2026 Comparison

Sprout Social vs Metricool: Which is Better?

A comprehensive, feature-by-feature comparison of Sprout Social and Metricool to help you choose the best social media management tool in 2026.

12 features compared
Sprout Social: 4.4/5 rating
Metricool: 4.5/5 rating

Our Verdict

Sprout Social leads in 2 categories while Metricool leads in 1, with 9 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.

Sprout Social: 2 wins
Metricool: 1 wins
Tied: 9 features

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

See how Sprout Social and Metricool stack up across 12 key features

Feature
Sprout Social
Metricool
AI-Powered Scheduling
AI Content Assistant
Analytics & Reporting
Team Collaboration
Bulk Scheduling
RSS Feed Automation
Content Calendar
Link in Bio
Better
Social Inbox
Better
Custom Reporting
Hashtag Suggestions
Media Library
Better
Key Differences

What Sets Them Apart

The biggest differences between Sprout Social and Metricool that will affect your decision

Social Inbox

Sprout Social offers social inbox while Metricool does not. This gives Sprout Social an edge for users who need this capability.

Winner: Sprout Social

Media Library

Sprout Social offers media library while Metricool does not. This gives Sprout Social an edge for users who need this capability.

Winner: Sprout Social

Link in Bio

Metricool offers link in bio while Sprout Social does not. This gives Metricool an edge for users who need this capability.

Winner: Metricool

Pricing & Value

Metricool starts at $22/mo compared to Sprout Social at $249/mo, making it the more affordable option for budget-conscious users.

Winner: Metricool
Pricing

Pricing Comparison

Sprout Social starts at $249/mo vs Metricool at $22/mo

Sprout Social

Starting at $249/mo30-day free trial

Standard$249/month
  • 5 social profiles
  • 1 user
  • All-in-one social inbox
Professional$399/month
  • Unlimited profiles
  • Competitive reports
  • Custom workflows
Advanced$499/month
  • Everything in Pro
  • Digital asset library
  • Chatbots

Metricool

More Affordable

Starting at $22/moFree plan available

Free$0/month
  • 1 brand
  • 50 scheduled posts/month
  • Basic analytics
Starter$22/month
  • 5 brands
  • Unlimited scheduling
  • Competitor analysis
Advanced$54/month
  • 15 brands
  • Custom reports
  • API access

Which Tool is Right for You?

Here's our recommendation based on your needs

Choose Sprout Social if you:

  • Need AI-powered scheduling to optimize your posting times
  • Want AI assistance for creating content and captions
  • Need a unified inbox to manage all social conversations
  • Require custom reports for clients or stakeholders
  • Need to schedule many posts at once with bulk scheduling
Visit Sprout Social

Choose Metricool if you:

  • Want a free plan to get started without any commitment
  • Need AI-powered scheduling to optimize your posting times
  • Want AI assistance for creating content and captions
  • Require custom reports for clients or stakeholders
  • Need to schedule many posts at once with bulk scheduling
Visit Metricool
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Sprout Social vs Metricool

Why is Sprout Social so expensive?

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.

Can Planify replace Sprout Social?

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.

Is Metricool better than Planify for analytics?

Metricool has strong analytics including ad tracking and competitor analysis. Planify offers AI-powered insights and simpler reporting. Metricool is better for pure analytics; Planify is better for AI-optimized scheduling with good analytics.

Does Metricool have a free plan?

Yes, Metricool offers a free plan with 50 posts/month. Planify's free plan offers 30 posts/month but includes AI features and a cleaner interface.

Which is better overall, Sprout Social or Metricool?

It depends on your needs. Sprout Social is best for large enterprises and agencies with big budgets needing advanced social crm, while Metricool is best for marketers who want analytics-heavy social media management with ad tracking. We recommend trying Planify as an alternative that combines the best of both with AI-powered features and a free plan.

Can I switch from Sprout Social to Metricool easily?

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.

Looking for a better alternative?

Try Planify — A Modern Alternative to Sprout Social & Metricool

Planify combines the best of both worlds with AI-powered scheduling, a generous free plan, and support for 7+ platforms including Bluesky and Threads.