Metricool and Vista Social are both well-regarded in the social media management space, but comparing them directly is a bit like comparing a Swiss Army knife to a power drill. Metricool is an analytics-first platform that gives individual marketers and small agencies a data-rich view across 13 platforms, with ad tracking and competitor monitoring built in. Vista Social is an enterprise management platform that layers DM automations, review management, social listening, and employee advocacy on top of its scheduling and analytics core. They serve different scales, different budgets, and different operational realities.
The question is not which tool is objectively better — it is which one matches your operational complexity. A solo marketer managing three brand accounts does not need DM automation workflows. A 50-person agency managing client reputations across social and review sites does not want to cobble that together from separate tools. Jump to pricing or features for the detailed breakdown, or browse our complete social media management alternatives directory.
Metricool vs Vista Social at a Glance
| Feature | Metricool | Vista Social |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | Free (1 brand, 50 posts/mo) | $79/mo (15 profiles, 3 users) |
| Free Plan | Yes | No |
| Platforms Supported | 13 social | 12+ social + 5 review sites |
| AI Caption Generation | Yes (all plans) | Yes (credit-based) |
| AI Image Generation | No | No |
| Competitor Tracking | Yes | Yes |
| DM Automations | No | Yes |
| Review Management | No | Yes (17+ sites) |
| Social Listening | No | Yes ($75/mo add-on) |
| Employee Advocacy | No | Yes ($199/mo add-on) |
| Ad Campaign Analytics | Yes (Google + Meta) | No |
| Link-in-Bio | SmartLinks | Yes |
| Hashtag Tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Looker Studio Integration | Yes | No |
| G2 Rating | 4.5/5 (363 reviews) | 4.8/5 (1,071 reviews) |
Metricool Overview
Metricool is built around analytics. Every feature — from scheduling to competitor tracking to the AI caption assistant — feeds into a data-driven workflow where you measure, optimize, and report. The platform supports 13 social networks, which is one of the widest platform counts in the industry, and uniquely integrates Google Ads and Meta Ads tracking so you can see paid and organic performance side by side. The Looker Studio integration lets agencies build fully customized client dashboards.
Where Metricool excels is accessibility. The free plan is not a stripped-down demo — it includes real analytics, the AI assistant, and scheduling for 50 posts per month. The paid tiers scale by brand count ($22/mo for 5 brands, $54/mo for 15 brands), which makes it one of the most approachable tools for freelancers and growing agencies. The tradeoff is that Metricool does not extend into enterprise territory — no DM management, no review monitoring, no social listening. It stays in its lane and does that lane well. See our Metricool reviews analysis for more detail.
Vista Social Overview
Vista Social is an enterprise-grade social media management platform that goes well beyond scheduling and analytics. The DM automation feature lets you set up keyword triggers, auto-replies, and conversation routing across platforms. Review management covers 17+ review sites (Google, Yelp, TripAdvisor, and more), letting agencies manage client reputations from the same dashboard they use for social. Social listening is available as a $75/mo add-on, and employee advocacy — turning your team into brand amplifiers — is a $199/mo add-on.
The base platform itself is robust. Vista Social supports 12+ social platforms plus 5 review sites, provides AI caption generation (via a credit system), and includes competitor tracking and analytics. The G2 rating of 4.8/5 from over 1,000 reviews is notably high. The catch is complexity and cost — the entry point is $79/mo, there is no free plan, X (Twitter) integration requires a paid add-on, and the add-on model for listening and advocacy can push monthly costs well above $300. For full details, read our Vista Social reviews.
Pricing Comparison
Metricool Pricing
Metricool keeps pricing simple with brand-based tiers. Full breakdown available in our Metricool pricing guide.
| Plan | Monthly Price | Brands | Posts/Month | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 1 | 50 | Analytics, AI assistant, scheduling |
| Starter | $22/mo | 5 | Unlimited | Competitor tracking, reports |
| Advanced | $54/mo | 15 | Unlimited | Looker Studio, ad analytics |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom | Unlimited | Custom SLA, onboarding |
Managing 5 brands costs $22/mo. Managing 15 brands costs $54/mo. There are no per-profile surcharges, no feature add-ons, and no credit systems. What you see is what you pay.
Vista Social Pricing
Vista Social's pricing reflects its enterprise positioning. See our Vista Social pricing guide for the full picture.
| Plan | Monthly Price | Profiles | Users | AI Credits | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professional | $79/mo | 15 | 3 | 500 | DM automations, review mgmt |
| Advanced | $149/mo | 30 | 6 | 1,000 | Advanced analytics, reports |
| Scale | $379/mo | 70 | 10 | Unlimited | Full feature set, priority support |
Add-ons significantly increase the total cost:
| Add-On | Monthly Price |
|---|---|
| Social Listening | $75/mo |
| Employee Advocacy | $199/mo |
| X (Twitter) Integration | Paid (varies) |
| Additional Profiles | Varies |
An agency on the Advanced plan with social listening and X integration could easily pay $250-$300/mo or more. The Scale plan with all add-ons approaches $650+/mo.
Price Verdict
These tools are in different price universes. Metricool's entire pricing spectrum ($0-$54/mo for most users) fits within Vista Social's entry-level plan ($79/mo). For solo marketers and small agencies, Metricool delivers exceptional value. For enterprises that need DM automations, review management, and social listening in one platform, Vista Social's pricing reflects the breadth of what it provides. The comparison is not about which is more cost-effective — it is about which scale of operations you are running.
Feature Comparison
Scheduling & Publishing
| Capability | Metricool | Vista Social |
|---|---|---|
| Visual Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Auto-Publishing | Yes (13 platforms) | Yes (12+ platforms) |
| Best Time Suggestions | Yes | Yes |
| Bulk Scheduling | Yes | Yes |
| Content Approval Workflows | Limited | Yes |
| Content Categories | No | Yes |
| Link-in-Bio | SmartLinks | Yes |
| Post Recycling | No | Yes |
| First Comment | Yes | Yes |
Winner: Vista Social. Content categories, approval workflows, and post recycling give Vista Social a more complete publishing toolkit. Metricool's slight advantage in platform count (13 vs 12+) does not offset the workflow features Vista Social provides.
AI Tools
| Capability | Metricool | Vista Social |
|---|---|---|
| AI Caption Generation | Yes (unlimited, all plans) | Yes (credit-based) |
| AI Image Generation | No | No |
| AI Hashtag Suggestions | Yes | Yes |
| AI Content Repurposing | No | Yes |
| Credit System | No (unlimited) | 500-unlimited by plan |
Winner: Tie, with caveats. Metricool's AI is unlimited on all plans, which is a clear advantage for high-volume users. Vista Social's credit-based system provides more varied AI capabilities, including content repurposing, but the 500-credit cap on the Professional plan can be restrictive. Neither tool offers AI image generation.
Analytics & Reporting
| Capability | Metricool | Vista Social |
|---|---|---|
| Post Analytics | Yes | Yes |
| Competitor Tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Hashtag Analytics | Yes | Yes |
| Ad Campaign Analytics | Yes (Google + Meta) | No |
| Custom Reports | Yes | Yes |
| Looker Studio Integration | Yes | No |
| White-Label Reports | No | Yes (Advanced+) |
| Sentiment Analysis | No | Yes |
| Export Options | PDF, CSV, Looker | PDF, CSV |
Winner: Context-dependent. Metricool leads in data breadth — ad campaign tracking and Looker Studio integration are features Vista Social does not match. Vista Social leads in social intelligence — sentiment analysis, combined social + review data, and white-label reports. For data-driven marketing optimization, Metricool. For client-facing agency reporting with reputation context, Vista Social.
Team Collaboration
| Capability | Metricool | Vista Social |
|---|---|---|
| Users (Entry Plan) | 1 | 3 |
| Users (Mid Plan) | Multiple | 6 |
| Users (Top Plan) | Multiple | 10 |
| Approval Workflows | Limited | Yes (multi-level) |
| Client Roles | Basic | Yes |
| DM Management | No | Yes (with automations) |
| Review Response | No | Yes (17+ sites) |
| Employee Advocacy | No | Yes ($199/mo add-on) |
Winner: Vista Social. This is not close. Multi-level approval workflows, DM automations, review response management, and optional employee advocacy make Vista Social a genuine team platform. Metricool is designed for smaller teams that do not need this level of coordination.
Platform Support
| Platform | Metricool | Vista Social |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | Yes | |
| Yes | Yes | |
| X (Twitter) | Yes (included) | Paid add-on |
| Yes | Yes | |
| Yes | Yes | |
| TikTok | Yes | Yes |
| YouTube | Yes | Yes |
| Google Business | Yes | Yes |
| Threads | Yes | Yes |
| Twitch | Yes | No |
| Bluesky | Yes | No |
| Snapchat | Yes | No |
| Yes | No | |
| Review Sites | No | 5+ sites |
Winner: Tie. Metricool has more social platforms (13 vs 12+), but Vista Social adds 5+ review sites that Metricool does not touch. Notably, Vista Social charges extra for X (Twitter) integration — a platform Metricool includes for free. The right choice depends on whether review site coverage or niche social platform coverage matters more to you.
What Real Users Say
Metricool Reviews
G2: 4.5/5 from 363 reviews. Metricool users consistently call out the analytics dashboard and competitor tracking as standout features. The free plan receives praise for being genuinely useful rather than a bait-and-switch. Criticisms tend to focus on wanting more advanced team features and occasionally slow data synchronization.
Trustpilot: 1.8/5 from 28 reviews. A small sample dominated by billing complaints. The score does not align with broader user sentiment on G2 and other platforms, suggesting this is not representative of the typical experience.
Vista Social Reviews
G2: 4.8/5 from 1,071 reviews. This is one of the highest G2 ratings in the entire social media management category, and with over 1,000 reviews, it carries real weight. Users praise the breadth of features, the DM automation capabilities, and responsive customer support. The most common complaints involve the learning curve, the add-on pricing model, and the paid X (Twitter) integration.
Trustpilot: 4.1/5 from 62 reviews. A solid score with enough reviews to be meaningful. Users on Trustpilot echo the G2 sentiment — praise for features and support, with occasional frustration about pricing complexity.
Review Verdict
Vista Social has the clear edge in user sentiment. A 4.8/5 on G2 from 1,071 reviews is exceptional — it indicates that the tool not only works well but also delivers on its enterprise promises. Metricool's 4.5/5 from 363 reviews is solid, but Vista Social's combination of higher score and greater volume makes a stronger case. Vista Social's consistent Trustpilot rating (4.1/5 from 62 reviews) further supports the pattern, while Metricool's Trustpilot presence is too small to be meaningful.
Who Should Use Metricool?
For more options, see our Metricool alternatives guide. You can also compare Metricool vs Zoho Social and Metricool vs Iconosquare.
- Solo marketers and freelancers who want a powerful free starting point
- Data-driven marketers who need organic and paid analytics in one view
- Small agencies managing 5-15 brands at a predictable monthly cost
- Google Ads + Meta Ads managers who want campaign data alongside social metrics
- Teams using Looker Studio for custom reporting and client dashboards
- Marketers on tight budgets who need real analytics without enterprise pricing
Who Should Use Vista Social?
For more options, visit our Vista Social alternatives page.
- Large agencies managing dozens of client profiles with multi-level approvals
- Brands that manage online reviews across Google, Yelp, TripAdvisor, and more
- Teams handling high-volume DMs who need automation and routing rules
- Organizations investing in employee advocacy to amplify brand reach
- Enterprises that need social listening to track brand mentions and sentiment
- Agencies where X (Twitter) is not critical or who are willing to pay the add-on fee
Powerful Features Without Enterprise Complexity
Metricool and Vista Social sit at opposite ends of the complexity spectrum. If you want robust scheduling and AI tools without the overhead of enterprise workflows — or the enterprise price tag — PostPlanify fills the gap between lightweight analytics tools and full management platforms.
| Feature | Metricool (Starter) | Vista Social (Professional) | PostPlanify (Growth) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | $22/mo | $79/mo | $39/mo |
| Social Accounts | 5 brands | 15 profiles | 6 accounts |
| Scheduled Posts | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| AI Captions | Yes (unlimited) | Yes (500 credits) | Unlimited |
| AI Image Generation | No | No | Yes (7 models) |
| DM Automations | No | Yes | No |
| Review Management | No | Yes | No |
| Canva Integration | No | No | Yes |
| Google Drive | No | No | Yes |
| Link-in-Bio | SmartLinks | Yes | Yes |
PostPlanify's Growth plan at $39/mo sits neatly between Metricool's $22/mo and Vista Social's $79/mo, but it includes something neither competitor offers at any price: AI image generation across 7 models. You also get unlimited AI captions (no credit limits), Canva integration for design, and Google Drive integration for asset management. The Premium plan at $99/mo unlocks unlimited social accounts, unlimited team members, approval workflows, and analytics — enterprise-tier features at a fraction of Vista Social's cost. Compare all plans or start your free trial.
FAQ
Is Vista Social worth the higher price over Metricool?
It depends entirely on what you need. If you require DM automations, review management, social listening, or employee advocacy, then yes — Vista Social provides capabilities that Metricool simply does not have, and building those workflows from separate tools would likely cost more anyway. If your needs center on analytics, scheduling, and ad tracking, Metricool delivers those at a fraction of the cost. The value question is about feature fit, not absolute price.
Why does Vista Social charge extra for X (Twitter)?
Vista Social requires a paid add-on for X (Twitter) integration due to the API pricing changes X implemented in 2023. Rather than absorbing the cost across all plans (which would raise prices for everyone), Vista Social made it optional. This is an honest approach, but it is worth noting that most competitors — including Metricool — include X at no additional charge.
Can Metricool handle enterprise agency needs?
Metricool can handle the analytics and scheduling needs of most mid-size agencies. Its Advanced plan covers 15 brands with unlimited posts, competitor tracking, and Looker Studio reporting for $54/mo. Where it falls short for enterprise agencies is in workflow complexity — there are no multi-level approval chains, no DM management, no review monitoring, and no social listening. Agencies with 20+ clients or complex approval processes will likely outgrow Metricool.
Does Vista Social include social listening in its base price?
No. Social listening is a $75/mo add-on on top of your base plan. On the Professional plan ($79/mo), adding social listening brings your total to $154/mo. On the Advanced plan ($149/mo), it becomes $224/mo. The listening feature tracks brand mentions, keywords, and sentiment across social platforms and the web. It is a powerful feature, but the add-on pricing model means you should factor it into your total budget from the start.
Which tool is better for managing client reputations?
Vista Social, by a significant margin. Its review management feature covers 17+ review sites, letting you monitor, respond to, and report on reviews from Google, Yelp, TripAdvisor, Facebook, and others alongside your social media management. Metricool does not offer review management at all. For agencies where reputation management is part of the service offering, Vista Social is one of the few social media tools that covers this natively.
Do either Metricool or Vista Social offer AI image generation?
No. Neither Metricool nor Vista Social offers AI image generation. Both provide AI-powered caption writing — Metricool with unlimited usage on all plans, Vista Social through a credit system (500-unlimited credits depending on plan). If AI image generation is a priority for your content workflow, you would need a separate tool like Canva's AI features, or you could consider PostPlanify, which includes AI image generation across 7 models on every plan.
How do Metricool and Vista Social compare for small teams (2-3 people)?
For small teams, Metricool is typically the better fit. The Starter plan at $22/mo covers 5 brands with unlimited posts and AI tools — more than enough for a small team's workload. Vista Social's entry point at $79/mo includes 3 users, which is generous, but you are paying for enterprise features (DM automations, review management) that a small team may not need. Unless your small team specifically requires Vista Social's unique capabilities, Metricool offers a much better feature-to-cost ratio at that scale.
Can I migrate from Metricool to Vista Social (or vice versa) easily?
Neither tool offers a direct migration path from the other. Scheduled posts, analytics history, and settings do not transfer between platforms. If you are switching, plan for a transition period where you set up your accounts, rebuild your content calendar, and accept that historical analytics will remain in the old tool. Most users run both platforms in parallel for 2-4 weeks during the transition. Export any reports or data you need from the old platform before canceling.
