Per channel, seat, brand or social set: compare social tool costs
Compare public billing units with dated vendor sources and reproducible arithmetic.
Count the same workload
Buffer exposes channel pricing; Sprout Social labels prices per seat; Metricool organizes accounts by brand; Later uses social sets and users. These units are different. List members, account distribution, post volume and reporting needs first.
| Vendor | Public unit | Example from 2026-10-17 |
|---|---|---|
| Buffer Team | Channel | USD 120/year per channel |
| Sprout Standard | Seat | USD 199/seat/month equivalent, annual billing |
| Metricool | Brand | Free: 1 brand, 20 posts/month |
| Later Growth | Social set + user | USD 37.50/month annual equivalent, 2 sets / 2 users |
Worked arithmetic
Buffer’s displayed Team rate × 10 channels gives USD 1,200/year. Sprout Standard × 3 seats × 12 months gives USD 7,164/year, but its displayed five-profile allowance still needs checking. Later Growth plus one extra user at USD 3.75/month annual equivalent gives USD 495/year. These are calculations before taxes, discounts and add-ons; they are not equivalent feature bundles or checkout quotes.
Record the gaps
Compare network coverage, allocation of accounts within sets, reporting, automation, AI allowances and cancellation terms. Obtain the offer matching your actual requirement before ranking prices.
Official sources reviewed 2026-10-17: Buffer, Sprout Social, Metricool, Later. MeDash plan cards read current administration settings.