Hootsuite vs Sprout Social: which should you choose?
Quick answer: Hootsuite is built for mid-market & enterprise teams, while Sprout Social suits enterprise & large brands. For most users Sprout Social is the stronger default, but Hootsuite can be the better fit depending on your budget and use case. Hootsuite has the lower entry price.
Hootsuite versus Sprout Social comes down to which trade-offs you can live with. Below we compare them on pricing, strengths and the use cases each one fits, then give a clear verdict.
Side-by-side
| Hootsuite | Sprout Social | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | all-in-one management | enterprise suite |
| What it's known for | Veteran enterprise-leaning dashboard for publishing, monitoring, social listening and team workflows across many networks. | Premium enterprise suite combining publishing, listening, advanced analytics and CRM-grade engagement, aimed at larger brands with bigger budgets. |
| Pricing | No free plan; Professional from ~$99/mo (1 user, 10 social accounts); Team ~$249/mo; Enterprise custom (billed annually). | No free plan; Standard from ~$199/seat/mo; Professional ~$299/seat/mo; Advanced ~$399/seat/mo (billed annually). 30-day trial. |
| Best audience | Mid-market and enterprise teams managing many accounts with listening needs. | Larger brands and enterprises with bigger budgets needing deep analytics. |
| Best for | Mid-market & enterprise teams, Social listening / monitoring, Managing many accounts at once | Enterprise & large brands, Advanced analytics & listening, Teams with bigger budgets |
| Entry price | ~$99/mo (1 user) | ~$199/seat/mo |
| Biggest strength | Veteran, mature platform with broad feature coverage. | Premium analytics and reporting depth. |
| Main caveat | No free plan; entry price is high (~$99/mo). | Among the most expensive (per-seat) in the niche. |
Features compared
Where they really diverge is in the day-to-day feature set:
Hootsuite key features
- Multi-network publishing and scheduling dashboard
- OwlyWriter AI content assistant
- Bulk scheduling (up to ~350 posts on Advanced)
- Social listening and monitoring (30-day history on Advanced)
Sprout Social key features
- Publishing, scheduling and Smart Inbox
- Advanced analytics and competitive reporting
- Social listening (premium add-on)
- Digital asset and content libraries
Pricing tiers side by side
Hootsuite plans
| Plan | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | ~$99/mo (1 user) | Up to 10 social accounts, OwlyWriter AI, basic analytics |
| Advanced | ~$249/mo | Unlimited accounts, bulk scheduling 350 posts, custom reports, 30-day listening |
| Enterprise | Custom | Contact sales, annual contracts |
Sprout Social plans
| Plan | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | ~$199/seat/mo | Smart Inbox, publishing, basic reporting |
| Professional | ~$299/seat/mo | Unlimited profiles, competitive reporting, content tagging |
| Advanced | ~$399/seat/mo | API access, sentiment analysis, automated workflows |
| Enterprise | Custom | Listening and premium analytics add-ons |
Tiers compiled from the vendors' published plans and independent reviews; prices are approximate and change often, so confirm current figures (and your region's taxes) on each vendor's site.
Strengths compared
Where Hootsuite wins
The enterprise-leaning veteran that bundles publishing, listening and team workflows in one dashboard.
- Veteran, mature platform with broad feature coverage.
- Strong social listening and monitoring.
That makes it the stronger pick for mid-market and enterprise teams managing many accounts with listening needs.
Where Sprout Social wins
A premium enterprise suite combining publishing, listening and advanced analytics.
- Premium analytics and reporting depth.
- Polished, enterprise-grade interface.
That makes it the stronger pick for larger brands and enterprises with bigger budgets needing deep analytics.
Verdict: choose by fit
There is no single winner; it depends on where you sit.
- Choose Hootsuite if you fit its core audience — mid-market and enterprise teams managing many accounts with listening needs.
- Choose Sprout Social if you fit its core audience — larger brands and enterprises with bigger budgets needing deep analytics.
FAQ
Is Hootsuite better than Sprout Social?
Sprout Social is the stronger default for most users, but Hootsuite can be the better fit depending on your budget and use case.
What is the main difference between Hootsuite and Sprout Social?
Hootsuite is the enterprise-leaning veteran that bundles publishing, listening and team workflows in one dashboard. Sprout Social is a premium enterprise suite combining publishing, listening and advanced analytics.
Which is cheaper, Hootsuite or Sprout Social?
Entry pricing differs: Hootsuite starts at ~$99/mo (1 user), while Sprout Social starts at ~$199/seat/mo. Compare the tiers above against your usage.
Sources
Facts above are drawn from these independent reviews and the vendors' own pages for Hootsuite and Sprout Social: