Closely vs Buffer
Closely
- Platform: LinkedIn and Email
- Best For: Outbound sales and prospecting
- Strength: AI personalization and safe automation
- Users: Not specified
Starting at $29/month
Buffer
- Platform: 10+ social platforms
- Best For: Content scheduling and analytics
- Strength: Intuitive multi-channel management
- Users: Over 100,000 users
Starting at $5/month per channel
Table of Contents
At a Glance
Platform Support
| Feature | Closely | Buffer |
|---|---|---|
| ✓ Deep automation with safe limits and human-like behavior | ✓ Scheduling, publishing, and engagement support | |
| Email Outreach | ✓ Multichannel campaigns with AI personalization | ✗ Not supported |
| Facebook, Instagram, TikTok | ✗ Not supported | ✓ Full support with platform-specific optimization |
| X (Twitter), YouTube, Pinterest | ✗ Not supported | ✓ Comprehensive multi-platform coverage including Shorts and Reels |
| Emerging Platforms (Threads, Bluesky) | ✗ Not supported | ✓ Support for Threads, Bluesky, Mastodon, and Google Business Profile |
Automation & Outreach
| Feature | Closely | Buffer |
|---|---|---|
| LinkedIn Automation Sequences | ✓ Safe limits, human-like behavior for connections and messages | ✗ Not available |
| Multichannel Campaigns | ✓ Combine LinkedIn and email steps | ✗ Not available |
| Post Scheduling & Queue | ✗ Focus on outreach, not content posting | ✓ Visual calendar, queue, and reminder notifications |
| AI Personalization | ✓ For DMs, InMails, emails, and lead research | ✓ Unlimited AI Assistant for content ideas and replies |
| Data Enrichment | ✓ Verified emails, phones from LinkedIn and Sales Navigator | ✗ Not available |
Engagement & Inbox
| Feature | Closely | Buffer |
|---|---|---|
| Unified Inbox | ✓ For LinkedIn DMs, InMails, and email replies | ✓ Community inbox for comments across social platforms with AI replies |
| Sales AI Agents | ✓ Lead research, qualification, scoring, web research | ✗ Not available |
| Saved Replies & AI Replies | ✗ Not available | ✓ AI-assisted replies and comment insights |
| Threaded Posts & First Comment | ✗ Not available | ✓ Support for threaded conversations and first comment scheduling |
Analytics & Reporting
| Feature | Closely | Buffer |
|---|---|---|
| Outreach Analytics | ✓ Campaign, sequence, and team performance across LinkedIn/email | ✗ Not available |
| Social Analytics | ✗ Not available | ✓ Performance overview, best time to post, audience demographics, branded reports |
| CRM Attribution | ✓ Deep integrations with HubSpot, Salesforce, Pipedrive | ✗ Not available |
| Custom UTM & Reports | ✗ Not available | ✓ Advanced analytics with custom parameters and reports |
Integrations & Collaboration
| Feature | Closely | Buffer |
|---|---|---|
| CRM Integrations | ✓ HubSpot, Salesforce, Pipedrive, GoHighLevel | ✗ Not available |
| Content Integrations | ✗ Not available | ✓ Canva, Unsplash, Zapier, Google Drive, WordPress |
| Team Collaboration | ✓ Team management, advanced analytics, white-label for agencies | ✓ Notes, approval workflows, custom permissions on Team plan |
| White-Label Platform | ✓ Custom domain, branding for agencies | ✗ Branded reports but no full white-label |
Content & AI Tools
| Feature | Closely | Buffer |
|---|---|---|
| AI Content Generation | ✗ AI for personalization, not full content creation | ✓ Unlimited AI Assistant for ideas, drafts, templates |
| Link-in-Bio Builder | ✗ Not available | ✓ Start Page for personalized social bios |
| Hashtag Manager | ✗ Not available | ✓ Built-in hashtag suggestions and manager |
| Data Exports | ✓ From Sales Navigator, LinkedIn posts, events | ✗ Not available |
Pricing Comparison
Closely starts at $29/month (annual) for LinkedIn/email automation, scaling to custom for teams, while Buffer offers a free plan and $5/month per channel for multi-platform scheduling. Closely's pricing suits sales-focused users with CRM needs, while Buffer provides better entry-level value for social content management.
Closely
Starter Annual
$29/month
Solo users starting with outbound
- 1 LinkedIn account
- Unlimited email accounts
- White-label included
- Outreach automation and multichannel campaigns
Growth Annual
$87/month
Small teams scaling outreach
- 3 LinkedIn accounts
- Unlimited email accounts
- White-label included
- Bonus 3,000 credits/month for emails, phones, AI
Essential Annual
$145/month
Growing teams with more accounts
- 5 LinkedIn accounts
- Unlimited email accounts
- White-label included
- Bonus 5,000 credits/month
Custom
Custom
Large teams or agencies
- Custom LinkedIn accounts
- Unlimited campaigns
- Conditional sequences, CRM integrations
- Advanced analytics and webhooks
White-label Unlimited
$999/month
Agencies with multiple clients
- Unlimited seats
- Full customization and branding
- Client portal and branded reporting
Buffer
Free
$0/month
Beginners testing multi-channel
- Up to 3 channels
- 10 scheduled posts per channel
- AI Assistant, basic analytics
- Community inbox, Start Page
Essentials
$5/month per channel
Solo creators or small teams
- Unlimited scheduled posts
- Unlimited AI credits
- Advanced analytics, hashtag manager
- First comment scheduling, channel groups
Team
$10/month per channel
Collaborative teams and agencies
- Unlimited users
- All Essentials features
- Approval workflows, custom permissions
- Notes and collaboration tools
Feature Deep Dive
Automation & Outreach Capabilities
Closely
Strengths
- LinkedIn sequences with safe limits and human-like actions
- Multichannel campaigns blending LinkedIn and email
- AI personalization for messages and InMails
- Sales AI Agents for lead qualification and research
- Data enrichment from LinkedIn sources
Workflow
Build prospect list → Enrich data → Launch multichannel sequence → Monitor unified inbox → Sync to CRM
Buffer
Strengths
- Scheduling automation across 10+ platforms
- Queue and visual calendar for consistent posting
- AI-assisted replies in community inbox
- Best time to post and threaded post support
Workflow
Create content with AI → Schedule to queue/calendar → Engage via inbox → Analyze performance
Closely dominates in sales automation with LinkedIn/email integration and CRM sync, ideal for outbound prospecting. Buffer excels in content automation across social platforms but lacks outreach depth. Choose Closely for sales pipelines, Buffer for social engagement.
Content Creation & Engagement
Closely
Strengths
- AI for personalized outreach messages
- Unified inbox for managing replies
- Exports from LinkedIn for prospecting content
Limitations
- No native content creation or post scheduling
- Focus on outreach, not social posting
Buffer
Strengths
- AI Assistant for unlimited ideas, drafts, templates
- Publishing tools: queue, first comments, hashtags
- Community inbox with AI replies and insights
- Start Page for link-in-bio hubs
Limitations
- Less personalization for sales outreach
- No data enrichment or lead scoring
Buffer is superior for social content creation and engagement across platforms, with robust AI tools. Closely focuses on engagement via outreach inboxes but not content generation. Buffer wins for creators; Closely for sales interactions.
Analytics, Reporting & Integrations
Closely
Strengths
- Advanced outreach analytics for campaigns and teams
- Deep CRM integrations for attribution
- White-label reporting for agencies
Limitations
- Analytics limited to outreach metrics
- No social performance demographics
Buffer
Strengths
- Comprehensive social analytics: best time, demographics, reports
- Custom UTM and branded reports
- Integrations with Canva, Zapier, Google Drive
Limitations
- No CRM-specific integrations
- Less focus on sales attribution
Closely provides sales-oriented analytics with CRM depth, perfect for tracking ROI on outreach. Buffer offers broader social insights and easier integrations for content teams. Closely for sales leaders; Buffer for marketers.
Collaboration & Agency Features
Closely
Strengths
- Team management and advanced analytics
- White-label platform with custom branding
- Unlimited seats in top tier for client management
Limitations
- Collaboration tied to sales workflows
- No approval workflows for content
Buffer
Strengths
- Unlimited users on Team plan
- Approval workflows and custom permissions
- Notes and collaborative planning
Limitations
- No full white-label platform
- Per-channel pricing impacts agency scaling
Both support teams, but Closely's white-label excels for sales agencies offering outbound services. Buffer's workflows suit social agencies managing content approvals. Closely for B2B agencies; Buffer for digital marketing firms.
Use Case Comparison
Outbound Sales Team
Closely 🏆
Excellent
Multichannel automation, AI personalization, and CRM integrations streamline prospecting and pipeline building.
Best Plan: Growth Annual ($87/month)
Score: 10/10
Buffer
Poor
Lacks sales automation and CRM; focused on social content, not outreach.
Best Plan: Not suitable
Score: 2/10
Social Media Manager for Multiple Platforms
Closely
Poor
Limited to LinkedIn/email; no support for Instagram, TikTok, etc.
Best Plan: Not suitable
Score: 3/10
Buffer 🏆
Excellent
Intuitive scheduling, AI content, and analytics across 10+ platforms simplify management.
Best Plan: Essentials ($5/channel)
Score: 10/10
B2B Agency Offering Lead Gen Services
Closely 🏆
Excellent
White-label, unlimited seats, and CRM sync ideal for client outbound programs.
Best Plan: White-label Unlimited ($999/month)
Score: 9/10
Buffer
Fair
Good for social management but no sales tools or deep integrations.
Best Plan: Team ($10/channel)
Score: 5/10
Solo Content Creator
Closely
Fair
Useful for LinkedIn outreach but overkill without sales needs; no content tools.
Best Plan: Starter Annual ($29/month)
Score: 5/10
Buffer 🏆
Excellent
Free plan for basics, AI for content, easy scheduling across platforms.
Best Plan: Free or Essentials ($5/channel)
Score: 9/10
Small Business Marketing Team
Closely
Good
Strong for LinkedIn/email campaigns if sales-focused, but limited platforms.
Best Plan: Growth Annual ($87/month)
Score: 7/10
Buffer 🏆
Excellent
Affordable multi-platform tools for consistent social presence and analytics.
Best Plan: Essentials ($5/channel)
Score: 9/10
Founder Scaling Outbound Without SDR Team
Closely 🏆
Excellent
AI agents, enrichment, and automation replace manual prospecting efforts.
Best Plan: Essential Annual ($145/month)
Score: 10/10
Buffer
Poor
No outbound or lead tools; social focus doesn't aid sales scaling.
Best Plan: Not suitable
Score: 2/10
Digital Agency Managing Social for Clients
Closely
Fair
White-label works but lacks multi-platform social features.
Best Plan: Custom
Score: 6/10
Buffer 🏆
Excellent
Team collaboration, approvals, and multi-channel support for client accounts.
Best Plan: Team ($10/channel)
Score: 10/10
Sales Leader Needing Outreach Analytics
Closely 🏆
Excellent
Detailed campaign analytics and CRM attribution track ROI.
Best Plan: Custom
Score: 10/10
Buffer
Poor
Social analytics don't apply to sales outreach.
Best Plan: Not suitable
Score: 3/10
Content Marketer Using AI for Creation
Closely
Fair
AI for personalization but not broad content generation.
Best Plan: Growth Annual ($87/month)
Score: 5/10
Buffer 🏆
Excellent
Unlimited AI for ideas, drafts, and replies across platforms.
Best Plan: Essentials ($5/channel)
Score: 9/10
Team Needing Collaboration Tools
Closely
Good
Team management and white-label for sales teams.
Best Plan: Essential Annual ($145/month)
Score: 8/10
Buffer 🏆
Excellent
Unlimited users, workflows, and permissions for social teams.
Best Plan: Team ($10/channel)
Score: 9/10
Budget-Conscious User
Closely
Fair
$29/month entry but sales-specific; less flexible for general use.
Best Plan: Starter Annual ($29/month)
Score: 6/10
Buffer 🏆
Excellent
Free plan covers basics, low per-channel cost.
Best Plan: Free
Score: 10/10
Marketer Running Multichannel Campaigns
Closely 🏆
Excellent
LinkedIn + email with AI and CRM for integrated campaigns.
Best Plan: Growth Annual ($87/month)
Score: 9/10
Buffer
Good
Multi-social but no email or sales channels.
Best Plan: Essentials ($5/channel)
Score: 7/10
Pros and Cons
Closely
Pros
- Comprehensive LinkedIn/email automation with safe, human-like behavior
- AI personalization and sales agents for efficient lead handling
- Deep CRM integrations ensure seamless data sync
- Unified inbox simplifies reply management
- Flexible pricing with annual discounts and white-label options
- Advanced analytics for outreach ROI
- Data enrichment and exports boost prospecting
Cons
- Complex interface for basic users
- Best for structured sales, not casual use
- Higher pricing for solos vs lightweight tools
- Onboarding needed for advanced features
- No content creation or broad social scheduling
- Credit system for AI/enrichment adds variability
Buffer
Pros
- Intuitive interface for easy social management
- Generous free plan with core features
- Multi-platform support with visual tools
- Robust analytics including best times and demographics
- AI Assistant for unlimited content and replies
- Strong collaboration on Team plan
- Integrations with creative tools like Canva and Zapier
- Mobile apps for on-the-go management
Cons
- Per-channel pricing scales expensively
- Advanced collaboration locked to Team plan
- Learning curve for full feature set
- No sales automation or CRM focus
- Less depth for LinkedIn-specific outreach
- Analytics overwhelming for casual users
Final Verdict
Closely and Buffer target different aspects of digital outreach and management. Closely is a powerhouse for B2B sales with LinkedIn/email automation, AI personalization, and CRM depth. Buffer is a user-friendly social scheduler for creators and teams, emphasizing multi-platform content, engagement, and analytics without sales focus.
Opt for Closely if sales outreach and LinkedIn automation drive your goals, especially with CRM needs. Choose Buffer for broad social media management, content scheduling, and team collaboration. For hybrid needs, integrate both: Closely for sales, Buffer for social presence.
Overall Scores
Closely
LinkedIn Focus: 10/10
Content Creation: 4/10
Multi-Platform: 2/10
Value: 7/10
Buffer
LinkedIn Focus: 6/10
Content Creation: 9/10
Multi-Platform: 10/10
Value: 9/10
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