Comparisons

MavSocial vs Buffer 2026: Which One Should You Pick?

Matt
Matt
8 min read

TL;DR - Quick Answer

8 min read

See which tool is better for you. We compare pricing, features, and ease of use.

Quick answer: Buffer is simpler and has a free plan. MavSocial includes ad management but costs $29+/month.

Neither has robust AI content generation. For full reviews, see our Buffer review and MavSocial review.

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Quick Comparison

FeatureMavSocialBuffer
Starting price$29/monthFree
Best forAd managementSimplicity
Free planNoYes (3 channels)
Ad managementYesNo
AI contentNoBasic
Learning curveModerateEasy

Pricing Side-by-Side

MavSocial Pricing

PlanCostProfilesUsers
Advanced$29/mo101
Pro$78/mo303
Business$249/mo405

Buffer Pricing

PlanCostChannelsUsers
Free$031
Essentials$6/channelUnlimited1
Team$12/channelUnlimitedUnlimited

Quick Quiz
Medium

You're a solo creator managing 5 accounts. Which is cheaper?

💡 Tip: Think carefully before selecting your answer!


Cost Comparison by Scenario

Solo Creator (3 accounts)

ToolMonthly Cost
Buffer Free$0
MavSocial$29
WinnerBuffer (saves $29/month)

Solo Creator (5 accounts)

ToolMonthly Cost
Buffer Essentials$30
MavSocial$29
WinnerMavSocial (saves $1/month)

Small Team (3 people, 10 accounts)

ToolMonthly Cost
Buffer Team$120
MavSocial Pro$78
WinnerMavSocial (saves $42/month)

Features That Matter

Scheduling

MavSocial:

  • Visual content calendar
  • Bulk scheduling
  • Queue-based posting
  • Mobile app

Buffer:

  • Queue-based posting
  • Best time suggestions
  • Browser extension
  • Cleaner interface

Winner: Tie. MavSocial has more features, Buffer is easier to use.


Ad Management

MavSocial:

  • Create Facebook/Instagram ads
  • Campaign management
  • Performance tracking
  • Budget controls

Buffer:

  • No ad management

Winner: MavSocial. This is their main differentiator.


Quick Quiz
Easy

You need to manage Facebook ads alongside your posts. Which tool works?

💡 Tip: Think carefully before selecting your answer!


Interface & Ease of Use

MavSocial:

  • More features, steeper learning curve
  • Interface feels dated
  • Mobile app available

Buffer:

  • Clean, minimal design
  • Very easy to learn
  • Excellent browser extension

Winner: Buffer. Significantly easier to use.


AI Features

MavSocial:

  • No AI content generation

Buffer:

  • AI Assistant on paid plans
  • Caption suggestions
  • Hashtag recommendations

Winner: Buffer (basic AI vs none).


Quick Quiz
Easy

Neither MavSocial nor Buffer has full AI content generation. What's the best alternative?

💡 Tip: Think carefully before selecting your answer!


Pros and Cons

MavSocial Pros

  • Built-in ad management
  • Stock image library
  • Social inbox included
  • WeChat support

MavSocial Cons

  • No free plan
  • Dated interface
  • No AI content
  • Single user on base plan

Buffer Pros

  • Free plan available
  • Very easy to use
  • Clean interface
  • Basic AI included

Buffer Cons

  • No ad management
  • Per-channel pricing adds up
  • Limited free plan
  • No social listening

Who Should Choose What?

Choose MavSocial if you:

  • Need to manage Facebook/Instagram ads
  • Want social inbox features
  • Have 5+ social profiles
  • Don't mind dated interface
  • Need WeChat posting

Choose Buffer if you:

  • Want free option to start
  • Value simple, clean interface
  • Have 3 or fewer accounts
  • Don't need ad management
  • Prefer easy learning curve

Quick Quiz
Easy

You value simplicity over features. Best choice?

💡 Tip: Think carefully before selecting your answer!


The Better Alternative

Neither MavSocial nor Buffer offer full AI content generation. Consider:

SocialRails — $29/month

FeatureMavSocialBufferSocialRails
Price$29/moFree-$120$29/mo
AI contentNoBasicUnlimited
Video templatesNoNo350+
Ad managementYesNoNo
Team users11 (free)Unlimited

Same price as MavSocial, with AI that Buffer lacks.

Try SocialRails free

Summary

Choose MavSocial if: Ad management is essential.

Choose Buffer if: You want free/simple scheduling.

Choose SocialRails if: You want AI content generation.

Create content, post everywhere

Create posts, images, and carousels with AI. Schedule to 9 platforms in seconds.

Start your free trial

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