# Buffer vs Hashtag Expert

The clearest difference is monetization model: Buffer at free with in-app purchases against Hashtag Expert's subscription. Buffer also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (weekly vs every 4 weeks). Hashtag Expert's advantage is review sentiment (72% vs 55%) and iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Buffer sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and Hashtag Expert sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Buffer against 4.6 for Hashtag Expert. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 34K and 36K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 55% of Buffer's written reviews are positive against 72% of Hashtag Expert's.

Buffer ships an update weekly, Hashtag Expert every 4 weeks. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Buffer | Hashtag Expert |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (34K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/buffer-plan-and-schedule-posts/id490474324/reviews)** | [4.6 (36K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hashtag-expert-ai-captions/id1256222789/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 34K | **36K** |
| Positive reviews | 54.6% of reviews | **71.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 4 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | **#134** | — |
| Size | 229 MB | 167 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Buffer, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/490474327) | [App Holdings](https://appshunter.io/developer/808581339) |

## What reviewers say

### Buffer

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

**Currently charting:** #134 Top Grossing · 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


### Hashtag Expert

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hashtag-expert-ai-captions/id1256222789)

Boost your social media presence with AI-powered captions and a comprehensive hashtag generator. Discover optimal posting times, access curated event hashtags, and analyze your performance with detailed insights. Join a community of creators and learn from expert articles to elevate your content.

**Highlights:** AI Caption Generator, Hashtag Generator, Optimal Posting Time Suggestions, Curated Event Hashtags, In-depth Analytics, Custom Keyboard for Quick Hashtags

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Pro | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Membership | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Pro | $7.99 | per month |
| Hashtags Pro | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Hashtags Pro | $14.99 | per month |
| Pro | $19.99 | per month |
| Pro | $34.99 | per year |
| Hashtag Expert Premium Yearly | $89.99 | per year |
| Hashtags Pro | $189.99 | per year |
| Hashtags Pro | $189.99 | per year |
| Hashtag Expert Premium Yearly | $249.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 🚀 Time-saving
- 🚀 Helpful for small businesses
- 👍 Generates relevant hashtags
- 👍 Customizable hashtag selection

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🐛 Inconsistent performance
- 🔍 Limited free trial
- 🤔 Questionable advertising claims
- 🤔 Lack of transparency

**Reported bugs**

- Login/account issues
- Unexpected charges/billing problems

**Requested features**

- Ability to use multiple social platforms
- Improved hashtag analytics
- Customizable hashtag groups
- Educational content on effective social media growth


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Buffer free?

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

### Is Hashtag Expert free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Buffer or Hashtag Expert?

Buffer is rated higher. Buffer averages 4.7 out of 5 from 34K ratings, while Hashtag Expert averages 4.6 from 36K ratings.

### Do Buffer or Hashtag Expert have ads?

Hashtag Expert shows ads; Buffer does not.

### Which is updated more often, Buffer or Hashtag Expert?

Buffer ships an update weekly, and Hashtag Expert every 4 weeks. Most recently, Buffer was updated on September 24, 2026 and Hashtag Expert on September 24, 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.*