Comparison

Buffer vs Circle

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

Circle

This app helps you maintain meaningful connections with important people in your life. It sends smart reminders for check-ins and birthdays, offers AI-powered conversation starters, and tracks relationship health. Start for free and upgrade for advanced features.

Highlights
  • Smart check-in reminders
  • Birthday and event alerts
  • AI conversation suggestions
  • Relationship health indicators
  • Pre and post meeting notes
Features
Read full description

When did you last text your best friend? Your mom? That person who always shows up for you? Life gets busy. Circle makes sure the people who matter don't quietly drift away. Add the people you care about, set how often you want to check in, and Circle does the rest — gentle reminders, birthday alerts, and AI suggestions for what to say. • Smart check-in reminders • Birthday and event reminders • AI conversation suggestions • Relationship health indicators • Pre and post meeting notes • Free to start — Pro from $1.67/month Your relationships deserve more than good intentions. Privacy Policy: https://getcircleapp.carrd.co Terms of Use: https://getcircleapp.carrd.co

Screenshots

Buffer4 screens
Circle3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Circle at 100% against Buffer's 54%. Circle also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.7). Buffer's advantage is ratings volume (35K vs 2) and chart position (#123 vs unranked). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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 Circle sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Circle holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Buffer has 35K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 54% of Buffer's written reviews are positive against 100% of Circle's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Buffer ships an update every 5 days, Circle weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Buffer versus Circle: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBufferCircle
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (35K ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews54.2% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings35K — better2
Update frequencyEvery 5 days — betterWeekly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
Best chart rank#123 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.018.0
Further details — not scored
Size148 MB10 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBuffer, Inc.Andrew Orton

Customer experience

Buffer

All ratings34,686 ratings
Positive94.0%
Neutral2.7%
Negative3.3%
Written reviews578 reviews
Positive54.2%
Neutral10.2%
Negative35.6%

Circle

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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

Circle

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
2 purchases

Circle

Subscriptions2
  • Circle Pro$2.991 Month
  • Circle Pro7 Days trial$19.991 Year

Questions

Is Buffer free?
Buffer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Circle free?
Circle is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Buffer or Circle?
Circle is rated higher. Buffer averages 4.7 out of 5 from 35K ratings, while Circle averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Buffer or Circle have ads?
Neither Buffer nor Circle shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Buffer or Circle?
Buffer ships an update every 5 days, and Circle weekly. Most recently, Buffer was updated on October 29, 2026 and Circle on October 9, 2026.

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