Comparison

Buffer vs DRIVE

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

DRIVE

Features
Read full description

About DRIVE:ON RADAR DRIVE:ON RADAR is a next-generation location sharing app that lets you stay connected with friends and family in real time. With a radar-style interface that clearly shows distance and direction, you can easily track locations during drives, events, tours, meetups, and more. The app also supports chat, voice calls, and group sessions to make communication smooth and safe while on the move. Main Features Real-Time Location Tracking Easily check your friend’s location on a radar screen. See distance and direction at a glance, with optional background tracking. One-on-One Sessions Share your location privately with a single person. Ideal for meetups and personal use, with the ability to start or end anytime. Group Sessions Share locations among multiple people simultaneously. Perfect for driving trips, touring, festivals, and large events. Group creation is available for Premium plans and above. Real-Time Chat Send quick messages during sessions. Smooth communication with emoji support. Voice Calls Enjoy high-quality voice calls during sessions. Hands-free operation for safe communication, with speaker/receiver switching supported. Privacy Protection Location sharing is active only during a session. Sharing stops immediately when a session ends. Location history is automatically deleted after 24 hours. Useful Scenarios • Driving and touring: support safe movement across multiple vehicles • Events and festivals: easily find friends in large venues • Meetups: check distance and direction to avoid getting lost • Family safety: monitor the location of loved ones • Outdoor activities: useful for hiking, camping, and more Subscription Plans Free Plan • One-on-one location sharing • Basic chat features • Can join groups, but cannot create them Note: Location sharing between Free users is limited to 10 minutes Premium Mini Monthly ¥250 / Yearly ¥2,500 • Unlimited location sharing with friends • No ads Group creation not included Premium Monthly ¥730 / Yearly ¥7,300 • Create 1 group • Unlimited location sharing • No ads Premium Plus Monthly ¥1,220 / Yearly ¥12,200 • Create up to 3 groups • Unlimited location sharing • No ads Add-On Options • Additional group +1: Monthly ¥490 / Yearly ¥4,900 • Additional group +2: Monthly ¥860 / Yearly ¥8,600 • Additional group +3: Monthly ¥1,220 / Yearly ¥12,200 Technical Features • High-precision GPS tracking • Low-battery-consumption algorithm • Encrypted communication for enhanced security • Fast cloud synchronization via Firebase • High-quality voice calls powered by LiveKit Security & Privacy • Location sharing active only during sessions • All communication is securely encrypted • Fully compliant with local privacy laws and GDPR • Users can delete their account at any time • Location history is automatically removed for safety ■Terms of Use Your Terms of Use: https://artjunkie.app/en/apps/driveon-radar-en/eula Apple Standard EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Buffer4 screens
DRIVE4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: DRIVE at every 3 days against Buffer's weekly. Buffer's advantage is chart position (#152 vs unranked) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and iOS requirement 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 DRIVE sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Buffer ships an update weekly, DRIVE every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and May 17, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 8 level
Buffer versus DRIVE: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBufferDRIVE
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (34K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews54.6% of reviews—
Number of ratings34K — better—
Update frequencyWeeklyEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
Best chart rank#152 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — betteriPhone
Requires iOS18.0 — better18.5
Further details — not scored
Size154 MB37 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBuffer, Inc.ART JUNKIE,INC

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

DRIVE

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
10 purchases

DRIVE

Subscriptions10
  • Premium Mini (Monthly)14 Days trial$1.991 Month
  • Additional Group +1 (Monthly)$2.991 Month
  • Premium (Monthly)14 Days trial$4.991 Month
Show 7 more
  • Additional Group +2 (Monthly)$4.991 Month
  • Additional Group +3 (Monthly)$7.991 Month
  • Premium Mini (Annual)14 Days trial$19.991 Year
  • Additional Group +1 (Annual)$29.991 Year
  • Premium (Annual)14 Days trial$49.991 Year
  • Additional Group +2 (Annual)$49.991 Year
  • Additional Group +3 (Annual)$79.991 Year

Questions

Is Buffer free?
Buffer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is DRIVE free?
DRIVE is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Buffer or DRIVE have ads?
Neither Buffer nor DRIVE shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Buffer or DRIVE?
Buffer ships an update weekly, and DRIVE every 3 days. Most recently, Buffer was updated on September 26, 2026 and DRIVE on May 17, 2026.

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