Hootsuite vs Sprout Social: Complete Comparison 2026
An in-depth comparison of features, pricing, and user experience to help you make the right choice.
Hootsuite
Social media management platform for scheduling, monitoring, and analytics across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.
Sprout Social
8.7(2,400 reviews)
Enterprise social media management with advanced analytics, social listening, and team collaboration tools.
Quick Comparison
| Aspect | Hootsuite | Sprout Social |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Marketing teams managing 5-10+ social accounts | Enterprise marketing teams tracking social ROI |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Subscription |
| Starting Price | $99/mo | $249/mo |
| Deployment | cloud | cloud |
| Platforms | WEB, IOS, ANDROID | WEB, IOS, ANDROID |
| Rating | 7.8/10 | 8.7/10 |
Pros & Cons
Hootsuite
Pros
- Works with all major social platforms
- 18+ million users means extensive support resources
- Bulk scheduling saves time on campaigns
- Team collaboration features for agencies
Cons
- No free plan available since 2023
- Pricing expensive compared to Buffer or Later
- Mobile app lacks full functionality
- Learning curve for new users
Sprout Social
Pros
- Best-in-class analytics and reporting in social media tools
- Social listening tracks conversations across the entire web
- Clean, polished interface that teams actually enjoy using
- Competitor benchmarking built into the platform
- Approval workflows help maintain brand consistency
Cons
- Starting price of $249/user is steep for small teams
- Social listening only available on the Advanced plan
- Learning curve for the more advanced features
- Limited customization of the scheduling interface
- No built-in email marketing or CRM features
Pricing Comparison
| Product | Pricing Model | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|
| Hootsuite | subscription | $99/mo |
| Sprout Social | subscription | $249/mo |
Our Verdict
Choose Hootsuite if...
You need Marketing teams managing 5-10+ social accounts and prefer subscription pricing.
Choose Sprout Social if...
You need Enterprise marketing teams tracking social ROI and prefer subscription pricing.
Still Not Sure?
Explore more alternatives or read in-depth reviews to make your decision.