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Hootsuite is considered one of the most popular solutions for complex social media management. However, is it the best one? You might be doubting this yourself if you stumbled upon this article.
Today, we’ll show you some alternatives to Hootsuite that might be better for your business – with a detailed comparison and explanation of why.
13 Best Hootsuite alternatives:
- Kontentino
- Agorapulse
- Buffer
- CoSchedule
- ContentCal (part of Adobe Express suite – Content Scheduler in Adobe Express)
- Sprout Social
- SocialPilot
- Oktopost
- MeetEdgar
- NapoleonCat
- Crowdfire
- Later
- Loomly
Hootsuite alternative comparison criteria
We considered a few main criteria when comparing Hootsuite alternatives:
- Best features: Hootsuite has many features, but other social media management tools might be just as good or even better.
- User experience: A social media management tool is usually used by more than one person, so the UX it provides should be close to flawless.
- Collaboration features: As mentioned above, it’s unlikely for just one person to use the tool, so we’ll analyze both external and internal collaboration options, including approval features.
- Customer support: every social media management tool should offer great customer support. For our list, we will highly value companies that provide useful answers to their customers with a quick response time.
- Pricing: cost is always a crucial factor when choosing a social media management tool, so we analyzed the prices of each Hootsuite alternative.
Best Hootsuite alternatives in 2024
1. Kontentino
If you’re looking for a social media management tool that combines a powerful team collaboration engine, user-friendly content calendar, and a set of extra features to boost your social media presence, look no further.
Kontentino is the best Hootsuite alternative for you.
Kontentino was designed by an agency for agencies, which means that it offers a pack of features that are actually sought after by social media managers, digital companies, and those who manage multiple social media accounts.
Best features
- Intuitive social media calendar with drag-and-drop interface
- Team collaboration and workflow features: task management, post requirement checklists, content approval options, tags, and labels
- Analytics tools with detailed insights into your performance
- Media library for content storage and organization
- Live post preview for all social media platforms
- Client communication boosters – advanced features for streamlining customer relations
Customer support
Quick, precise, and helpful customer support is what Kontentino promises to its customers. And it does live up to its standards – the Kontentino team answers questions in a few hours, or even minutes on average.
It offers live chat support, which, as you’ll see in this article, is not common practice for social media management platforms.
2. Agorapulse
Agorapulse is another alternative to Hootsuite that you might want to consider for your social media networks.
It’s a social media management solution for agencies and mid-size businesses, but one that’s not without its drawbacks.
Best features
- Advanced and actionable analytics with multi-level reporting
- Hashtag and keyword monitoring
- Visual calendar of your social media marketing efforts
- Unified social inbox for managing messages and comments on social networks
User experience
Agorapulse offers a user friendly interface with a drag and drop calendar, helpful for marketing campaigns. For many, it’s better than Hootsuite.
Collaboration features
Free and Standard plans lack any approval or collaborative features. Bulk approval comes as a feature only from the Advanced plan – and this has quite a price tag of 149 EUR a month.
Customer support
If we were to give stars to customer service, we’d give Agorapulse 3 out of 5 – the support is okay, but free and standard users can only use email support avenues.
Email, chat, and phone support are only available on Pro plans and above.
Pricing
The prices are relatively affordable if you compare them vs Hootsuite – the cheapest plan (Standard) offers 3 users and 10 social profiles for €69 per month, with a free trial available.
This social media scheduling tool also offers a free plan, but it’s extremely limited, allowing you to schedule only 10 posts a month.
3. Buffer
As an alternative to Hootsuite, Buffer has been a good choice for small businesses and startups.
Thanks to its intuitive user interface, powerful analytics and the ability to schedule posts from your desktop or mobile device, Buffer is a good option for those who want an easy-to-use social media tool for most social media platforms.
Key features
- Centralized inbox for replying to social media messages
- Internal tools (Pablo editor, link shortener)
- Chrome extension for direct social media scheduling
- Content tags
- Reporting and analytics tools
User experience
Buffer’s user interface is often described by users as having a sophisticated appearance, yet it is also noted for its simplicity, making it extremely user-friendly. Overall, the user experience (UX) of Buffer is widely regarded as intuitive and easy to navigate.
Collaboration features
Basic Notes are available in each Plan. To use Approval Workflow Tools, or give Custom Access/Permissions, you need to subscribe to (at least) the Team plan. As it costs $12/month per channel, it can quickly increase the overall price you need to pay for Buffer.
Customer support
Support is not limited to any of the plans, and there are a few methods of communication with the Buffer team.
You can contact them via email, social media channels, or look for answers yourself in a Self-Service Knowledge Base.
Pricing
Buffer is one of those Hootsuite alternatives you might have to cough up a bit more money for. $6 a month gives you access to managing just one social media channel.
For 10 profiles, you need to pay $120 a month – way more than for Kontentino in the same setup. A 14-day free trial for paid packages is available.
4. CoSchedule
CoSchedule is one of the most popular Hootsuite alternatives for social media planning.
It’s a solid tool, and its features go beyond the standard functionality of a regular social media management platform.
Key features
- Integrations with content management systems (e.g. WordPress)
- Various internal tools for boosting social media engagement
- Ability to create custom reports (ROI)
User experience
Some users have expressed that the user interface (UI) of the tool feels outdated and does not effectively keep pace with the rapidly changing demands of digital marketing.
Collaboration features
Limited collaboration options are available in the paid Social Calendar plan. If you need to build approval workflows in CoSchedule, you need to use a custom Marketing Suite for it, priced individually based on your needs.
Customer support
Depending on your plan, you can get support from CoSchedule’s customer care through their knowledge base and basic/priority support.
The free plan comes with almost no customer support at all, so bear in mind that you’re on your own here.
Pricing
CoSchedule’s offering consists of two plans: a free plan (free Calendar) allows 1 user to schedule posts (just 5 messages a month) on only 2 social profiles, or the Social Calendar comes with a price of $29 per user per month.
The latter makes CoSchedule a pricey option for any social media team, as these usually involve more than just one person.
5. ContentCal (part of Adobe Express suite – Content Scheduler in Adobe Express)
ContentCal used to be one of the best alternatives to Hootsuite for social media management – it’s an all-in-one platform that allows you to manage your social media profiles under one roof.
However, since its acquisition by Adobe, it has become a part of the Adobe Experience Cloud, not accepting new customers and instead redirecting them towards Adobe Express.
Key features
- Team inbox to share ideas and plan a social media calendar
- Workflow approval features
- Social inbox to power up social media monitoring
- Social media analytics features
User experience
Adobe is known for its spotless user experience and ContentCal, by merging with Adobe, is sure to deliver the same.
Collaboration features
Nearly non-existent/limited features in the standard Adobe plan – to use collaboration features for content creation, you must sign up for a $12.99 per month per seat plan. For social media teams, this might not be the most sustainable option available.
Customer support
As part of Adobe, ContentCal can access various customer service channels like email, phone, and chat support. However, as a standalone product, it’s not available anymore, so the exact support features are now unknown.
Pricing
ContentCal used to have its pricing plans before being acquired by Adobe. Now though, to use its features, you need to purchase an Adobe Express for $9.99 a month. You can also use a free plan that allows you to schedule two posts per calendar month.
So, if you’re a lone social media manager looking for a basic Hootsuite alternative, this Content Scheduler might be a good choice. However, remember that it’s only available through Adobe Express, and it’s not even known by this name any longer.
6. SproutSocial
Sprout Social‘s social media calendar is an ideal option for businesses of all sizes who are looking for a comprehensive social media management platform.
This Hootsuite alternative offers an array of features designed to help you reach your target audience via multiple social networks and improve social media performance.
Key features
- Social listening features
- Social inbox for different social media platforms
- Social media integrations with other tools such as CRM systems
- Shared calendar for bulk scheduling content
User experience
Many users often praise the simplicity and ease of use of SproutSocial for their social media game.
Collaboration features
To use collaboration features (custom workflows or approvals) in Sprout Social, you need to sign up to at least Professional plan ($399 per user per month).
Customer support
Not specified in terms of its range. Email and phone support are available, but there is no trace of live chat support on the Sprout Social website.
Pricing
Sprout Social is a rather expensive Hootsuite alternative – the cheapest plan costs $249 a month and gives you access to only 5 social media profiles.
Each additional social media manager costs a whopping $199 a month.
There are other paid plans available, including Professional and Advanced paid plans, for $399 and $499 a month, respectively. In those Sprout Social plans, adding each extra user would cost you $299 or $349 monthly! Even though a free 30-day trial is available, too, Sprout Social’s business plan is reserved for rather huge marketing budgets. If you’re tight on budget, you might want to look for a better Hootsuite alternative.
7. SocialPilot
Among the alternatives to Hootsuite that are more on the budget side of things, SocialPilot is one of them.
Coming across as a decent tool to save money while still being able to manage multiple social media networks, SocialPilot is widely used by small businesses and startups in the scheduling process.
Key features
- Social Inbox (not available on the lowest plan)
- Content approval features (not available on the lowest plan)
- Zapier and Canva integration for better social media planning
- Scheduling posts from RSS feeds
User experience
Feedback on the tool is generally positive, but there’s a common sentiment among users that it could benefit from an update. Many suggest that the interface, while functional, has an old-fashioned appearance and would be improved by a redesign. Additionally, there’s a call for enhanced intuitiveness, with recommendations for a more user-friendly interface that simplifies navigation between various menus.
Collaborative features
Available, yet restricted to higher plans. For example, the Client Approval feature is only accessible for Agency and Agency+ plans.
Customer support
Multiple support channels are accessible, from regular emails and calls to live chat (where the response time is stated to be a few hours).
Pricing
Paid plans start from $30 monthly for 1 user with 10 social media profiles. White-label options (Agency+) start at $200 a month. A 14-day free trial is available.
8. Oktopost
This social media tool is considered to be one of the best Hootsuite alternatives for B2B marketers, as Oktopost comes with a set of features tailored to their needs.
However, small businesses can benefit from it as well.
Key features
- Automatic link shortening
- AI-powered social listening
- Team collaboration options
- Robust social media analytics (you can connect Oktopost with Google Data Studio)
User experience
Users consistently praise Oktopost for its user-friendly interface.
Collaboration features
Oktopost offers a couple of collaboration boosters for team members, including content approvals, roles & permissions, and social compliance.
Customer support
Available through a website form or email. No live chat options.
Pricing
No information about a 14-day free trial available, and to undercover pricing plans you have to request a demo.
9. MeetEdgar
Of all the social media management tools that are alternatives to Hootsuite, MeedEdgar is one that mainly focuses on content recycling and scheduling.
It’s a good choice for businesses that want their content to achieve maximum exposure across multiple platforms.
Key features
- Category-based content media library
- Internal social media tools for auto-filled queue
- Automating social media efforts with Weekly Automations
User experience
It’s simple to use, but lacks some basic features such as a drag-and-drop calendar to create posts.
Collaboration features
MeetEdgar is not the most collaborative tool in our ranking. It allows multiple user accounts to be connected, yet it doesn’t offer any social media tools for content approval or streamlining workflow on social channels.
Customer support
You can reach out to their customer service team via email or a website form, as well as ask a question on live chat with a fairly quick response time.
Pricing
MeetEdgar offers two paid plans: the Eddie monthly plan costs $29.99 and allows you to manage 5 social media pages, while the Edgar monthly plan costs $49.99 for more features and the availability to manage more social accounts (25 vs 5).
A 7-day free trial is available.
10. NapoleonCat
Boosting your social media presence is much easier with NapoleonCat – this Hootsuite alternative comes with a host of features to make the most out of your content.
Key features
- Social Inbox to manage messages and comments across social media accounts
- Support for scheduling social media posts on Facebook, Instagram, GMB, and other social media platforms
- Advertising management for social media campaigns
- Comparative analysis and industry benchmarks
User experience
Generally stands well in user ratings.
Collaboration features
It offers a few team collaboration options for better content creation, such as task management, moderations reports for team members, social CRM.
Customer support
You can reach out for assistance via live chat or email, as well as look for answers in the help center and via social accounts.
Pricing
Highly customizable and dynamic pricing for both the number of users and the number of social networks to manage.
For 3 profiles and 1 user seat in this scheduling tool, you need to pay $32 per month. A free 14-day trial is available.
11. Crowdfire
One of the best social media management platforms that could replace Hootsuite, Crowdfire is a robust social media tool which allows you to schedule posts, manage your profiles, keep track of your performance, and grow your social presence.
Key features
- Crowdfire Listening for social listening
- Content curation features for Instagram
- Creating and scheduling social media posts from, e.g. shop updates
- Brand tracking with RSS feeds (on Premium+ plan)
User experience
Based on numerous reviews, the overall experience with Crowdfire is positively viewed.
Collaboration features
It doesn’t offer standard collaboration features beyond team members & profiles at all.
Customer support
Compared to other social media marketing solutions on this list, Crowdfire offers very few support options.
Email support is unavailable for either Free or Pro plans, and Priority Support can only be used by VIP users. On top of that, free plan users don’t get an ad-free experience on the mobile app.
Pricing
Fairly affordable, with a plan for free. However, it is very limited with only 10 scheduled social media posts per account per month.
Paid plans start from $9.99 a month, and all plans offer unlimited content curation features.
12. Later
If you’re looking for Hootsuite alternatives for taking care of visual social media platforms, Later might be the one to go with.
Key features
- Instagram Best Time to Post feature
- Extra internal social media marketing tools: Link in bio, hashtag suggestions, media editing
- Social Inbox for TikTok (on Growth+ plans)
User experience
Appealing user interface and straightforward, essential features.
Collaboration features
Collab tools and team management features are not available in the cheapest plan. They are offered in the Growth plan, for $45 a month. While you can share your content calendar with a team, there are no approval options built in.
Customer support
Self serve and human support (via chatbot) are available on all plans, but for a 1:1 live chat you need to be a user of the Advanced plan.
Pricing
Starting at $25 a month for only 1 user and 1 Social Set (6 social media accounts, one of each platform) puts Later as one of the most expensive tools on this list.
The Advanced plan comes with unlimited social media posts, but only 6 Social Sets, and 6 users.
13. Loomly
Looking for a tool that can handle your social accounts yet comes with powerful analytics? Loomly might be the right Hootsuite alternative for you.
Key features
- Social network advanced analytics for social media accounts
- Loomly Media Studio for editing assets
- Custom workflows (on expensive paid plans)
- Built-in community management system for social networks
User experience
Often rated better than Hootsuite.
Collaboration features
Quite a few to choose from: approval workflow, commenting system, and version logs. However, they are only accessible in Advanced ($175/mo) plans and higher.
Customer support
FAQ, chat, and email can be used on all plans, as well as direct contact with customer support specialists and account managers on the Enterprise package.
Pricing
If you’re a social media manager of an SMB, Loomly offers an entry-level plan to start with. It costs $42 per month for 2 users and up to 10 social profiles. No business plan for free is available.
The price of paid plans varies from $79 to $369 and more for the Enterprise option.
A 15-day free trial is available.
Why Should You Look for Hootsuite Alternatives?
Below are the most common reasons why people decide to switch from Hootsuite to another social media scheduler.
- High cost. Hootsuite’s pricing is now above average, which makes it less suitable for small businesses or social media beginners.
- Inadequate collaboration tools. Hootsuite’s cheapest plans lack advanced collaboration features like content checklists and approval workflows for social media accounts.
- Expensive team features. On the same note, essential team functions like Roles & Permissions are only available in high-tier plans.
- (Too) Complex interface. Some users across various review platforms find Hootsuite too complicated, overwhelming, and not very intuitive.
Choose the best Hootsuite alternative for you
Social accounts you manage deserve the best tools tailored to your unique needs. Explore your options and choose the ideal Hootsuite alternative today to elevate your social media game to new heights. Good luck!
