A comprehensive, feature-by-feature comparison of Hootsuite and Sprout Social to help you choose the best social media management tool in 2026.
Hootsuite leads in 0 categories while Sprout Social leads in 0, with 12 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 Sprout Social stack up across 12 key features
| Feature | Hootsuite | Sprout Social |
|---|---|---|
| AI-Powered Scheduling | ||
| AI Content Assistant | ||
| Analytics & Reporting | ||
| Team Collaboration | ||
| Bulk Scheduling | ||
| RSS Feed Automation | ||
| Content Calendar | ||
| Link in Bio | ||
| Social Inbox | ||
| Custom Reporting | ||
| Hashtag Suggestions | ||
| Media Library |
The biggest differences between Hootsuite and Sprout Social that will affect your decision
Hootsuite starts at $99/mo compared to Sprout Social at $249/mo, making it the more affordable option for budget-conscious users.
Hootsuite starts at $99/mo vs Sprout Social at $249/mo
Starting at $99/mo30-day free trial
Starting at $249/mo30-day free trial
Here's our recommendation based on your needs
Common questions about Hootsuite vs Sprout Social
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.
Sprout Social targets enterprise clients with social listening, CRM, and advanced reporting. At $249/mo minimum, it's designed for companies with large social media teams. Planify offers core scheduling and analytics features for $19/mo.
For scheduling, analytics, and content management — yes. Planify lacks social listening and CRM features, but for 90% of social media management tasks, it delivers comparable value at a fraction of the cost.
It depends on your needs. Hootsuite is best for large enterprises with dedicated social media teams and big budgets, while Sprout Social is best for large enterprises and agencies with big budgets needing advanced social crm. 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 Sprout Social
Planify combines the best of both worlds with AI-powered scheduling, a generous free plan, and support for 7+ platforms including Bluesky and Threads.