Buying guide
Hootsuite alternatives
Hootsuite brings publishing, engagement and reporting into one service. There are good alternatives both for a simpler publishing schedule and for teams that need shared replies, approvals and client reports. Start with the work you want the software to make easier.
Buffer offers a straightforward publishing option. Agorapulse is a closer comparison when a shared inbox and team replies matter as much as posting.
Compare the main choices
| Product | What it does particularly well | What changes the cost or choice |
|---|---|---|
| Buffer | A clear publishing queue, comments and reports | Charges per channel; Team includes unlimited members |
| Metricool | Reports and competitor tracking across brands | Brand bundles; Advanced for approvals and client roles |
| SocialPilot | Multi-account client publishing | Premium for external client approval |
| Sendible | Client workspaces with unlimited users | Profile and workspace allowances grow by plan |
| Agorapulse | Shared replies, publishing and reporting | Per-user pricing and network-specific inbox coverage |
| Sprout Social | Broad social care and reporting | Full Smart Inbox starts at Standard; optional services add cost |
For a simpler publishing schedule
Buffer lets you collect ideas, prepare drafts and keep posts ready in a queue. Comments and reports are available alongside publishing, so choosing a simpler tool does not mean abandoning results or replies.
Its ongoing free plan supports three channels, with ten queued posts on each. Paid pricing grows with the number of channels; Team includes approvals and unlimited members. This can be a useful combination when several people work on a few accounts. See Hootsuite versus Buffer for the direct comparison.
For reports across several brands
Metricool combines scheduled publishing with competitor analysis and downloadable reports. Its brand-based subscriptions let you keep each business's accounts and results together. That is useful when a monthly client report otherwise involves collecting figures from several networks.
Starter includes downloadable reports. Advanced adds custom reporting, team roles and approvals. Count the brands you need rather than comparing its headline price with Hootsuite's per-user rate alone.
For client publishing and approval
SocialPilot packages multiple accounts into each subscription. Premium includes client approval and six users, making it a practical comparison when account capacity and sign-off are the main requirements.
Sendible takes a different approach with unlimited users on its current plans. Separate workspaces help organise clients, while Plus adds approval and Premium adds branded reporting. It can be attractive when access for more people would otherwise add repeated seat charges. Its inbox does not support Instagram direct messages.
For comments, messages and social care
Agorapulse combines a shared inbox with publishing and reports. It helps a team keep track of incoming conversations and divide the work. It is a closer Hootsuite alternative than a scheduler alone when replies are part of the daily job.
Sprout Social is worth considering when LinkedIn Company Page messages, WhatsApp Business conversations or a wider care and reporting suite are important. The full Smart Inbox requires Standard or above, not the lower-priced Essentials plan.
Neither comparison should stop at the number of network logos. The exact account types, direct messages, comments and ad interactions supported matter more. The Agorapulse versus Hootsuite comparison looks more closely at that decision.
Compare the full subscription
Write down the accounts, people and essential features you need. A low starting price can change once approvals, more brands or extra users are added. Conversely, a broad suite can be poor value if you mainly use its scheduler.
Hootsuite belongs in the comparison too, particularly for publishing and engagement together. Buffer offers a straightforward queue, Metricool adds brand reports and competitor tracking, and Agorapulse gives shared replies more attention.
For straightforward publishing, Buffer is a sensible first look. For a shared inbox alongside publishing and reports, start with Agorapulse.
Compare all social media management tools. Read our Hootsuite review for its own features, plans and pricing.