Categories Branding, Tech & Tools, Tips

9 Hootsuite Alternatives to Manage Multiple Social Media Accounts

Hootsuite has been a long-standing giant in the social media space long before I started doing social media marketing. Hootsuite would have come across your mind at least once for anyone thinking of getting into social media. However, being one of the biggest names doesn’t mean it’s for everyone.

Maybe it’s the cost or complexity, or maybe you’re just curious about what else is out there. I’ve been in your shoes, trying to find the best Hootsuite alternatives that are affordable, user-friendly, and packed with advanced features.

After testing a ton of tools (seriously, more than I can care to admit), I’ve narrowed down to my 9 alternatives–each with its own unique strengths.

And yes, I won’t make you read Gazzilion pages. Let’s get started!

Top Hootsuite Alternatives at a Glance

Glance through our top 5 picks:

Tool Starting Price Best for Key Features
Sprout Social Plans start at $249/month for 5 social profiles Large teams and Enterprises Social ListeningInfluencer MarketingEmployee Advocacy
SocialPilot Plans start at $50/month for 15 social profiles Agencies, SMB’s, and Multi-location brands Advanced scheduling and PublishingAI PilotWhite-labeling
AgoraPulse Plans start at $99/month for 10 social profiles Retail, E-commerce, Enterprises Unified InboxSocial Listening toolsCompetitor Analysis
Buffer Plans start at $6/month for 1 social profile Solopreneurs, Teams, and SMB’s Link-in-bio Landing pageUnified EngagementStreamlined scheduling
Metricool Plans start at $22/month for 5 social profiles Freelancers, Marketing Teams and Agencies Comprehensive AnalyticsMulti-platform SupportHashtag Performance Tracking

9 Best Hootsuite Alternatives Businesses Need for Better Social Media Management

1. Sprout Social

Sprout Social

Sprout Social is a good alternative to Hootsuite, bringing advanced features with an intuitive user interface. Its robust social media scheduling capability supports all major platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, and more. The AI-powered best time to post and bulk scheduling make content planning seamless, while the drag-and-drop calendar simplifies your workflows.

Where Sprout truly outshines Hootsuite is in analytics and social listening, providing in-depth performance insights, brand mentions, sentiment analysis, and tracking trends. Sprout Social is designed to refine your social media strategy and keep you ahead of the curve. Its collaboration features, like task assignment and multi-level approvals, make it ideal for teams managing social media campaigns.

Talking about Sprout’s customer support is fast and reliable, a step above Hootsuite. While the Sprout is priced higher, its value lies in its advanced analytics and seamless experience, making it ideal for agencies and marketers who are focused on data-driven social media marketing.

Best for:

Agencies, Large Teams, and Enterprises

Rating: 

4.4/5 (G2)

Adam S. – 4.5 Stars

The UI/UX is great, and my team had an easy time implementing Sprout right off the bat. We use it all the time for our various socials and are very happy with the switch from Hootsuite.

Key Features:

  • AI-powered content scheduling
  • Advanced social listening
  • Customizable analytics dashboard
  • Unified Social Inbox
  • Cross-platform integration
  • Hashtag suggestions
  • Influencer identification and collaboration

Pros:

  • Compared to Hootsuite, Sprout Social has a better UI/UX.
  • Its social listening capabilities are comprehensive.
  • The onboarding is smooth and has a shorter learning curve.

Cons:

  • Sprout is priced higher than Hootsuite.
  • The best time to post recommendations are not as inclusive as Hootsuite.

Pricing:

The pricing plans are as follows: Standard ($249 per seat/month), Professional ($399 per seat/month), and Advanced ($499 per seat/month). For large Enterprises, you need to contact Sprout for pricing.


2. SocialPilot

SocialPilot dashoard

From my experience,SocialPilot is hands-down one of the best Hootsuite alternatives, especially for small businesses and agencies. Its cost-effective pricing is a sigh of relief for those comparing it to Hootsuite’s steep plans. The interface is user-friendly and makes managing social media accounts a breeze–no more days of learning and long manuals needed.

With SocialPilot, you can bulk schedule up to 500 posts at once, saving tons of time, while its white-labeled dashboard and branded reports are game changers for agencies. Compared to Hootsuite’s clunky workflow, SocialPilot’s social inbox efficiently consolidates comments, DMs, and mentions across platforms, making engagement easier.

However, SocialPilot lacks some of Hootsuite’s enterprise-level integrations and social listening tools. While Hootsuite caters more to large-scale businesses, SocialPilot focuses on delivering value to smaller teams and agencies with advanced scheduling, seamless collaboration, and an intuitive drag-and-drop calendar. For me, it’s the smarter choice for small-scale needs.

Best for:

Marketing agencies, SMB’s, Professionals, and Multi-Location Brands

Rating: 

4.5/5 (G2)

Hurt H. – 5 Stars

When Hootsuite dramatically increased their pricing a year or so back, we looked for alternatives. Of the options we considered, we chose SocialPilot and have been very happy. The cost was WAY less than Hootsuite and the team is completely happy with the product – no reports of any sacrifices to enjoy the lower pricing.

Key Features:

  • Easy to use User Interface.
  • Minimal pricing
  • Advanced scheduling and publishing
  • Bulk schedule posts
  • AI Pilot for Captions
  • White Labelling
  • Social media analytics and reporting

Pros:

  • The pricing plans are cost-effective, making it ideal for small businesses and agencies on a budget.
  • Its clean and intuitive design reduces the learning curve and makes it easy for beginners to get started.
  • You can bulk schedule up to 500 posts at once.
  • It consolidates all the comments, DMs, and interactions into one single inbox, making it easy for your team to manage engagement.

Cons:

  • Unlike Hootsuite, SocialPilot doesn’t offer social listening or trending analysis tools.
  • Compared to Hootsuite, it integrates with a small range of tools such as CRMs and more, offering limited versatility.
  • There is also a lack of ad management.

Pricing:

SocialPilot offers four pricing plans: Standard ($50 per month for 3 users), Premium ($100 per month for 6 users), Ultimate ($200 per month for unlimited users, and Enterprise (Custom)


3. AgoraPulse

AgoraPulse

From my experience, AgoraPulse is another alternative to Hootsuite, particularly for enterprises and large teams who value simplicity and efficiency over complex workflows. It supports Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn, TikTok, and YouTube. While Hootsuite is known as a complete social media management tool, AgoraPulse brings in the same, if not exact, set of features for managing multiple social media accounts.

The calendar view and bulk schedule social media posts feature in AgoraPulse make it easy for your team to do their social media chores with ease. One thing I loved about AgoraPulse is its unified social inbox. Unlike Hootsuite’s scattered dashboard, AgoraPulse gathers all comments, messages, and mentions into one single pane.

Similar to Hootsuite, Agorapulse also offers automated reporting that’s easy to customize and share–perfect for sharing reports on the go.

What sets it apart is its social listening feature, which offers deeper insights into brand mentions and audience trends. However, unlike Hootsuite, it doesn’t support as many integrations or platforms.

Finally, AgoraPulse’s pricing is much more accessible, starting at $79/month for 10 profiles if you opt for annual billing. So, if you’re looking for a tool that focuses on engagement, client collaboration, and user experience, AgoraPulse is worth considering.

Best for:

Retail, E-commerce, Social media marketing agencies, Large teams, and Enterprises

Rating: 

4.5/5 (G2)

Jeena R. – 5 Stars

The everyday process of creating the post to getting it approved for publishing it is so much smoother. Reports are broader making our team weekly reports more concise. We rely heavily on this data to produce goals and show value. Creating reoccurring posts from the hard work I have already accomplished is amazing because it’s more bang for my buck!

Key Features:

  • Social listening
  • Social media analytics and reporting
  • Basic ad comment monitoring
  • Pulse Linkin Bio
  • Social media ROI tracker

Pros:

  • The clean and simple user interface makes it easy to use for new social media managers.
  • Agorapulse offers a centralized inbox for messages, comments, and mentions with filters.
  • Its advanced social listening helps users get detailed insights into brand mentions and audience conversations.
  • The built-in ROI tracker lets you analyze how much revenue you’re generating for your efforts.

Cons:

  • AgoraPulse doesn’t support Threads and Bluesky.
  • It lacks integration with several CRM and marketing automation tools.
  • No support for social media ad management.

Pricing:

Agorapulse offers four paid plans: Standard ($99 per month), Professional ($149 per month), Advanced ($199 per month), and Enterprise (Custom). There is also a Free plan.


4. StatusBrew

StatusBrew

When I first tried StatusBrew, it felt like a breath of fresh air compared to Hootsuite. The platform is sleek, user-friendly, and surprisingly powerful. What sets StatusBrew apart is its emphasis on team collaboration and workflow management, making it an excellent choice for agencies and teams handling multiple social media accounts.

One standout I appreciated is the approval workflow, which ensures smooth collaboration between team members, a feature Hootsuite lacks in simplicity. Like Hootsuite, this tool also offers social listening but is limited to Instagram, Reddit, and X.

However, it’s worth noting that Hootsuite supports a broader range of social media platforms, including TikTok, which Statusbrew currently lacks. Furthermore, it also lacks ads–a huge requirement for those who are into paid ads.

If you’re looking for an alternative that simplifies collaboration and streamlines scheduling and publishing without costing you a bank, StatusBrew is worth a shot. It’s perfect for teams aiming for efficiency.

Best for:

Agencies, Medium scale businesses, NGO’s, and teams

Rating: 

4.8/5 (G2)

Abid S. – 5 Stars

The ability to create separate workspaces which has helped us to manage 43 clients easily. It keeps everything organized and reduces the risk of mixing up projects. Additionally, the reporting templates save us a ton of time. We’ve scheduled weekly reports for clients, and personalizing reporting templates is straightforward.

Key Features:

  • Approval workflows
  • BrewLink in bio
  • Easy to use publishing calendar
  • Unified Inbox
  • White Label Reports

Pros:

  • Statusbrew offers customizable workflows, approval processes, and role-based permissions.
  • Its audience segmentation tool lets businesses target specific user groups for campaigns.
  • You can sync real-time conversations from several social media platforms, making it easy for your customer support to answer them.

Cons:

  • StatusBrew doesn’t support several integrations, including TikTok.
  • Its monitoring and listening capabilities are not as advanced as Hootsuite.
  • Hootsuite provides more comprehensive analytics and reporting features.

Pricing:

StatusBrew offers four paid plans: Lite ($89 per month for 2 users), Standard ($179 per month for 5 users), Premium ($229 per month for 8 users), and Enterprise (Custom).


5. Buffer

Buffer

When comparing Buffer to Hootsuite, one thing immediately stands out: Buffer’s simplicity and ease of use. Its clean, minimalist interface is perfect for users who find Hootsuite’s dashboard overwhelming. It strips away unnecessary clutter, making scheduling and managing content far more intuitive.

Like Hootsuite’s Owly, Buffer also has its own AI-powered content creation tool. It helps generate ideas, repurpose posts, and craft engaging social media posts effortlessly. Buffer provides a seamless experience for social media publishing, while Hootsuite’s scheduler can sometimes feel cumbersome.

Buffer’s engagement tool also impressed me. Unlike Hootsuite’s Streams, Buffer consolidates all comments and messages in one place, making interaction quick and straightforward. Plus, its unique Start Page” feature lets you create shoppable links and landing pages, boosting engagement and conversions.

However, Buffer’s analytics are basic compared to Hootsuite’s in-depth insights. Furthermore, its social listening is comparatively weaker than that of Hootsuite. If you want to improve your social media presence and value simplicity over complexity, Buffer is an excellent Hootsuite alternative.

Best for:

Publishers, SMBs, Solopreneurs, and Teams

Rating: 

4.3/5 (G2)

Cori F. – 5 Stars

You can connect most of your social media platforms and create a schedule. It allows you to cusomize the posts so while they may be similar, you’re putting something different on each platform.

Tracks the statistics of your X feed.

Key Features:

  • Link-in-bio page
  • Content calendar and library
  • AI -assistant to generate content ideas
  • Analytics and Reporting
  • Integrates with all major social media networks

Pros:

  • Buffer has a minimalist and intuitive UI.
  • More affordable than Hootsuite, plans start at $6/per channel.
  • Unique to Buffer, this feature lets users create custom landing pages.
  • Unified inbox, which consolidates all social media comments and messages.

Cons:

  • Buffer’s reporting capabilities are basic and lack depth and customization.
  • Unlike Hootsuite, the social media listening is very general and not robust.
  • Buffer doesn’t provide advanced automation functionalities like bulk scheduling and repeat posts that Hootsuite offers.

Pricing:

Buffer offers two paid plans: Essential ($6 per channel per month) and Team ($12 per channel per month). There is also a Free plan.


6. Publer

If you’re looking for an advanced scheduling tool, Publer is a great option. Publer’s intuitive and visually appealing UI makes scheduling posts a cakewalk. I can quickly create posts using the scheduler to schedule my posts for the respective platform, and it’s done. Btw, Publer connects with Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Threads, Pinterest, YouTube, Google Business Profile, Mastodon, Bluesky, TikTok, and Telegram.

Its robust analytics include sentiment, hashtag analysis, and insights into audience engagement. Compared to Hootsuite, these are functional but don’t offer in-depth insights. Additionally, it offers features such as Link in Bio, AI Assist, custom workspaces, and much more. However, it lacks social listening and doesn’t offer as many integrations as Hootsuite.

In summary, if you’re looking for a user-friendly tool with advanced scheduling and publishing, analytics, and client collaboration, Publer is a compelling choice.

Best for:

Professionals, Creators, Agencies, SME, Business, and Enterprise

Rating: 

4.8/5 (G2)

Verified User in Marketing and Advertising – 5 Stars
I really enjoy the social media scheduling tools and ease of use.

Key Features:

  • Advanced scheduling and publishing
  • AI Assist
  • Workspaces
  • Link in Bio
  • Social media calendar
  • Browser extension

Pros:

  • The dashboard offers a clean look with customization support.
  • Publer’s pricing plans are significantly lower than Hootsuite’s.
  • It supports bulk scheduling with automation options like auto-reposting and recycling.

Cons:

  • Publer lacks comprehensive social media listening capabilities.
  • While the analytics dashboard is useful, it is not in-depth and customizable like Hootsuite.
  • It does not feature any ad support.

Pricing:

Publer offers four pricing plans: Free, Professional ($5 per month), Business ($10 per month), and Enterprise (Custom).


7. Zoho Social

Zoho Social Dashboard

Zoho Social is another best Hootsuite alternative. Starting with its SmartQ scheduling, which suggests the best times to post based on your follower activity, boosting reach while eliminating guesswork. Zoho Social comes with its built-in Zia, Zoho’s AI assistant.

You can track brand mentions and do customer sentiment analysis. Like Hootsuite, you can create custom reports which can be downloaded and shared with the clients. Additionally, Zoho Social seamlessly integrates with Zoho CRM, aligning social media efforts with sales and customer relationship strategies.

However, it’s important to note that, unlike Hootsuite, it does not support a broad range of social media platforms and misses comprehensive analytics. In summary, if you’re seeking an affordable, user-friendly social media management platform with a strong schedule and CRM integration, Zoho is a good choice.

Best for:

Small businesses, Zoho Ecosystem users, Agencies, Freelancers, and B2B companies

Rating: 

Lucas C. – 4.5 Stars
Zoho Social is the best companion for small business podcasters like us. We have been able to easily schedule, publish and monitor my content across 7 different social channels, in a user-friendly environment and for a subscription fee that does not hurt my wallet. Best alternative in our eyes to the very good but super expensive competitors like Buffer and Hootsuite. Kudos to Zoho!

Key Features:

  • SmartQ scheduling
  • Zoho Zia – AI Assistant
  • Zoho CRM integration
  • Customizable Reports
  • Content calendar
  • Multi-platform support

Pros:

  • Zoho Social offers more budget-friendly plans, especially for small businesses and agencies.
  • It easily integrates with Zoho CRM, making it a great choice for businesses that want to track leads.
  • Customizable and detailed analytics.

Cons:

  • Its social media monitoring tools are not as advanced as Hootsuite’s.
  • The analytics are not designed for large-scale campaigns and enterprise needs.

Pricing:

Zoho Social offers 4 paid plans: Standard ($15 per month for 2 users), Professional ($35 per month for 3 users), Agency ($200 per month billed annually), and Agency Plus ($300 per month billed annually). You also get a Free plan.


8. Meltwater

Exploring Meltwater as an alternative to Hootsuite has been quite revealing. Meltwater’s social media monitoring capabilities are particularly robust, offering in-depth insights into brand mentions across various sources, including news outlets and social media platforms. This detail surpasses Hootsuite’s focus, which is primarily centered on social media channels.

Another area where Meltwater excels is in its comprehensive analytics. The platform provides detailed reports that encompass social media metrics and broader media trends, enabling a more holistic view of a brand’s media presence. In contrast, Hootsuite offers solid social media analytics but doesn’t extend as deeply into traditional media monitoring.

However, we found Hootsuite’s interface user-friendly and easy to navigate. Additionally, Hootsuite’s pricing structure is more transparent and may be more cost-effective for small to mid-sized businesses, whereas Meltwater’s advanced features come at a higher price point. In summary, Meltwater is a strong contender if your organization prioritizes comprehensive media monitoring and advanced analytics.

Best for:

Enterprise, Large organizations, PR teams, and Reputation management professionals

Rating:

4.0/5 (G2)

Jack S. – 5 Stars
Meltwater’s daily digests and robust reporting dashboards make it easy to see exactly what I need! Each morning I start my day reading through the daily digest to see if there are any customer support fires to put out. When you have nearly 400 shop locations, Meltwater makes it easy to tap in and address concerns and praise.

Key Features:

  • Advanced social listening
  • Social media monitoring
  • AI-powered insights
  • Competitor analysis
  • Customizable dashboards

Pros:

  • Meltwater social media monitoring and social listening tools are far more advanced than Hootsuite.
  • You can track mentions across global new outlets, blogs, and social platforms.
  • It also allows users to identify and evaluate how much impact your influencers are making on campaigns.

Cons:

  • The pricing sgtructure of Meltwater is not transparent like Hootsuite, making it less accessible for small businesses.
  • Its a complex tool which requires training and a steep learning curve.
  • While its analytics are strong, but unlike Hootsuite it lacks robust scheduling and content management capabilities.

Pricing:

No pricing details are available; you need to ask for a custom quote.


9. Metricool

Metricool dashboard

Finally, we are off to the last but not the least best alternative to Hootsuite. Metricool, as you all will know, is a great social media management tool but on a budget. Got goosebumps? Mee too!

Metricool has a clean user interface, making it easy for beginners to get started with creating, scheduling, and publishing. The comprehensive analytics give you a deep look into what’s working and what’s not working in your social media strategy. Like any other social media tool in this list, it gives you access and creates share-worthy reports.

Additionally, it supports all social media platforms, including Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, YouTube, Twitch, Threads, Bluesky, and more. Also, you can run ads through Facebook ads, Google ads, and more, that’s a cherry on the top. However, it’s worth noting that Hootsuite offers a wide range of third-party integrations, way more than Metricool. Additionally, the team collaboration features of Hootsuite are more advanced, making it a better fit for larger teams requiring complex workflows.

Best for:

Freelancers, Small businesses, Marketers, and Agencies

Rating:

4.5/5 (G2)

Cristina M. – 5 Stars

It’s an all in one tool, my Bible for my day-to-day work and tasks.

In one same place, I can answer all my social networks, program my publications and check the data.

I’ve tried many, and without the shadow of a doubt, the best one, better tan Hootsuite even).

Key Features:

  • Easy-to-use content calendar
  • Detailed performance insights
  • Social media ad management
  • Multi-platform support
  • Social media reports
  • Hashtag tracker

Pros:

  • The user interface is easier to navigate and more beginner-friendly.
  • Supports TikTok ads, Facebook ads, and Google ads.
  • Metricool plans are significantly cheaper than Hootsuite.

Cons:

  • Metricool doesn’t offer as many third-party integrations as Hootsuite.
  • The features are designed to cater to mall business needs, which are less suited for larger organizations.

Pricing:

Metricool offers three paid plans: Starter ($22 per month up to 5 brands), Advanced ($54 per month up to 15 brands), and Enterprise (Custom pricing for more than 50 brands).


Key Factors in Choosing The Best Hootsuite Alternative

So, finally, you have gone through all these tools and reviewed them. But are you still not sure what factors you should look at to make the buying decision? Don’t worry, I have got you covered. Anyway, I wasn’t going to shoot this guide straight at you :p

Here are some key factors that you need to look for:

  1. Pricing and Value: The main reasons users look for alternatives are the pricing and the value proposition. Before deciding, compare pricing plans to find a tool that offers the needed features without stretching your budget. If not sure, look for a tool that offers a 14-day free trail to test out the best features.
  2. Ease of Use: Look for a platform with an intuitive interface that streamlines workflows instead of complicating them.
  3. Platform Support: Ensure the tool supports all the social media platforms you manage, including popular ones like TikTok, Threads, or Pinterest.
  4. Pricing and Value
  5. Analytics and Reporting: Choose a tool with robust, customizable reporting to track performance and optimize your strategy. If you are an agency, look for white labelling and custom reports.
  6. Collaboration Features: If you work with a team or clients, opt for tools with approval workflows, and role-based permissions.
  7. Social Listening and Monitoring: If tracking mentions and trends is crucial, prioritize tools with advanced social listening capabilities.

These factors will help you find a solution tailored to your needs while keeping your workflow efficient!

Summary

Finding the perfect Hootsuite alternative boils down to your unique needs. Are you looking for affordability, better analytics, or a simpler interface? Tools like SocialPilot excel in advanced scheduling, publishing, and team collaboration with an interactive UI, while Sprout Social is perfect for detailed social media management for teams who are not on a budget. Need only social listening and monitoring? Metricool might be your answer.

Don’t rush, take a moment to reflect—what’s missing in your current tool? Make a list of must-haves and compare features carefully. The right choice isn’t just about features; it’s about efficiency, ease, and growth for your social media strategy.

So, which tool will you try next? Let’s make it count!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best alternative to Hootsuite for social media management?

The best alternative depends on your needs. Sprout Social is great for analytics, SocialPilot offers affordable bulk scheduling, Agorapulse excels in engagement, Buffer is perfect for simplicity, and Metricool provides detailed analytics.

Which Hootsuite alternative is best for small businesses?

SocialPilot and Buffer are excellent for small businesses due to their budget-friendly pricing, easy scheduling, and simple user interfaces.

Are there free alternatives to Hootsuite?

Yes, tools like Buffer (free plan), Publer, and Metricool offer limited free versions with essential scheduling and analytics features.

Why should I switch from Hootsuite to an alternative?

Users switch due to high pricing, complex UI, limited platform support, and a need for better analytics, automation, or customer support found in other tools.