# Buffer vs CAPTIVATE!

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: CAPTIVATE! at none against Buffer's 12. CAPTIVATE! also leads on iOS requirement (11.0 vs 18.0). Buffer's advantage is ratings volume (35K vs 340) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Buffer sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. CAPTIVATE! asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Buffer against 4.8 for CAPTIVATE!. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Buffer has 35K ratings behind it against 340, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 54% of Buffer's written reviews are positive against 40% of CAPTIVATE!'s.

Buffer ships an update every 5 days, CAPTIVATE! every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 19, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Buffer | CAPTIVATE! |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (35K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/buffer-plan-and-schedule-posts/id490474324/reviews) | **[4.8 (340 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/captivate/id1188466419/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **35K** | 340 |
| Positive reviews | **54.2% of reviews** | 40.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 days** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#147** | — |
| Size | 154 MB | 26 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Buffer, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/490474327) | [Modern Message](https://appshunter.io/developer/953289870) |

## What reviewers say

### Buffer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/buffer-plan-and-schedule-posts/id490474324)

**Currently charting:** #147 Top Grossing · Social Networking, #201 Top Free · Social Networking (US App Store)

Streamline your social media presence by planning, scheduling, and publishing content across multiple platforms from one app. Engage with your audience and track performance with insightful analytics. Ideal for creators looking to grow their online presence efficiently.

**Highlights:** Cross-platform posting, Content scheduling, Idea organization, Performance analytics, Calendar view, Apple Watch app

**Features:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Essentials - 1 Channel | $5.99 | per month |
| Essentials+Team: 1 Channel | $11.99 | per month |
| Essentials - 2 Channels | $11.99 | per month |
| Pro for 1 Month | $14.99 | per month |
| Essentials - 3 Channels | $17.99 | per month |
| Essentials - 4 Channels | $23.99 | per month |
| Essentials - 5 Channels | $29.99 | per month |
| Essentials - 6 Channels | $35.99 | per month |
| Small Business | $99.99 | per month |
| Small Business for 1 Month | $99.99 | per month |
| Pro for 1 Year | $144.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 💻 Easy to use
- 🕰️ Convenient scheduling
- 🔍 Helpful for social media management
- 🤖 Automated posting
- 📈 Improved engagement and growth

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Stability issues and bugs
- 🔗 Unreliable platform integrations
- 📸 Limited image/video handling capabilities
- 🔒 Frustrating login/authentication problems
- 💰 Expensive paid plans

**Reported bugs**

- Drafts not registering in visual calendar
- Inability to reorder scheduled posts
- Inconsistent behavior between mobile and desktop versions
- Automatic posting not working as expected
- Issues with image/video quality and formatting

**Requested features**

- Add support for Twitter threads
- Improve visual planning and calendar view
- Integrate with more platforms like Slack and Discord
- Allow more customization and control over posts
- Provide better analytics and performance insights


### CAPTIVATE!

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/captivate/id1188466419)

Earn rewards by completing apartment-related actions like social media sharing, referrals, and lease renewals. Accumulate points to redeem for gift cards from popular retailers. Build a stronger apartment community while enjoying exclusive perks.

**Highlights:** Earn points for actions, Redeem for gift cards, Social media sharing, Referral program, Lease renewal rewards, Surveys and feedback, Online rent payment rewards

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Buffer free?

Buffer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is CAPTIVATE! free?

CAPTIVATE! is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Buffer or CAPTIVATE!?

CAPTIVATE! is rated higher. Buffer averages 4.7 out of 5 from 35K ratings, while CAPTIVATE! averages 4.8 from 340 ratings.

### Do Buffer or CAPTIVATE! have ads?

Neither Buffer nor CAPTIVATE! shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Buffer or CAPTIVATE!?

Buffer ships an update every 5 days, and CAPTIVATE! every 3 weeks. Most recently, Buffer was updated on October 19, 2026 and CAPTIVATE! on October 19, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*