When Hootsuite began its journey in 2008 – social media wasn’t still the norm and nobody had a clue that they needed a tool dedicated to just social media. But guess what – Hootsuite launched their tool and secured 100k subscribers within that year. The tool, which started as a prototype of managing multiple social media networks in one place, grew to have customers from over 200+ countries by 2023.
But recently, customers who never thought they would think of shifting from Hootsuite have done it, and great prospects who were almost convinced to give it a shot withdrew!
Why? Apart from the sudden 128% Hootsuite price increase in its Professional Plan, there have also been major inconsistencies from its support team. Moreover, many customers also complained about the primitive UI of their tool when there are so many user-friendly competitors in the market.
If you have faced similar problems with Hootsuite and are looking to switch to a Hootsuite alternative soon, we have combined a list of the best contenders in the industry. Start scrolling!
1. Statusbrew
Statusbrew simplifies managing multiple social media profiles, offering a user-friendly interface that aids in efficient post-planning and engagement management. Moreover, the tool also provides valuable insights into post performance across platforms, which is instrumental in refining social media strategies.
Pros:
- Separate workspaces for different clients – which are very easy to switch between
- Real-time collaboration with team members with customized workflows
- Responsive and round-the-clock customer support
- No learning curve for accessing the publishing and scheduling features
Cons:
- AI for creating content is still not available
Why Better than Hootsuite?
- 18 months data backfill option
- Easy to use with a user-friendly interface
- Automated comment moderation
Compared to Hootsuite, Statusbrew takes the spotlight by offering a top-notch dashboard in the Shared Inbox that helps you review all the comments and notifications at a glance – ensuring no information is missed.
There are also features like Campaign Tracking and Audience Analysis, which offer over 200+ Post Performance Metrics to assess your social posts in-depth. It also has an Influencer Identification feature that helps you spot influencers easily and allows you to monitor partnerships in real time with its Campaign Tracking features.
Last but not least, the Social Publishing and Social Analytics features of Statusbrew ensure you are never missing out on ranking opportunities. Besides allowing you Bulk Scheduling for the upcoming 180 days, it also suggests the best times to post for each and every platform by analyzing your profile’s engagement metrics.
G2 Rating: 4.7
2. Sprout Social
With advanced analytical features, you can benchmark your performance and measure your social ROI against the industry’s top competitors. Sprout Social also leverages AI in the best way possible.
Known as one of the best content planning tools, it provides you with AI suggestions while writing your captions for social posts so that you don’t have to brainstorm and spend hours.
Even while you are scheduling your social posts, the tool assesses the past 16 weeks of your audience engagement data and suggests seven optimal times to post on the respective platforms.
They also offer an incredible social listening tool that not only helps you understand what your audience thinks about you but also helps you stay in tune with your competitors and detect the latest trends in your industry at the earliest. The best part? They bring all the information in a unified social inbox to ensure no information falls through the cracks.
Some of the notable features are:
- SproutLink link-in-bio tool
- Group, post-level, and profile reporting
- Real-time URL tracking
Why Better than Hootsuite?
From ease of setup to ease of use, and even when it comes to features like Competitor Analysis, Post Performance, Hashtag Analytics, Content Calendar, Shared Inbox, and Social Analytics – Sprout Social stands out as much better than Hootsuite in these aspects.
G2 Rating: 4.4
3. Buffer
Buffer is widely recognized as a user-friendly and efficient social media management tool, particularly appreciated for its simplicity and effectiveness. It stands out for its easy-to-use interface, making navigation and management of multiple social media accounts across platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Pinterest a smooth experience.
Some of the notable features are:
- Visual editing tools for creating Instagram stories and content planning
- Advanced collaboration tools for ensuring seamless team communication
- Allows Instagram shop grid for users
Why Better than Hootsuite?
If you look at it from the perspective of generic social media management features, both Buffer and Hootsuite have it covered. But unlike Hootsuite, only Buffer offers the feature of advanced Instagram marketing tools like shop grid support and story builder. Apart from that, Buffer also offers features like Approval workflow, Social Publishing, Social Engagement, and more.
G2 Rating: 4.3
4. Later
With a focus on Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest marketing solutions, Later has secured its spot as one of the top competitors of Hootsuite in the market. Along with a range of features like social commerce, social media marketing, and partnerships – the tool also offers features like smart recommendations, scheduling, and analytics to meet the day-to-day requirements of digital creators.
Besides, Later also encourages collaboration between creators and brand partnerships, allowing users to search for and share UGC content and giving the flexibility to add hashtags as the first comment on Instagram.
Some of the notable features of Later are:
- Built-in social media reporting
- Free Link in bio tool
- User-generated content search
Why Better than Hootsuite?
In comparison to Hootsuite, Later offers features like a link-in bio tool, Instagram scheduling tool, Instagram story builder, and last but not least, it also has a free plan to start with.
G2 Rating: 4.5
5. Sendible
One of the notable aspects of Sendible is its user-friendly interface, which simplifies the process of connecting and managing multiple social media accounts. This ease of use extends to its reporting features, which are templatized and easily interpretable, aiding in effective client communication. Apart from that, Sendible’s content library and social listening features also provide valuable insights into customer sentiment and brand reputation.
Some of the notable features are:
- Co-branding opportunities for agencies
- Customisation options in every posts
- Cross-posting feature for time-saving
Why Better than Hootsuite?
When it comes to incredible management of social media, Sendible takes over Hootsuite with its incredible features like Follower Analysis, Shared Inbox, Content Calendar, and Library Management, including seamless Approval Workflows. As far as the analytical part of social media is concerned, Hootsuite also offers features like Campaign Optimisation, Social Analytics, Social Engagement, and even Report Customization.
G2 Rating: 4.5
6. SocialPilot
SocialPilot is a robust and user-friendly social media management tool that stands out for its comprehensive feature set and ease of use. It supports a wide range of social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Google My Business, Tumblr, and TikTok, making it a versatile choice for managing diverse social media activities. The platform also includes an in-built content library where users can store and reuse content, making it convenient to maintain a consistent and engaging online presence.
Some of the notable features are:
- First comment addition option in the first comment
- Easy team collaboration options
- Effective audience targeting
Why Better than Hootsuite?
Even though there are many features where SocialPilot intersects with Hootsuite, there are quite some domains where SocialPilot left it behind. Beginning with Hashtag Analytics on social platforms to taking care of complete Social Publishing and Analytics – the tool does it all. Even when it comes to Report Customization and Exporting, SocialPilot offers an easy-to-use experience and great support around the clock.
G2 Rating: 4.5
7. Brandwatch
When it comes to effective social media management, there’s hardly any competitor to Brandwatch. From providing a unified platform to manage both organic and paid social media posts – the tool also offers features like a centralized inbox, social listening, and customizable dashboards, which makes it perfect for analyzing day-to-day social metrics and making data-driven decisions.
Some of the notable features are:
- Advanced inbound marketing tools
- Fully feature platform with social analytics, social listening, and more
- Includes a social support platform
Why Better than Hootsuite?
Brandwatch happens to be one of the top Hootsuite alternatives out there, starting with advanced social media monitoring and listening and effective audience management on social media. The Hashtag Analytics feature of the tool is also useful for those who are trying to increase their reach on social media. Apart from that, as far as features like Influencer Identification, Keyword Tracking, and Brand Monitoring are concerned – Brandwatch helps you maximize your social media potential.
G2 Rating: 4.1
8. Agorapulse
Agorapulse happens to be a notable player in the social media management industry – renowned for its user-friendly interface, comprehensive features, and detailed analytics. Along with managing multiple social media channels, the tool makes it super easy to ensure your content is always posted at optimal times.
Some of the notable features are:
- Advanced collaboration tools and features
- Effective campaign management and analytics
- Easy-to-use interface
Why Better than Hootsuite?
When it comes to social media analytics, Agorapulse overtakes Hootsuite in features like Follower Analysis, Keyword Tracking, Brand Monitoring, and Trend Analysis. With respect to the features of Campaign Planning and Optimisation, Agorapulse has also proved to be an efficient tool. Talking of data management, Agorapulse has also made its mark with features like Social Reporting and Sentiment Analysis.
G2 Rating: 4.5
Wrapping Up!
While undoubtedly, Hootsuite has its fair share of credibility in the market, the Hootsuite alternatives mentioned above have their own unique stand-out features that cater to your social media goals – in some way or another. Selecting the ideal social media management tool is key to developing an effective strategy that enhances your business decisions, ultimately boosting profitability and customer loyalty. When searching for alternatives to Hootsuite, it’s crucial to identify the features that align most closely with your business needs. By focusing on tools that offer the functionalities most relevant to your strategy, you can streamline your social media efforts, making your business more efficient and responsive to customer needs.
