Comparison

Buffer vs Streamlabs

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Buffer

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
Read full description

Post to every social platform with a single app — simple, flexible, and powerful. Buffer helps creators stay consistent without the busywork. Plan and publish your posts automatically, engage with your audience, and keep track of what’s working, all from your phone. Whether you’re sharing your first TikTok, building an audience on LinkedIn, or running multiple accounts, Buffer gives you the tools to grow without feeling overwhelmed. What’s new in v15.0 • Fresh new design with Apple’s Liquid Glass system • Brand-new Apple Watch app (queues, goals, streaks, ideas) • Capture ideas instantly with the iOS Shortcut, Action Button, or on your wrist • New calendar day view across all channels WHY CREATORS LOVE BUFFER PLAN, SCHEDULE, AND PUBLISH • Share to Instagram, Threads, TikTok, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Pinterest, Bluesky, Mastodon, and more. • Schedule YouTube Shorts, TikToks, Instagram Reels, and Stories. • Cross-post content across platforms with a single tap KEEP YOUR IDEAS ORGANIZED • Save inspiration in a central content library • Use tags to keep ideas organized by theme or campaign • Move ideas straight to your schedule when ready SEE WHAT WORKS • Simple analytics and reports show your top-performing posts • Track growth, clicks, and engagement A CALENDAR BUILT FOR CREATORS • Get an at-a-glance view of your upcoming posts • Drill down from a monthly to weekly view NEED HELP? Our friendly team is here for you with world-class support via email and social. Email: hello@buffer.com Twitter: @buffer Facebook: http://facebook.com/bufferapp Instagram: @buffer Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/bufferapp/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bufferapp Privacy Policy: https://buffer.com/privacy Terms of Use: https://buffer.com/legal/terms-of-use/year/2023

About

Streamlabs

This app enables creators to broadcast live video from their mobile devices to various platforms like Twitch, YouTube, and Facebook. Stream mobile games or your camera feed, customize your stream with themes and widgets, and engage with viewers through alerts. Monetize your content with tips and ensure stream stability with advanced features.

Highlights
  • Stream to multiple platforms
  • Live stream mobile games
  • IRL camera streaming
  • Stream customization with themes
  • Add alerts and widgets
  • Collect viewer tips
  • Disconnect protection
Features
Read full description

Streamlabs is the best free video live streaming app for creators. Stream mobile games or your camera to platforms like Twitch, YouTube, Kick, Facebook, Instagram, and more! STREAM OR MULTISTREAM TO ANY PLATFORM Connect your channels to live stream to the most popular platforms or your custom RTMP destination. With an Ultra subscription you can broadcast video to multiple platforms at the same time, maximizing your growth potential. LIVE STREAM GAMES Share your mobile game skills! Whether it’s Monopoly Go, PUBG Mobile, Call of Duty Mobile, Among Us, Clash Royale, Rocket League Sideswipe, Pokemon GO, World of Tanks, or any other mobile game, the app makes it easy to go live and share gameplay with your fans. IRL STREAM Swap between front and rear cameras to stream high quality video to your community. Whether you’re a travel vlogger, musician, podcaster, or just chatting, the app lets you take your audience with you on the go. PERSONALIZE YOUR STREAM Customize your stream’s look with themes in a few easy taps. You can also add your logo, images, and text to your stream. ADD ALERTS & WIDGETS Interact with your viewers and drive audience engagement with Alert Box, Chat Box, Event List, Goals, and more. DISCONNECT PROTECTION With Streamlabs Ultra, your stream won’t go offline even if you lose connection, so you don’t lose your viewers. GET PAID WITH TIPS Set up a Streamlabs Tip Page to start collecting tips directly from your viewers. Plus, thank your tippers with fully-integrated on screen tip alerts. Your fans are waiting! Privacy Policy: https://streamlabs.com/privacy Terms of Service: https://streamlabs.com/terms

Screenshots

Buffer4 screens
Streamlabs4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Buffer at 4.7 against Streamlabs's 3.9. Buffer also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (54% vs 29%). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Buffer sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and Streamlabs sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Buffer holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Buffer has 35K ratings behind it against 1.2K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 54% of Buffer's written reviews are positive against 29% of Streamlabs's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Buffer ships an update every 5 days, Streamlabs every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 15, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Buffer versus Streamlabs: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBufferStreamlabs
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (35K ratings) — better3.9 (1.2K ratings)
Positive reviews54.2% of reviews — better29.2% of reviews
Number of ratings35K — better1.2K
Update frequencyEvery 5 days — betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#125 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.017.2 — better
Further details — not scored
Size154 MB119 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperBuffer, Inc.Streamlabs

Customer experience

Buffer

All ratings34,554 ratings
Positive94.0%
Neutral2.7%
Negative3.3%
Written reviews578 reviews
Positive54.2%
Neutral10.2%
Negative35.6%

Streamlabs

All ratings1,244 ratings
Positive70.1%
Neutral5.4%
Negative24.5%
Written reviews1,975 reviews
Positive29.2%
Neutral15.1%
Negative55.6%

User reviews

Buffer

From 35K App Store ratings

What we love

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

Room to improve

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

Streamlabs

From 1.2K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Reliable streaming
  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 🎨 Customizable overlays
  • 📢 Good for IRL streaming

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes/disconnections
  • 🔇 Audio issues (sync, mute, quality)
  • 📱 Limited mobile functionality (no screen recording, overlays)
  • 🤔 Confusing settings/UI

Bugs and requests

Buffer

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • 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

5 requests
  • 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

Streamlabs

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Attempted to start invalid broadcast session
  • Streaming stops unexpectedly
  • Overlays not working as expected
  • Microphone/audio issues

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add screen recording support
  • Improve audio settings and quality
  • Allow more customization and overlays for mobile
  • Provide better tutorials and documentation

In-app purchases

11 purchases

Buffer

Subscriptions11
  • Essentials - 1 Channel$5.991 Month
  • Essentials+Team: 1 Channel$11.991 Month
  • Essentials - 2 Channels$11.991 Month
Show 8 more
  • Pro for 1 Month2 variants$14.991 Month
  • Essentials - 3 Channels$17.991 Month
  • Essentials - 4 Channels$23.991 Month
  • Essentials - 5 Channels$29.991 Month
  • Essentials - 6 Channels$35.991 Month
  • Small Business$99.991 Month
  • Small Business for 1 Month$99.991 Month
  • Pro for 1 Year$144.991 Year
10 purchases

Streamlabs

Subscriptions10
  • Monthly Ultra$4.991 Month
  • Monthly Ultra2 variants$9.991 Month
  • Monthly Ultra$18.991 Month
Show 7 more
  • Monthly Ultra$27.991 Month
  • Yearly Ultra$49.991 Year
  • Monthly Ultra+$79.991 Month
  • Yearly Ultra$99.991 Year
  • Yearly Ultra$119.991 Year
  • Yearly Ultra$149.991 Year
  • Yearly Ultra$189.991 Year

Questions

Is Buffer free?
Buffer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Streamlabs free?
Streamlabs is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Buffer or Streamlabs?
Buffer is rated higher. Buffer averages 4.7 out of 5 from 35K ratings, while Streamlabs averages 3.9 from 1.2K ratings.
Do Buffer or Streamlabs have ads?
Streamlabs shows ads; Buffer does not.
Which is updated more often, Buffer or Streamlabs?
Buffer ships an update every 5 days, and Streamlabs every 2 weeks. Most recently, Buffer was updated on October 15, 2026 and Streamlabs on October 15, 2026.

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