# Buffer vs Ekko

Buffer and Ekko both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 87% of Ekko's written reviews are positive against 54% of Buffer's. Ekko also leads on iOS requirement (14.0 vs 18.0). Buffer's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (35K vs 122). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Buffer sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and Ekko sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. 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 4.8 for Ekko. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Buffer has 35K ratings behind it against 122, 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 87% of Ekko's.

Buffer ships an update every 5 days, Ekko every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Buffer | Ekko |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (35K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/buffer-plan-and-schedule-posts/id490474324/reviews) | **[4.8 (122 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ekko-shared-photo-widget/id1539512364/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **35K** | 122 |
| Positive reviews | 54.1% of reviews | **86.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 days** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#138** | — |
| Size | 148 MB | 35 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Buffer, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/490474327) | [ICEBREAKER STUDIO LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1403194831) |

## What reviewers say

### Buffer

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

**Currently charting:** #138 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 (10)**

| 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 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


### Ekko

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ekko-shared-photo-widget/id1539512364)

This app provides a shared digital photo frame widget for your home screen. It allows friends and family to send photos that appear directly on your device, creating an ever-changing display of shared memories. You can even send surprise photos that are 'gift-wrapped' for unwrapping.

**Highlights:** Home screen photo widget, Shared photo streams, Send photos to friends' home screens, Gift-wrapped photo surprises, Easy link-based sharing

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Showcase Pro: Level 1 Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Showcase Pro: Level 2 Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Showcase Pro: Level 1 Yearly | $39.99 | per year |
| Showcase Pro: Level 2 Yearly | $79.99 | per year |
| Premium | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great for sharing photos
- 👍 Easy to use
- 👍 Keeps friends/family connected
- 👍 Fun concept
- 👍 Private and intentional connection

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Photos disappear after 24 hours
- 🐛 Widget doesn't always update
- 🐛 Premium subscription issues
- 🐛 App is plain
- 🐛 No help button

**Reported bugs**

- Downloaded premium without subscribing
- Group names changing themselves
- Groups duplicating
- Photos duplicating
- Widget opens multiple photos

**Requested features**

- Add videos and audios (free version)
- Allow changing name
- Save photo history permanently
- Option for photos not to expire
- Fix widget update issue


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Buffer free?

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

### Is Ekko free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Buffer or Ekko?

Ekko is rated higher. Buffer averages 4.7 out of 5 from 35K ratings, while Ekko averages 4.8 from 122 ratings.

### Do Buffer or Ekko have ads?

Neither Buffer nor Ekko shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Buffer or Ekko?

Buffer ships an update every 5 days, and Ekko every 3 months. Most recently, Buffer was updated on November 7, 2026 and Ekko on November 3, 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.*