# Buffer vs Orbit

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Buffer at 34K against Orbit's 1. Buffer also leads on chart position (#133 vs unranked) and device support (3 vs 1). Orbit's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.7) and update cadence (daily vs every 5 days). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Buffer sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and Orbit sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Orbit holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Buffer has 34K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Buffer ships an update every 5 days, Orbit daily. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and September 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Buffer | Orbit |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (34K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/buffer-plan-and-schedule-posts/id490474324/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/orbit-the-super-widget/id6760682869/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **34K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 54.6% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 days | **Daily** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | **#133** | — |
| Size | 154 MB | 106 MB |
| Requires iOS | **18.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Buffer, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/490474327) | [Abulizi Kayisaer](https://appshunter.io/developer/1238326184) |

## What reviewers say

### Buffer

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

**Currently charting:** #133 Top Grossing · Social Networking, #202 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 (11)**

| 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 | $99.99 | 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


### Orbit

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/orbit-the-super-widget/id6760682869)

Connect with your partner or best friend through live widgets on your Home Screen. Share photos, doodles, notes, and moods instantly. Play games and track activities together without leaving the widget.

**Highlights:** Live widgets for instant sharing, Photos, doodles, notes, and moods, Widget-based games (Tic-Tac-Toe, Connect Four), Activity and step races, Live distance and weather sharing, Customizable widget designs

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| View Access | $2.99 | per month |
| Plus | $6.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Buffer free?

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

### Is Orbit free?

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

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

Orbit is rated higher. Buffer averages 4.7 out of 5 from 34K ratings, while Orbit averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Buffer or Orbit have ads?

Neither Buffer nor Orbit shows ads.

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

Buffer ships an update every 5 days, and Orbit daily. Most recently, Buffer was updated on October 3, 2026 and Orbit on September 16, 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.*