Buffer is the better app overall, scoring 8.7 to 8.0. Buffer wins on 4 of the 5 scores, Snapchat on 1.
Solo creators and small teams who post to several apps
Teens and friends who like to chat with photos
Score by score
The details
| Feature | Buffer | Snapchat |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Social Media & Creator Tools | Social Media & Creator Tools |
| Category rank | #2 of 17 | #16 of 17 |
| Developer | Buffer | Snap Inc. |
| Pricing | Free + paid plans | Free + paid plans |
| Usable for free | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web | ✓ | ✓ |
Common questions
Is Buffer better than Snapchat?
Buffer is the better app overall, scoring 8.7 to 8.0. Buffer wins on 4 of the 5 scores, Snapchat on 1.
Which is cheaper, Buffer or Snapchat?
Buffer: Free for 3 channels; Essentials is $5 a month per channel, billed yearly. Snapchat: Free with ads; Snapchat+ is listed at $4.99 a month on the US App Store. On value for money, Buffer scores higher.
Do Buffer and Snapchat work on the same devices?
Yes, both run on Web, iPhone & iPad, Android.
Which is more private, Buffer or Snapchat?
Buffer scores higher on privacy (8.0/10). The App Store label links contact info, identifiers, usage data, diagnostics and your content to you, with no tracking. There are no ads. Buffer needs access to the social accounts you connect.
Strengths and weaknesses
Buffer
- Free plan is useful on its own
- Clean and easy to learn
- Works with Bluesky, Threads and Mastodon
- Paid plans charge per channel
- Free plan holds only 10 posts per channel
- First-comment scheduling needs a paid plan
Buffer is the easiest way to plan posts for many apps at once. Write a post, pick your channels, and it goes out at the time you choose. The free plan covers three channels with 10 scheduled posts each, which is plenty for one creator. It works with 12 networks, including Instagram, TikTok, Threads, Bluesky and YouTube. Paid plans charge per channel, so costs climb if you run many accounts.
Full Buffer review
Snapchat
- Great for quick, private chats with friends
- Fun face and camera effects
- Free, with all the main features
- Creator pay is invite-only and needs 50,000 followers
- Free Memories storage is capped at 5GB
- Layout can confuse new users
Snapchat is built for close friends, not crowds. You send photos and videos that vanish, keep streaks going, and play with Lenses that change your face or the world around you. Spotlight and Stories let you post to everyone, but the bar to get paid is high at 50,000 followers. It is free with ads. Free Memories storage is now capped at 5GB, and the layout can confuse new users.
Full Snapchat review
