A comprehensive, feature-by-feature comparison of Hootsuite and SocialBee to help you choose the best social media management tool in 2026.
Hootsuite leads in 2 categories while SocialBee leads in 0, with 10 ties. Both are capable tools, but for the best value with AI-powered features and a free plan, consider Planify as a modern alternative to both.
See how Hootsuite and SocialBee stack up across 12 key features
| Feature | Hootsuite | SocialBee |
|---|---|---|
| AI-Powered Scheduling | ||
| AI Content Assistant | ||
| Analytics & Reporting | ||
| Team Collaboration | ||
| Bulk Scheduling | ||
| RSS Feed Automation | ||
| Content Calendar | ||
| Link in Bio | ||
| Social Inbox | Better | |
| Custom Reporting | Better | |
| Hashtag Suggestions | ||
| Media Library |
The biggest differences between Hootsuite and SocialBee that will affect your decision
Hootsuite offers social inbox while SocialBee does not. This gives Hootsuite an edge for users who need this capability.
Hootsuite offers custom reporting while SocialBee does not. This gives Hootsuite an edge for users who need this capability.
SocialBee starts at $29/mo compared to Hootsuite at $99/mo, making it the more affordable option for budget-conscious users.
SocialBee supports 9 platforms compared to Hootsuite's 7. More platform support means a wider social media reach.
Hootsuite starts at $99/mo vs SocialBee at $29/mo
Starting at $99/mo30-day free trial
Starting at $29/mo14-day free trial
Here's our recommendation based on your needs
Common questions about Hootsuite vs SocialBee
Hootsuite starts at $99/mo which is 5x more expensive than Planify Pro ($19/mo). For small-to-medium businesses, Planify offers comparable features at a fraction of the cost. Hootsuite is only worth it for large enterprises needing social listening.
For most teams, yes. Planify offers team collaboration, multi-account management, analytics, and AI features. The main things you'd miss are social listening and some enterprise integrations.
SocialBee excels at content categorization and evergreen recycling. Planify offers better AI-powered scheduling optimization and a free plan. SocialBee starts at $29/mo while Planify is free with Pro at $19/mo.
No, SocialBee offers a 14-day free trial but no free plan. Planify offers a permanently free plan with 3 accounts and AI features.
It depends on your needs. Hootsuite is best for large enterprises with dedicated social media teams and big budgets, while SocialBee is best for content marketers who want to organize and recycle evergreen content. We recommend trying Planify as an alternative that combines the best of both with AI-powered features and a free plan.
Yes, switching between social media management tools is straightforward. Simply connect your social accounts to the new platform and start scheduling. Your existing posts on the old platform remain unaffected during the transition.
Learn more about Hootsuite and SocialBee
Planify combines the best of both worlds with AI-powered scheduling, a generous free plan, and support for 7+ platforms including Bluesky and Threads.