Team approvals and agency access
If someone other than the owner writes posts, decide whether posts need approval before they go out. Buffer puts approval workflows on its Team plan; Hootsuite highlights approvals on Advanced. Meta Business Suite has no formal approval step, so small teams often use a shared draft and a quick message.
Access matters as much as approvals. Agencies and freelancers sometimes ask for your Facebook or Instagram password. Don't share it.
Social account access checklist
If an account is taken over, our guide to hacked social media and WhatsApp accounts covers recovery, and our MFA set-up guide helps prevent it.
Analytics: what each tool tells you
All three report reach, engagement and follower growth. Meta Business Suite's insights are free and come straight from Meta, so they are the reference for Facebook and Instagram. Buffer's analytics cover the networks where it offers them and are enough for most small businesses. Hootsuite adds competitive benchmarking and social listening on its paid plans, useful if you track competitors or brand mentions.
For a small business, the useful questions are simple: which post types bring enquiries, which times work, and which network is worth the effort. Check monthly, not daily.
Which tool suits which business
Choose Buffer if
- You post to three or more networks, including TikTok or LinkedIn
- One to five people share the posting
- You want something you can learn in an afternoon
- Budget matters more than advanced reporting
Choose Hootsuite if
- You handle a high volume of comments and messages across networks
- You need social listening or competitor benchmarking
- Several teams or brands need governance and approvals
- The per-user price is small relative to your marketing budget
If you only use Facebook and Instagram, start with Meta Business Suite and move to Buffer when you add another network. For producing the posts themselves, our Canva vs Adobe Express comparison covers the design side.
Do it yourself or get help?
Any of these tools can be set up in an hour. The parts worth getting right are account ownership, MFA and access for staff and agencies, because those cause the real problems later.
If you want posting tied to the rest of your business, our Workflow Automation (S$390 per workflow) can, for example, turn a new product, blog post or event into a draft social post in your scheduler for approval, so nothing is published without a person checking it.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Meta Business Suite is Meta's free tool for managing Facebook Pages and connected Instagram accounts, including scheduling posts, replying to messages and viewing insights. It does not cover LinkedIn, TikTok or X, so businesses on those networks need another scheduler alongside it.
For most small businesses, yes. As of October 2026, Buffer has a free plan for three channels and paid plans from US$5 per channel a month on yearly billing, with team members included. Hootsuite has no free plan and starts at US$99 per user a month. Hootsuite adds inbox, listening and benchmarking tools.
Yes. Buffer's supported channels list includes TikTok accounts, LinkedIn Pages and LinkedIn profiles, along with Facebook, Instagram, X, Pinterest, YouTube Shorts, Threads, Bluesky and Google Business Profiles. Analytics and engagement features are not available for every network.
Buffer offers approval workflows on its Team plan, listed at US$10 per channel a month on yearly billing as of October 2026. Hootsuite highlights approvals on its Advanced plan. Meta Business Suite has no formal approval workflow, so teams usually share drafts and approve informally.
No. Add the agency through Meta's business settings as a partner or user, and invite them into your scheduler with their own login. That way you can see what they do and remove access instantly when the engagement ends. Keep at least two admins inside your business.