Hootsuite vs Sprout Social
Detailed comparison — pricing, features, pros & cons
Hootsuite — Hootsuite is an enterprise-grade social media marketing and management dashboard. It works best for Enterprise-grade marketers and Social media marketing teams.
Sprout Social — Sprout Social is a powerful social media management solution for larger teams. It works best for Larger teams and Social media managers.
This comparison covers pricing, key strengths and limitations, and what each tool does best to help you choose the right fit for your workflow.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Hootsuite | Sprout Social |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.3 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 |
| Pricing Model | Paid | Paid |
| Starting Price | $99/mo | $249/mo |
| Category | Social Media Management | Social Media Management |
| Free Plan | ✗ No | ✗ No |
Pros & Cons
Hootsuite
Pros
- Streams dashboard allows real-time monitoring of mentions, keywords, hashtags, and conversations across networks
- OwlyWriter AI assists with post creation, caption generation, and content ideation inside the platform
- Supports large-scale approval workflows with permissions tailored for multi-team organizations
- Extensive app marketplace expands functionality through third-party integrations
Cons
- Pricing is significantly higher than most SMB-oriented social media tools
- Interface can feel overwhelming due to the number of available modules and dashboards
- Lower-tier plans have restrictive limits on users and social accounts
Sprout Social Pros
- Smart Inbox consolidates messages, comments, and mentions from multiple platforms into a single view
- Advanced social listening tools help track brand sentiment and industry conversations
- Highly detailed reporting suite includes competitor benchmarking and audience insights
- CRM-style contact profiles provide historical engagement data for individual users
Cons
- One of the most expensive social media management platforms on the market
- Many premium analytics and listening features require higher-tier plans
- May be excessive for solo creators or small businesses with simple publishing needs
Who Is It For?
Hootsuite is best for
- Enterprise-grade marketers
- Social media marketing teams
- Management dashboard users
- Social media managers
Sprout Social is best for
- Larger teams
- Social media managers
- Social media marketing agencies
- Team collaboration managers
Which Tool Should You Choose?
Choose Hootsuite if…
- Enterprise-grade marketers
- Social media marketing teams
- Management dashboard users
- Social media managers
Choose Sprout Social if… - Larger teams
- Social media managers
- Social media marketing agencies
- Team collaboration managers
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hootsuite better than Sprout Social?
Sprout Social scores 4.6/5 vs Hootsuite's 4.3/5 in our editorial ratings, making it the higher-rated option overall. Sprout Social is especially strong for Larger teams.
Which is cheaper, Hootsuite or Sprout Social?
Hootsuite starts from $99/mo. Sprout Social starts from $249/mo. Neither tool offers a free plan — visit each pricing page for current rates.
What is the main difference between Hootsuite and Sprout Social?
Hootsuite is an enterprise-grade social media marketing and management dashboard. Sprout Social is a powerful social media management solution for larger teams. The key distinction is focus: Hootsuite is best suited for Enterprise-grade marketers, while Sprout Social works better for Larger teams.
Verdict
Recommended choice
Sprout Social
Based on our editorial ratings, Sprout Social scores higher (4.6/5 vs 4.3/5). Sprout Social is particularly well-suited for Larger teams. That said, Hootsuite remains a strong choice if enterprise-grade marketers is your priority.