Hootsuite and Sprout Social are the two biggest enterprise-grade social media management platforms. Both target larger teams and agencies — and both charge premium prices for it.
In this comparison, we break down Hootsuite vs Sprout Social across pricing, features, platform support, user reviews, and real-world fit — so you can decide which one is worth the investment. Looking at more tools? Browse all social media scheduling alternatives.
Hootsuite vs Sprout Social at a Glance
Here's a quick side-by-side overview before we dive deeper:
| Category | Hootsuite | Sprout Social |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | €149/mo per user | $199/mo per seat |
| Free Plan | No (30-day trial) | No (30-day trial) |
| Platforms Supported | 8+ | 8+ |
| Unlimited Scheduling | Yes (all plans) | Yes (Professional+) |
| AI Tools | OwlyWriter AI | AI Assist |
| Bulk Scheduling | Up to 350 posts (Advanced) | No |
| Team Collaboration | Advanced plan (€399/mo/user) | All plans |
| Approval Workflows | Advanced plan only | Advanced plan only |
| Social Inbox | Full unified inbox | Smart Inbox |
| Social Listening | Yes (Advanced+) | Yes (add-on) |
| Analytics | Standard to Custom reports | Group to Custom reports |
| Competitor Benchmarking | Yes (5-20 competitors) | Yes (Professional+) |
| G2 Rating | 4.3/5 (6,615 reviews) | 4.4/5 (5,731 reviews) |
| Trustpilot Rating | 1.8/5 (511 reviews) | 2.2/5 (75 reviews) |
| Best For | Mid-size teams, agencies | Enterprises, customer care 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 built for mid-size teams and agencies that need social listening, structured workflows, and broad platform coverage. Read real user reviews of Hootsuite from G2 and Trustpilot.
Sprout Social Overview
Sprout Social is an enterprise-focused social media management platform known for its deep analytics, customer care workflows, and polished interface. It combines publishing, engagement, analytics, and listening into a unified platform.
Sprout Social supports 8+ platforms: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, X/Twitter, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, and Threads.
Key features:
- Smart Inbox with sentiment analysis
- AI Assist for text and reply generation
- Advanced analytics with custom reports
- Competitor and paid insights (Professional+)
- Team productivity and customer care reports
- Review management
- API and helpdesk integrations (Advanced+)
Sprout Social targets enterprises and customer care teams that need deep reporting, sentiment tools, and structured collaboration. See what users say about Sprout Social on G2 and Trustpilot.
Pricing Comparison
Pricing is steep on both sides. Both use per-user/per-seat models, making them among the most expensive scheduling tools on the market.
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, 30-day monitoring, bulk scheduling |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom | SSO, unlimited users, dedicated support |
Example costs:
- 1 user on Standard = €149/month
- 3 users on Advanced = €1,197/month
- 5 users on Standard = €745/month
Sprout Social Pricing
Sprout Social uses per-seat pricing in USD. We break this down further in our Sprout Social pricing guide.
| Plan | Price | Social Profiles | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | $199/mo per seat | 5 | Keyword monitoring, AI text, review management |
| Professional | $299/mo per seat | Unlimited | Message tagging, competitor insights, paid insights |
| Advanced | $399/mo per seat | Unlimited | Sentiment analysis, API, helpdesk integrations, spike alerts |
| Enterprise | Custom | Unlimited | White-glove onboarding, SSO, priority support |
Example costs:
- 1 seat on Standard = $199/month
- 3 seats on Professional = $897/month
- 5 seats on Advanced = $1,995/month
Price Verdict
Both are expensive. Hootsuite starts slightly lower at €149/user vs Sprout Social's $199/seat, but once you need advanced features (approval workflows, custom reports, sentiment), both jump to the $399/seat range. Sprout Social's per-seat pricing scales more aggressively — a 5-person team on Advanced pays nearly $2,000/month.
Neither tool has a free plan. Both offer 30-day trials.
Feature Comparison
Scheduling & Publishing
| Feature | Hootsuite | Sprout Social |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited scheduling | Yes (all plans) | Yes (all plans) |
| Bulk scheduling | Up to 350 posts (Advanced) | No |
| Best time to post | Yes | Yes (Optimal Send Times) |
| Content calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Post queue management | Yes | Yes |
| Draft saving | Yes | Yes |
| First comment scheduling | No | No |
Winner: Hootsuite — bulk scheduling up to 350 posts gives it an edge for high-volume teams. Sprout Social doesn't offer bulk scheduling.
AI Tools
| Feature | Hootsuite | Sprout Social |
|---|---|---|
| AI caption generation | Yes (OwlyWriter AI) | Yes (AI Assist) |
| AI image generation | No | No |
| AI reply suggestions | No | Yes (Advanced - Enhance Reply) |
| AI post enhancement | Yes | Yes (Enhance Post) |
Winner: Sprout Social — AI Assist includes reply enhancement on the Advanced plan, which is useful for customer care teams. Hootsuite's OwlyWriter covers captions and images but not replies.
Analytics & Reporting
| Feature | Hootsuite | Sprout Social |
|---|---|---|
| Basic analytics | All plans | All plans |
| Custom reports | Advanced only | Advanced only |
| Competitor benchmarking | Yes (5-20 competitors) | Yes (Professional+) |
| Paid ad insights | No | Yes (Professional+) |
| Export/schedule reports | Advanced only | Advanced only |
| Customer care reports | No | Yes (Advanced) |
| Team productivity reports | No | Yes (Advanced) |
Winner: Sprout Social — deeper reporting options including paid insights, customer care metrics, and team productivity tracking. However, both lock the best analytics behind expensive plans.
Team Collaboration
| Feature | Hootsuite | Sprout Social |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple users | All paid plans | All plans |
| Approval workflows | Advanced plan | Advanced plan |
| User permissions | Advanced plan | Professional+ |
| DM assignment | Yes | Yes |
| Saved replies | Advanced plan | No |
| Message tagging | No | Yes (Professional+) |
Winner: Tie. Both offer strong team features at similar price points. Hootsuite has saved replies; Sprout Social has message tagging and slightly broader permissions on lower plans.
Social Inbox & Engagement
| Feature | Hootsuite | Sprout Social |
|---|---|---|
| Unified inbox | Yes | Yes (Smart Inbox) |
| Social listening | Yes (Advanced+) | Yes (add-on) |
| Sentiment analysis | Yes | Yes (Advanced) |
| Brand monitoring | Yes (7-30 day lookback) | Yes (keyword + location) |
| Auto-responses | Advanced plan | No |
| Message spike alerts | No | Yes (Advanced) |
| Review management | No | Yes (all plans) |
Winner: Tie. Hootsuite has stronger listening with longer lookback windows and auto-responses. Sprout Social counters with review management, spike alerts, and sentiment built into the inbox.
Platform Support
| Platform | Hootsuite | Sprout Social |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | Yes | |
| Yes | Yes | |
| X/Twitter | Yes | Yes |
| Yes | Yes | |
| TikTok | Yes | Yes |
| YouTube | Yes | Yes |
| Yes | Yes | |
| Threads | Yes | Yes |
Winner: Tie. Both support the same core platforms.
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.
Sprout Social Reviews
G2: 4.4/5 (5,731 reviews) — Users praise the ease of use, post scheduling, and analytics. Top complaints include missing features on lower plans, expensive pricing, and limited features for the cost.
Trustpilot: 2.2/5 (75 reviews) — Low rating with complaints about aggressive sales tactics, rising prices, and the tool feeling outdated relative to newer alternatives.
Review Verdict
Sprout Social edges ahead on G2 (4.4 vs 4.3) with a large review base (5,731 reviews). Both score poorly on Trustpilot — Hootsuite at 1.8/5 and Sprout Social at 2.2/5 — suggesting billing and support issues are widespread across both platforms.
Who Should Use Hootsuite?
If Hootsuite is on your shortlist, you may also want to see our top alternatives to Hootsuite before committing.
Hootsuite is the better choice if you:
- Need bulk scheduling for high-volume content operations
- Want social listening with longer lookback windows (up to 30 days)
- Prefer auto-responses and saved replies in your inbox
- Need employee advocacy tools (Amplify)
- Want slightly lower entry pricing than Sprout Social
Who Should Use Sprout Social?
If Sprout Social sounds right, check out our best alternatives to Sprout Social for other options.
Sprout Social is the better choice if you:
- Run a customer care team that needs sentiment analysis and care reports
- Need review management built into the platform
- Want paid ad insights alongside organic analytics
- Need team productivity reporting and message spike alerts
- Prefer a more polished, modern interface
A Better Alternative to Both
If both Hootsuite and Sprout Social feel overpriced for what your team actually needs, there's a middle ground.
PostPlanify gives you the scheduling, AI tools, and team features that matter most — at a flat monthly rate with no per-user fees.
| Feature | Hootsuite | Sprout Social | PostPlanify |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | €149/mo/user | $199/mo/seat | $19/mo flat |
| Unlimited Accounts | €399/mo/user | $299/mo/seat | $99/mo (Premium) |
| AI Caption Generation | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| AI Image Generation | No | No | Yes |
| Canva Integration | Yes | No | Yes |
| Google Drive Import | No | No | Yes |
| Approval Workflows | €399/mo/user | $399/mo/seat | $99/mo (Premium) |
| Unlimited Team Members | Enterprise only | Enterprise only | $99/mo (Premium) |
| Platforms Supported | 8+ | 8+ | 9 |
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 both Hootsuite and Sprout Social. See all plans on the PostPlanify pricing page.
FAQ
Is Hootsuite or Sprout Social cheaper?
Hootsuite starts at €149/month per user while Sprout Social starts at $199/month per seat. Hootsuite has a lower entry price, but both become very expensive as you add team members. Neither offers a free plan.
Which has better analytics — Hootsuite or Sprout Social?
Sprout Social has more advanced analytics with paid insights, customer care reports, team productivity tracking, and message spike alerts. Hootsuite offers solid competitor benchmarking and custom reports on the Advanced plan. For most teams, Sprout Social's analytics are deeper.
Does Sprout Social have social listening?
Yes, but it's available as an add-on powered by Talkwalker, not included in base plans. Hootsuite includes basic listening (brand and competitor monitoring) in all plans, with deeper listening on Advanced.
Can I switch from Hootsuite to Sprout Social?
Yes. You can reconnect your social accounts to Sprout Social and start scheduling. Both platforms support the same core networks. The transition involves reconfiguring your inbox, analytics, and team permissions.
Which is easier to use — Hootsuite or Sprout Social?
Sprout Social is generally considered to have a more polished, modern interface. Hootsuite's interface can feel cluttered due to its broad feature set. Both have a learning curve compared to simpler scheduling tools.
Is Hootsuite or Sprout Social better for agencies?
It depends on the agency. Hootsuite's bulk scheduling, employee advocacy, and Salesforce integration suit agencies managing many accounts at scale. Sprout Social's customer care tools and message tagging suit agencies focused on engagement and client reporting. Both are expensive for multi-seat agency teams — PostPlanify offers a more affordable option.
Which supports more social media platforms?
Both support the same 8+ platforms: Instagram, Facebook, X/Twitter, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, and Threads. Neither supports Bluesky, Mastodon, or Google Business Profile.
Are there cheaper alternatives to both Hootsuite and Sprout Social?
Yes. Tools like PostPlanify offer scheduling, AI tools, team collaboration, and analytics starting at $19/month with no per-user fees — a fraction of what either Hootsuite or Sprout Social charge.
