Hootsuite or Iconosquare — this comparison pits an enterprise all-in-one social media management platform against a tool built specifically for analytics depth. Hootsuite covers everything broadly: scheduling, inbox management, social listening, team collaboration, and reporting. Iconosquare goes narrow and deep on analytics, offering 100+ metrics, competitor tracking, and industry benchmarks that most all-in-one tools cannot match.
These tools serve fundamentally different needs. Below is our honest Hootsuite vs Iconosquare comparison — where each tool excels, where it falls short, and which one fits your workflow. Jump to pricing comparison or feature comparison, or browse all social media scheduling alternatives.
Hootsuite vs Iconosquare at a Glance
Here's a quick side-by-side overview before we dive deeper:
| Category | Hootsuite | Iconosquare |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | EUR 149/mo per user | $39/mo (1 user, 5 profiles) |
| Free Plan | No (30-day trial) | No (14-day trial) |
| Platforms Supported | 8+ | 6 |
| Unlimited Scheduling | Yes (all plans) | No (100 posts/mo on Launch) |
| AI Tools | OwlyWriter AI (captions + images) | No AI tools |
| AI Image Generation | Yes | No |
| Bulk Scheduling | Up to 350 posts (Advanced) | No |
| Team Collaboration | Advanced plan (EUR 399/mo/user) | Scale plan ($83/mo, 3 users) |
| Social Inbox | Full unified inbox | No |
| Social Listening | Yes (Advanced+) | No |
| Analytics Depth | Standard reports | 100+ metrics, industry benchmarks |
| Competitor Tracking | Yes (5-20 competitors) | Yes (detailed analytics) |
| Instagram Grid Preview | No | Yes |
| G2 Rating | 4.3/5 (6,615 reviews) | 4.5/5 (135 reviews) |
| Trustpilot Rating | 1.8/5 (511 reviews) | 2.5/5 (5 reviews) |
| Best For | Large teams, agencies | Analytics-focused brands |
Hootsuite Overview
Hootsuite is one of the longest-running social media management platforms, founded in 2008. It offers social media 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.
Hootsuite's strength is breadth. It handles every aspect of social media management from a single dashboard — scheduling, engagement, listening, and reporting. OwlyWriter AI generates captions and images. The unified inbox consolidates DMs, comments, and mentions across platforms. Employee advocacy through Amplify lets enterprises distribute content to internal teams. For organizations that need one platform to rule all of their social operations, Hootsuite remains a serious contender. Read real user reviews of Hootsuite from G2 and Trustpilot.
Iconosquare Overview
Iconosquare is a social media management tool that has built its reputation on analytics depth. While it includes scheduling and publishing features, its real strength is its 100+ analytics metrics, competitor tracking, and industry benchmarks — capabilities that most general-purpose tools offer only at a surface level.
Iconosquare supports 6 platforms: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, X/Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube. It does not support Pinterest or Threads. Key differentiators include the Instagram grid preview for visual planning, detailed per-post analytics, follower growth tracking, hashtag performance, Stories analytics, and the ability to benchmark your performance against industry averages. However, Iconosquare lacks AI tools, social listening, a unified inbox, and bulk scheduling — all features that broader platforms include. Additional social profiles cost $4-6 per profile beyond the included 5. See what users say about Iconosquare on G2 and Trustpilot.
Pricing Comparison
Hootsuite charges per user with higher price points and broader features. Iconosquare charges per plan with profile-based scaling and charges extra for additional profiles.
Hootsuite Pricing
Hootsuite uses per-user pricing in euros. See the full Hootsuite pricing breakdown for details.
| Plan | Price | Accounts | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | EUR 149/mo per user | 10 | Scheduling, basic analytics, 7-day monitoring |
| Advanced | EUR 399/mo per user | 50 | Custom reports, approval workflows, 30-day monitoring, bulk scheduling |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom | SSO, unlimited users, dedicated support |
Example costs:
- 1 user on Standard = EUR 149/month
- 3 users on Advanced = EUR 1,197/month
- 5 users on Standard = EUR 745/month
Iconosquare Pricing
Iconosquare uses plan-based pricing with profile and user limits. We break this down further in our Iconosquare pricing guide.
| Plan | Price | Profiles | Users | Posts/Month | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launch | $39/mo | 5 | 1 | 100 | Basic analytics, scheduling, hashtag tracking |
| Scale | $83/mo | 5 | 3 | Unlimited | Competitor tracking, industry benchmarks, custom dashboards |
| Excel | $139/mo | 5 | 6 | Unlimited | PDF reports, promoted post analytics, approval workflows |
Additional profile costs: $4-6/profile beyond the included 5.
Example costs:
- 1 user, 5 profiles on Launch = $39/month
- 3 users, 5 profiles on Scale = $83/month
- 6 users, 10 profiles on Excel = $139 + ~$25-30 extra profiles = ~$165/month
Price Verdict
Iconosquare is significantly less expensive at every tier. Hootsuite's entry point (EUR 149/month per user) costs nearly 4x more than Iconosquare's Launch plan ($39/month). Even Iconosquare's top-tier Excel plan at $139/month costs less than a single Hootsuite Standard user. However, Hootsuite includes 10 accounts on Standard and 50 on Advanced, while Iconosquare caps at 5 profiles per plan (with paid add-ons for more). The real tradeoff is scope: Hootsuite gives you everything broadly; Iconosquare gives you analytics deeply.
Feature Comparison
Scheduling & Publishing
| Feature | Hootsuite | Iconosquare |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited scheduling | Yes (all plans) | No (100 posts/mo on Launch) |
| Bulk scheduling | Up to 350 posts (Advanced) | No |
| Best time to post | Yes | Yes |
| Content calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Post queue management | Yes | Yes |
| Instagram grid preview | No | Yes |
| Draft saving | Yes | Yes |
| First comment scheduling | No | Yes |
Winner: Hootsuite — unlimited scheduling on all plans and bulk scheduling for high-volume teams. Iconosquare's 100-post limit on Launch is restrictive for active brands. However, Iconosquare's Instagram grid preview and first comment scheduling are valuable features that Hootsuite lacks.
AI Tools
| Feature | Hootsuite | Iconosquare |
|---|---|---|
| AI caption generation | Yes (OwlyWriter AI) | No |
| AI image generation | Yes | No |
| AI hashtag suggestions | Yes | No |
| AI post enhancement | Yes | No |
Winner: Hootsuite — Iconosquare offers no AI tools whatsoever. If AI-assisted content creation matters to your workflow, Hootsuite wins by default. This is a significant gap in Iconosquare's feature set.
Analytics & Reporting
| Feature | Hootsuite | Iconosquare |
|---|---|---|
| Basic analytics | All plans | All plans |
| Advanced metrics | Limited | 100+ metrics |
| Industry benchmarks | No | Yes (Scale+) |
| Competitor tracking | Yes (5-20 competitors) | Yes (detailed) |
| Hashtag analytics | Basic | Advanced |
| Stories analytics | Basic | Detailed |
| Instagram Reels analytics | Basic | Detailed |
| Follower demographics | Yes | Yes (detailed) |
| Custom dashboards | Advanced only | Scale+ |
| PDF report export | Advanced only | Excel plan |
| Promoted post analytics | No | Yes (Excel) |
Winner: Iconosquare — and it is not close. With 100+ metrics, industry benchmarks, detailed hashtag performance, Stories analytics, and promoted post tracking, Iconosquare's analytics are in a different league. Hootsuite offers solid but surface-level reporting by comparison. If data-driven decision making is your priority, Iconosquare is purpose-built for it.
Team Collaboration
| Feature | Hootsuite | Iconosquare |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple users | All paid plans | Scale+ (3-6 users) |
| Approval workflows | Advanced plan (EUR 399/mo) | Excel plan ($139/mo) |
| User permissions | Advanced plan | Scale+ |
| DM assignment | Yes | No |
| Unified inbox | Yes | No |
| Saved replies | Advanced plan | No |
Winner: Hootsuite — supports multiple users on all paid plans with a full unified inbox, DM assignment, and saved replies. Iconosquare limits collaboration to 3 users on Scale and 6 on Excel, with no inbox management at all. For teams that manage engagement and customer conversations, Hootsuite is clearly better equipped.
Platform Support
| Platform | Hootsuite | Iconosquare |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | Yes | |
| Yes | Yes | |
| X/Twitter | Yes | Yes |
| Yes | Yes | |
| TikTok | Yes | Yes |
| YouTube | Yes | Yes |
| Yes | No | |
| Threads | Yes | No |
Winner: Hootsuite — supports 8+ platforms versus Iconosquare's 6. The absence of Pinterest and Threads on Iconosquare is notable, particularly for brands that rely on Pinterest for visual discovery or Threads for community engagement.
What Real Users Say
Hootsuite Reviews
G2: 4.3/5 (6,615 reviews) — Users value the centralized management and scheduling tools. Common complaints include expensive pricing, missing features on lower plans, posting issues, and slow customer support.
Trustpilot: 1.8/5 (511 reviews) — Low rating driven by billing issues, unexpected charges, difficult cancellation, and poor customer support.
Iconosquare Reviews
G2: 4.5/5 (135 reviews) — Users praise the depth of analytics, clean interface, and competitor tracking features. Common complaints include the limited number of platforms supported, the per-profile pricing for additional accounts, and the lack of AI tools.
Trustpilot: 2.5/5 (5 reviews) — This rating is statistically irrelevant with only 5 reviews. It should not be used as a meaningful indicator of user satisfaction.
Review Verdict
Iconosquare has a higher G2 score (4.5 vs 4.3), though with a much smaller review base (135 vs 6,615). Hootsuite's massive review count makes its 4.3 more statistically reliable. The Trustpilot comparison is not meaningful — Iconosquare has only 5 reviews (2.5/5) while Hootsuite has 511 reviews (1.8/5). Hootsuite's low Trustpilot rating reflects billing and cancellation frustrations common among enterprise SaaS tools. Review counts are as of February 2026 and are updated periodically.
Who Should Use Hootsuite?
Is Hootsuite better than Iconosquare for all-in-one social management? It depends on whether you need breadth or depth. 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, Metricool, Later, and Agorapulse.
Hootsuite is the better choice if you:
- Need an all-in-one platform that handles scheduling, inbox, listening, and reporting in a single tool
- Require a unified inbox for managing DMs, comments, and mentions across all platforms
- Want social listening for brand monitoring and competitive intelligence
- Run a large team that needs multiple users, DM assignment, and granular permissions on every plan
- Need AI-powered content creation with OwlyWriter AI for captions and images
- Publish across 8+ platforms including Pinterest and Threads
- Need bulk scheduling for high-volume content operations
Who Should Use Iconosquare?
Is Iconosquare better than Hootsuite for analytics? Absolutely — if deep data is your priority. If Iconosquare sounds right, check out our best alternatives to Iconosquare for other options. Also compare Iconosquare with Buffer, Later, and Metricool.
Iconosquare is the better choice if you:
- Prioritize analytics depth with 100+ metrics, industry benchmarks, and detailed competitor tracking
- Need Instagram-specific features like grid preview, Stories analytics, and hashtag performance tracking
- Want promoted post analytics to measure paid social performance alongside organic content
- Are a data-driven brand or agency that makes decisions based on granular social metrics
- Only manage accounts on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, X/Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube (the 6 supported platforms)
- Need detailed PDF reports for client or stakeholder presentations
- Want to track social media analytics at a level that general-purpose tools cannot match
Get Scheduling, AI Tools, and Analytics Without Choosing Sides
Hootsuite gives you everything but charges enterprise prices. Iconosquare goes deep on analytics but lacks AI tools, a unified inbox, and two major platforms. PostPlanify offers the core features most teams actually need — scheduling, AI-powered content creation, team collaboration, and analytics — without the tradeoffs.
| Feature | Hootsuite | Iconosquare | PostPlanify |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | EUR 149/mo/user | $39/mo (1 user) | $19/mo flat |
| AI Caption Generation | Yes (OwlyWriter) | No | Yes (unlimited) |
| AI Image Generation | Yes | No | Yes (7 models) |
| Canva Integration | Yes | No | Yes |
| Google Drive Import | No | No | Yes |
| Unlimited Scheduling | Yes | No (100/mo on Launch) | Yes (all plans) |
| Approval Workflows | EUR 399/mo/user | $139/mo | $99/mo (Premium) |
| Unlimited Team Members | Enterprise only | No (6 max) | $99/mo (Premium) |
| Analytics | Standard reports | 100+ metrics | Growth reports |
| Social Listening | Yes (Advanced+) | No | No |
| Instagram Grid Preview | No | Yes | No |
| Platforms Supported | 8+ | 6 | 9 |
| Link-in-Bio Builder | No | No | Yes |
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. If you need 100+ analytics metrics and industry benchmarks, Iconosquare is hard to beat. If you need social listening and a unified inbox, Hootsuite remains strong. But for teams that need well-rounded scheduling, AI content creation, and collaboration without per-user fees or platform gaps — PostPlanify delivers. See all plans on the PostPlanify pricing page.
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FAQ
Is Hootsuite or Iconosquare better for Instagram analytics?
Iconosquare is significantly better for Instagram analytics. It offers detailed Stories analytics, Reels performance metrics, hashtag tracking, follower growth trends, engagement rate breakdowns, industry benchmarks, and an Instagram grid preview. Hootsuite provides basic Instagram analytics but lacks the granularity that Iconosquare delivers. If Instagram analytics drive your strategy decisions, Iconosquare is the clear winner.
Does Iconosquare have AI tools?
No. Iconosquare does not offer any AI caption generation, AI image generation, or AI-powered post enhancement. If AI-assisted content creation is important to your workflow, you will need either Hootsuite (OwlyWriter AI) or a tool like PostPlanify that includes unlimited AI captions and AI image generation across 7 models starting at $19/month.
Which has better competitor tracking — Hootsuite or Iconosquare?
Both offer competitor tracking, but the depth differs. Iconosquare provides detailed competitor analytics with specific metrics, growth comparisons, and engagement benchmarks. Hootsuite offers broader competitor monitoring across 5-20 competitors as part of its social listening suite. Iconosquare wins on analytics depth per competitor; Hootsuite wins on monitoring volume and brand mention tracking.
Can I use Iconosquare for Pinterest or Threads?
No. Iconosquare supports 6 platforms: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, X/Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube. It does not support Pinterest, Threads, or Google Business Profile. If you need to manage multiple social media accounts across these platforms, Hootsuite (8+ platforms) or PostPlanify (9 platforms) are better options.
Is Iconosquare worth it just for analytics?
It depends on how data-driven your strategy is. If you make daily decisions based on detailed metrics, industry benchmarks, and competitor performance, Iconosquare's 100+ metrics justify the cost. If you only check analytics weekly for basic engagement and growth trends, the analytics included in most general-purpose tools (Hootsuite, Buffer, PostPlanify) will likely suffice. Iconosquare's Launch plan at $39/month is also capped at 100 posts/month, which limits its value as a standalone scheduling tool.
Which is easier to use — Hootsuite or Iconosquare?
Iconosquare generally has a cleaner, more focused interface because it does fewer things. Hootsuite's dashboard can feel cluttered due to its broad feature set — streams, inbox, campaigns, listening, and analytics all compete for screen space. If you primarily need analytics and basic scheduling, Iconosquare's focused interface is easier to navigate. If you need to automate social media posts across many platforms with team workflows, Hootsuite's complexity is the trade-off for its breadth.
How does Iconosquare's additional profile pricing work?
Iconosquare includes 5 social profiles in every plan. Additional profiles cost $4-6 per profile per month depending on your plan tier. For example, if you manage 10 profiles on the Scale plan, you would pay $83 (base) plus approximately $25-30 for the 5 extra profiles, totaling around $108-113/month. This can add up quickly for agencies managing many client accounts. By comparison, PostPlanify's Premium plan at $99/month includes unlimited accounts with no per-profile fees.
What is the best alternative to both Hootsuite and Iconosquare?
If neither fits your workflow, PostPlanify offers unlimited scheduling, AI caption and image generation, Canva integration, and team collaboration starting at $19/month flat. Other strong alternatives include Buffer for simplicity, Metricool for analytics with broader platform support, and Later for visual-first scheduling. Browse all alternatives to find the best fit for your team.
