Hootsuite or Vista Social — this is a direct enterprise-vs-enterprise comparison. Both platforms target large agencies and teams with similar feature sets: scheduling, inbox management, social listening, team collaboration, and reporting. The difference is trajectory. Hootsuite is the established legacy player with 17 years of market presence. Vista Social is the modern challenger with higher user ratings, broader platform coverage, and aggressive feature development.
This Hootsuite vs Vista Social comparison breaks down the real differences in 2026. Below is our honest take — where each tool excels, where it falls short, and which one delivers more for your team. Jump to pricing comparison or feature comparison, or browse all social media scheduling alternatives.
Hootsuite vs Vista Social at a Glance
Here's a quick side-by-side overview before we dive deeper:
| Category | Hootsuite | Vista Social |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | EUR 149/mo per user | $79/mo (3 users, 15 profiles) |
| Free Plan | No (30-day trial) | No (14-day trial) |
| Platforms Supported | 8+ | 12+ social + 5 review sites |
| Unlimited Scheduling | Yes (all plans) | Yes (all plans) |
| AI Tools | OwlyWriter AI (captions + images) | AI Assistant (500-unlimited credits) |
| AI Image Generation | Yes | No |
| DM Automations | No | Yes |
| Review Management | No | Yes (all plans) |
| Social Listening | Yes (Advanced+) | Yes ($75/mo add-on) |
| Employee Advocacy | Yes (Amplify) | Yes ($199/mo add-on) |
| Unified Inbox | Yes | Yes |
| X/Twitter Support | Included | Paid add-on |
| G2 Rating | 4.3/5 (6,615 reviews) | 4.8/5 (1,071 reviews) |
| Trustpilot Rating | 1.8/5 (511 reviews) | 4.1/5 (62 reviews) |
| Best For | Established enterprises | Agencies, growing enterprises |
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 longevity is both its strength and its challenge. It has deeper integrations with enterprise tools like Salesforce, mature social listening capabilities with up to 30-day lookback windows, and the Amplify employee advocacy tool built in (not as a paid add-on). Its OwlyWriter AI generates both captions and images. However, its interface shows its age, its per-user pricing has become increasingly expensive, and newer competitors have caught up on features while charging less. Read real user reviews of Hootsuite from G2 and Trustpilot.
Vista Social Overview
Vista Social is a modern social media management platform that has rapidly gained traction with agencies and growing enterprises. It supports 12+ social platforms plus 5 review sites — one of the broadest platform coverages in the market. Social platforms include Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, Threads, Reddit, Bluesky, and more. Review sites include Google Business, Yelp, TripAdvisor, Trustpilot, and OpenTable.
What sets Vista Social apart is the combination of breadth and modernity. It includes DM automations for streamlining customer conversations, built-in review management across 5 platforms, an AI assistant with credit-based usage, and a unified inbox. Social listening and employee advocacy are available as paid add-ons ($75/month and $199/month respectively). One notable caveat: X (Twitter) support requires a paid add-on due to API costs — a consideration for teams that rely heavily on X. See what users say about Vista Social on G2 and Trustpilot.
Pricing Comparison
Both tools target enterprise and agency budgets, but their pricing structures differ significantly. Hootsuite charges per user; Vista Social bundles users and profiles into plan tiers.
Hootsuite Pricing
Hootsuite uses per-user pricing in euros. See the full Hootsuite pricing breakdown for details.
| Plan | Price | Accounts | Users | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | EUR 149/mo per user | 10 | 1 | Scheduling, basic analytics, 7-day monitoring |
| Advanced | EUR 399/mo per user | 50 | 1 | Custom reports, approval workflows, 30-day monitoring, bulk scheduling |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom | Custom | SSO, unlimited users, dedicated support |
Example costs:
- 1 user on Standard = EUR 149/month
- 3 users on Standard = EUR 447/month
- 3 users on Advanced = EUR 1,197/month
Vista Social Pricing
Vista Social uses plan-based pricing that bundles profiles, users, and AI credits. We break this down further in our Vista Social pricing guide.
| Plan | Price | Profiles | Users | AI Credits | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professional | $79/mo | 15 | 3 | 500/mo | Scheduling, inbox, review management, basic analytics |
| Advanced | $149/mo | 30 | 6 | 1,000/mo | Custom reports, approval workflows, advanced analytics |
| Scale | $379/mo | 70 | 10 | Unlimited | White-label reports, priority support, advanced permissions |
Add-on costs:
- Social listening: $75/month
- Employee advocacy: $199/month
- X (Twitter) support: paid add-on (price varies)
Example costs:
- 3 users, 15 profiles on Professional = $79/month
- 6 users, 30 profiles on Advanced = $149/month
- 6 users on Advanced + listening + X = ~$250-275/month
Price Verdict
Vista Social delivers significantly more value per dollar at the team level. Three users on Hootsuite Standard cost EUR 447/month for 10 accounts. Three users on Vista Social Professional cost $79/month for 15 profiles. Even when you add social listening ($75/month) and X/Twitter support, Vista Social remains substantially less expensive. However, Hootsuite's pricing includes X/Twitter by default and bakes listening into the Advanced plan — no add-on math required. For teams that need listening and X support, factor in Vista Social's add-on costs for an accurate comparison.
Feature Comparison
Scheduling & Publishing
| Feature | Hootsuite | Vista Social |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited scheduling | Yes (all plans) | Yes (all plans) |
| Bulk scheduling | Up to 350 posts (Advanced) | Yes (CSV import) |
| Best time to post | Yes | Yes |
| Content calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Post queue management | Yes | Yes |
| Draft saving | Yes | Yes |
| First comment scheduling | No | Yes |
| RSS auto-publishing | No | Yes |
Winner: Vista Social — includes first comment scheduling, RSS auto-publishing, and CSV bulk scheduling on all plans. Hootsuite limits bulk scheduling to the Advanced tier (EUR 399/month per user). Both offer unlimited scheduling, but Vista Social's publishing features are more complete at a lower price point.
AI Tools
| Feature | Hootsuite | Vista Social |
|---|---|---|
| AI caption generation | Yes (OwlyWriter AI) | Yes (AI Assistant) |
| AI image generation | Yes | No |
| AI hashtag suggestions | Yes | Yes |
| AI post enhancement | Yes | Yes |
| AI credits system | No (included) | Yes (500-unlimited/mo) |
| DM automations | No | Yes |
Winner: Tie. Hootsuite wins on AI image generation, which Vista Social lacks entirely. Vista Social counters with DM automations — automated responses and workflows for customer conversations that go beyond what Hootsuite offers. Hootsuite's AI is unlimited; Vista Social uses a credit system (500-1,000 credits on lower plans). The right choice depends on whether you value AI image creation or automated DM workflows more.
Analytics & Reporting
| Feature | Hootsuite | Vista Social |
|---|---|---|
| Basic analytics | All plans | All plans |
| Custom reports | Advanced only | Advanced+ |
| Competitor benchmarking | Yes (5-20 competitors) | Yes |
| White-label reports | Enterprise only | Scale plan ($379/mo) |
| Review analytics | No | Yes (all plans) |
| Export/schedule reports | Advanced only | Advanced+ |
Winner: Tie. Hootsuite has deeper competitor benchmarking with configurable competitor counts and longer monitoring windows. Vista Social includes review analytics across 5 platforms (Google Business, Yelp, TripAdvisor, Trustpilot, OpenTable) — a capability Hootsuite does not have. White-label reporting is available on both, though at enterprise-tier pricing. The winner depends on whether you need review analytics or deeper competitive intelligence.
Team Collaboration
| Feature | Hootsuite | Vista Social |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple users | All paid plans (1 per seat) | 3-10 users included |
| Approval workflows | Advanced plan (EUR 399/mo) | Advanced plan ($149/mo) |
| User permissions | Advanced plan | All plans |
| DM assignment | Yes | Yes |
| Saved replies | Advanced plan | Yes (all plans) |
| Internal notes | Yes | Yes |
Winner: Vista Social — includes 3 users on the $79/month Professional plan, while Hootsuite charges EUR 149/month per individual user. Vista Social also includes user permissions and saved replies on all plans; Hootsuite locks these behind the Advanced tier. Approval workflows are available on both at their Advanced tiers, but Vista Social's Advanced ($149/month for 6 users) is dramatically less expensive than Hootsuite's (EUR 399/month per user).
Platform Support
| Platform | Hootsuite | Vista Social |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | Yes | |
| Yes | Yes | |
| Yes | Yes | |
| TikTok | Yes | Yes |
| YouTube | Yes | Yes |
| Yes | Yes | |
| Threads | Yes | Yes |
| X/Twitter | Yes (included) | Paid add-on |
| No | Yes | |
| Bluesky | No | Yes |
| Google Business | No | Yes |
| Yelp | No | Yes (reviews) |
| TripAdvisor | No | Yes (reviews) |
| Trustpilot | No | Yes (reviews) |
| OpenTable | No | Yes (reviews) |
Winner: Vista Social — supports 12+ social platforms and 5 review sites compared to Hootsuite's 8+. Vista Social covers Reddit, Bluesky, and Google Business Profile, which Hootsuite does not. However, Vista Social charges extra for X (Twitter) support, which is a significant caveat for teams that rely on X as a core channel. If X is essential to your workflow, factor in the additional cost.
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.
Vista Social Reviews
G2: 4.8/5 (1,071 reviews) — One of the highest-rated social media management tools on G2. Users praise the modern interface, feature breadth relative to pricing, responsive customer support, and the range of platforms supported. Common complaints include the credit-based AI system, the X (Twitter) add-on cost, and occasional UX complexity for new users.
Trustpilot: 4.1/5 (62 reviews) — Solid rating with users highlighting the platform's value proposition and customer support. The review count is smaller than Hootsuite's (62 vs 511), but the sentiment is significantly more positive.
Review Verdict
Vista Social leads on both platforms. G2: 4.8 vs 4.3 — a substantial gap, especially with 1,071 reviews behind Vista Social's score. Trustpilot: 4.1 vs 1.8 — the difference is stark, though Hootsuite's larger review base (511 vs 62) amplifies the volume of complaints about billing and cancellation issues. Vista Social's newer market presence may contribute to its higher scores — it has had fewer years to accumulate frustrated users. Review counts are as of February 2026 and are updated periodically.
Who Should Use Hootsuite?
Is Hootsuite better than Vista Social for established enterprises? It depends on your infrastructure and priorities. 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 deep social listening with up to 30-day lookback windows baked into the plan (no add-on)
- Rely heavily on X (Twitter) and want it included in your base plan without add-on fees
- Require Salesforce integration for connecting social data to your CRM
- Want employee advocacy (Amplify) included rather than as a paid add-on
- Need AI image generation alongside caption generation (OwlyWriter AI)
- Are an established enterprise with existing Hootsuite workflows, integrations, and team training
- Prefer a proven, long-standing vendor with 17 years of enterprise track record
Who Should Use Vista Social?
Is Vista Social better than Hootsuite for modern agencies? For many, yes. If Vista Social sounds right, check out our best alternatives to Vista Social for other options. Also compare Vista Social with Buffer, Sprout Social, and Agorapulse.
Vista Social is the better choice if you:
- Manage clients across 12+ social platforms including Reddit, Bluesky, and Google Business
- Need review management across Google Business, Yelp, TripAdvisor, Trustpilot, and OpenTable
- Want DM automations for streamlining customer conversations at scale
- Are a growing agency that needs 3-10 users and 15-70 profiles without per-user pricing
- Value a modern interface and responsive customer support (4.8/5 on G2)
- Need approval workflows and saved replies at a lower price point than Hootsuite
- Want to manage multiple social media accounts with broad platform coverage and team tools
Full-Featured Scheduling Without Enterprise Pricing or Add-On Math
Both Hootsuite and Vista Social are powerful platforms — but both involve tradeoffs. Hootsuite's per-user pricing escalates fast. Vista Social's add-ons for listening, advocacy, and X (Twitter) can push costs higher than the base price suggests. PostPlanify offers a simpler proposition: flat pricing, unlimited scheduling, unlimited AI tools, and no add-on surprises.
| Feature | Hootsuite | Vista Social | PostPlanify |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | EUR 149/mo/user | $79/mo (3 users) | $19/mo flat |
| Unlimited Accounts | EUR 399/mo/user (50) | $379/mo (70 profiles) | $99/mo (Premium) |
| AI Caption Generation | Yes (OwlyWriter) | Yes (credit-based) | Yes (unlimited) |
| AI Image Generation | Yes | No | Yes (7 models) |
| Canva Integration | Yes | No | Yes |
| Google Drive Import | No | No | Yes |
| Approval Workflows | EUR 399/mo/user | $149/mo (6 users) | $99/mo (Premium) |
| Unlimited Team Members | Enterprise only | Scale ($379/mo, 10 max) | $99/mo (Premium) |
| Social Listening | Yes (Advanced+) | $75/mo add-on | No |
| Review Management | No | Yes (all plans) | No |
| DM Automations | No | Yes | No |
| X/Twitter Support | Included | Paid add-on | Included |
| Platforms Supported | 8+ | 12+ social + 5 review | 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, analytics, and a link-in-bio builder. If you need social listening, Hootsuite bakes it in. If you need review management and 17+ platforms, Vista Social is unmatched. But for teams that primarily need scheduling, AI-powered content creation, and team collaboration with predictable pricing — PostPlanify delivers without per-user fees or add-on complexity. See all plans on the PostPlanify pricing page.
See PostPlanify in action — start free
FAQ
Is Vista Social really better than Hootsuite?
It depends on your team's needs. Vista Social has a significantly higher G2 rating (4.8 vs 4.3), supports more platforms (12+ vs 8+), and offers better value for multi-user teams with bundled pricing. Hootsuite has deeper social listening, Salesforce integration, AI image generation, and 17 years of enterprise reliability. Vista Social is better for agencies needing broad platform coverage and modern features. Hootsuite is better for enterprises needing deep listening and established vendor stability.
Does Vista Social charge extra for X (Twitter)?
Yes. Vista Social requires a paid add-on for X (Twitter) support due to X's API pricing changes. Hootsuite includes X/Twitter in all plans at no additional cost. If X is a core channel for your team, factor this add-on into Vista Social's total cost. This is one of the most common complaints about Vista Social's pricing model.
Which has better social listening — Hootsuite or Vista Social?
Hootsuite has more mature social listening with up to 30-day lookback windows included in the Advanced plan (EUR 399/month per user). Vista Social offers listening as a $75/month add-on. Hootsuite's listening capabilities are deeper, with longer monitoring history and more sophisticated sentiment tracking. If social listening is central to your strategy, Hootsuite currently has the edge — though Vista Social's add-on is significantly less expensive as an entry point for teams exploring listening.
Can Vista Social replace Hootsuite for agencies?
For many agencies, yes. Vista Social supports more platforms, includes review management, offers DM automations, and bundles 3-10 users into plan pricing instead of charging per user. Agencies that primarily need scheduling, inbox management, and client reporting can often switch without losing critical functionality. The main gaps would be AI image generation, deep social listening (unless you add it at $75/month), Salesforce integration, and X/Twitter (unless you pay the add-on). Evaluate whether those specific features justify Hootsuite's per-user cost for your team.
Which supports more social media platforms?
Vista Social supports 12+ social platforms plus 5 review sites (Google Business, Yelp, TripAdvisor, Trustpilot, OpenTable). Hootsuite supports 8+ social platforms. Vista Social covers Reddit, Bluesky, and Google Business Profile, which Hootsuite does not. However, Hootsuite includes X (Twitter) in all plans, while Vista Social charges extra for it. For agencies managing diverse client portfolios across many platforms, Vista Social's coverage is a clear advantage.
Is Vista Social good for small teams?
Yes. Vista Social's Professional plan at $79/month includes 3 users and 15 profiles, making it accessible for small-to-mid teams. However, smaller teams with simpler needs (fewer platforms, no review management, no DM automations) may find the pricing excessive compared to lighter tools. For teams of 1-3 people focused on scheduling social media posts and AI content creation, tools like PostPlanify at $19-39/month may be more appropriate.
What is the biggest difference between Hootsuite and Vista Social?
The biggest difference is their approach to pricing and platform coverage. Hootsuite charges per user (EUR 149-399/month each) with features included in tiers. Vista Social bundles users into plans ($79-379/month) but charges separately for social listening ($75/month), employee advocacy ($199/month), and X/Twitter support. Hootsuite is a legacy enterprise tool with deep integrations; Vista Social is a modern challenger with broader platform support and higher user satisfaction scores.
What is the best alternative to both Hootsuite and Vista Social?
If neither fits your workflow or budget, PostPlanify offers unlimited scheduling, AI caption and image generation, Canva integration, Google Drive import, and team collaboration starting at $19/month flat — no per-user fees or add-on complexity. Other strong alternatives include Buffer for simplicity, Agorapulse for inbox management, and Metricool for analytics. Browse all alternatives to find the best fit for your team.
