Social media management tools like Hootsuite and Later are essential for businesses and individuals aiming to streamline their online presence. Both platforms facilitate scheduling, monitoring, and analyzing social media content, but they cater to different needs and preferences.
Main Purposes
- Hootsuite: A comprehensive tool designed for managing multiple social media accounts in one dashboard. Ideal for businesses looking to engage with customers across various platforms.
- Later: Primarily focused on visual content scheduling, Later excels in managing Instagram posts but also supports other platforms, making it a favorite among brands with a strong emphasis on visual storytelling.
User Considerations
Users often consider these tools to enhance productivity, maintain consistency in posting, and analyze social media performance. Their user-friendly interfaces and robust features make them appealing for marketers, small businesses, and social media managers.
Primary Comparison Aspects
- Features: Hootsuite offers extensive analytics, team collaboration tools, and support for a wide range of social networks. Later emphasizes visual planning, user-friendly content calendars, and media libraries.
- Pricing: While both tools provide various pricing tiers, Hootsuite’s pricing increases significantly with advanced features, whereas Later’s is more affordable for users focusing on Instagram.
- Ease of Use: Hootsuite boasts a steeper learning curve due to its expansive features, while Later is known for its intuitive interface, particularly for visual content scheduling.
Evaluating these aspects will help users determine which tool aligns best with their social media management needs.
Hootsuite VS Later: Which tool is the most popular?
| Tool | Number of Reviews | Average Rating | Positive Reviews | Neutral Reviews | Negative Reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hootsuite | 320 | 3.24 | 190 | 19 | 111 |
| Later | 20 | 2.98 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
Hootsuite is the most popular tool, receiving a total of 320 reviews with an average rating of 3.24. It has a significant number of positive reviews (190), though it also has a higher proportion of negative reviews (111). In contrast, Later, with only 20 reviews and an average rating of 2.98, is the least popular option. Its review distribution reveals that it has equally split positive and negative feedback (10 positive and 10 negative), indicating a less favorable reception.
Hootsuite and Later: Quick Comparison Overview
| Feature/Aspect | Ahrefs | SEMrush |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Features | – Site Explorer – Keyword Explorer – Backlink Checker – Content Explorer – Rank Tracker |
– Keyword Research – Site Audit – Position Tracking – Content Analyzer – Marketing Insights |
| Target Audience | – SEO professionals – Digital marketers – Agencies focusing on content marketing and backlink analysis |
– Digital marketers – SEO experts – Content marketers – Social media marketers and PPC specialists |
| Main Advantages | – Robust backlink analysis – Comprehensive keyword data – Intuitive user interface – Constantly updated index |
– All-in-one digital marketing tool – Extensive competitor analysis – Wide array of tools for SEO and PPC – Integrated social media management |
| Core Value Proposition | Focused on providing in-depth SEO insights, particularly strengths in backlink profiles and organic keyword rankings. Ideal for users prioritizing content strategy and link-building efforts. | Offers a holistic view of digital marketing, making it easier to manage all aspects of online presence through an extensive range of tools for SEO, PPC, and social media marketing. |
| Ideal Use Cases | – Conducting comprehensive link audits – Developing effective content strategies – Tracking backlinks and organic rankings – Keyword planning for SEO campaigns |
– Managing and optimizing PPC campaigns – Conducting competitive analysis for market positioning – Comprehensive content analytics and SEO tracking – Social media metrics and management |
Most liked vs most disliked features of Hootsuite and Later
| Platform | Most Liked Features | Most Disliked Features |
|---|---|---|
| Hootsuite | – Intuitive and user-friendly interface. | – High pricing for features, especially for small businesses. |
| – Ability to schedule posts across multiple platforms, saving time. | – Lacking depth in analytics; users desire better reporting tools. | |
| – Convenience in managing multiple accounts from one place. | – Concerns about integration with other tools; desire for better options. | |
| – Effective analytics tools for performance tracking and content strategy. | – Less functional mobile version compared to desktop. | |
| – Collaboration features beneficial for organizations. | – Need for improved training resources and organized support documentation. | |
| Later | – User-friendly and intuitive interface, accessible for all skill levels. | – Perceived high pricing for newcomers with tight budgets. |
| – Time-saving ability to schedule posts across multiple platforms. | – Challenges in collaboration due to placeholder image function requiring more team interaction. | |
| – Robust analytics, including performance metrics and hashtag analysis. | – Primarily geared towards Instagram; desire for improved features for Facebook and Twitter. | |
| – Direct posting to Instagram without push notifications. | – Need for better bulk upload features and larger file size management for multiple users. | |
| – Centralized storage for media and content management. | – Underdeveloped features for Facebook and Twitter, leading to requests for more balanced functionality. |
Key Features of Hootsuite vs Later
Key Features of Hootsuite and Later for Social Media Management
Hootsuite
-
Unified Dashboard
- Benefit: Hootsuite allows users to manage multiple social media accounts from a single interface. This centralized platform saves time and simplifies operations.
- Unique Aspect: The dashboard supports over 35 social networks, allowing businesses to expand their outreach across various platforms efficiently.
-
Scheduling and Auto-Publishing
- Benefit: Users can schedule posts ahead of time for optimal engagement. This feature helps maintain a consistent online presence without needing to be online 24/7.
- Unique Aspect: Hootsuite’s bulk scheduling allows users to upload multiple posts at once through CSV files, which is particularly beneficial for larger campaigns.
-
Analytics and Reporting
- Benefit: Hootsuite provides detailed analytics to track social media performance, engagement rates, and audience growth. This data-driven approach helps users make informed decisions on content and strategy.
- Unique Aspect: Advanced reporting features allow users to create custom reports tailored to specific metrics, which can be incredibly valuable for businesses needing precise feedback.
-
Social Listening
- Benefit: Users can monitor social media conversations related to their brand or industry. This proactive approach helps in identifying trends and engaging with customers effectively.
- Unique Aspect: Hootsuite offers sentiment analysis, enabling brands to gauge the overall feeling around their messaging and adjust strategies accordingly.
-
Team Collaboration
- Benefit: Hootsuite facilitates teamwork with features that allow multiple users to collaborate on social media campaigns seamlessly. This promotes better communication and consistent branding.
- Unique Aspect: The user-level permissions ensure that team members have appropriate access based on their roles, enhancing security and management control.
Later
-
Visual Content Calendar
- Benefit: Later’s calendar visually displays scheduled posts, making it easy to plan and manage content across platforms. This feature aids in maintaining aesthetics and consistency.
- Unique Aspect: The drag-and-drop functionality in the visual planner simplifies the process, allowing quick adjustments and previews of how the feed will look.
-
Instagram Marketing Focus
- Benefit: Later is highly optimized for Instagram with specific features like Linkin.bio, allowing users to drive traffic directly from their Instagram posts to external sites.
- Unique Aspect: The ability to preview the Instagram feed before posting helps users maintain a cohesive look, which is especially important for visual platforms.
-
User-Generated Content (UGC) Collection
- Benefit: Later enables brands to find and share user-generated content easily, enhancing brand authenticity and engagement with the community.
- Unique Aspect: The “Saved Posts” feature allows users to curate incoming UGC directly to their profile with proper credit, fostering brand loyalty and community involvement.
-
Hashtag Suggestions and Analytics
- Benefit: Later provides users with hashtag suggestions based on current trends, helping to increase the reach of their posts significantly.
- Unique Aspect: The analytics feature offers insights into which hashtags perform best, allowing users to optimize their strategies for better visibility.
-
Linkin.bio Functionality
- Benefit: This feature creates a clickable landing page from a user’s Instagram profile link, making it easier for followers to access various content and platforms.
- Unique Aspect: Linkin.bio supports tracking clicks and engagement metrics, providing valuable data on how users interact with shared content.
Conclusion
Both Hootsuite and Later offer robust social media management tools tailored for different user needs. Hootsuite shines with its comprehensive analytics, social listening features, and collaboration tools that cater to larger teams and diverse networks. In contrast, Later focuses primarily on visual content and Instagram marketing, providing unique functionalities like a visual content calendar and user-generated content capabilities. Depending on a user’s specific requirements—whether it’s extensive analytics or an emphasis on Instagram aesthetics—each platform offers valuable tools to enhance social media management.
Hootsuite vs Later Pricing Comparison
| Feature | Hootsuite Pricing | Later Pricing |
|---|---|---|
| Free Trial | 30-day free trial for all plans | 14-day free trial for all plans |
| Tier 1: Free Plan | Free for up to 3 social profiles | Free for 1 social set (up to 4 profiles) |
| Monthly Price | N/A | $0 |
| Annual Price | N/A | N/A |
| Post Limit | 5 scheduled posts per profile | 30 posts per profile |
| Tier 2: Professional | $19/month (billed annually at $228) | $15/month (billed annually at $180) |
| $29/month (billed monthly) | $18/month (billed monthly) | |
| Social Profiles | 1 user, 10 social profiles | 1 user, 6 social profiles |
| Post Limit | 10 scheduled posts per profile | 60 posts per profile |
| Analytics | Basic analytics included | Basic analytics included |
| Tier 3: Team | $99/month (billed annually at $1,188) | $25/month (billed annually at $300) |
| $129/month (billed monthly) | $30/month (billed monthly) | |
| Social Profiles | 3 users, 20 social profiles | 1 user, 8 social profiles |
| Post Limit | 20 scheduled posts per profile | 150 posts per profile |
| Analytics | Enhanced analytics available | Enhanced analytics included |
| Tier 4: Business | $599/month (billed annually at $7,188) | $40/month (billed annually at $480) |
| $599/month (billed monthly) | $50/month (billed monthly) | |
| Social Profiles | 5 users, unlimited social profiles | 1 user, 12 social profiles |
| Post Limit | Unlimited scheduled posts | 250 posts per profile |
| Analytics | Advanced analytics and reporting | Advanced analytics included |
| Tier 5: Enterprise | Custom pricing | Custom pricing |
| Social Profiles/Users | Customizable options | Customizable options |
Main Differences:
- Profile Limit: Hootsuite generally allows for more social profiles across its tiers compared to Later.
- Scheduled Posts: Later excels in post limits per profile at most tiers but starts lower on the free plan.
- Analytics Detail: Hootsuite offers more enhanced analytics options, especially in higher tiers.
- User Limit: Hootsuite’s tiers accommodate multiple users, whereas tiers in Later do not increase the number of users significantly.
Discounts:
- Both platforms offer annual billing at discounted rates compared to monthly billing, which is beneficial for users looking for long-term subscriptions.
Support Options Comparison: Hootsuite vs Later
| Support Feature | Hootsuite | Later |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Available for all plans. | Not available. |
| Phone Support | Available for Pro, Team, Business, and Enterprise plans. | Not available. |
| Documentation | Comprehensive help center with articles covering various topics. | Robust help center with detailed articles and guides. |
| Webinars | Regular webinars available for users. | Occasional webinars offered on specific topics. |
| Tutorials | Step-by-step tutorials available, including video content. | Includes video tutorials covering numerous features. |
| Community Forums | Active community forums for user discussions. | Built-in community support via comments on articles. |
In summary, Hootsuite provides more extensive support options across live chat, phone support, webinars, and community forums compared to Later, which primarily relies on documentation and tutorials without live assistance options.
Unique Features of Hootsuite Vs Later
| Feature | Hootsuite | Later | Unique Value Proposition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dashboard Customization | Offers extensive dashboard customization allowing users to create multiple streams based on keywords, hashtags, and lists. | Limited dashboard customization primarily focused on the visual layout. | Hootsuite’s customizable dashboard enables tailored monitoring of multiple social feeds, enhancing real-time engagement and analysis. |
| Social Listening | Integrates social listening tools to track brand mentions and sentiment across various networks. | Social listening functionalities are minimal or third-party reliant. | The ability to monitor brand conversation helps businesses improve strategy based on customer feedback and sentiment. |
| Content Curation | Tools for discovering and curating content from multiple sources, including RSS feeds and integrations with various apps. | Primarily focused on visual content and scheduled posts with lesser emphasis on curation. | Hootsuite’s content curation capabilities enable users to seamlessly source relevant content to share, driving engagement and follower growth. |
| Advanced Analytics | Provides in-depth analytics and reporting, allowing for detailed tracking of engagement metrics and ROI across platforms. | Basic analytics focused mainly on performance metrics such as likes and comments. | The granular analytics from Hootsuite assist users in making informed strategic decisions based on actionable data insights. |
| Team Collaboration | Advanced team collaboration tools with user roles, permissions, and task assignment features. | Collaboration features are present but less robust, focusing primarily on scheduling. | Hootsuite excels in facilitating teamwork through well-defined collaboration tools, improving workflow and project management. |
| Team Assignments | Allows for effective team assignments and monitoring of tasks and mentions across social media platforms. | No specific feature for team assignments; limited to individual user capabilities. | This feature enhances accountability and ensures that users can manage inquiries or mentions without missing engagement opportunities. |
| Integrations | Supports a wide array of apps and integrations across business tools, enhancing functionality and workflow. | Integrations exist but are more centered around visual marketing and scheduling tools. | Hootsuite’s broad integration capabilities streamline operations, allowing businesses to consolidate their digital marketing efforts into one platform. |
| Bulk Scheduling | Offers bulk scheduling capabilities to manage numerous posts simultaneously, ideal for high-volume users. | Allows bulk scheduling but focuses primarily on visual content teasers. | Hootsuite’s bulk scheduling is beneficial for brands with significant posting needs, simplifying the management of content calendars. |
| Advanced Security Features | Enhanced security protocols and compliance measures for enterprise-level users, including SSO and data encryption. | Basic security measures; more suitable for smaller teams and businesses. | Hootsuite provides robust security options making it a better fit for larger organizations requiring stringent security standards. |
These unique features from Hootsuite and Later contribute significantly to their value proposition. Hootsuite’s extensive customization, advanced analytics, and strong team collaboration tools cater to enterprise needs, making it a compelling choice for larger organizations. Conversely, Later’s visual-centric approach while primarily user-friendly may cater more to small businesses or influencers focused on aesthetic-driven strategies. Choosing the right tool depends on the specific requirements and scale of marketing operations.
Most frequently asked questions about Hootsuite vs Later
What are the primary features offered by Later compared to Hootsuite?
Later excels in visual content planning and scheduling, particularly for Instagram, with users noting that it has a ‘beautiful interface for visual scheduling.’ Hootsuite, on the other hand, offers a broader range of features including robust analytics and integration with various platforms. One review mentioned, ‘Hootsuite feels like a complete social media command center,’ emphasizing its comprehensive dashboard capabilities.
Which tool is more user-friendly for beginners?
Later is often recommended for beginners due to its intuitive design and straightforward functionality. A user pointed out that ‘setting up Later was a breeze,’ while Hootsuite, though powerful, has a steeper learning curve, with some users stating, ‘It took me a while to fully understand all the features available.’
How do Later and Hootsuite compare in terms of pricing?
Later generally offers more affordable pricing plans, especially for startups and smaller businesses. Users have commented on its ‘great value for the features,’ particularly for visual content. Hootsuite’s pricing can be higher, which some users noted as a downside: ‘I love Hootsuite, but it can get pricey as you scale up.’
What types of analytics do Later and Hootsuite provide?
Hootsuite shines in its analytics and reporting tools, with many users appreciating the depth of insights available. One review stated, ‘The analytics dashboard gives me everything I need to track my performance effectively.’ Later, however, focuses more on scheduling analytics, which one user described as ‘basic but sufficient for my visual campaigns.’
How does customer support compare between Later and Hootsuite?
Users of Later often speak highly of their responsive customer support, with one user mentioning that ‘they answered my queries almost immediately.’ Hootsuite’s support is well-regarded too, but some users have expressed frustration, stating, ‘Response times could be faster, given the complexity of the platform.’
Can I schedule posts on multiple platforms with both tools?
Both tools allow scheduling across different social media platforms, but Hootsuite supports a wider variety of networks. A Hootsuite user highlighted that ‘scheduling across multiple platforms is seamless,’ while Later is particularly optimized for Instagram, with comments like ‘I love how easy it is to visually plan my Instagram feed.’
Which tool is better for Instagram management?
Later is primarily designed for Instagram, offering unique features like visual scheduling and story scheduling. Users frequently note, ‘Later has revolutionized my Instagram strategy.’ Hootsuite offers Instagram support but does not match Later’s depth for that specific platform, with one user commenting, ‘Hootsuite is great, but for Instagram, Later is the way to go.’
How often do Later and Hootsuite update their features?
Later tends to roll out updates based on user feedback, and many users advocate this responsive development cycle, saying, ‘I appreciate how quickly they implement requested features.’ Hootsuite also regularly updates its platform, but some users have mentioned, ‘The updates feel less aligned with what we actually need.’
Are there any automation features in Later that outshine Hootsuite?
Later offers specific automation for Instagram posting, such as auto-publishing, which has received positive reviews, with users citing it as a significant time-saver. Hootsuite offers broader automation across various networks but lacks some of the Instagram-specific features that users appreciate in Later. One user mentioned, ‘If all you need is Instagram automation, Later has it down to a science.’
Which platform offers better content curation tools?
Hootsuite is often considered better for content curation due to its integration with RSS feeds and content recommendations. A user remarked, ‘Hootsuite’s tools for finding and curating content keep my social media fresh.’ Later focuses on visual content organization, which is less about curation and more about scheduling and aesthetics, leading a reviewer to state, ‘Later is perfect for planning what I have on hand rather than finding new content.’
