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Hootsuite Best Competitors & Alternatives updated February 2025

Hootsuite Best Competitors & Alternatives updated February 2025

Top Hootsuite Alternatives & Competitors based on 27 Reviews

Brand Rating Pricing
hootsuite.com favicon Hootsuite Hootsuite offers four main pricing plans: Free (limited functionality), Professional ($19/month for 1 user), Team ($99/month for 3 users), and Business ($599/month for 5+ users). Each plan provides varied access to features like social media management, analytics, and collaboration tools, with potential discounts for annual subscriptions.
buffer.com favicon Buffer Buffer provides three primary pricing tiers: Free (basic features), Pro ($15/month for 1 user), and Premium ($65/month for 8 social accounts). There’s also an Enterprise option for custom solutions. The Pro and Premium plans include additional features like more scheduled posts, advanced analytics, and team collaboration.
later.com favicon Later Later’s pricing structure includes a Free plan (limited features) and four paid options: Starter ($12.50/month), Growth ($20.83/month), Advanced ($33.33/month), and a custom Enterprise plan. Each paid tier increases post scheduling, analytics, and additional features suited for businesses looking to enhance their social media strategy.
sproutsocial.com favicon Sprout Social ★ ★ ☆ 2.2 Sprout Social has three main pricing plans: Standard ($249/user/month), Professional ($399/user/month), and Advanced ($499/user/month). Each plan offers a range of capabilities from basic social media management to comprehensive analytics and team collaboration tools. Custom pricing is available for Enterprise users.

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Why should you be looking for a Hootsuite alternative?

Users often seek alternatives to Hootsuite due to specific feature requirements, ease of use, budget constraints, and support options. Platforms like Buffer, Later, and Sprout Social offer distinct advantages tailored to different needs. Buffer is known for its simplicity and effective scheduling tools, while Later shines in visual content planning and Instagram management. Sprout Social provides comprehensive analytics and robust customer support. This article will delve into their features, pricing structures, and target user bases, helping you find the ideal social media management solution.

Quick Overview of Top Hootsuite Competitors

  • Buffer (Cheapest Hootsuite Alternative)

    • Simplified scheduling interface for quick post creation and management.
    • Offers a "Publishing" feature that allows for optimal posting times based on audience engagement.
    • Strong focus on analytics with easy-to-understand performance metrics for posts.
    • Free tier available that is ideal for small businesses and individuals looking for budget-friendly options.
  • Later (Best Hootsuite Alternative for Visual Content)

    • Primarily designed for visual content and Instagram marketing, featuring a visual content calendar.
    • Offers media library for uploading and organizing images and videos efficiently.
    • Unique "Linkin.bio" tool helps drive traffic to specific pages from Instagram posts.
    • Mobile app enhances on-the-go scheduling, making it highly user-friendly for visual content creators.
  • Sprout Social (Comprehensive Hootsuite Competitor)

    • Robust analytics tools that provide deep insights into audience engagement and brand performance.
    • Advanced social listening capabilities that help track brand mentions and industry trends.
    • Enhanced team collaboration features, including task assignments and note-sharing.
    • Integrated CRM features that support better customer interaction and relationship management.

Hootsuite Alternatives: Feature by Feature Comparison

Feature Buffer Later Sprout Social Hootsuite
Post Scheduling Offers a simple drag-and-drop calendar interface for scheduling. Allows users to customize the posting times based on audience engagement patterns. Visual scheduling for Instagram posts using a media library. Users can plan their Instagram feed aesthetically. Comprehensive scheduling options across platforms, including a robust calendar view and suggested optimal posting times. Scheduling across multiple platforms, but lacks the visual feed planning offered by Later.
Analytics Provides detailed analytics for each post, including engagement metrics and optimal posting times. Offers reports that can be easily shared. Insights on Instagram performance, including engagement and best posting times, but less in-depth compared to Buffer and Sprout Social. Advanced analytics and reporting features, including competitor comparison and audience demographics. Solid analytics, but less detailed in competitive analysis and audience insights.
Social Accounts Allows linking multiple accounts across various platforms (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram). Primarily focuses on Instagram but also supports Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. Supports multiple social media platforms, including LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, with a more comprehensive data integration. Similar multi-account support but not as strong with mobile-centric features as Buffer and Later.
Team Collaboration Offers team collaboration features, allowing for easy content review and approval workflows. Limited collaboration features focused mainly on creating a visually appealing workflow for Instagram content. Advanced collaboration features, enabling robust roles and permissions for team members and streamlined communication. Team collaboration tools are available but may lack the depth found in Sprout Social.
Content Planning Integrated content calendar with the ability to plan posts ahead of time. Allows adding posts directly from the web browser. Emphasizes visual content planning, particularly for Instagram, with a strong media library. Comprehensive content planning tools, including approval workflows, tagging for content categorization, and rich media uploads. Content planning is available, though it’s more straightforward compared to the tailored options in Sprout Social.
Instagram Features Basic Instagram features with the ability to schedule posts, but lacks in-depth capabilities for Stories and highlights. Strong focus on Instagram marketing with support for visual planning, Stories scheduling, and hashtag suggestions. High-level Instagram tools including post scheduling, Stories analytics, and audience engagement tracking. Instagram support is available but falls short of the unique visual planning and engagement features offered by Later.
User Interface Clean and user-friendly interface, making it easy for new users to adapt. Supports browser extensions for seamless usage. Visually appealing and intuitive design particularly for those focused on Instagram, emphasized by the drag-and-drop functionality. More complex due to extensive features and analytics but very robust once mastered. Functional but can feel cluttered; may take time for users to familiarize themselves with all features.
Customer Support Responsive customer support with various resources and a knowledge base for user assistance. Good support with a focus on Instagram-related inquiries and visual content guidance. Strong customer service with many resources including webinars and dedicated account support for enterprise clients. Adequate support but may not be as comprehensive compared to Sprout Social, especially for enterprise users.
Unique Features Buffer browser extension for easy sharing, Pablo tool for creating social media graphics. Best known for its unified visual content calendar and media library specifically designed for Instagram marketing. Extensive CRM tools and social listening for tracking brand mentions, along with competitive analytics. Good all-around tool but lacks the specialized features for Instagram and advanced analytics offered by its competitors.

Each of these platforms offers distinct advantages over Hootsuite, particularly in specific areas such as Instagram marketing and analytics. Buffer excels in user-friendliness and multi-platform integration, Later shines with its visual content planning for Instagram, and Sprout Social stands out with its robust analytics and collaboration tools.

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Integration Capabilities for each Hootsuite competitor

Alternative Supported Integrations Compatibility Notes
Hootsuite Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok, Pinterest, Slack, Shopify, Google Drive, and more Comprehensive coverage of major social networks and productivity tools.
Buffer Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, TikTok, WordPress, Shopify, RSS feeds, and more Focuses on scheduling and content curation; lacks some integrations offered by Hootsuite.
Later Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Shopify, WordPress, Linktree, and more Primarily Instagram-focused, limited compared to Hootsuite in multi-network management.
Sprout Social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Google Analytics, Bitly, Zendesk, and more Strong analytics and customer service integrations; offers comprehensive social media coverage.

Pros and Cons of each Hootsuite Alternative

Here is a comparative table outlining the primary pros and cons of Buffer, Later, and Sprout Social compared to Hootsuite:

Alternative Pros Cons
Buffer – User-friendly interface for scheduling and analytics – Limited publishing features for Instagram compared to Hootsuite
– Strong focus on content planning and team collaboration – No integrated inbox feature for managing messages from multiple platforms
– Affordable pricing model, especially for small teams – Less comprehensive reporting and analytics compared to Hootsuite
– Supports a wide range of social media platforms
Later – Visual content calendar ideal for platforms like Instagram – Primarily focused on visual platforms, less effective for text-heavy platforms
– Strong media library features for storing and organizing images – Limited functionality for in-depth analytics and reporting
– Free plan available for small users – Less robust customer support compared to Hootsuite
– Best suited for brands with a heavy visual content strategy
Sprout Social – Comprehensive analytics and reporting tools for informed decision-making – Higher price point compared to Hootsuite and other alternatives
– Excellent customer support and training resources – Steeper learning curve due to feature depth
– Integrated inbox for managing messages across platforms – Some features may be excessive for users needing basic scheduling
– Strong engagement tools, including social listening capabilities

This table highlights the specific strengths and weaknesses of each alternative in comparison to Hootsuite, catering to typical use cases in social media management.

Hootsuite vs Competitors: Traffic & Marketing Comparison

Traffic Comparison

In December 2023, Hootsuite leads with 1,876,375 visits, showing a strong cut in traffic compared to previous months but still the highest overall. Buffer follows with a peak of 778,609 in December 2023, indicating consistent but lower engagement. Sprout Social also performs well at 862,796 visits but lags behind Hootsuite. Later has the lowest traffic among the four, managing up to 707,123 visits in January 2024. Overall, Hootsuite holds a significant lead in attracting organic traffic.

Top Performing Keywords

Hootsuite’s top keywords include "best social media management tools" and "social media management," both ranking first, showcasing a robust strategy leveraging authority and relevance. Buffer also performs well with "social media manager app" ranked first, indicating a specific feature-focused strategy. Later excels in niche optimization concerning "social media calendar." Sprout Social benefits from keywords like "social media marketing agency," suggesting a focus on B2B clientele. The differences show various strategies tailored to target audiences and areas of expertise.

Conclusions on Visibility and Reach

Hootsuite demonstrates the strongest online visibility through substantial organic traffic and a dominant keyword strategy tailored to multiple social media niches. Buffer and Sprout Social maintain solid performance, especially in specific app functionalities and B2B services. Later’s lower traffic yet niche keyword focus indicates potential in specific areas but needs broader reach. Ultimately, Hootsuite stands out as the leading brand, while competitors can enhance keyword strategies for improved visibility.

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Other “Hootsuite” Alternatives & Competitors that you can find for free

Sure! Here are five alternatives to Hootsuite, along with their key features, strengths, and value propositions:

  1. SocialBee

    • Key Features: Content categorization, scheduling, recycling evergreen content, analytics, and use of RSS feeds.
    • Strengths: Focuses on content recycling which helps maintain a consistent presence without needing to create new content constantly.
    • Value Proposition: Offers a user-friendly approach to content management by allowing users to categorize and repurpose content effectively for various platforms.
  2. MeetEdgar

    • Key Features: Automated scheduling, content library, evergreen content reposting, social media statistics.
    • Strengths: Highly effective at repurposing your posts; designed for small businesses and solopreneurs who need to maximize their content’s lifespan.
    • Value Proposition: Simplifies social media management by continually promoting previously created content, ensuring that users maintain engagement.
  3. Agorapulse

    • Key Features: Unified inbox, social listening, scheduling, reporting, and competitor analysis.
    • Strengths: Combines social media scheduling with advanced reporting and engagement tools, ideal for teams managing multiple accounts.
    • Value Proposition: Provides a complete social media management solution that enhances engagement through a powerful inbox and reporting functionalities.
  4. CoSchedule

    • Key Features: Marketing calendar, social media automation, content inspiration, and analytics tools.
    • Strengths: Integrates well with other marketing tools, making it suitable for comprehensive marketing strategies beyond just social media.
    • Value Proposition: Acts as a centralized hub for all marketing activities, enabling teams to streamline processes and maintain coherent branding across platforms.
  5. Zoho Social

    • Key Features: Real-time monitoring, post-scheduling, analytics, and team collaboration features.
    • Strengths: Best for businesses already using Zoho products, as it integrates seamlessly with its comprehensive suite of applications.
    • Value Proposition: Offers an affordable and feature-rich solution for managing social media that fits well within the Zoho ecosystem, making it appealing for small to medium-sized businesses.

These alternatives provide a range of features and benefits that may cater to different preferences and needs when managing social media presence.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Hootsuite used for?

Hootsuite is a social media management platform that allows users to schedule posts, monitor social media interactions, and analyze performance metrics across multiple social networks from one dashboard.

How does Hootsuite compare to Buffer?

Hootsuite offers more comprehensive features for social media monitoring and analytics compared to Buffer, which focuses more on post scheduling and content queuing. Hootsuite is often preferred by larger teams and businesses for its robust capabilities.

Is Hootsuite free?

Hootsuite offers a free plan with limited features, allowing users to manage up to three social accounts. For more advanced features and additional accounts, users need to opt for one of the paid plans.

What are the main competitors of Hootsuite?

Key competitors of Hootsuite include Buffer, Sprout Social, SocialBee, and Later. Each platform offers unique features and pricing models, catering to different social media management needs.

Can Hootsuite manage multiple social media accounts?

Yes, Hootsuite allows users to manage multiple social media accounts from various platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and more, all in one dashboard.

What analytics features does Hootsuite provide?

Hootsuite provides users with analytics features that include performance tracking, engagement metrics, audience insights, and customizable reports to help measure the effectiveness of social media strategies.

Does Hootsuite offer customer support?

Yes, Hootsuite offers customer support through various channels, including a help center, live chat, and email support for its paid subscribers, while free users have limited support options.

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