Zoho Social vs Buffer: Best for Content Planning in 2024?

Need help to stay on top of your social media content? Creating engaging posts and remembering to publish them at the best times can be a real headache!

It would be best if you had a solid content plan, but spreadsheets and sticky notes need to be cutting it.

Zoho Social vs Buffer can help! These platforms make content planning easier. But which one is right for you?

We’ll break down their features, pricing, and ease of use so you can choose with confidence. Let’s dive in!

Zoho Social vs Buffer: Overview

To give you the most accurate comparison, we’ve spent weeks testing both Zoho Social and Buffer.

We’ve explored their features, scheduled posts across various platforms, and analyzed their performance reports.

We also considered user reviews and expert opinions to provide a well-rounded perspective.

Now, let’s see how they stack up!

What is Zoho Social?

Have you ever wished managing your social media was easier? Zoho Social might be what you need!

It's a platform designed to help businesses and agencies handle their social media marketing.

Think about scheduling posts, analyzing performance, and engaging with your audience – all in one place. Pretty handy, right?

Key Benefits

• Powerful collaboration tools: Zoho Social makes it easy for teams to work together on social media content. You can assign tasks, share feedback, and keep everyone on the same page.
• In-depth analytics: Want to know how your posts are really performing? Zoho Social gives you detailed reports to track your progress and identify areas for improvement.
• Smart scheduling features: Zoho Social helps you find the best times to post. This ensures that your content reaches the maximum number of people.

Pricing

Zoho Social offers a free plan for small businesses. But if you need more features, paid plans start at just $10 per month. Here's a quick look:

• Standard ($10/month): 1 Brand (10 Channels), 1 Team Member, All Social Media Profile.
• Professional ($25/month): 1 brand (10 channels), 1 team member, and all social media profiles and features.
• Premium ($40/month): 1 brand (11 channels), 3 team members, all social media profiles, and 24/5 email support.

What is Buffer?

Need a simple way to manage your social media? Buffer might be just the ticket!

It's a user-friendly platform that helps you plan, schedule, and analyze your social media posts.

Think of it as your personal assistant for all things social media. No more scrambling to post at the last minute!

Key Benefits

• Streamlined scheduling: Buffer makes it super easy to schedule your posts in advance. You can even set up a posting schedule so your content goes live at the optimal times.
• Simple analytics: Want to see how your posts are performing? Buffer provides clear and concise reports to track your progress and measure your success.
• Easy collaboration: Working with a team? Buffer allows you to collaborate on content and manage social media accounts together seamlessly.

Pricing

Buffer offers a generous free plan. But if you need more features, paid plans start at just $6 per month. Check it out:

• Free: Connect up to 3 channels, Planning & publishing tools, Landing page builder, AI Assistant.
• Essentials ($6/month): Free features, plus Engagement tools and analytic report.
• Team ($12/month): Essentials features, plus Unlimited team members & clients, Draft collaboration tools.
• Agency ($120/month): Team features, plus Custom access & permission, Agency-friendly pricing.

Zoho Social vs Buffer: Feature Comparison

Let's dive into a head-to-head comparison of these social media management tools, exploring their key features and how they measure up against each other.

Publishing Capabilities

Both Zoho Social and Buffer empower you to schedule posts across various social media platforms.

Zoho Social stands out with its visual publishing calendar and the ability to create recurring posts.

Buffer keeps things simple with a straightforward scheduling queue. 

Supported Social Media Platforms

Zoho Social and Buffer support the major social media platforms, but Zoho Social boasts a wider range of integrations, including Google My Business.

This makes it a strong contender for businesses utilizing diverse social channels. 

Content Planning

Zoho Social truly shines in the content planning arena.

Its "Idea Inbox" allows for brainstorming and storing content ideas while content approval workflows streamline collaboration.

Buffer offers a more basic content calendar and hashtag manager. 

Analytics and Reporting

Both platforms provide analytics to track the performance of your social accounts.

Zoho Social delivers more in-depth, customizable reports with granular insights.

Buffer's analytics are more streamlined, offering a high-level overview of key metrics. 

Collaboration

For teams, Zoho Social's collaboration features take a lot of work to beat.

It offers granular permission levels, task assignments, and a built-in chat for seamless communication.

Buffer allows you to add team members and assign roles, but its features could be more robust. 

Ease of Use

Both platforms are generally user-friendly, but Buffer takes the lead with its intuitive interface and clean design.

Zoho Social might present a slight learning curve for beginners. 

Show Drafts

Zoho Social allows you to save posts as drafts and collaborate on them with your team before publishing.

This is a valuable feature for teams that require multiple rounds of revisions and approvals. Buffer's draft functionality is more limited. 

What to Look for When Choosing a Social Media Management Tool?

• Your specific needs: What is your social media goals? What platforms do you use? How big is your team?
• Content planning features: Do you need a tool with a detailed content calendar, idea storage, and approval workflows?
• Publishing capabilities: How important are advanced scheduling, recurring posts, and a visual publishing calendar?
• Supported social media platforms: Does the tool integrate with all the platforms you use?
• Analytics and reporting: What level of detail do you need in your reports?
• Collaboration features: How important are task assignments, permission levels, and built-in communication tools?
• Ease of use: How intuitive is the interface? Is there a learning curve?
• Pricing: Does the tool offer a free plan? What features are included in paid plans?
• User ratings: What do other users say about the tool?
• Consider your budget and the size of your team. Some tools are better suited for individuals and small businesses, while others are designed for larger teams and agencies.
• Think about your future needs. Select a solution that can scale with your business as it grows.
• Feel free to try out different tools. Most platforms offer free trials, you can test them before committing to a paid plan.
• Look for a tool that offers good customer support. You may need help getting started or troubleshooting issues.

Final Verdict (Our Pick)

For powerful content planning, Zoho Social wins. Its robust features and collaborative tools make it ideal for serious social media marketers.

Buffer is great for beginners seeking simplicity, but Zoho Social offers more for those who want to level up their social media game.

We've thoroughly tested these platforms to bring you this comparison. Trust our expertise to make the right choice!

Ultimately, the best platform for you depends on your specific needs and priorities.

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In some cases, a specific ray ID might be provided. Both Zoho Social and Buffer offer free trials, so you can test them out and see which one fits your workflow best.

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