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Head-to-head · Social Media Management Tools

Sprout Social vs Hootsuite

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score Sprout Social #1 in Social Media Management Tools 9.3/10 30-day trial Free trial✓ 2 of 2 features Visit Sprout Social
Hootsuite #2 in Social Media Management Tools 9.2/10 14-day trial Free trial✓ 1 of 2 features Visit Hootsuite

Sprout Social leads on 2 checks, Hootsuite on 1, and 2 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreSprout Social · 9.3/10
  • Lowest starting priceSprout Social · $79/seat/mo
  • Free trialboth
  • Most featuresSprout Social · 2 of 2

Sprout Social scores higher on our rubric for social media management tools: 9.3 against 9.2 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #2.

Sprout Social is cheaper to start at $79/mo against $99/mo. Hootsuite leads on social accounts: 10 versus 5. Sprout Social offers approval workflow; Hootsuite doesn't. On analytics level, Hootsuite gives you Standard where Sprout Social offers Basic.

Sprout Social is the better fit for enterprise teams needing deep integrations. Hootsuite is the better fit for large teams prioritizing mature capabilities.

  • Sprout Social fits best

    Enterprise teams needing deep integrations

  • Hootsuite fits best

    Large teams prioritizing mature capabilities

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Sprout Social 9.3/10 Visit ↗ Hootsuite 9.2/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.3 9.2
Ranking #1 in Social Media Management Tools #2 in Social Media Management Tools
Best for Enterprise teams needing deep integrations Large teams prioritizing mature capabilities
Pricing model Paid Paid
Starting price $79/seat/mo (best) $99/user/mo
Free plan — —
Free trial 30 days 14 days
Free trial length 30 days · no card needed 14 days · no card needed
Deployment Cloud, Mobile Cloud
Platforms Web, iOS, Android Web
Support Email, Live chat, Phone, Tickets, Community, Docs Email, Tickets, Community · 24/7
Compliance SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, PCI DSS SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, PCI DSS
Integrations 20 integrations 100+ integrations
Built for Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Sprout Social 2/2 · Hootsuite 1/2
Social inbox ✓ ✓
Approval workflow ✓ (best) —
Specs
Social accounts 5 10 (best)
Supported networks X, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, Bluesky, Threads, WhatsApp Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, Threads, WhatsApp, Pinterest, Google Business Profile, Bluesky
Scheduled posts Not checked yet Not checked yet
Analytics level Basic Standard
Team users Not checked yet 1
Our review
Pros
  • Extensive CRM, help-desk, analytics and asset-management integrations
  • Approval workflows, inbox tools, review management and reporting
  • Supports 11 social networks with up to 10,000 scheduled posts
  • Unlimited scheduled posts on the Standard plan
  • Unified inbox, listening, sentiment analysis, and analytics
  • Approval workflows and custom compliance options on Enterprise
Cons
  • Starts at $79 per seat per month on annual billing
  • Essentials limits teams to five social profiles
  • Advanced capabilities require higher-priced plans
  • Starts at $99 per user per month with annual billing
  • No free plan
  • Advanced team workflows require higher-tier plans
Our verdict

Sprout Social is a paid social media management and analytics platform for businesses and organizations. It supports planning, scheduling and publishing across X, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, Bluesky, Threads,…

Read the review →

Hootsuite is a paid social media management platform for marketers, customer-care teams, agencies, and organizations managing multiple social profiles. It brings publishing, scheduling, content creation, inbox management, monitoring,…

Read the review →
  1. Sprout SocialSocial Media Management Tools 9.330-day trial
  2. HootsuiteSocial Media Management Tools 9.214-day trial

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Sprout Social — where it wins

    • Extensive CRM, help-desk, analytics and asset-management integrations
    • Approval workflows, inbox tools, review management and reporting
    • Supports 11 social networks with up to 10,000 scheduled posts

    Where it doesn't

    • Starts at $79 per seat per month on annual billing
    • Essentials limits teams to five social profiles
    • Advanced capabilities require higher-priced plans

  • Hootsuite — where it wins

    • Unlimited scheduled posts on the Standard plan
    • Unified inbox, listening, sentiment analysis, and analytics
    • Approval workflows and custom compliance options on Enterprise

    Where it doesn't

    • Starts at $99 per user per month with annual billing
    • No free plan
    • Advanced team workflows require higher-tier plans

More comparisons

All social media management tools comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update