Comparison

Buffer vs Kickstarter

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

Kickstarter

Explore and support innovative projects across various creative fields. Discover groundbreaking ideas in games, technology, art, and more. Pledge to projects that inspire you and stay updated on their progress.

Highlights
  • Discover creative projects globally
  • Pledge to projects
  • Receive project updates
  • Track backings
  • Join a global creative community
Features
Read full description

Discover, back, and bring bold ideas to life. The Kickstarter app connects you with groundbreaking projects across games, publishing, technology, comics, and film. Whether you’re passionate about design, gadgets, stories, or innovation, there’s something for everyone. Use the app to: • Browse creative projects from around the world • Pledge to projects that align with your passions • Stay in the loop with updates and reminders • Follow your backings in one place • Join a global movement that fuels ideas worth sharing Start discovering today and help the next big idea take off.

Screenshots

Buffer4 screens
Kickstarter4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Kickstarter at none against Buffer's 12. Buffer's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 4 weeks). On price, rating, ratings volume and monetization model 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. Kickstarter asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Buffer against 4.8 for Kickstarter. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 35K and 59K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 54% of Buffer's written reviews are positive against 33% of Kickstarter's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Buffer ships an update every 5 days, Kickstarter every 4 weeks. Both last shipped on October 14, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Buffer versus Kickstarter: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBufferKickstarter
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (35K ratings)4.8 (59K ratings) — better
Positive reviews54.2% of reviews — better32.7% of reviews
Number of ratings35K59K — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 days — betterEvery 4 weeks
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#117 — better#143
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.018.0
Further details — not scored
Size154 MB129 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperBuffer, Inc.Kickstarter, PBC

Customer experience

Buffer

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

Kickstarter

All ratings59,049 ratings
Positive95.4%
Neutral1.6%
Negative3.0%
Written reviews1,685 reviews
Positive32.7%
Neutral8.1%
Negative59.2%

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

Kickstarter

From 59K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Handy tracker for backed projects
  • 👍 Great app and great service
  • 🚀 Bypass the traditional economy!
  • 👍 Very nice
  • 👍 Excellent

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Works well enough unless you support a lot of projects
  • 🐛 App is very buggy
  • 🔒 Scammers Paradise
  • 🔒 Don't fall into the trap
  • 🔒 platform setup to scam you

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

Kickstarter

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Explore tab broken in latest update
  • Notifications not working correctly
  • Activity feed not updating
  • Issues with submitting surveys through the app
  • Clunky UI, especially when updating pledges

Requested features

6 requests
  • Allow filtering backed projects by status (received, active, closed)
  • Ability to follow creators directly in the app
  • Improve comments section (threading, search, etc.)
  • Add an archive/delete function for completed/cancelled projects
  • Introduce a read/unread project status
Show 1 more
  • Allow users to block problematic creators

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
None

Kickstarter

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Buffer free?
Buffer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Kickstarter free?
Kickstarter is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Buffer or Kickstarter?
Kickstarter is rated higher. Buffer averages 4.7 out of 5 from 35K ratings, while Kickstarter averages 4.8 from 59K ratings.
Do Buffer or Kickstarter have ads?
Kickstarter shows ads; Buffer does not.
Which is updated more often, Buffer or Kickstarter?
Buffer ships an update every 5 days, and Kickstarter every 4 weeks. Most recently, Buffer was updated on October 14, 2026 and Kickstarter on October 14, 2026.
Which is more popular, Buffer or Kickstarter?
Buffer currently peaks at #117 in the App Store charts, and Kickstarter at #143. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

Other comparisons