Hootsuite vs Sprout Social
Hootsuite and Sprout Social are both social media management tools aimed at enterprise and agencies.
Hootsuite
Enterprise social media management
Sprout Social
Enterprise social management and listening
| Pricing | Paid · $99 | Paid · $99 |
| Starting price | $99/mo | $99/mo |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Free trial | 14 days | 30 days |
| Built for | Enterprise, Agencies | Enterprise, Agencies |
| Platforms | web, ios, android | web, ios, android |
| Country | CA · 2008 | US · 2010 |
| Rating | — | — |
Choose Hootsuite if
Mid-market and enterprise social teams.
- Broad feature set for enterprises
- Listening and advocacy options
- Approvals and team workflows
Look elsewhere if: Individuals and small businesses (Buffer, Publer).
Choose Sprout Social if
Mid-market and enterprise teams where social is a key channel.
- Best-in-class reporting
- Excellent inbox for social care
- Enterprise governance
Look elsewhere if: Small businesses and solo creators.
Hootsuite vs Sprout Social pricing
Hootsuite
- Standard$99/user/moBilled annually; up to 10 social accounts
- Professional$199/user/moBilled annually; unlimited accounts, automation
- Advanced$399/user/moBilled annually; approvals, message routing
- EnterpriseCustomSSO, custom compliance
Sprout Social
- Essentials$99/seat/mo5 profiles; $79/seat/mo billed annually
- Standard$249/seat/mo5 profiles; $199/seat/mo billed annually
- Professional$399/seat/moUnlimited profiles; $299/seat/mo billed annually
- Advanced$499/seat/moUnlimited profiles; $399/seat/mo billed annually
- EnterpriseCustomTailored plan
Hootsuite · Key features
- Scheduling and content calendar across networks
- Unified inbox with assignments
- Analytics and competitive benchmarking
- Social listening (Talkwalker)
- Employee advocacy
- OwlyWriter AI content generation
Cons
- Expensive per user
- No free plan
- UI feels heavier than newer tools
Sprout Social · Key features
- Smart inbox with tagging and routing
- Publishing with approvals and calendar
- Advanced analytics and presentation-ready reports
- Social listening and sentiment
- Employee advocacy and influencer marketing
- CRM and help desk integrations
Cons
- Expensive per seat
- Listening is an add-on
- Overkill for small teams
Hootsuite vs Sprout Social: FAQ
Do Hootsuite and Sprout Social have a free plan?
Hootsuite has no free plan, a 14-day free trial. Sprout Social has no free plan, a 30-day free trial.