The present invention provides a rubber composition and a pneumatic tire that uses the same, the rubber composition having a low rubber viscosity during kneading and excellent processability, and therubber composition having excellent fuel efficiency and abrasion resistance although containing a white filler. The present invention pertains to a rubber composition containing a rubber component, awhite filler, and a compound represented by formula (1). (In formula (1), X represents -CONH- or -COO-. R1 represents an alkyl group of carbon number 7-23 or an alkenyl group of carbon number 7-23. R2represents an alkylene group of carbon number 1-3. R3 and R4 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group of carbon number 1-3, or a hydroxyalkyl group of carbon number 1-3, and at least one of R3 and R4 is the hydroxyalkyl group.)