Buffer vs Loomly
Buffer
- Platform: 10+ major channels including emerging platforms
- Best For: Creators, small businesses, and agencies needing simple scheduling
- Strength: Intuitive interface with unlimited AI credits
- Users: Over 100,000 users (estimated from mature platform status)
Starting at $5/month per channel
Loomly
- Platform: 8+ major channels with focus on established networks
- Best For: Marketing teams and agencies requiring approvals and reporting
- Strength: Visual calendar and multi-level workflows
- Users: Not specified, but popular among brands and franchises
Starting at Paid plans start at the lowest available tier above the free trial; exact current pricing is dynamically rendered on Loomly’s site and may vary by region.
Table of Contents
At a Glance
Platform Support
| Feature | Buffer | Loomly |
|---|---|---|
| Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn | ✓ Full support with threaded posts and first comment scheduling | ✓ Full support with auto-posting and platform-specific optimization |
| TikTok, YouTube Shorts, Pinterest | ✓ Supports Shorts and emerging video formats | ✓ Supports with built-in video editor |
| X (Twitter), Threads, Bluesky, Mastodon | ✓ Broad emerging platform support including Bluesky and Mastodon | ✓ Supports Threads but limited on niche platforms like Bluesky |
| Google Business Profile | ✓ Integrated posting and analytics | ✓ Supported with location-based coordination |
Content Creation
| Feature | Buffer | Loomly |
|---|---|---|
| AI-powered content generation | ✓ Unlimited AI Assistant credits for ideas, drafts, and replies on paid plans | ✗ No dedicated AI; relies on post inspiration and templates |
| Built-in image/video editor | ✗ Integrations with Canva/Unsplash but no native editor | ✓ Integrated editor with 5M+ royalty-free assets |
| Content calendar and library | ✓ Visual calendar, queue, ideas board, and unlimited storage on paid plans | ✓ Visual calendar with library for drafts and inspiration |
| Post inspiration tools | ✓ AI-generated ideas and templates | ✓ Daily post inspiration and customizable templates |
| Hashtag manager | ✓ Built-in hashtag manager | ✗ Manual hashtag addition only |
Scheduling & Automation
| Feature | Buffer | Loomly |
|---|---|---|
| Visual content calendar | ✓ Drag-and-drop calendar with queue and reminders | ✓ Central visual calendar with drag-and-drop and campaign labels |
| Queue and recurring posts | ✓ Intelligent queue for evergreen scheduling | ✓ Auto-posting with recurring options via calendar |
| Best time to post | ✓ AI-suggested best times based on analytics | ✗ Manual scheduling without automated suggestions |
| Channel groups and threaded posts | ✓ Group channels for bulk posting and threaded conversations | ✗ Basic multi-channel but no threading |
Engagement & Inbox
| Feature | Buffer | Loomly |
|---|---|---|
| Unified inbox | ✓ Community inbox with AI replies, saved replies, and insights | ✓ Unified inbox for comments, messages, and replies across channels |
| AI-assisted replies | ✓ AI generates reply suggestions | ✗ Manual replies with saved templates |
| Comment insights | ✓ Analytics on comment performance | ✗ Basic engagement tracking |
Analytics & Reporting
| Feature | Buffer | Loomly |
|---|---|---|
| Basic analytics | ✓ Included on free plan; advanced on paid | ✓ Core analytics across all plans |
| Advanced analytics (demographics, best time) | ✓ Audience demographics, best time to post, custom UTM | ✓ Campaign-specific reporting and automated reports |
| Branded/white-label reports | ✓ Branded reports on paid plans | ✓ Automated, customizable reports for stakeholders |
| Campaign tracking | ✗ General performance overview | ✓ Label-based campaign tracking and reporting |
Collaboration & Agency Features
| Feature | Buffer | Loomly |
|---|---|---|
| Team workspaces and permissions | ✓ Custom access and permissions on Team plan | ✓ Multi-level collaboration and approval workflows |
| Approval workflows | ✓ Notes and basic approvals on Team plan | ✓ Customizable multi-level approvals for teams and clients |
| Client management | ✓ Suitable for agencies with access controls | ✓ Ideal for agencies with campaign labels and multi-location support |
| Unlimited users | ✓ Unlimited users on Team plan | ✗ User limits based on plan tier |
Integrations & Extras
| Feature | Buffer | Loomly |
|---|---|---|
| Creative integrations (Canva, Unsplash) | ✓ Plus Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive | ✓ Plus Google Drive; built-in asset library |
| Automation (Zapier, IFTTT) | ✓ Zapier, IFTTT, WordPress, Feedly, Pocket, Bitly | ✗ Limited to core social integrations |
| Mobile apps and extensions | ✓ Mobile apps and browser extension | ✓ Mobile apps; no browser extension |
| Link-in-bio tool | ✓ Start Page builder included | ✗ Not available |
Pricing Comparison
Buffer offers a generous free plan and per-channel pricing starting at $5/month, making it affordable for small-scale users. Loomly's pricing is tiered by users and accounts, starting higher in the professional range with dynamic rendering, better suited for teams but potentially more expensive for solos.
Buffer
Free
$0/month
Beginners testing core features
- Connect up to 3 channels
- 10 scheduled posts per channel (refill anytime)
- 100 ideas storage
- 1 user account
- AI Assistant included
- Basic analytics
- Community inbox
- World-class customer support
- Start Page included
- Reply to comments
Essentials
$5/month per channel
Solo creators needing unlimited posting
- Unlimited scheduled posts per channel
- Unlimited ideas
- 1 user account
- AI Assistant with unlimited credits
- Advanced analytics
- Community inbox
- Hashtag manager
- First comment scheduling
- Channel groups
- Custom video covers
Team
$10/month per channel
Small teams and agencies
- Unlimited scheduled posts per channel
- Unlimited ideas
- Unlimited user accounts
- AI Assistant with unlimited credits
- Advanced analytics
- Community inbox
- Hashtag manager
- First comment scheduling
- Channel groups
- Custom video covers
- Notes, approval workflows, custom permissions
Loomly
Base Plan (example lowest paid tier)
$XX/month
Small teams or individuals starting out
- Access to core Loomly features for a limited number of social accounts and users
- Content calendar and library for planning and scheduling posts
- Basic collaboration tools for small teams or individual users
- Access to supported social media integrations for publishing
Standard Plan (example mid-tier)
$YY/month
Growing teams needing enhanced collaboration
- Increased limits on social accounts and users compared to the base plan
- Enhanced collaboration and approval workflows for growing teams
- Access to campaign labels and more advanced reporting options
- Priority access to Loomly support resources and onboarding materials
Advanced Plan (example higher tier)
$ZZ/month
Agencies and larger teams
- Higher caps on social profiles, users, and scheduled posts
- Full access to advanced analytics, reports, and campaign tracking
- Expanded collaboration features for agencies and larger teams
- Access to all supported integrations and creative tools
Loomly Premium / Top Plan
Custom monthly pricing
Large teams requiring maximum features
- All Loomly premium features with maximum limits on accounts and users
- Comprehensive analytics, reporting, and campaign management capabilities
- Advanced collaboration workflows suitable for complex organizations
- Best suited for large teams that need full access to every feature
Loomly for Enterprise
Custom
Enterprises and franchises
- All Loomly Premium features tailored for large businesses or marketing teams
- Additional social media connections and user seats at scale
- Priority support and dedicated assistance from Loomly’s team
- Friendly pricing at scale with solutions customized to enterprise requirements
Feature Deep Dive
Content Creation Capabilities
Buffer
Strengths
- Unlimited AI Assistant for generating ideas, drafts, and full posts
- Ideas board, templates, and unlimited storage on paid plans
- Hashtag manager and first comment scheduling for optimized posts
- Integrations with Canva, Unsplash for easy asset addition
- Support for threaded posts and channel groups
Workflow
Brainstorm with AI → Save to ideas board → Create draft with templates → Edit and schedule via queue
Loomly
Strengths
- Built-in image/video editor with 5M+ royalty-free assets
- Daily post inspiration and customizable content library
- Visual calendar for planning with drag-and-drop
- Campaign labels for organized content themes
- Platform-specific post previews and auto-formatting
Workflow
Get daily inspiration → Edit assets in built-in tool → Add to calendar with labels → Schedule or approve
Buffer shines with AI-driven content generation and unlimited credits, ideal for creators needing quick ideas without external tools. Loomly offers a stronger native editor and inspiration for visual planning but lacks AI automation. Buffer is better for AI-assisted solo creation; Loomly for team-based asset editing and themed campaigns.
Scheduling & Automation
Buffer
Strengths
- Visual calendar with queue for evergreen posting
- AI best-time suggestions and reminder notifications
- Threaded posts, first comments, and channel groups for efficiency
- Unlimited posts on paid plans with refillable free limits
Limitations
- No advanced campaign labeling
- Queue is basic compared to full automation suites
Loomly
Strengths
- Drag-and-drop visual calendar with auto-posting
- Recurring schedules and multi-channel planning
- Campaign labels for tracking themed content
- Built-in previews for platform compliance
Limitations
- No AI best-time automation
- Less flexible queue for evergreen recycling
Both offer solid visual calendars, but Buffer edges out with AI best-time and unlimited queue for simple automation. Loomly provides superior campaign organization and previews for structured planning. Buffer wins for effortless solo scheduling; Loomly for team-coordinated campaigns.
Engagement & Unified Inbox
Buffer
Strengths
- Community inbox centralizing comments across platforms
- AI-generated reply suggestions and saved replies
- Comment insights for performance analysis
- Real-time notifications and multi-platform replies
Workflow
Monitor inbox → AI suggests reply → Customize and send → Track insights
Loomly
Strengths
- Unified inbox for comments, messages, and mentions
- Team assignment for replies and collaboration
- Integration with calendar for context-aware engagement
- Basic saved replies and filtering
Limitations
- No AI assistance for replies
- Less focus on insights compared to analytics
Buffer's AI-enhanced inbox makes engagement faster and smarter for individuals, with insights adding value. Loomly's inbox supports team handling but lacks AI, focusing on collaborative response. Buffer is superior for AI-boosted solo engagement; Loomly for team-managed interactions.
Analytics & Reporting
Buffer
Strengths
- Basic to advanced analytics including demographics and best time
- Performance overviews, custom UTM, and branded reports
- AI-driven insights like audience growth
- Exportable data for deeper analysis
Limitations
- No campaign-specific labeling
- Depth may overwhelm casual users
Loomly
Strengths
- Advanced social analytics with automated reports
- Campaign tracking via labels for ROI measurement
- Stakeholder-ready reports with customization
- Multi-channel performance dashboards
Limitations
- No best-time suggestions or demographics
- Reporting tied to higher tiers
Buffer provides broader, AI-informed analytics like demographics and best times, great for optimization. Loomly excels in campaign-focused reporting for teams proving value. Buffer is better for individual insights; Loomly for agency/client deliverables.
Use Case Comparison
Solo Content Creator
Buffer 🏆
Excellent
Generous free plan, unlimited AI for content, and simple scheduling suit independent creators managing multiple channels.
Best Plan: Free or Essentials ($5/channel/month)
Score: 9/10
Loomly
Fair
Visual calendar is helpful, but no free plan and lack of AI make it overkill for solos.
Best Plan: Base Plan ($XX/month)
Score: 5/10
Small Business Owner
Buffer 🏆
Excellent
Affordable per-channel pricing, basic analytics, and community inbox for consistent posting without complexity.
Best Plan: Essentials ($5/channel/month)
Score: 9/10
Loomly
Good
Content calendar and inspiration aid planning, but higher costs for basic needs.
Best Plan: Standard Plan ($YY/month)
Score: 7/10
Marketing Team in Growing Brand
Buffer
Good
Team plan supports collaboration, but lacks multi-level approvals.
Best Plan: Team ($10/channel/month)
Score: 7/10
Loomly 🏆
Excellent
Approval workflows, campaign labels, and unified reporting perfect for coordinated efforts.
Best Plan: Advanced Plan ($ZZ/month)
Score: 10/10
Digital Agency Managing Clients
Buffer
Good
Unlimited users and permissions work for small agencies, but no client-specific workspaces.
Best Plan: Team ($10/channel/month)
Score: 7/10
Loomly 🏆
Excellent
Multi-level approvals, campaign tracking, and scalable plans ideal for client management.
Best Plan: Premium or Enterprise (Custom)
Score: 10/10
Franchise with Multi-Locations
Buffer
Fair
Channel groups help, but limited coordination for distributed teams.
Best Plan: Team ($10/channel/month)
Score: 6/10
Loomly 🏆
Excellent
Supports multi-location coordination with labels and approvals across sites.
Best Plan: Advanced or Enterprise (Custom)
Score: 9/10
Nonprofit Seeking Affordable Tools
Buffer 🏆
Excellent
Free plan and low starting price with AI assistance for limited budgets.
Best Plan: Free or Essentials ($5/channel/month)
Score: 9/10
Loomly
Good
Discounted plans for nonprofits, but no free tier and higher entry.
Best Plan: Base Plan ($XX/month with discount)
Score: 7/10
User Prioritizing AI Content Generation
Buffer 🏆
Excellent
Unlimited AI credits for ideas, posts, and replies streamline creation.
Best Plan: Essentials ($5/channel/month)
Score: 10/10
Loomly
Poor
No AI tools; focuses on manual editing and inspiration.
Best Plan: Not ideal
Score: 3/10
Brand Running Structured Campaigns
Buffer
Fair
Basic tracking via analytics, but no labeling for campaigns.
Best Plan: Team ($10/channel/month)
Score: 5/10
Loomly 🏆
Excellent
Label-based tracking and automated reports excel for campaign ROI.
Best Plan: Standard ($YY/month)
Score: 10/10
Budget-Conscious User
Buffer 🏆
Excellent
Free plan and $5/channel entry provide high value for basics.
Best Plan: Free
Score: 9/10
Loomly
Fair
Trial only; paid plans start higher without free access.
Best Plan: Base Plan ($XX/month)
Score: 5/10
Team Needing Approval Workflows
Buffer
Good
Basic approvals and unlimited users, but not multi-level.
Best Plan: Team ($10/channel/month)
Score: 7/10
Loomly 🏆
Excellent
Customizable multi-level workflows for complex team dynamics.
Best Plan: Advanced ($ZZ/month)
Score: 10/10
User Managing Emerging Platforms
Buffer 🏆
Excellent
Supports Bluesky, Mastodon, Threads beyond majors.
Best Plan: Essentials ($5/channel/month)
Score: 9/10
Loomly
Good
Covers majors and Threads, but misses niche like Bluesky.
Best Plan: Standard ($YY/month)
Score: 7/10
User Focused on Detailed Analytics
Buffer 🏆
Excellent
Advanced metrics like demographics and best time on paid plans.
Best Plan: Essentials ($5/channel/month)
Score: 9/10
Loomly
Good
Strong reporting but less on audience insights.
Best Plan: Advanced ($ZZ/month)
Score: 8/10
Pros and Cons
Buffer
Pros
- Clean, intuitive interface approachable for non-technical users
- Generous free plan with up to 3 channels and core features
- Strong multi-channel support including emerging platforms like Bluesky
- Unlimited AI Assistant credits for content and replies on paid plans
- Robust analytics with best time to post, demographics, and branded reports
- Community inbox with AI-assisted engagement
- Unlimited users on Team plan with flexible per-channel pricing
- Mobile apps, browser extension, and Start Page link-in-bio tool
- Transparent pricing and human customer support
Cons
- Per-channel pricing escalates for many profiles
- No built-in image/video editor; depends on integrations
- Advanced collaboration (approvals) limited to Team plan
- Learning curve for full suite beyond simple posting
- Analytics may be excessive for casual users
- Not optimized for heavy AI-only generation like specialized tools
Loomly
Pros
- Visual content calendar central to intuitive team planning
- Built-in editor with 5M+ assets reduces external dependencies
- Multi-level approval workflows for agencies and teams
- Campaign labeling and tracking for structured reporting
- Unified inbox for cross-platform engagement management
- Advanced analytics with automated, stakeholder-ready reports
- Daily inspiration and library for consistent content ideas
- Supports multi-location and franchise coordination
- Discounts for nonprofits and transparent professional pricing
Cons
- No free plan; only trial, with dynamic pricing lacking upfront clarity
- Feature-rich interface can overwhelm solo or small users
- Lacks AI for content generation or replies
- Limited support for emerging platforms beyond majors
- Yearly plans non-cancellable, reducing flexibility
- User and account limits increase costs for scaling teams
- No best-time automation or hashtag manager
Final Verdict
Buffer and Loomly are both reliable social media tools, but Buffer targets simplicity and AI for creators and small users, while Loomly builds for collaborative teams with visual and campaign focus. Buffer's free plan and AI make it accessible; Loomly's workflows suit structured environments.
Opt for Buffer if you're an individual or small team valuing ease, AI, and affordability—start with the free plan. Choose Loomly for team collaboration, campaign management, and professional reporting, especially if approvals are key. For mixed needs, use Buffer for creation and Loomly for planning.
Overall Scores
Buffer
Value: 9/10
Loomly
Value: 7/10
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