2026 Review

Sprout Social Review 2026: An Honest Analysis

Sprout Social is a premium enterprise social media management platform with advanced analytics, social listening, and CRM features. It's designed for large organizations with substantial budgets.

3.8/5average across review platforms

User Ratings Overview

How Sprout Social scores across major review platforms

G2

4.4

Capterra

4.4

Trustpilot

2.5

Strengths

What Sprout Social Does Well

Best-in-class analytics and reporting

This is a genuine strength that Sprout Social users frequently highlight in their reviews.

Powerful social listening

This is a genuine strength that Sprout Social users frequently highlight in their reviews.

Excellent social CRM

This is a genuine strength that Sprout Social users frequently highlight in their reviews.

Smart inbox for all networks

This is a genuine strength that Sprout Social users frequently highlight in their reviews.

Weaknesses

Where Sprout Social Falls Short

Extremely expensive ($249/mo minimum)

This is a common concern raised by Sprout Social users when evaluating alternatives.

Per-user pricing on top of base price

This is a common concern raised by Sprout Social users when evaluating alternatives.

Complex setup process

This is a common concern raised by Sprout Social users when evaluating alternatives.

No free plan

This is a common concern raised by Sprout Social users when evaluating alternatives.

Overkill for most users

This is a common concern raised by Sprout Social users when evaluating alternatives.

Feature Breakdown

Key Feature Analysis

How Sprout Social's features stack up

AI-Powered Scheduling

Sprout Social includes ai-powered scheduling in its platform.

AI Content Assistant

Sprout Social includes ai content assistant in its platform.

Analytics & Reporting

Sprout Social includes analytics & reporting in its platform.

Bulk Scheduling

Sprout Social includes bulk scheduling in its platform.

Social Inbox

Sprout Social includes social inbox in its platform.

Hashtag Suggestions

Sprout Social includes hashtag suggestions in its platform.

The Verdict

Who Sprout Social is Best For

Large enterprises and agencies with big budgets needing advanced social CRM

Best-in-class analytics and reporting
Powerful social listening
Excellent social CRM

Who Should Look Elsewhere

If Sprout Social's weaknesses are dealbreakers, consider Planify as an alternative.

Extremely expensive ($249/mo minimum)
Per-user pricing on top of base price
Complex setup process
The Alternative

How Planify Compares

Key advantages Planify offers over Sprout Social

  • Free plan available

    Planify offers a generous free tier with 3 accounts and 30 posts/month - Sprout Social has no free plan.

  • AI-powered scheduling & content

    Planify's AI optimises posting times and helps generate content tailored to your audience.

  • More platform support

    Planify supports 7 platforms including Bluesky and Threads.

  • More affordable Pro plan

    Planify Pro starts at $19/mo with 10 accounts and unlimited posts. Sprout Social starts at $249/mo.

  • Features Sprout Social lacks

    Planify includes link in bio which Sprout Social does not offer.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Sprout Social

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.

Does Sprout Social have a free plan?

No. Sprout Social starts at $249/mo with a 30-day trial. Planify offers a free plan plus Pro at $19/mo — about 13x cheaper than Sprout Social.

Which platform has better AI features?

Both offer AI content generation, but Planify's AI also optimizes posting times based on your specific audience. Sprout Social's AI focuses more on sentiment analysis and social listening.

Rated 4.8/5 on G2

Looking for a better alternative to Sprout Social?

Try Planify free and see why creators and businesses are switching to AI-powered social media management.