Hootsuite and SocialPilot both serve agencies and multi-account teams, but at dramatically different price points. Whether you're choosing Hootsuite or SocialPilot, the decision often comes down to budget versus feature depth. Hootsuite is a €149/user enterprise suite with social listening and a unified inbox. SocialPilot is a $30/month agency tool with bulk scheduling and white-label reports.
In this 2026 comparison, we break down two agency-focused platforms at vastly different price points. We compare what you actually get at each tier — from scheduling and inbox management to analytics and team tools. Exploring beyond these two? Browse all social media scheduling alternatives.
Hootsuite vs SocialPilot at a Glance
Here's a quick side-by-side overview before we dive deeper:
| Category | Hootsuite | SocialPilot |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | €149/mo per user | $30/mo (7 accounts, 1 user) |
| Free Plan | No (30-day trial) | No (14-day trial) |
| Platforms Supported | 8+ | 11 |
| Unlimited Scheduling | Yes (all plans) | Yes (all plans) |
| AI Tools | OwlyWriter AI | AI Pilot (multi-language) |
| Bulk Scheduling | Up to 350 posts (Advanced) | 500 posts via CSV |
| Team Collaboration | Advanced (€399/mo/user) | Standard+ ($50/mo, 3 users) |
| Approval Workflows | Advanced plan only | All plans (client approvals) |
| Social Inbox | Full unified inbox | Standard+ |
| Social Listening | Yes (Advanced+) | No |
| White Label Reports | No | Premium+ ($100/mo) |
| G2 Rating | 4.3/5 (6,615 reviews) | 4.5/5 (841 reviews) |
| Trustpilot Rating | 1.8/5 (511 reviews) | 2.4/5 (33 reviews) |
| Best For | Enterprises, mid-size teams | Agencies, multi-client 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 generation
- Social listening and brand monitoring (Advanced+)
- Competitor benchmarking (5-20 competitors)
- DM assignment and auto-responses
- Bulk scheduling up to 350 posts
- Employee advocacy tools (Amplify)
Hootsuite is built for mid-size teams and enterprises that need social listening, structured workflows, and broad platform coverage. Read real user reviews of Hootsuite from G2 and Trustpilot.
SocialPilot Overview
SocialPilot is an agency-focused social media management platform designed for teams handling multiple client accounts. It combines bulk scheduling, white-label reporting, and client approval workflows at a fraction of enterprise pricing.
SocialPilot supports 11 platforms: Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, TikTok, YouTube, Google Business Profile, Threads, Bluesky, and VK.
Key features:
- Bulk scheduling up to 500 posts via CSV
- AI Pilot for caption generation in multiple languages
- Content library and RSS automation
- White label reports (Premium+)
- Client approval workflows
- Social inbox (Standard+)
- First comment scheduling, Canva integration, and review management
SocialPilot targets agencies and multi-client teams that need volume scheduling and branded reporting at affordable prices. Read real user reviews of SocialPilot from G2 and Trustpilot.
Pricing Comparison
The pricing gap here is enormous. Hootsuite charges per user in euros; SocialPilot bundles accounts and users into affordable tiers. If you are comparing social media management tools on a budget, this section is where SocialPilot pulls far ahead.
Hootsuite Pricing
Hootsuite uses per-user pricing in euros. See the full Hootsuite pricing breakdown for details.
| Plan | Price | Accounts | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | €149/mo per user | 10 | Scheduling, basic analytics, 7-day monitoring |
| Advanced | €399/mo per user | 50 | Custom reports, approval workflows, bulk scheduling, 30-day monitoring |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom | SSO, unlimited users, dedicated support |
Example costs:
- 1 user on Standard = €149/month
- 3 users on Standard = €447/month
- 3 users on Advanced = €1,197/month
SocialPilot Pricing
SocialPilot uses tiered pricing with account and user limits per plan. See the full SocialPilot pricing breakdown for details.
| Plan | Price | Accounts | Users | AI Credits | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essentials | $30/mo | 7 | 1 | 500 | Scheduling, content library, analytics |
| Standard | $50/mo | 15 | 3 | 1,000 | Social inbox, RSS automation |
| Premium | $100/mo | 25 | 6 | 5,000 | White label reports, client approvals |
| Ultimate | $200/mo | 50 | Unlimited | Unlimited | Full feature access |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom | Custom | Custom | Dedicated support |
Extra costs: Additional accounts at $4/month each, additional users at $5/month each.
Price Verdict
SocialPilot is dramatically cheaper. A 3-person team managing 15 accounts pays €447/month on Hootsuite Standard vs $50/month on SocialPilot Standard. Even SocialPilot's top-tier Ultimate plan at $200/month for 50 accounts and unlimited users costs less than a single Hootsuite Standard user.
Hootsuite's pricing only makes sense if you specifically need social listening, deep monitoring, or enterprise compliance features that SocialPilot does not offer.
Feature Comparison
Scheduling & Publishing
| Feature | Hootsuite | SocialPilot |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited scheduling | Yes (all plans) | Yes (all plans) |
| Bulk scheduling | Up to 350 posts | Up to 500 posts via CSV |
| Best time to post | Yes | No |
| First comment scheduling | No | Yes |
| Content calendar | Yes | Yes |
| RSS automation | No | Yes |
| Content library | No | Yes |
Winner: SocialPilot — higher bulk scheduling limit (500 vs 350), plus RSS automation, first comment scheduling, and a built-in content library. For tips on optimizing your posting schedule, see our guide on the best time to post on social media. Hootsuite has best-time-to-post suggestions but fewer publishing tools overall.
AI Tools
| Feature | Hootsuite | SocialPilot |
|---|---|---|
| AI caption generation | Yes (OwlyWriter AI) | Yes (AI Pilot) |
| AI image generation | No | No |
| Multi-language AI | No | Yes |
| AI credits system | No | 500-unlimited/month |
Winner: SocialPilot — multi-language caption generation is valuable for agencies managing international accounts. Hootsuite's OwlyWriter covers captions but lacks multi-language support. For a broader look at what AI can do for your social workflow, see our roundup of AI social media tools.
Analytics & Reporting
| Feature | Hootsuite | SocialPilot |
|---|---|---|
| Basic analytics | All plans | All plans |
| Custom reports | Advanced only (€399/mo/user) | No |
| White label reports | No | Premium+ ($100/mo) |
| Competitor benchmarking | Yes (5-20 competitors) | No |
| Export reports | Advanced only | Yes |
Winner: Depends on your needs. Hootsuite offers deeper analytics with competitor benchmarking and custom reports — but only on the €399/user Advanced plan. SocialPilot's white label reports at $100/month serve agencies better for client-facing deliverables. For more options, explore our guide to social media reporting tools.
Team Collaboration
| Feature | Hootsuite | SocialPilot |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple users | All plans (per-user pricing) | Standard+ (3-unlimited) |
| Approval workflows | Advanced plan (€399/mo/user) | All plans |
| Client approvals | No | Yes |
| Custom roles | Advanced plan | Premium+ |
| Employee advocacy | Yes (Amplify) | No |
Winner: SocialPilot — client approval workflows on all plans at a fraction of the cost. Hootsuite gates approval workflows behind the €399/user Advanced plan. Hootsuite wins only on employee advocacy with Amplify.
Social Inbox & Engagement
| Feature | Hootsuite | SocialPilot |
|---|---|---|
| Unified inbox | Yes (all plans) | Standard+ ($50/mo) |
| Social listening | Yes (Advanced+) | No |
| Brand monitoring | Yes (7-30 day lookback) | No |
| DM assignment | Yes | No |
| Auto-responses | Advanced plan | No |
| Review management | No | Yes |
Winner: Hootsuite — the unified inbox, social listening, and brand monitoring are genuine enterprise advantages. SocialPilot's social inbox is functional but basic, and it lacks any social listening capability.
Platform Support
| Platform | Hootsuite | SocialPilot |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | Yes | |
| Yes | Yes | |
| X/Twitter | Yes | Yes |
| Yes | Yes | |
| TikTok | Yes | Yes |
| YouTube | Yes | Yes |
| Yes | Yes | |
| Threads | Yes | Yes |
| Bluesky | No | Yes |
| Google Business | No | Yes |
| VK | No | Yes |
Winner: SocialPilot — supports 11 platforms vs Hootsuite's 8+. SocialPilot includes Bluesky, Google Business Profile, and VK, which Hootsuite does not.
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.
SocialPilot Reviews
G2: 4.5/5 (841 reviews) — Users appreciate the bulk scheduling, multi-account management, and agency-friendly features. Top complaints include limited analytics depth and occasional bugs.
Trustpilot: 2.4/5 (33 reviews) — Small review base with complaints about customer support responsiveness, bugs, and billing issues.
Review Verdict
SocialPilot scores higher on both G2 (4.5 vs 4.3) and Trustpilot (2.4 vs 1.8). However, Hootsuite has a far larger review base on G2 (6,615 vs 841) and Trustpilot (511 vs 33), giving its scores more statistical weight. Both platforms have customer support concerns on Trustpilot. 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, Loomly, and Agorapulse. In the Hootsuite or SocialPilot debate, Hootsuite's edge is its enterprise feature set — our guide to social media marketing strategy explains when those advanced tools justify the premium.
Hootsuite is the better choice if you:
- Need social listening and brand monitoring as core features
- Want a unified inbox with DM assignment and auto-responses
- Need competitor benchmarking across 5-20 competitors
- Require employee advocacy tools (Amplify)
- Have the budget for €149-399/user/month enterprise pricing
Who Should Use SocialPilot?
If SocialPilot is on your shortlist, you may also want to see our top alternatives to SocialPilot before committing. Also compare SocialPilot with Buffer, Sprout Social, Later, and Loomly. SocialPilot is a strong pick for agencies that need volume scheduling at affordable rates — our social media management for agencies guide covers what to look for.
SocialPilot is the better choice if you:
- Run an agency on a budget managing multiple client accounts
- Need bulk scheduling for high-volume publishing (up to 500 posts)
- Want white label reports for branded client deliverables
- Need client approval workflows without enterprise pricing
- Want broader platform support including Bluesky, Google Business, and VK
Final Verdict
Hootsuite is the better choice if you need social listening, competitor benchmarking, and a full unified inbox with DM assignment — and your budget supports €149-399/month per user for enterprise-grade features.
SocialPilot is the better choice if you run an agency managing multiple clients and need bulk scheduling, white-label reports, and client approval workflows at a fraction of Hootsuite's cost.
For most agencies and multi-client teams, SocialPilot delivers 80-90% of the core functionality at a dramatically lower price point. If neither tool fully meets your needs, PostPlanify offers AI-powered scheduling with unlimited team members and no per-user pricing — see how it compares.
Enterprise Power at a Fraction of the Price
Hootsuite starts at €149/user. SocialPilot starts at $30/mo but caps your accounts. PostPlanify includes the tools both offer — AI captions, team workflows, bulk scheduling — without per-user or per-account fees.
| Feature | Hootsuite | SocialPilot | PostPlanify |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | €149/mo/user | $30/mo (7 accounts) | $19/mo flat |
| Unlimited Accounts | €399/mo/user (50) | $200/mo (50 accounts) | $99/mo (Premium) |
| AI Caption Generation | Yes | Yes (credit-based) | Yes (unlimited) |
| AI Image Generation | No | No | Yes |
| Canva Integration | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Google Drive Import | No | No | Yes |
| Approval Workflows | €399/mo/user | All plans | $99/mo (Premium) |
| Social Listening | Advanced+ | No | No |
| Platforms Supported | 8+ | 11 | 9 |
PostPlanify starts at $19/month (Starter, 3 accounts) with unlimited scheduling and AI tools included. Growth at $39/month covers 10 accounts. Premium at $99/month includes unlimited accounts, unlimited team members, and approval workflows. See all plans on the PostPlanify pricing page.
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FAQ
Is SocialPilot cheaper than Hootsuite?
Yes, significantly. SocialPilot's most expensive plan (Ultimate at $200/month for 50 accounts and unlimited users) costs less than a single Hootsuite Standard user at €149/month. For agencies on a budget, SocialPilot is the far more affordable option.
Does Hootsuite have white label reports?
No. Hootsuite offers custom and scheduled reports on the Advanced plan (€399/mo/user) but does not include white-label branding, which is a significant gap for agencies that need branded client deliverables. SocialPilot offers white label reports starting on the Premium plan at $100/month, making it a far more cost-effective choice for agencies that present reports directly to clients under their own brand.
Which has better social listening — Hootsuite or SocialPilot?
Hootsuite wins by default — SocialPilot does not offer social listening at all. Hootsuite includes basic brand monitoring on the Standard plan (€149/mo/user) with a 7-day lookback window, and deeper social listening on the Advanced plan (€399/mo/user) with a 30-day lookback. If social listening is essential to your strategy but Hootsuite's pricing is too steep, consider pairing SocialPilot with a dedicated listening tool like Mention or Brand24.
Can I switch from Hootsuite to SocialPilot?
Yes. You can reconnect your social accounts to SocialPilot and start scheduling right away. SocialPilot supports bulk importing up to 500 posts via CSV, which makes migrating existing content calendars straightforward. The main features you will lose are social listening, DM assignment, and competitor benchmarking. Plan the transition during a low-volume period and allow time to rebuild any saved templates or recurring post schedules.
Which supports more social media platforms?
SocialPilot supports 11 platforms including Bluesky, Google Business Profile, and VK — three networks Hootsuite does not cover. Hootsuite supports 8+ platforms with deeper integrations on major networks, particularly for inbox management and social listening. If your agency manages clients on niche platforms, SocialPilot's broader coverage gives it a clear edge. Hootsuite's integrations tend to go deeper on the platforms it does support.
Is Hootsuite worth the price over SocialPilot?
Only if you need social listening, competitor benchmarking, or employee advocacy — features SocialPilot lacks entirely. For core scheduling, team collaboration, and client management, SocialPilot delivers comparable functionality at 80-90% less cost.
Does SocialPilot have a unified inbox?
Yes, starting on the Standard plan at $50/month. SocialPilot's inbox lets you manage comments and messages across connected platforms in one place, which is sufficient for most agency workflows. However, it is more basic than Hootsuite's inbox, which includes DM assignment, auto-responses, saved replies, and deeper integration with social listening data. If inbox management is your top priority, Hootsuite offers a more robust solution — though at a significantly higher price point.
Which is better for agencies — Hootsuite or SocialPilot?
SocialPilot is purpose-built for agencies with white label reports, client approval workflows, and bulk scheduling at affordable prices. Hootsuite offers more enterprise features but at 3-10x the cost. Most agencies choose SocialPilot unless they specifically need social listening or compliance tools.
Is SocialPilot worth it in 2026?
SocialPilot remains one of the best value picks for agencies in 2026, especially for teams managing 10+ client accounts on a tight budget. At $30/month for the Essentials plan, it offers unlimited scheduling, a content library, and basic analytics. The Premium plan at $100/month adds white-label reports and client approvals — features that would cost €399/month per user on Hootsuite. The main limitation is the lack of social listening and competitor benchmarking, which may require a separate tool for larger agencies.
What is the best alternative to SocialPilot?
The best SocialPilot alternative depends on what you need most. For a similar agency focus with a broader feature set, Loomly offers strong content calendars and approval workflows. For enterprise features like social listening, Hootsuite is the incumbent — though at a much higher price. For the best overall value with AI tools, unlimited team members, and no per-user fees, PostPlanify starts at just $19/month. See our full list of best social media schedulers to compare all your options.
Does SocialPilot offer a free trial?
Yes. SocialPilot offers a 14-day free trial with access to all features, no credit card required. This gives you enough time to test bulk scheduling, the content calendar, client approval workflows, and analytics before committing to a paid plan. Hootsuite also offers a free trial (30 days), but neither platform has a permanent free plan. If you need a free option long-term, consider tools like PostPlanify or Buffer that offer free tiers.
