Hootsuite used to be one of the go-to choices for social media management tools. Its forever free plan was a popular option for startups and small businesses who needed something simple to manage their social media presence.
Unfortunately, it was discontinued in 2023, and no free plan is currently available.
As businesses grow, challenges such as rising costs, steep learning curves, or limited features often emerge. If you’re searching for Hootsuite alternatives, we’ve listed 20 options (both free & paid) to help you find the right fit.
Whether you’re after enterprise-level tools, budget-friendly picks, or even DIY setups like Google Sheets, this list of Hootsuite alternative tools covers it all.
Let’s dive in.
1. Polareis
Polareis is an all-in-one content management and scheduling platform – and one of the most promising Hootsuite alternatives today.. It tackles marketing fragmentation by combining planning, approvals, and publishing in one place. And it’s not just for social platforms, but also for WordPress blogs.
With built-in AI assistant, Polareis helps you to stay on top of trends, generate fresh content ideas, and optimise social media posts across channels. This makes it particularly useful for solopreneurs and marketing teams alike.
Designed by marketers, for marketers, Polareis is more than just a scheduler: it’s a tool to unify your entire content strategy.
2. Sprout Social
Sprout Social is one of the biggest players in the industry and is best known for its advanced analytics and social listening tools.
Compared to Hootsuite, it offers more detailed reporting dashboards and customer engagement tools that can integrate directly into CRM systems.
It is particularly strong for enterprise users who need data-rich insights and social reputation management. However, Sprout Social is one of the pricier options, making it less practical for smaller businesses.
3. Sendible
Sendible is one of the top Hootsuite alternatives for agencies, especially those juggling multiple clients and social accounts at once.
It offers customised dashboards, white-label reports, and collaborative workflows, making client management feel effortless.
For agencies handling several accounts, it’s a huge time-saver. However, solopreneurs or smaller teams may feel the interface is a bit overwhelming for daily social media post scheduling.
4. Later
Later’s strength lies in its visual-first approach on scheduling content. Its drag-and-drop social calendar allows brands to preview their Instagram feed, making it perfect for businesses prioritising aesthetics and consistent branding.
While Hootsuite focuses on multi-platform posting and analytics, Later excels in visual content planning.
But with visual-first being the priority, it does not offer the same depth of analytics as some Hootsuite alternatives.
5. Buffer
Buffer has built a reputation as a clean, simple, and affordable tool for scheduling posts across platforms.
Unlike Hootsuite, which can feel overwhelming for new users, Buffer’s interface is straightforward and beginner-friendly. This makes it a good choice for freelancers and startups.
It does cover basic analytics and social media scheduling, but users will need paid add-ons to unlock deeper insights, which can increase overall costs.
6. ContentStudio
ContentStudio, as their name implies, focuses heavily on content creation and AI-powered suggestions.
It helps marketers find trending topics, curate relevant articles, and even generate visuals with the help of AI.
While Hootsuite is mainly a scheduling and monitoring tool, ContentStudio fuels inspiration and automation. Its entry-level plans limit connected accounts, making it better suited for solopreneurs or small brands.
7. StoryChief
StoryChief is like an all-in-one storyteller, combining blog, email, and social publishing into a single workflow.
Teams can streamline approvals and scheduling, making content creation feel more organised.
It’s perfect if you’re managing multiple channels and want everything in one place. However, it can feel a little heavy if you only need basic social media scheduling.
8. Hopper HQ
Hopper HQ is built for Instagram-first brands, giving you a visual calendar and feed preview.
Planning your posts feels almost like arranging a mood board, which is great for creative teams. It saves time and keeps your feed cohesive.
That said, approval workflows and analytics are limited, so agencies with multiple stakeholders might find it lacking.
9. Google Sheets
If you are on a tight budget, the Google Sheets can be your option. It is a highly flexible tool for planning content calendars, tracking campaigns, and collaborating across teams.
While it doesn’t automate posting like Hootsuite, it is fully customisable and can be adapted to any workflow. It’s ideal for budget-conscious teams who want complete control over their editorial planning.
On the other hand, publishing and analytics still need to be managed manually, which may not scale well for larger operations.
10. Loomly
Loomly comes with built-in brand guidelines and workflows, helping agencies or teams maintain tone consistency across platforms.
It also provides content suggestions, making planning smoother and less stressful. Those that work in teams will appreciate the structure it brings.
On the flip side though, reporting capabilities are limited, so advanced analytics are a no-go.
11. CoSchedule
CoSchedule is a marketing suite that goes beyond social media post scheduling, combining blogs and social calendars into one place.
It keeps your content organised and makes publishing across platforms feel seamless. For content-heavy teams, it’s a solid choice.
However, it doesn’t have the same social listening or advanced analytics features as some competitors.
12. Agorapulse
Agorapulse excels at social listening and engagement management, helping brands track mentions and messages efficiently.
Its inbox-style interface keeps conversations organised and ensures nothing slips through the cracks. It’s excellent for maintaining customer engagement, but its analytics fall slightly short compared to Hootsuite.
For those prioritising detailed performance insights, Hootsuite’s reporting tools provide a more comprehensive overview, while Agorapulse remains stronger for day-to-day community management.
13. MeetEdgar
MeetEdgar’s content recycling feature is their strength. It will help you automatically repurpose your old contents on a set schedule, so you won’t run out of any.
While it’s good for repurposing, this tool is not so flexible for spontaneous updates.
You can’t easily push a post immediately in response to trending news, social conversations, or live events. You’re tied to the schedule and content categories you’ve set up.
14. Zoho Social
Zoho Social is part of the Zoho ecosystem, offering scheduling, monitoring, and reporting tools at a competitive price.
It integrates well with Zoho CRM, making it handy for users already in the system.
For cost-conscious teams, it’s a great option. However, if you’re not using Zoho products, some features might feel limited.
15. Publer
Publer combines affordability with simplicity, allowing teams to schedule posts in bulk and generate AI-assisted captions.
Its interface is easy to navigate, even for beginners. For small businesses, it’s a straightforward tool to get campaigns out efficiently.
Then again, analytics and reporting are basic, which may not satisfy data-hungry marketers compared to premium social media management tools..
16. Sked Social
Sked Social is Instagram-centric, supporting auto-publishing for posts, Stories, and carousels.
It also offers basic social listening and community management. Creative teams focusing on visual platforms will love its workflow.
Given that it is Instagram-centric though, it’s restricted to go beyond Instagram for multi-platform management.
17. Iconosquare
Iconosquare is for data enthusiasts, providing detailed social media marketing analytics for Instagram and TikTok.
It helps brands measure engagement and plan content strategically. For teams focused on insights and metrics, it’s invaluable.
However, publishing features are weaker, so you might need an additional scheduling tool.
18. Planoly
Planoly is a visual-first social media planner, ideal for Instagram and TikTok creators.
It lets you arrange your feed, preview grids, and even add shoppable links. For influencers or aesthetic-focused brands, it’s a dream come true.
At the time of our review, multi-platform scheduling is limited – so it’s not a complete solution for larger campaigns.
19. Brandwatch
Brandwatch offers advanced social listening, sentiment analysis, and trend tracking.
It provides powerful insights into audience behaviour, helping brands stay ahead.
For enterprise teams, it’s an incredible tool. However, starting costs are high, making it less accessible for smaller businesses.
20. HeyOrca
HeyOrca is designed for agencies managing multiple brands, with client approval workflows built in.
Clients can comment and approve posts without logging in, making collaboration seamless.
It’s perfect for team members managing multiple social accounts. However, analytics and reporting are basic compared to other tools on this list.
There’s No One-Size-Fits All
That’s our top 20 picks for Hootsuite alternatives. Everyone’s needs are different, so it depends on your team size, price point, and goals.
If you are just starting, you might want to consider an all-in tool that is budget-friendly. Or if you are an enterprise, and looking for more in-depth analytics and reporting, you can consider the other tools that best match your needs.
But if you are looking for something that is cost effective, but also gives you a lot of features, whether it’s publishing blog and social postings, or AI content topics suggestion, you can consider Polareis. It is designed to help centralise your entire content strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q:What are the best free Hootsuite alternatives?
A:Some popular free alternatives include Buffer (free plan), Google Sheets, and Later’s free plan, which allow small businesses or solopreneurs to schedule posts, track campaigns, and manage content with minimal cost.
Q:Can I manage multiple social media accounts from one platform?
A:Yes. Many Hootsuite alternatives, such as Polareis, Sprout Social, and Sendible, allow you to manage multiple accounts across platforms, schedule posts, and monitor engagement all in one place.
Q:Which Hootsuite alternative is best for small businesses on a budget?
A:For cost-conscious teams, Polareis, Buffer, Publer are good options. They offer user-friendly interfaces and essential scheduling and analytics features without high subscription fees.
Q:Are there tools that provide social listening and analytics like Hootsuite?
A:Yes. Sprout Social, Agorapulse, Brandwatch, and Iconosquare offer advanced analytics, social listening, and engagement tracking to help businesses understand audience behaviour and optimise campaigns.
Q:Can I use these tools for blog and content management as well as social media?
A:Some platforms, like Polareis, StoryChief, and CoSchedule, integrate blog and content planning alongside social media scheduling, helping teams centralise their content strategy in one workflow.
