Hootsuite and Agorapulse are both enterprise-tier social media management platforms built for teams and agencies. Both use per-user pricing, both offer unified social inboxes, and both target the same audience — making this one of the tightest comparisons in the space. If you're deciding between Hootsuite or Agorapulse, the details matter.
Two enterprise-tier platforms, both charging per user, both promising comprehensive social management. But they prioritize different things — and at €149+ and $99+ per user, the wrong choice gets expensive fast. In this 2026 comparison, we break down pricing, features, and real user reviews so you can make the right call. Evaluating more options? Browse all social media scheduling alternatives.
Hootsuite vs Agorapulse at a Glance
Here's a quick side-by-side overview before we dive deeper:
| Category | Hootsuite | Agorapulse |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | €149/mo per user | $99/mo per user |
| Free Plan | No (30-day trial) | Yes (3 profiles, 1 user, 10 posts/mo) |
| Platforms Supported | 8+ | 11 |
| Unlimited Scheduling | Yes (all plans) | Yes (paid plans) |
| AI Tools | OwlyWriter AI (captions + images) | AI Writing Assistant (captions) |
| AI Image Generation | No | No |
| Bulk Scheduling | Up to 350 posts (Advanced) | Yes (Advanced+) |
| Team Collaboration | Advanced plan (€399/mo/user) | Professional plan ($149/mo/user) |
| Approval Workflows | Advanced plan only | Professional+ (one-step), Custom (multi-step) |
| Social Inbox | Full unified inbox | Full unified inbox with social CRM |
| Social Listening | Yes (Advanced+) | Yes (all paid plans) |
| Competitor Benchmarking | Yes (5-20 competitors) | Yes (Advanced+) |
| Analytics | Standard to Custom reports | Basic to Advanced (ROI measurement) |
| G2 Rating | 4.3/5 (6,615 reviews) | 4.5/5 (967 reviews) |
| Trustpilot Rating | 1.8/5 (511 reviews) | 4.0/5 (57 reviews) |
| Best For | Enterprises, large agencies | Mid-size agencies, growing teams |
Hootsuite Overview
Hootsuite is one of the longest-running social media management platforms, founded in 2008. It offers scheduling, a unified social inbox, analytics, social listening, team collaboration, and paid ad management.
Hootsuite supports 8+ platforms: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, X/Twitter, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, and Threads.
Key features:
- Unified inbox for messages, comments, and DMs
- OwlyWriter AI for caption and image generation
- Social listening and brand monitoring
- DM assignment and auto-responses
- Bulk scheduling up to 350 posts
- Employee advocacy tools (Amplify)
- Competitor benchmarking (5-20 competitors)
Hootsuite is positioned for larger teams, agencies, and enterprise organizations that need social listening, advanced reporting, and structured team workflows. Read real user reviews of Hootsuite from G2 and Trustpilot.
Agorapulse Overview
Agorapulse is a social media management platform designed for teams and agencies, known especially for its powerful unified social inbox. It offers post scheduling, social CRM, analytics, social listening, and approval workflows across 11 social networks.
Agorapulse supports 11 platforms: Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Pinterest, TikTok, Google Business Profile, Threads, Bluesky, and Reddit.
Key features:
- Unified social inbox with social CRM
- AI Writing Assistant for caption generation
- Content calendar with drag-and-drop scheduling
- Approval workflows (one-step and multi-step)
- Social listening and monitoring
- Competitor benchmarking and ROI measurement (Advanced+)
- Canva integration (Professional+)
Agorapulse is popular among agencies and growing teams that need strong inbox management, client reporting, and collaboration features. For a deeper look, see what users say about Agorapulse on G2 and Trustpilot.
Pricing Comparison
Pricing is a key differentiator between Hootsuite and Agorapulse. Both use per-user pricing, but their entry points and feature gating differ significantly.
Hootsuite Pricing
Hootsuite uses per-user pricing with high base costs. See the full Hootsuite pricing breakdown for details.
| Plan | Price | Social Accounts | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | €149/mo per user | 10 | Scheduling, basic analytics, 7-day monitoring, 5 competitors |
| Advanced | €399/mo per user | 50 | Custom reports, approval workflows, 30-day monitoring, bulk scheduling |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom | SSO, unlimited users, Amplify, Salesforce integration |
Example costs:
- 1 user on Standard = €149/month
- 3 users on Standard = €447/month
- 3 users on Advanced = €1,197/month
Agorapulse Pricing
Agorapulse also uses per-user pricing but starts lower and includes a free plan. See the full Agorapulse pricing breakdown for details.
| Plan | Price | Social Profiles | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0/mo | 3 profiles (1 user) | 10 posts/month, basic publishing |
| Standard | $99/mo per user | 10 | Unlimited scheduling, social inbox, AI Writing Assistant |
| Professional | $149/mo per user | 10 | Approval workflows, Canva integration, ad comment monitoring |
| Advanced | $199/mo per user | 10 | Competitor benchmarking, ROI analysis, bulk publishing, content library |
| Custom | Contact sales | Unlimited | SSO, multi-step approvals, API access, dedicated CSM |
Example costs:
- 1 user on Standard = $99/month
- 3 users on Professional = $447/month
- 5 users on Advanced = $995/month
Price Verdict
Agorapulse is more affordable at every comparable tier. A single user pays $99/month on Agorapulse Standard vs €149/month on Hootsuite Standard. Agorapulse also offers a free plan and a 30-day free trial with no credit card required, while Hootsuite only offers a 30-day trial.
However, both platforms get expensive fast when adding team members. A 5-person team on Agorapulse Professional costs $745/month. On Hootsuite Advanced, it costs €1,995/month. Neither is cheap for growing teams. See our list of the best social media management tools for more budget-friendly options.
Feature Comparison
Scheduling & Publishing
Both tools offer unlimited post scheduling on paid plans. Here's how they compare:
| Feature | Hootsuite | Agorapulse |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited scheduling | Yes (all plans) | Yes (paid plans) |
| Bulk scheduling | Up to 350 posts (Advanced) | Yes (Advanced+) |
| Best time to post | Yes | No |
| First comment scheduling | No | Yes (Professional+) |
| Content calendar | Yes | Yes (drag-and-drop) |
| Content library | Yes (Canva templates) | Yes (Advanced+) |
| Draft saving | Yes | Yes |
| Content queues | No | Yes (Advanced+) |
Winner: Tie. Hootsuite has best-time-to-post recommendations and more powerful bulk scheduling. Agorapulse has first comment scheduling, content queues, and drag-and-drop calendar management. Both get the core job done. For tips on optimizing your posting schedule, see our guide on how to schedule social media posts.
AI Tools
| Feature | Hootsuite | Agorapulse |
|---|---|---|
| AI caption generation | Yes (OwlyWriter AI) | Yes (AI Writing Assistant) |
| AI image generation | No | No |
| AI post ideas | Yes | No |
| AI content rewriting | Yes | Yes |
| AI alt text generation | No | Yes |
| AI-powered reply suggestions | No | Yes (Custom plan only) |
Winner: Tie. Hootsuite's OwlyWriter AI is slightly broader with post ideas. Agorapulse includes AI alt text generation and AI-powered reply suggestions (on the Custom plan). Neither offers AI image generation. Curious how AI is changing the space? Read our roundup of the best AI social media tools.
Analytics & Reporting
| Feature | Hootsuite | Agorapulse |
|---|---|---|
| Basic analytics | All plans | All paid plans |
| Advanced analytics | Standard+ | Advanced+ |
| Custom reports | Advanced only | No (branded exports on Standard+) |
| Competitor benchmarking | Yes (5-20 competitors) | Yes (Advanced+) |
| ROI measurement | No | Yes (Advanced+) |
| Export reports | Advanced only | Yes (Standard+) |
| Scheduled reports | Advanced only | No |
| Team performance reports | No | Yes (Professional+) |
| Ad reporting | No | Yes (Advanced+) |
Winner: Depends on your needs. Hootsuite has more powerful custom reporting and scheduled report delivery on the Advanced plan. Agorapulse has unique ROI measurement, team performance tracking, and ad reporting. Hootsuite wins for report customization; Agorapulse wins for campaign-level insights. For a broader look at reporting options, check out our guide to social media reporting.
Team Collaboration
| Feature | Hootsuite | Agorapulse |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple users | All paid plans | All paid plans |
| Approval workflows | Advanced plan | Professional+ (one-step) |
| Multi-step approvals | No (Enterprise only) | Custom plan only |
| User permissions | Advanced plan | Advanced+ |
| DM assignment | Yes | Yes (Professional+) |
| Post assignments | No | Yes (Professional+) |
| Saved replies | Advanced plan | Advanced+ |
| Team performance reports | No | Professional+ |
Winner: Agorapulse. Agorapulse unlocks approval workflows and team assignments at a lower price point ($149/user/mo on Professional) compared to Hootsuite ($399/user/mo on Advanced). Agorapulse also offers post assignments and team performance reports that Hootsuite lacks. Learn more about streamlining your team's content process in our social media approval workflow guide.
Social Inbox & Listening
| Feature | Hootsuite | Agorapulse |
|---|---|---|
| Unified inbox | Yes | Yes |
| Social CRM | No | Yes (all paid plans) |
| Social listening | Yes (7-30 day lookback) | Yes (all paid plans) |
| Sentiment analysis | Yes | No |
| Brand monitoring | Yes (7-30 day lookback) | Yes |
| Auto-responses | Advanced plan | No |
| Automated moderation | No | Yes (Advanced+, Inbox Assistant) |
| Ad comment monitoring | No | Yes (Professional+) |
| DM automations | Yes (Standard+) | No |
Winner: Tie — with different strengths. Hootsuite has deeper social listening with sentiment analysis, longer lookback windows, and DM automations. Agorapulse has a stronger social inbox with built-in CRM, automated moderation rules, and ad comment monitoring. Hootsuite wins for listening; Agorapulse wins for inbox management.
Platform Support
| Platform | Hootsuite | Agorapulse |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | Yes | |
| Yes | Yes | |
| X/Twitter | Yes | Yes |
| Yes | Yes | |
| TikTok | Yes | Yes |
| YouTube | Yes | Yes |
| Yes | Yes | |
| Threads | Yes | Yes |
| Google Business | No | Yes |
| Bluesky | No | Yes |
| No | Yes |
Winner: Agorapulse — supports 11 platforms vs Hootsuite's 8+. Agorapulse covers Google Business Profile, Bluesky, and Reddit, which Hootsuite does not.
What Real Users Say
Hootsuite Reviews
G2: 4.3/5 (6,615 reviews) — Users praise Hootsuite's scheduling capabilities and centralized social media management. Common complaints include expensive pricing, missing features on lower plans, posting issues, and slow customer support.
Trustpilot: 1.8/5 (511 reviews) — Significantly lower rating with widespread complaints about billing issues, unexpected charges, difficult cancellation processes, and poor customer support.
Agorapulse Reviews
G2: 4.5/5 (967 reviews) — Users consistently praise the intuitive interface, excellent customer support, and powerful social inbox. Common complaints include expensive per-user pricing, limited customization, difficult reporting, and AI limitations.
Trustpilot: 4.0/5 (57 reviews) — Higher rating than most competitors, with praise for the social inbox and ease of use. Some users report unreliable social profile connections and polarized review distribution.
Review Verdict
Agorapulse scores higher on both review platforms — 4.5 vs 4.3 on G2, and 4.0 vs 1.8 on Trustpilot. The Trustpilot gap is especially stark: Hootsuite's 1.8/5 rating from 511 reviews reflects widespread billing and support frustrations, while Agorapulse's 4.0/5 (albeit from fewer reviews) indicates generally satisfied users. Both platforms receive complaints about high pricing, but Agorapulse earns significantly better marks for customer support and usability. Review counts and ratings are as of February 2026 and are updated periodically.
Who Should Use Hootsuite?
If Hootsuite is on your shortlist, you may also want to see our top alternatives to Hootsuite before committing. Also compare Hootsuite with Buffer, Sprout Social, Later, SocialBee, Publer, and Metricool. If you manage social for clients, our guide to social media management for agencies is also worth a read.
In this Hootsuite or Agorapulse comparison, Hootsuite is the better choice if you:
- Are an enterprise or large agency with dedicated social media teams
- Need social listening with sentiment analysis and long lookback windows
- Require DM automations and auto-responses for customer service workflows
- Want competitor benchmarking against up to 20 competitors
- Need Salesforce integration, SSO, or compliance tools (Proofpoint)
- Have the budget for €149-€399+/month per user
Who Should Use Agorapulse?
If Agorapulse is on your shortlist, you may also want to see our top alternatives to Agorapulse before committing. Also compare Agorapulse with Buffer, Sprout Social, Later, SocialBee, and Metricool. For smaller teams evaluating this Hootsuite vs Agorapulse matchup, our social media management for small business guide can help you weigh priorities.
Agorapulse is the better choice if you:
- Are a mid-size agency or growing team that needs strong inbox management
- Want a unified social inbox with social CRM to track audience relationships
- Need approval workflows and team assignments without paying €399/user/mo
- Require support for 11 platforms including Google Business, Bluesky, and Reddit
- Want ROI measurement and ad comment monitoring for paid social campaigns
- Prefer a tool with better user reviews and more responsive customer support
Final Verdict
Hootsuite is the better choice if you're a large enterprise or agency that needs deep social listening with sentiment analysis, DM automations, Salesforce integration, and compliance tools — and you have the budget for €149-€399+ per user per month.
Agorapulse is the better choice if you're a mid-size agency or growing team that values a powerful social inbox with CRM, affordable approval workflows, broader platform support across 11 networks, and better customer support at a lower per-user price.
For most growing teams and agencies, Agorapulse offers the stronger overall value thanks to its lower pricing, wider platform coverage, and higher user satisfaction. If neither tool fully meets your needs, PostPlanify offers flat-rate pricing with unlimited team members, AI content generation, and approval workflows starting at just $19/month — see how it compares.
Most Teams Don't Need Enterprise Social Tools
Let's be real: social listening, sentiment analysis, and social CRM are powerful features — that most teams under 50 people rarely use. If your core need is scheduling, publishing, and team collaboration across multiple platforms, you're paying for features you don't need on both Hootsuite and Agorapulse. PostPlanify focuses on what actually drives results: fast scheduling, AI content creation, and seamless team workflows — from $19/month.
| Feature | Hootsuite | Agorapulse | PostPlanify |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | €149/mo/user | $99/mo/user | $19/mo flat |
| Unlimited Accounts | €399/mo/user | Custom plan | $99/mo (Premium) |
| Unlimited Team Members | Enterprise only | Custom plan | $99/mo (Premium) |
| AI Caption Generation | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| AI Image Generation | No | No | Yes |
| Canva Integration | Yes | Professional+ ($149/user) | Yes |
| Google Drive Import | No | No | Yes |
| Approval Workflows | €399/mo/user | $149/mo/user | $99/mo (Premium) |
| First Comment Scheduling | No | Professional+ | Yes (Growth+) |
| Platforms Supported | 8+ | 11 | 9 |
| Unlimited Scheduling | All plans | Paid plans | All paid plans |
PostPlanify starts at $19/month for 3 accounts with unlimited scheduling and AI tools included. The Premium plan at $99/month includes unlimited accounts, unlimited team members, approval workflows, and analytics — features that cost €399+/month per user on Hootsuite or $149+/month per user on Agorapulse. See all plans on the PostPlanify pricing page.
Focus on what matters — try PostPlanify free
FAQ
Is Agorapulse cheaper than Hootsuite?
Yes. Agorapulse starts at $99/user/month (Standard) compared to Hootsuite's €149/user/month (Standard). Agorapulse also offers a free plan with 3 profiles and 10 posts/month, while Hootsuite has no free plan. At every comparable tier, Agorapulse is the more affordable option.
Does Agorapulse have a free plan?
Yes. Agorapulse offers a free plan with 3 social profiles, 1 user, and 10 scheduled posts per month. It also offers a 30-day free trial on all paid plans with no credit card required. Hootsuite only offers a 30-day trial with no free plan.
Which has a better social inbox — Hootsuite or Agorapulse?
Both have strong unified inboxes, but they excel in different areas. Agorapulse's inbox includes a built-in social CRM, ad comment monitoring, and automated moderation rules (Inbox Assistant). Hootsuite's inbox includes DM automations, auto-responses, and sentiment analysis. For pure inbox management, most agency users prefer Agorapulse.
Which supports more social media platforms?
Agorapulse supports 11 platforms including Google Business Profile, Bluesky, and Reddit — three networks Hootsuite does not cover. Hootsuite supports 8+ platforms including Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, X/Twitter, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, and Threads. If broad platform coverage matters to your strategy, Agorapulse has the clear edge. However, both tools cover all the major networks most businesses need for day-to-day social media management.
Can I switch from Hootsuite to Agorapulse?
Yes. You can reconnect your social accounts to Agorapulse and begin scheduling immediately. Agorapulse's 30-day free trial with no credit card required makes it easy to test before fully migrating. The transition typically takes less than an hour for account connections. Keep in mind that scheduled posts in Hootsuite won't transfer automatically — you'll need to recreate any queued content. Agorapulse's onboarding flow and customer support team can help smooth the process.
Which is better for agencies — Hootsuite or Agorapulse?
Both are popular with agencies, but for different reasons. Agorapulse is often preferred by mid-size agencies for its social inbox, CRM, and more affordable team pricing. Hootsuite is preferred by larger enterprise agencies that need deep social listening, Salesforce integrations, and compliance tools. Consider your team size and budget — a 5-person team costs $745/month on Agorapulse Professional vs €1,995/month on Hootsuite Advanced.
Do Hootsuite and Agorapulse both have social listening?
Yes. Hootsuite includes social listening with sentiment analysis and brand monitoring (7-day lookback on Standard, 30-day on Advanced). Agorapulse includes social monitoring on all paid plans, with advanced listening available as an add-on. Hootsuite's listening is generally considered more robust, especially with the Talkwalker integration on Enterprise.
Which is easier to use — Hootsuite or Agorapulse?
Agorapulse is generally considered easier to use. G2 reviewers consistently praise its intuitive interface and minimal learning curve. Hootsuite has a steeper learning curve due to its broader feature set and enterprise-oriented design. Agorapulse also earns higher marks for customer support responsiveness.
Is Hootsuite worth it in 2026?
Hootsuite can be worth it for large enterprises and agencies that genuinely use its social listening, sentiment analysis, Salesforce integration, and compliance tools. However, at €149-€399+ per user per month, many small and mid-size teams find the pricing difficult to justify — especially when comparable scheduling and collaboration features are available at a fraction of the cost from tools like Agorapulse or PostPlanify. Evaluate whether you'll actively use the enterprise features before committing.
What is the best alternative to Hootsuite?
The best Hootsuite alternative depends on your needs and budget. Agorapulse is the closest enterprise-tier competitor with a lower price point and stronger social inbox. For teams that primarily need scheduling, AI content creation, and team collaboration without enterprise-level social listening, PostPlanify offers those features starting at $19/month with no per-user fees. See our full list of top Hootsuite alternatives for a detailed breakdown.
Does Agorapulse offer a free trial?
Yes. Agorapulse offers a 30-day free trial on all paid plans with no credit card required, giving you full access to test features before committing. Agorapulse also has a permanent free plan that includes 3 social profiles, 1 user, and 10 scheduled posts per month. Hootsuite offers a 30-day trial but does not have a free plan. The Agorapulse free trial is one of the most generous in the social media management tool space.
