Hootsuite has been a staple in social media management since 2008. But in 2026, a growing number of creators, agencies, and marketing teams are actively looking for alternatives.
The reasons vary. Some are frustrated by Hootsuite's per-user pricing, which starts at €149 per user per month and climbs quickly when you add team members. Others find the enterprise-oriented dashboard more complex than what they actually need. And some are simply looking for tools that better match how social media management works today — faster publishing, better previews, AI-powered content creation, and simpler pricing.
Whatever your reason for exploring alternatives, this guide covers 15 tools worth considering. We break down each one by pricing, features, strengths, weaknesses, and who it is best suited for.
Quick Picks: Best Hootsuite Alternatives at a Glance
| Tool | Best For | Starting Price | Free Plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| PostPlanify | Best overall alternative | $39/mo | 7-day free trial |
| Buffer | Solopreneurs on a budget | $6/channel/mo | Yes (3 channels) |
| Sprout Social | Enterprise analytics | $199/seat/mo | 30-day trial |
| Later | Visual-first brands | $25/mo | 14-day trial |
| Agorapulse | Community management | $99/user/mo | Yes (3 profiles) |
| SocialBee | Evergreen content recycling | $29/mo | 14-day trial |
| Sendible | Agencies and white-label | $29/mo | 14-day trial |
| Loomly | Content approval workflows | $49/mo (annual) | 15-day trial |
| Publer | Budget-friendly scheduling | $12/mo | Yes |
| Zoho Social | CRM integration | $10/mo | Yes (1 brand) |
| Metricool | Analytics + ad management | $22/mo | Yes (1 brand) |
| SocialPilot | Agency bulk scheduling | $30/mo | 14-day trial |
| Pallyy | Instagram on a budget | $15/mo | 14-day trial |
| Vista Social | Modern full-featured tool | $79/mo | 14-day trial |
| Planable | Team collaboration | $39/workspace/mo | Free (50 posts) |
Why People Are Switching from Hootsuite in 2026
Before we get into the alternatives, it helps to understand the specific pain points driving users away from Hootsuite. These are the most common reasons we see:
Per-user pricing that scales fast
Hootsuite's pricing model charges per user. The Standard plan starts at €149 per user per month for a single user with 10 social accounts. The Advanced plan jumps to €249 per user per month. For a three-person team on the Advanced plan, you are looking at €747 per month — nearly €9,000 per year.
Many of the alternatives on this list offer flat-rate pricing or significantly lower per-user costs that make team collaboration affordable rather than a budget decision.
The free plan is gone
Hootsuite removed its free plan on March 31, 2023. For years, the free tier was how many creators and small businesses got started with social media scheduling. Its removal pushed a significant number of users toward alternatives that still offer free plans, including Buffer, Agorapulse, Zoho Social, Metricool, and others.
Enterprise complexity for non-enterprise users
Hootsuite's dashboard is built for large organizations managing social operations across departments. The multi-stream layout, layered settings, and feature-gated tiers make sense for enterprise teams. But for creators, small businesses, and even mid-sized agencies, the interface often feels heavier than necessary. Many users want to schedule posts, not navigate enterprise software.
Controversial business decisions
In late 2025, Hootsuite secured a contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for social media monitoring, valued at up to $2.8 million. The decision generated significant backlash from creators and customers, with some ending brand partnerships and others migrating to competing platforms. While not a feature-related issue, it has become a factor in some users' decision-making.
Hootsuite currently holds a 4.3/5 on G2 (6,615 reviews) and a 1.8/5 on Trustpilot (511 reviews). Many of the negative reviews cite pricing, customer support, and feature limitations on lower-tier plans.
Advanced features locked behind expensive tiers
Social listening, advanced analytics, team assignments, and approval workflows all require Hootsuite's higher-tier plans. Several alternatives include these features at lower price points or on all paid plans.
What to Look for in a Hootsuite Alternative
Not every tool will be the right fit for your workflow. Here are the criteria that matter most when evaluating alternatives:
Pricing structure — Does the tool charge per user, per channel, or a flat rate? How does the cost scale as you add accounts or team members?
Platform coverage — Does it support all the networks you publish to? Most tools cover the major platforms (Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube), but support for newer networks like Threads, Bluesky, and Pinterest varies.
Publishing workflow — How many steps does it take to create and schedule a post? Can you preview how it will look on each platform before publishing?
AI and content tools — Does it offer AI-powered caption generation, image creation, or content suggestions? Are these included in the base price or locked behind add-ons?
Team collaboration — Can you invite team members, assign roles, and set up approval workflows? Is there a per-seat charge?
Analytics depth — Does it provide the reporting you need? Some tools offer basic post metrics, while others include competitor benchmarking, ROI tracking, and custom analytics reports.
Integrations — Can you pull in media from Canva, Google Drive, or other tools from your media library?
The 15 Best Hootsuite Alternatives in 2026
1. PostPlanify — Best Overall Hootsuite Alternative
PostPlanify is a modern social media scheduler built for creators, agencies, and teams who want a fast, clean publishing experience without enterprise complexity or per-user pricing.
Where Hootsuite spreads its features across multiple dashboards and menus, PostPlanify puts everything on a single screen — captions, media uploads, platform-specific previews, and scheduling controls. You write once, customize per platform, preview exactly how each post will look, and schedule. The entire flow takes seconds, not minutes.
Key features:
- Schedule to 9 platforms: Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn, Threads, Pinterest, and Bluesky
- AI-powered caption generator with brand voice awareness
- AI image generation
- Native Canva and Google Drive integration inside the media library
- Platform-specific post previews (carousels, reels, shorts, feed posts)
- Bulk scheduling up to 20 posts at once via the content calendar
- First comment scheduling
- Approval workflows with team collaboration (Premium)
- Unlimited team members on Premium
- Link-in-bio builder
- Analytics for TikTok, Instagram, and X
Pricing:
| Plan | Monthly | Yearly | Social Accounts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Growth | $39/mo | $384/yr ($32/mo) | 10 |
| Premium | $99/mo | $948/yr ($79/mo) | Unlimited |
All plans include a 7-day free trial. No credit card required.
Pros:
- Flat-rate pricing — no per-user or per-channel fees
- Single-screen publishing flow is significantly faster than Hootsuite
- Platform-specific previews show exactly how posts will appear
- Canva and Google Drive built into the composer
- AI captions trained on your brand context
- Unlimited team members on Premium
Cons:
- No social listening feature
- Analytics limited to TikTok, Instagram, and X
- Social inbox coming soon (not yet available)
- Newer platform with a smaller user base than Hootsuite
Best for: Creators, agencies, and teams who want fast scheduling, clean previews, and predictable pricing. Especially strong for users managing multiple brands who are tired of Hootsuite's per-user model.
How it compares to Hootsuite: A solo creator on Hootsuite Standard pays €149 per month (€1,788 per year) for 10 social accounts. The same setup on PostPlanify Growth costs $39 per month ($384 per year), with no per-user fees. A three-person team saves even more since PostPlanify does not charge per user.
For a detailed breakdown, read our full Hootsuite vs PostPlanify comparison. You can also check our Hootsuite pricing breakdown and Hootsuite reviews for more details.
PostPlanifySchedule your content across all platforms
Manage all your social media accounts in one place with PostPlanify.
2. Buffer — Best for Solopreneurs on a Budget
Buffer is one of the original social media scheduling tools, known for its clean interface and straightforward approach. It is a solid choice for individuals or very small teams managing a handful of social profiles.
Key features:
- Schedule to 11 platforms including Google Business Profile, Mastodon, and Bluesky
- Free plan with 3 channels and 10 scheduled posts per channel
- AI Assistant for caption suggestions
- Start Page (link-in-bio builder)
- Community inbox on paid plans
- Engagement tools and basic analytics
Pricing:
| Plan | Price | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 3 channels, 10 posts each |
| Essentials | $6/channel/mo | Per-channel pricing |
| Team | $12/channel/mo | Unlimited users, advanced features |
Pros:
- Generous free plan for getting started
- Very affordable for 1-3 channels
- Clean, simple interface
- Broad platform support (11 networks)
- Nonprofits get 50% off
Cons:
- Per-channel pricing gets expensive at scale (10 channels = $60-120/mo)
- No Canva integration in the composer
- Basic post previews
- Limited bulk scheduling (CSV import only)
- Analytics are surface-level on lower plans
Best for: Solo creators and freelancers managing 1-5 social profiles who want simplicity above all else.
User ratings: Buffer holds a 4.3/5 on G2 (1,023 reviews) and a 2.1/5 on Trustpilot (93 reviews).
For more details, see our Buffer alternative page, Buffer pricing breakdown, Buffer reviews, and Hootsuite vs Buffer comparison.
3. Sprout Social — Best for Enterprise Analytics
Sprout Social is the premium option on this list. It competes with Hootsuite at the enterprise level but is widely regarded as having a better user experience, stronger analytics, and more polished reporting.
Key features:
- Advanced analytics with custom reports and competitive benchmarking
- AI-powered social listening (paid add-on)
- Unified smart inbox for all platforms
- CRM-like contact management
- Sentiment analysis
- Employee advocacy tools
- Supports 11+ platforms including Reddit and WhatsApp
Pricing:
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| Standard | $199/seat/mo |
| Professional | $299/seat/mo |
| Advanced | $399/seat/mo |
| Enterprise | Custom |
30-day free trial. No credit card required.
Pros:
- Best-in-class analytics and reporting
- Superior social listening capabilities
- Clean, modern interface despite enterprise depth
- Strong customer care and engagement workflows
- Excellent for proving social ROI
Cons:
- More expensive than Hootsuite
- Per-seat pricing scales fast for larger teams
- Social listening and premium analytics are paid add-ons
- Overkill for small teams or solo creators
- No free plan
Best for: Mid-to-large marketing teams and enterprises that need deep analytics, social listening, and polished client-facing reports. Not a budget alternative — Sprout Social is for teams that consider social media management a core business function.
User ratings: Sprout Social holds a 4.4/5 on G2 (5,731 reviews) and a 2.2/5 on Trustpilot (75 reviews).
For more details, see our Sprout Social alternative page, Sprout Social pricing breakdown, Sprout Social reviews, and Hootsuite vs Sprout Social comparison.
4. Later — Best for Visual-First Brands
Later started as an Instagram scheduling tool and has expanded to cover more platforms while retaining its visual-first approach. Its Instagram grid preview and Linkin.bio feature remain standout differentiators.
Key features:
- Visual content calendar with drag-and-drop
- Instagram grid preview (plan your feed layout before posting)
- Linkin.bio (turn your Instagram feed into a clickable landing page)
- UGC collection tools
- Influencer marketing integrations
- AI caption writer
- Supports 7 platforms
Pricing:
| Plan | Price | Social Sets | Posts/Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $25/mo | 1 social set | 20 |
| Growth | $45/mo | 3 social sets | 150 |
| Advanced | $80/mo | 6 social sets | Unlimited |
14-day free trial. 25% off annual billing.
Pros:
- Best Instagram grid preview on the market
- Strong visual planning tools
- Linkin.bio is a genuine competitive advantage
- Good for influencer and eCommerce workflows
- Clean, modern interface
Cons:
- Fewer supported platforms than Hootsuite (7 vs 8+)
- Post limits on Starter and Growth plans
- Weaker analytics compared to enterprise tools
- No social listening
- Less suited for B2B or text-heavy social strategies
Best for: Instagram-heavy brands, eCommerce businesses, visual creators, and influencer marketing teams. If your social strategy revolves around aesthetics and visual planning, Later is the strongest option.
User ratings: Later holds a 4.5/5 on G2 (347 reviews) and a 1.3/5 on Trustpilot (329 reviews).
For more details, see our Later alternative page, Later pricing breakdown, Later reviews, and Hootsuite vs Later comparison.
5. Agorapulse — Best for Community Management
Agorapulse is an all-in-one social media management tool that particularly excels at community management and social inbox features. Its unified inbox makes it easy to manage comments, messages, and mentions across platforms.
Key features:
- Unified social inbox with automated moderation rules
- ROI reporting (tie social activity to business outcomes)
- Content queue and bulk publishing
- Competitor analysis
- Team collaboration with approval workflows
- Free plan with 3 social profiles
- Supports 7 platforms
Pricing:
| Plan | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 3 profiles |
| Standard | $99/user/mo | $79/user/mo |
| Professional | $149/user/mo | $119/user/mo |
| Advanced | $199/user/mo | $149/user/mo |
Pros:
- Best social inbox and community management on this list
- Free plan available (most enterprise alternatives do not offer this)
- ROI tracking helps prove social media value to stakeholders
- Intuitive interface despite feature depth
- Solid team collaboration features
Cons:
- Per-user pricing (same model as Hootsuite)
- Social listening is less comprehensive than Sprout Social or Hootsuite
- Content library is less robust than some competitors
- Fewer integrations than Hootsuite
- Higher-tier features (like Power Reports) require expensive plans
Best for: Community managers, social media teams focused on engagement, and agencies that need to demonstrate ROI to clients. The unified inbox is the best in this category if engagement management is your priority.
User ratings: Agorapulse holds a 4.5/5 on G2 (967 reviews) and a 4.0/5 on Trustpilot (57 reviews).
For more details, see our Agorapulse alternative page, Agorapulse pricing breakdown, Agorapulse reviews, and Hootsuite vs Agorapulse comparison.
6. SocialBee — Best for Evergreen Content Recycling
SocialBee takes a unique approach to social media scheduling with its category-based system. You organize content into categories (e.g., "tips," "promotions," "behind-the-scenes"), and SocialBee automatically rotates through them on a schedule. This is particularly powerful for evergreen content that can be reposted.
Key features:
- Category-based content scheduling
- Evergreen content recycling (automatically repost top content)
- AI Copilot for content strategy and creation
- Canva and Unsplash integrations
- RSS feed auto-posting
- Supports 10 platforms including Threads and Bluesky
Pricing:
| Plan | Price | Profiles |
|---|---|---|
| Bootstrap | $29/mo | 5 |
| Accelerate | $49/mo | 10 |
| Pro | $99/mo | 25 |
14-day free trial. 16% off annual billing.
Pros:
- Category-based scheduling is genuinely unique and useful
- Content recycling saves hours of work for evergreen strategies
- AI Copilot helps build content strategy, not just write captions
- Affordable compared to Hootsuite
- Good platform coverage (10 networks)
Cons:
- Analytics are basic compared to enterprise tools
- No social listening
- No unified inbox
- The category system has a learning curve
- Customer support limited by timezone (Romania-based team)
Best for: Content-heavy creators and small businesses that rely on repeatable posting patterns. If you create evergreen educational content, tips, or thought leadership that stays relevant over time, SocialBee's recycling system is a major time-saver.
User ratings: SocialBee holds a 4.8/5 on G2 (472 reviews) and a 4.0/5 on Trustpilot (43 reviews).
For more details, see our SocialBee alternative page, SocialBee pricing breakdown, SocialBee reviews, and Hootsuite vs SocialBee comparison.
PostPlanifySchedule your content across all platforms
Manage all your social media accounts in one place with PostPlanify.
Looking for Buffer alternatives too? Check out our companion guide: 15 Best Buffer Alternatives in 2026.
7. Sendible — Best for Agencies
Sendible is purpose-built for agencies managing multiple client accounts. Its standout features are white-label reporting, client management dashboards, and a pricing model that scales well for agencies handling dozens of profiles.
Key features:
- White-label reports and dashboards
- Google Analytics integration (built-in)
- Client management and approval workflows
- Canva integration
- Content library and media management
- Supports 8 platforms including WordPress
- No contracts — cancel anytime
Pricing:
| Plan | Price | Profiles |
|---|---|---|
| Creator | $29/mo | 6 |
| Traction | $89/mo | 24 |
| Scale | $199/mo | 49 |
| Advanced | $299/mo | 100 |
| Enterprise | $750/mo | 400 |
14-day free trial.
Pros:
- White-label reports are a major advantage for agencies
- Google Analytics integration adds depth to reporting
- Scales well from small agencies to enterprise
- No contracts — flexible commitment
- Canva integration in the composer
Cons:
- Less brand recognition than Hootsuite or Sprout Social
- Social listening is not as powerful
- Interface is functional but not the most modern
- Community/inbox features are less developed
- Higher tiers get expensive
Best for: Marketing agencies managing multiple client accounts who need white-label reporting, Google Analytics integration, and a scalable pricing model. If client-facing reports are a key part of your deliverables, Sendible is the strongest option.
User ratings: Sendible holds a 4.5/5 on G2 (899 reviews) and a 2.3/5 on Trustpilot (8 reviews).
For more details, see our Sendible alternative page, Sendible pricing breakdown, Sendible reviews, and Hootsuite vs Sendible comparison.
8. Loomly — Best for Content Approval Workflows
Loomly focuses on the content creation and approval process. It provides post ideas, optimization tips, and built-in approval workflows that make it easy for teams to collaborate on content before it goes live.
Key features:
- Post ideas and content inspiration based on trending topics, holidays, and RSS feeds
- Multi-step approval workflows
- Canva and Google Drive integration
- Interaction management (comments and mentions)
- Advanced analytics on higher tiers
- Free plan with 3 social accounts
- Supports 9 platforms including Snapchat
Pricing:
| Plan | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 3 accounts |
| Starter | $65/mo | $49/mo (12 accounts, 3 users) |
| Beyond | $332/mo | $249/mo (60 accounts, unlimited users) |
15-day free trial.
Pros:
- Built-in post ideas help overcome content blocks
- Approval workflows are intuitive and well-designed
- Clean, simple interface
- Free plan available
- Good for teams that need structured content processes
Cons:
- Large pricing gap between Starter ($65) and Beyond ($332)
- No AI content generation
- Analytics less deep than enterprise tools
- No social listening
- Limited features on the free plan
Best for: Small-to-medium teams that need structured approval workflows and content inspiration. Particularly useful for teams where multiple stakeholders need to review content before publishing.
User ratings: Loomly holds a 4.6/5 on G2 (1,793 reviews) and a 1.7/5 on Trustpilot (26 reviews).
For more details, see our Loomly alternative page, Loomly pricing breakdown, Loomly reviews, and Hootsuite vs Loomly comparison.
9. Publer — Best Budget-Friendly Option
Publer is one of the most affordable social media schedulers available. It packs a surprising number of features into its low price point, including bulk scheduling, AI writing, and WordPress integration.
Key features:
- Bulk scheduling (schedule multiple posts at once)
- AI-assisted caption writing
- Link-in-bio builder
- WordPress and blog integration
- First comment scheduling
- Recurring posts
- Supports 9 platforms
Pricing:
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| Free | Basic features |
| Professional | $12/mo per social set |
| Business | $21/mo per social set |
Pros:
- Extremely affordable
- Free plan available
- Bulk scheduling at a fraction of Hootsuite's cost
- WordPress publishing integration
- Solid feature set for the price
Cons:
- Very basic analytics
- No social listening
- Limited team collaboration features
- Smaller company with less mature support
- No unified inbox
- Per-social-set pricing can add up
Best for: Budget-conscious creators, bloggers, and small businesses who need basic scheduling and bulk posting without paying enterprise prices. If your primary need is "schedule posts cheaply," Publer delivers.
User ratings: Publer holds a 4.7/5 on G2 (486 reviews) and a 4.8/5 on Trustpilot (863 reviews).
For more details, see our Publer alternative page, Publer pricing breakdown, Publer reviews, and Hootsuite vs Publer comparison.
10. Zoho Social — Best for CRM Integration
Zoho Social is part of the Zoho ecosystem, which includes CRM, email marketing, help desk, and dozens of other business tools. If your business already uses Zoho products, the integration is seamless and adds significant value to your social media management.
Key features:
- Deep integration with Zoho CRM, Desk, and other Zoho products
- Zia AI assistant for content suggestions and optimal posting times
- Social monitoring and keyword tracking
- Team collaboration with approval workflows
- Agency dashboard for multi-client management
- Free plan available
- Supports 9 platforms including TikTok and Threads
Pricing:
| Plan | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 1 brand, 1 user |
| Standard | $15/mo | $10/mo |
| Professional | $40/mo | $27/mo |
| Premium | $65/mo | $44/mo |
| Agency | $275/mo | 10 brands, 5 users |
| Agency Plus | $400/mo | 30 brands, 5 users |
15-day free trial. No credit card required.
Pros:
- Very affordable, especially on annual billing
- Zoho CRM integration adds genuine business value
- Free plan available
- AI assistant (Zia) included
- Agency pricing is competitive for multi-client management
- Social monitoring included
Cons:
- Most valuable if you are already in the Zoho ecosystem
- Analytics less robust than Sprout Social or Hootsuite
- Smaller user community and fewer third-party integrations
- Social listening is limited compared to dedicated tools
- Interface feels dated compared to newer tools
Best for: Businesses already using the Zoho ecosystem (CRM, mail, desk) who want social media management integrated with their existing workflows. Also a strong budget option for small businesses and agencies.
User ratings: Zoho Social holds a 4.6/5 on G2 (2,870 reviews) and a 4.0/5 on Trustpilot (5,778 reviews).
For more details, see our Zoho Social alternative page, Zoho Social pricing breakdown, Zoho Social reviews, and Hootsuite vs Zoho Social comparison.
11. Metricool — Best for Analytics and Ad Management
Metricool takes an analytics-first approach to social media management. Unlike most tools on this list that are built around scheduling, Metricool starts with data — and it covers both organic and paid social performance.
Key features:
- Unified analytics across organic and paid social
- Google Ads and Facebook Ads management
- Competitor analysis and benchmarking
- Looker Studio integration for custom dashboards
- Content calendar and scheduling
- Hashtag tracking
- Free plan with no expiration
- Supports 9 platforms including Twitch
Pricing:
| Plan | Annual Price |
|---|---|
| Free | $0 (1 brand, 1 profile per platform) |
| Starter | From $22/mo (up to 10 brands) |
| Advanced | From $54/mo |
| Custom | Quote-based (50+ brands) |
Pros:
- Analytics depth rivals much more expensive tools
- Ad management (Google + Facebook Ads) is a unique differentiator
- Looker Studio integration for custom reporting
- Free plan with no time limit
- Competitor benchmarking included
Cons:
- Publishing tools are less refined than dedicated schedulers
- Team collaboration features are limited
- No unified inbox
- Social listening less comprehensive than enterprise tools
- Smaller brand recognition in the US market
Best for: Data-driven marketers who manage both organic and paid social, and need analytics depth without paying Sprout Social or Hootsuite prices. The Google Ads integration makes it particularly useful for performance marketers.
User ratings: Metricool holds a 4.5/5 on G2 (83 reviews) and a 4.2/5 on Trustpilot (519 reviews).
For more details, see our Metricool alternative page, Metricool pricing breakdown, Metricool reviews, and Hootsuite vs Metricool comparison.
12. SocialPilot — Best for Agency Bulk Scheduling
SocialPilot is built for agencies that manage many client accounts and need to publish content at scale. Its CSV bulk upload, white-label reporting, and client approval workflows make it a practical Hootsuite alternative for agency workflows.
Key features:
- CSV bulk upload for mass scheduling
- White-label PDF reports
- Client approval workflows
- Content curation and RSS feeds
- AI credits for caption generation
- Team collaboration
- Supports 7 platforms
Pricing:
| Plan | Price | Accounts | Users |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essentials | $30/mo | 7 | 1 |
| Standard | $50/mo | 15 | 3 |
| Premium | $100/mo | 25 | 6 |
Free trial and annual discounts available.
Pros:
- Very affordable for the number of accounts included
- CSV bulk scheduling is well-implemented
- White-label reports for client deliverables
- Good agency-focused feature set
- AI credits included
Cons:
- Analytics are basic
- Interface is functional but not visually modern
- Fewer platform integrations
- Social listening is limited
- No free plan
Best for: Agencies and social media consultants managing 7-25 client accounts who need bulk publishing capabilities and client-ready reports at a fraction of Hootsuite's price.
User ratings: SocialPilot holds a 4.5/5 on G2 (841 reviews) and a 2.4/5 on Trustpilot (33 reviews).
For more details, see our SocialPilot alternative page, SocialPilot pricing breakdown, SocialPilot reviews, and Hootsuite vs SocialPilot comparison.
13. Pallyy — Best for Instagram on a Budget
Pallyy is a lightweight, affordable social media scheduler with a focus on Instagram and visual content planning. It offers a clean interface, visual feed planner, and a bio link builder — all at one of the lowest price points on this list.
Key features:
- Visual feed planner for Instagram grid
- Bio link builder
- Social inbox for comments and DMs
- AI caption tools
- Content calendar with drag-and-drop
- Supports 7 platforms
Pricing:
| Plan | Price | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | $15/mo | 1 social set, 20 posts/mo |
| Pro | $25/mo | 1 social set, unlimited posts |
| Agency | $99/mo | 10 social sets |
| Scale | $199/mo | 30 social sets |
14-day free trial. Extra social sets at $10/mo each.
Pros:
- One of the cheapest tools on this list
- Clean, modern interface
- Visual feed planning for Instagram
- Social inbox included (even on lower plans)
- Bio link builder included
Cons:
- Very basic analytics
- Fewer supported platforms than competitors
- No social listening
- Post limits on the Starter plan
- Smaller team and company
Best for: Creators and small businesses who primarily post on Instagram and need affordable scheduling with visual grid planning. Not the right tool for enterprise needs, but excellent value for individual creators.
14. Vista Social — Best Modern Full-Featured Alternative
Vista Social is one of the newer tools on this list, but it has quickly built a comprehensive feature set that rivals tools costing two to three times more. It stands out for supporting Reddit, offering review management, and including AI tools across all plans.
Key features:
- Full publishing, engagement, analytics, and listening suite
- Reddit support (rare among social schedulers)
- Review management for Google Business and Yelp
- AI assistant for content creation
- Approval workflows
- 14-day free trial on all plans
- Supports 15+ platforms
Pricing:
| Plan | Price | Profiles | Users |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional | $79/mo | 15 | 3 |
| Advanced | $149/mo | 30 | 6 |
| Scale | $379/mo | 70 | 10 |
| Enterprise | Custom | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Pros:
- Comprehensive feature set at lower price points
- Supports Reddit and 15+ platforms (most competitors do not)
- Review management is a useful bonus
- Modern, well-designed interface
- Social listening available as an add-on
Cons:
- Newer company — less proven track record
- Smaller user community
- Fewer integrations than established tools
- Enterprise features still maturing
- Less documentation and community support
Best for: Growing teams that want a modern, full-featured social media management platform without paying Hootsuite or Sprout Social prices. A strong option for teams that need listening, publishing, and engagement in one tool.
User ratings: Vista Social holds a 4.8/5 on G2 (1,071 reviews) and a 4.1/5 on Trustpilot (62 reviews).
For more details, see our Vista Social alternative page, Vista Social pricing breakdown, Vista Social reviews, and Hootsuite vs Vista Social comparison.
15. Planable — Best for Team Collaboration
Planable is designed specifically for teams and agencies that need real-time collaboration, visual content planning, and client approval workflows. Its interface looks and feels like a collaborative document editor for social media.
Key features:
- Real-time collaboration on posts (comment, suggest, approve)
- Multi-level approval workflows (none, optional, required, multi-level)
- Visual content calendar
- Universal content planning (social, blogs, newsletters, and more)
- Supports 9 platforms including Threads
- Free plan with 50 total posts
Pricing:
Starts at $39 per workspace per month. Analytics and engagement features are available as paid add-ons.
Pros:
- Best-in-class approval workflows and collaboration
- Real-time commenting and feedback on posts
- Visual calendar is one of the cleanest in the category
- Multi-format content planning (not just social)
- Free plan for testing
Cons:
- Per-workspace pricing can get expensive for multi-client agencies
- Analytics and engagement are add-ons, not included by default
- Publishing features are less robust than dedicated schedulers
- No social listening
- Smaller company
Best for: Agencies and marketing teams with complex approval processes who need real-time collaboration and client sign-off before publishing. If your bottleneck is getting content approved rather than scheduling it, Planable solves that specific problem better than any other tool on this list.
User ratings: Planable holds a 4.6/5 on G2 (937 reviews) and a 4.5/5 on Trustpilot (69 reviews).
For more details, see our Planable alternative page, Planable pricing breakdown, Planable reviews, and Hootsuite vs Planable comparison.
PostPlanifySchedule your content across all platforms
Manage all your social media accounts in one place with PostPlanify.
Hootsuite Alternatives Comparison Table
| Feature | PostPlanify | Buffer | Sprout Social | Later | Agorapulse | SocialBee | Sendible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $39/mo | Free | $199/seat | $25/mo | Free | $29/mo | $29/mo |
| Free Plan | 7-day trial | Yes | 30-day trial | 14-day trial | Yes | 14-day trial | 14-day trial |
| Platforms | 9 | 11 | 11+ | 7 | 7 | 10 | 8 |
| AI Captions | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| AI Images | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Canva Integration | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Bulk Scheduling | 20 posts | CSV only | No | No | Yes | No | No |
| Social Inbox | Coming soon | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
| Social Listening | No | No | Add-on | No | No | No | No |
| Approval Workflow | Premium | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Unlimited Posts | Yes | Fair-use | Yes | Advanced+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Team Members | Unlimited* | Limited | Per seat | Limited | Per user | Limited | Per plan |
*Unlimited team members on PostPlanify Premium plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best free alternative to Hootsuite?
Several tools on this list offer free plans. Buffer provides 3 channels with 10 scheduled posts per channel. Agorapulse offers 3 social profiles with limited features. Zoho Social includes 1 brand and 1 user. Metricool provides 1 brand with 1 profile per platform and no time limit. PostPlanify offers a 7-day free trial with full feature access.
For the most generous free plan, Buffer is the strongest option. For the best analytics on a free plan, Metricool stands out.
Why did Hootsuite remove their free plan?
Hootsuite discontinued its free plan on March 31, 2023 as part of a strategic shift toward enterprise and mid-market customers. The free plan had long been a way for individuals and small businesses to get started, but Hootsuite determined that its resources were better focused on higher-value accounts. This decision pushed many smaller users toward alternatives like Buffer, Zoho Social, and PostPlanify.
Is Hootsuite worth the price in 2026?
It depends on your needs. Hootsuite is still a strong choice for large enterprises that need social listening, enterprise security, multi-department collaboration, and deep reporting integrations. However, for creators, small businesses, and even many mid-sized agencies, the per-user pricing (€149–€249/user/month) delivers features that are available elsewhere at a fraction of the cost. If you primarily need scheduling, analytics, and team collaboration, most tools on this list provide better value.
What is the cheapest Hootsuite alternative?
Zoho Social starts at $10 per month (annual billing) and includes scheduling, monitoring, and the Zia AI assistant. Publer starts at $12 per month per social set. Buffer charges $6 per channel per month. Pallyy starts at $15 per month. For flat-rate pricing, PostPlanify starts at $39 per month for 10 social accounts.
Which Hootsuite alternative is best for agencies?
For agencies, the best options depend on your priority. Sendible excels at white-label reporting and client management. SocialPilot is strong for bulk scheduling and managing many accounts affordably. PostPlanify offers flat-rate pricing with unlimited team members on Premium, making it cost-effective for agencies managing multiple brands. Planable is the best choice if your bottleneck is content approval rather than scheduling.
Can I switch from Hootsuite to another tool without losing data?
Most Hootsuite alternatives let you connect the same social accounts you had on Hootsuite. Your social profiles, followers, and published content live on the platforms themselves — not inside Hootsuite. When you switch tools, you reconnect your accounts via OAuth and start fresh. You may lose access to Hootsuite-specific analytics history, so export your reports before canceling.
Which Hootsuite alternative has the best analytics?
Sprout Social offers the deepest analytics with custom reports, competitive benchmarking, and ROI tracking — but it is also the most expensive. Metricool provides strong analytics including ad performance tracking at a much lower price point. Iconosquare specializes in Instagram and TikTok analytics with 100+ metrics. For most creators and small teams, PostPlanify's built-in analytics for TikTok, Instagram, and X provide the data you need without paying enterprise prices.
Does any Hootsuite alternative offer social listening?
Sprout Social offers the most comprehensive social listening, available as a paid add-on. Hootsuite itself includes listening on Advanced and Enterprise plans. Agorapulse provides social monitoring (tracking mentions and keywords). Vista Social includes listening on higher-tier plans. Zoho Social offers keyword monitoring. For dedicated social listening, Sprout Social remains the industry leader, but it comes at a premium price.
What is the best Hootsuite alternative for small businesses?
Small businesses should prioritize value and ease of use. PostPlanify offers the best balance of features and flat-rate pricing, starting at $39/month with no per-user fees. Buffer is the simplest option with a free plan for getting started. Zoho Social is ideal if you already use other Zoho business tools. SocialBee is strong for businesses that want to build a repeatable content system with evergreen recycling.
Making the Switch
Migrating from Hootsuite to any of these tools is straightforward. Your social media accounts, followers, and published content are tied to the platforms (Instagram, TikTok, X, etc.) — not to Hootsuite. When you connect your accounts to a new tool, everything is already there.
Here is a simple migration process:
- Export your data from Hootsuite — Download your analytics reports and note any scheduled posts that have not yet been published.
- Sign up for your chosen alternative — Most tools offer free trials, so you can test before committing.
- Connect your social accounts — Use OAuth to link your profiles. This takes seconds per platform.
- Recreate any pending scheduled posts — Move over any content that was scheduled but not yet published on Hootsuite.
- Cancel Hootsuite — Once you have confirmed everything is working on your new tool, cancel your Hootsuite subscription.
If PostPlanify is the right fit for your workflow, you can start your free trial here — no credit card required.
Related Reading
- 15 Best Buffer Alternatives in 2026 — If you are comparing Buffer alongside Hootsuite
- Hootsuite vs PostPlanify: Which Scheduler Is Best? — A detailed head-to-head comparison
- Hootsuite Pricing Breakdown — Full plan and cost analysis
- Hootsuite Reviews — What real users say about Hootsuite
- All Alternatives — Browse all social media management alternatives
PostPlanifySchedule your content across all platforms
Manage all your social media accounts in one place with PostPlanify.
About the Author
Hasan Cagli
Founder of PostPlanify, a content and social media scheduling platform. He focuses on building systems that help creators, businesses, and teams plan, publish, and manage content more efficiently across platforms.
