Hootsuite vs Sprout Social
Hootsuite is social media management platform for scheduling, monitoring, and analytics across networks, while Sprout Social is enterprise social media platform with publishing, engagement, analytics, and social listening. Hootsuite comes in cheaper, but price alone does not tell the full story. Hootsuite is built for teams managing multiple social media accounts at scale, whereas Sprout Social targets enterprise teams needing social media management and intelligence.
| Feature | Hootsuite | Sprout Social |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier available | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Advocacy | — | ✓ |
| Analytics | ✓ | ✓ |
| Listening | — | ✓ |
| Publishing | — | ✓ |
| Scheduling | ✓ | — |
| Social Listening | ✓ | — |
| Team Collab | ✓ | — |
Pricing: Hootsuite starts at $99/mo. Sprout Social starts at $249/mo. Hootsuite is the more affordable option.
Feature gaps: Hootsuite offers Scheduling, Social Listening and Team Collab that Sprout Social lacks. Sprout Social brings Advocacy, Listening and Publishing that Hootsuite does not have. Both share Analytics.
Team fit: Hootsuite is geared toward mid-size teams teams, while Sprout Social is aimed at enterprise teams. Pick the one that matches where your team is today and where it is headed — migrating tools later is always painful.
Where each tool shines: Hootsuite's biggest strengths are: includes scheduling as a core feature, purpose-built for social media management workflows. includes social listening as a core feature, purpose-built for social media management workflows. Sprout Social's biggest strengths are: includes publishing as a core feature, purpose-built for social media management workflows. includes listening as a core feature, purpose-built for social media management workflows.
Watch out for: With Hootsuite, users commonly note that starts at $99/mo — on the expensive side, especially for small teams or solo users. With Sprout Social, the main complaint is that starts at $249/mo — on the expensive side, especially for small teams or solo users.
choose Hootsuite if
- Your profile matches its sweet spot: teams managing multiple social media accounts at scale
- You want to save on per-user costs — Hootsuite is $150.00/user/mo cheaper
- You specifically need Scheduling and Social Listening
- You care about includes social listening as a core feature, purpose-built for social media management workflows
- Your team size fits the mid-size teams profile Hootsuite is designed for
choose Sprout Social if
- You need a tool built for enterprise teams needing social media management and intelligence
- You specifically need Advocacy and Listening
- You care about includes listening as a core feature, purpose-built for social media management workflows
- Your team size fits the enterprise profile Sprout Social is designed for
frequently asked
What is the difference between Hootsuite and Sprout Social?
Hootsuite is social media management platform for scheduling, monitoring, and analytics across networks, while Sprout Social is enterprise social media platform with publishing, engagement, analytics, and social listening. Hootsuite comes in cheaper, but price alone does not tell the full story. Hootsuite is built for teams managing multiple social media accounts at scale, whereas Sprout Social targets enterprise teams needing social media management and intelligence.
Should I use Hootsuite or Sprout Social?
Hootsuite is built for teams managing multiple social media accounts at scale. Sprout Social is built for enterprise teams needing social media management and intelligence. Pick the one that fits.
When should I choose Hootsuite over Sprout Social?
Choose Hootsuite if Your profile matches its sweet spot: teams managing multiple social media accounts at scale; You want to save on per-user costs — Hootsuite is $150.00/user/mo cheaper; You specifically need Scheduling and Social Listening; You care about includes social listening as a core feature, purpose-built for social media management workflows; Your team size fits the mid-size teams profile Hootsuite is designed for.
When should I choose Sprout Social over Hootsuite?
Choose Sprout Social if You need a tool built for enterprise teams needing social media management and intelligence; You specifically need Advocacy and Listening; You care about includes listening as a core feature, purpose-built for social media management workflows; Your team size fits the enterprise profile Sprout Social is designed for.
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