Top Hootsuite Alternatives & Competitors based on 387 Reviews
Reviews collected from
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| Brand | Pricing |
|---|---|
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☆ ☆ |
Hootsuite offers three pricing tiers: Professional ($19/month), Team ($99/month), and Business ($599/month). Each tier includes varying features such as the number of users, social profiles, and access to analytics. Custom solutions are available for larger enterprises. |
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☆ |
Buffer has three main plans: Free (basic features), Essentials ($15/month), and Team ($65/month). The Essentials tier includes increased posting capabilities and analytics, while the Team plan offers collaboration features for organizations. |
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☆ ☆ |
Later provides a free tier with limited functionality, along with three paid plans: Starter ($12.50/month), Growth ($20/month), and Advanced ($33/month). Each plan increases the limit on social profiles and features like analytics and access to marketing tools. |
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☆ ☆ ☆ |
Sprout Social features three pricing options: Standard ($249/month), Professional ($399/month), and Advanced ($499/month). Each plan enhances the level of social media management features, including more comprehensive analytics and reporting tools. |
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Why should you be looking for a Hootsuite alternative?
Many users seek alternatives to Hootsuite due to specific feature needs, such as advanced analytics or content scheduling capabilities, as well as concerns about ease of use, budget constraints, and customer support options. Alternatives like Buffer, Later, and Sprout Social offer distinct advantages tailored to different user needs. Buffer is known for its user-friendly interface and budget-friendly pricing, Later excels in visual content planning, while Sprout Social provides robust analytics and support for larger teams. This comparison will explore features, pricing, and target audiences of each option.
Quick Overview of Top Hootsuite Competitors
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Buffer (Cheapest Hootsuite Alternative)
- Focuses on simplicity and ease of use, ideal for small businesses and individuals.
- Offers features like scheduling, analytics, and engagement tools for various social platforms.
- Distinctive "Buffer Analyze" tool for tracking performance and engagement metrics.
- Affordable pricing plans with a clear and straightforward user interface.
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Later (Best Hootsuite Competitor for Visual Planning)
- Specializes in visual content scheduling, making it great for Instagram-heavy strategies.
- Unique "Visual Planner" feature allows users to drag and drop media for optimal post layout.
- Strong media library for organizing photos, videos, and user-generated content.
- Provides analytics and link tracking to measure engagement and enhance marketing efforts.
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Sprout Social (Comprehensive Hootsuite Alternative)
- Offers advanced reporting features and a robust social CRM to manage audience engagement.
- Excellent for team collaboration with workflows, task assignments, and shared content calendars.
- Strong customer support options, including live chat and extensive resources for users.
- In-depth social listening capabilities that allow brands to monitor and engage in broader conversations online.
Hootsuite Alternatives: Feature by Feature Comparison
| Feature | Buffer | Later | Sprout Social | Hootsuite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| User Interface | Clean, minimalist design focused on ease of use; allows quick content scheduling. | Visual content calendar ideal for Instagram; drag-and-drop functionality enhances usability. | Intuitive dashboard with customizable features; integrates multiple platforms seamlessly. | More complex interface; may require longer onboarding due to feature richness. |
| Scheduling | Provides a robust scheduling system with a simple queue; users can create a posting schedule based on engagement data. | Offers a visually driven scheduling tool with specific focus on Instagram, enabling optimal post time selection. | Allows for bulk scheduling and advanced publishing options tailored for all platforms. | Offers scheduling but can be less intuitive; successful management requires familiarity. |
| Analytics | Basic analytics for tracking engagements and shares; offers insights to optimize performance. | Limited but focused analytics primarily for visual content, especially on Instagram. | Comprehensive analytics with in-depth performance reports across all social media channels. | Extensive analytics suite, but some users may find it overwhelming to navigate. |
| Customer Engagement | Lacks dedicated engagement tools; primarily focuses on content scheduling. | Minimal engagement features; mostly centers on content planning rather than interactions. | Advanced engagement features; includes monitoring brand mentions, engagement tracking, and audience insights. | Strong engagement tools but can feel scattered due to interface complexity. |
| Content Planning | Simple content planning with an emphasis on multi-channel posting for blogs and social media. | Offers a visual planner to map out Instagram posts and stories effectively. | Extensive content planning capabilities with approval workflows for teams. | Good planning tools, but often requires additional setup for optimal use. |
| Collaboration Tools | Basic collaboration features; suitable for small teams but lacks advanced options. | Limited collaboration functionalities; primarily for individual users or small teams. | Strong team collaboration tools with user permissions and shared calendars. | Extensive collaboration tools, but could be more complex for smaller teams. |
| Integration | Integrates with multiple platforms (e.g., WordPress, Zapier), but may need more options. | Focuses primarily on Instagram and visual content; fewer integrations than competitors. | Supports a wide range of integrations with CRM systems, eCommerce platforms, and more. | Extensive integrations available, but some can be difficult to configure. |
| Cost-Effectiveness | Offers a free plan and affordable tiers for small teams; competitive pricing structure. | Free tier available with a focus on Instagram; scalable pricing as needs grow. | Pricing tends to be higher, reflecting its extensive features; best for larger teams. | Pricing is variable; generally higher than the other alternatives, reflecting comprehensive service. |
| Unique Selling Point | Best for small teams looking for a simple, effective scheduling tool—particularly strong for Twitter. | Focused on visual content and Instagram marketing, ideal for creatives. | Comprehensive analytics and engagement tools, creating an all-in-one social management solution. | A robust platform with extensive tools but can be seen as overwhelming for new users. |
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Integration Capabilities for each Hootsuite competitor
| Alternative | Supported Integrations | Compatibility Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hootsuite | Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, YouTube, Slack, Trello, Zendesk, Google Drive, HubSpot, Canva, Bitly, and more. | Extensive support for major social platforms and collaboration tools. |
| Buffer | Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, TikTok, Zapier, Bitly, Feedly, and more. | Strong focus on scheduling and analytics; integrates with Zapier for extended capabilities. |
| Later | Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Google Analytics. | Visual scheduling tailored for Instagram; limited external integrations compared to others. |
| Sprout Social | Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, YouTube, Google Analytics, HubSpot, Canva, Zapier, and more. | Robust analytics and reporting; integrations support extensive marketing tools. |
This table highlights the major third-party integrations supported by Hootsuite and its alternatives, Buffer, Later, and Sprout Social, focusing on compatibility with popular social media management tools.
Pros and Cons of each Hootsuite Alternative
Here’s a comparison table highlighting the primary pros and cons of "Buffer," "Later," and "Sprout Social" as alternatives to "Hootsuite":
| Alternative | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Buffer | – User-friendly interface with simple navigation. | – Limited analytics compared to competitors. |
| – Excellent for straightforward scheduling across social media platforms. | – Lacks advanced features like social listening and extensive monitoring. | |
| – Flexible pricing plans suitable for individuals and small teams. | – No integrated inbox for managing social messages. | |
| Later | – Strong visual content calendar ideal for Instagram scheduling. | – Primarily focused on visual platforms, lacking robust features for text-heavy content. |
| – Allows users to plan and preview social media posts visually. | – Limited analytics and reporting features compared to Hootsuite. | |
| – Includes a media library for easy access to assets. | – No dedicated customer support for lower-tier plans. | |
| Sprout Social | – Comprehensive analytics and reporting capabilities. | – Higher price point compared to Hootsuite and other alternatives. |
| – Advanced social listening and engagement tools. | – Steeper learning curve due to the depth of features. | |
| – Excellent customer support and training resources. | – Some features may be overkill for small businesses or individual users. |
This table provides a streamlined comparison that focuses on the core strengths and weaknesses relevant to potential users considering these social media management platforms.
Hootsuite vs Competitors: Traffic & Marketing Comparison
Traffic Comparison:
Hootsuite dominates the organic traffic landscape, boasting an impressive peak of over 169 million visits in May 2023. This contrasts sharply with Buffer, which recorded considerably lower traffic, peaking at around 18 million in April 2024. Later shows significant traction with around 35 million visits in January 2024 but still trails behind Hootsuite. Sprout Social’s traffic peaks at approximately 32 million but remains well below Hootsuite’s performance, indicating a clear traffic hierarchy among these brands.
Top Performing Keywords:
Hootsuite leads with top-ranking keywords such as "social media management tools" and "social media marketing services," consistently holding first positions, indicating robust SEO strategies. Buffer’s strength lies in keywords like "manage social media accounts" and "social media marketing," ranking well but showing broader competition. Later excels in niche terms like "Instagram marketing" and "user-generated content" but lacks breadth. Sprout Social focuses on keywords related to social listening and management, indicating a targeted approach, though with less overall impact.
Conclusions on Visibility and Reach:
Hootsuite’s extraordinary organic traffic and extensive keyword dominance indicate it has the strongest online visibility. Its effective SEO strategy is highlighted by numerous top-ranking keywords. Buffer and Later exhibit solid visibility but don’t compete with Hootsuite’s scale. Buffer’s focus on management-based keywords offers a unique angle, while Later’s niche performance in Instagram-oriented terms appeals to specific users. Sprout Social, while effective in social listening, lacks the same breadth, marking it as less visible overall compared to its competitors.
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Other “Hootsuite” Alternatives & Competitors that you can find for free
Here are five alternatives and competitors to Hootsuite, along with their key features, strengths, and value propositions:
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SocialBee
- Key Features: Content categorization, post recycling, social media calendar, and analytics.
- Strengths: Powerful content management features allow for organizing and scheduling posts based on different categories, leading to diverse content being shared.
- Value Proposition: Helps marketers maximize engagement through tailored content strategies and seamless scheduling while providing robust analytics to refine those strategies.
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CoSchedule
- Key Features: Marketing calendar, social media automation, content optimization tools, and analytics.
- Strengths: Integrates with various marketing tools, allowing for a comprehensive overview of marketing efforts.
- Value Proposition: Offers a cohesive marketing platform that brings together social media publishing, project management, and content optimization to streamline marketing workflows.
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Agorapulse
- Key Features: Social listening, competitor analysis, inbox management, and reporting.
- Strengths: Offers robust engagement and reporting tools, making it easier to understand audience interactions and measure performance.
- Value Proposition: Focuses on community engagement and customer care, allowing businesses to manage their online reputation effectively while providing detailed insights into social performance.
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Sendible
- Key Features: Post scheduling, rich media support, client management, and reporting.
- Strengths: Designed for agencies and teams, enabling collaboration and client reporting features, with a focus on visual content scheduling.
- Value Proposition: An all-in-one platform that caters to agencies looking for collaboration tools, making managing multiple clients’ social media accounts more efficient.
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Loomly
- Key Features: Content ideation, scheduling, collaboration tools, and analytics.
- Strengths: User-friendly interface with strong collaboration features that enhance team communication and idea generation.
- Value Proposition: Simplifies the content creation and scheduling process for teams, allowing for effective collaboration and creative brainstorming, while offering data-driven insights to improve social media strategies.
These platforms provide a range of functionalities that cater to different social media management needs and target audiences, making them worthy contenders to Hootsuite.
