Buffer and Glow Social both help small businesses with social media, but they work completely differently. Buffer is a scheduling tool—you create content, it helps you post it at the right times. Glow Social is automated posting software—it creates and publishes 20 posts per month for $99 without requiring you to write anything.
The question isn't which tool is better. It's whether you want to do social media yourself or have it handled for you.
Quick Comparison
| Factor | Buffer | Glow Social |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | Schedules posts you create | Creates and publishes posts automatically |
| Your role | Write content, create graphics, schedule | 5-minute setup, occasional approvals |
| Time required | 3-5 hours/month (content creation + scheduling) | 5 minutes setup, minimal ongoing |
| Price | Free for 3 channels, paid from $5/channel/month billed yearly | $99/month |
| Content | Whatever you create | 20 posts/month, customized to your business |
| Platforms | Most major platforms, including Google Business Profile | Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, Google Business Profile |
What Buffer Does Well
Buffer is one of the most popular social media scheduling tools, and for good reason:
- Clean, intuitive interface
- Free tier that works for small accounts
- Optimal timing suggestions
- Basic analytics to see what's working
- Writing assistant to help brainstorm ideas
Best for: People who enjoy creating social media content and want help scheduling and organizing it.
The catch: You're still doing the work. Buffer makes posting easier, but you still need to write captions, create graphics, decide what to post, and stick to a content calendar. That takes 3-5 hours per month minimum.
What Glow Social Does Well
Glow Social takes a completely different approach:
- You answer questions about your business during 5-minute setup
- Software creates 20 custom posts per month
- Posts are automatically published to Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and Google Business Profile
- No content calendar to manage
- No graphics to create
- No scheduling to figure out
Best for: Business owners who want consistent posting without spending time on content creation.
The catch: Less control. You're trusting software to represent your business instead of crafting every post yourself.
The Real Question: Do You Want to Do Social Media?
This isn't a features comparison—it's a lifestyle question.
Choose Buffer if:
- You enjoy creating content
- You have 3-5 hours/month for social media
- You want complete creative control
- You like learning and using new tools
- You find scheduling satisfying
Choose Glow Social if:
- You'd rather not think about social media
- You don't have hours for content creation
- Consistency matters more than creative control
- You've tried DIY tools and stopped using them
- You want posting handled, not assisted
Cost Comparison (Full Picture)
Buffer looks cheaper on the surface, but compare total costs:
Buffer total cost:
- Buffer: $0/month on Free, or $5/channel/month billed yearly on Essentials
- Design tool (Canva): $0-13/month
- Your time: 3-5 hours/month
- Total: $0-33/month + your time for many small business setups
Glow Social total cost:
- Glow Social: $99/month
- Your time: 5 minutes setup
- Total: $99/month
If your time is worth more than $20/hour, Glow Social can cost less than DIY with Buffer. See our full cost breakdown or the detailed Buffer pricing and free plan limits.
Can You Use Both?
Yes. Some businesses use Glow Social for baseline consistency (20 automated posts/month) and Buffer to schedule occasional manual posts—promotions, events, or content that needs specific timing.
This gives you consistent presence without the pressure of creating all your content yourself.
Bottom Line
Buffer helps you do social media yourself. Glow Social does social media for you.
If you enjoy content creation and have the time, Buffer is a solid choice. Also compare Hootsuite vs. Glow Social, Sprout Social vs. Glow Social, and Later vs Buffer. If you want posting handled automatically, Glow Social offers 20 posts/month for $99 with 5-minute setup at glowsocial.com.
About Glow Social: Done-for-you software that automatically creates and publishes 20 custom posts per month to Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and Google Business Profile. $99/month, 5-minute setup. glowsocial.com
