Comparison

Buffer vs iao.

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

iao.

Read full description

iao is for people who actually want to think. A new debate every day. A real opponent. 14 minutes to make your case. Names off, ideas on. How it works A fresh, contested topic drops daily. Pick a side. Get matched with a stranger holding the opposite. 14 minutes, 40 seconds to defend it. No edits, no clout, no profile picture. When the round ends, you see a clean summary of what each side said. What you won't find No followers. No likes. No reposts. No bios. No names. Just the argument and the room. Why it works Without your name attached, what do you actually believe? When the topic is sharp and the timer is real, ideas have to stand on their own. iao is the room where they do. Bring an idea. Leave with a sharper one.

Screenshots

Buffer4 screens
iao.4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: iao. at none against Buffer's 12. iao. also leads on iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.0). Buffer's advantage is chart position (#148 vs unranked) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 11 days). On price, ads 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. iao. asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Buffer ships an update every 5 days, iao. every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Buffer versus iao.: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBufferiao.
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (35K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews54.2% of reviews—
Number of ratings35K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 days — betterEvery 11 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
Best chart rank#148 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS18.015.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size154 MB27 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperBuffer, Inc.Furkan Emir

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

iao.

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

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

iao.

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Buffer free?
Buffer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is iao. free?
iao. is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Buffer or iao. have ads?
Neither Buffer nor iao. shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Buffer or iao.?
Buffer ships an update every 5 days, and iao. every 11 days. Most recently, Buffer was updated on October 16, 2026 and iao. on October 12, 2026.

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