Why not use Hootsuite?

If you are on a tight budget, Hootsuite is likely not for you. The steep learning curve and enterprise-focused features (like advanced social listening) might be unnecessary distractions if your primary goal is just posting pictures to Instagram or Pinterest.

What replaced Hootsuite?

For many small businesses, affordable tools like Later, Buffer, or Metricool have replaced Hootsuite. These platforms offer essential scheduling and analytics at a fraction of the cost, often providing a more modern, intuitive user interface for visual content.

What is the difference between Hootsuite and Later?

Hootsuite focuses on management, listening, and text-based updates across many channels. Later specializes in visual content, offering a "Linkin.bio" tool and a media-centric calendar. Later is generally friendlier and cheaper ($16.67/mo vs $99/mo) for B2C brands on Instagram.

When to use later vs latter?

"Later" refers to time (e.g., "I will do it later"). "Latter" refers to the second of two things mentioned (e.g., "Between tea and coffee, I prefer the latter"). It's a common confusion, but distinct in meaning!

What app is better than later?

If you need deeper analytics or writing assistance, Hootsuite or Sprout Social might be "better" functionality-wise. However, for pure visual scheduling on a budget, Buffer or Planable are strong contenders depending on your workflow needs.

What does later vs after mean?

"Later" is an adverb or adjective indicating a time in the future. "After" is usually a preposition or conjunction indicating sequence (e.g., "after lunch"). You say "See you later," but "See you after the movie."

What does later vs late mean?

"Late" means behind schedule or near the end of a period. "Later" is the comparative form, meaning at a subsequent time. Being "late" is often negative; doing something "later" is just scheduling.

What's an alternative to Hootsuite?

Later is a fantastic alternative for visual brands. Other strong options listed in our data include Buffer, Sprout Social, and Metricool. Your choice depends on whether you value visual planning (Later) or deep data reporting (Sprout).

Hootsuite vs Later: Best Social Media Tools in 2025?

by Fahim Joharder | Last updated Jan 24, 2026

Winner

4.5

Publish & Schedule
Social Media Analytics
AI Content Creation
Engagement Tools
Social Advertising
Free Trial Available
Paid Plans from $99/month

TRY NOW

Runner Up

3.0

Calendar
Media Library
Conversations
Analytics
Linkin in bio
Free Trial Available
Paid Plans from $16.67/month

TRY NOW

Need to up your social media game but feeling overwhelmed by all the tools out there?

Two of the biggest names are Hootsuite and Later.

Both help you schedule posts and manage your accounts, but which one is the best fit for you in 2025?

In this post, we’ll break down the key differences between Hootsuite and Later, comparing their features, pricing, and ease of use.

Let’s get started!

Overview

We didn’t just read about these platforms; we got our hands dirty!

We spent weeks scheduling posts, analyzing data, and exploring every nook and cranny of Hootsuite and Later to bring you this detailed comparison.

4.5out of 5

Want an affordable way to manage all your social media in one place? Start your free 30-day Hootsuite trial!

Pricing: 30 days free trial available. Paid plan Starts at $99/month

Key Features:

Wide range of integrations
Bulk scheduling capabilities
Simple content creation tools

Try Hootsuite For FREE Read Full Review

3out of 5

Later’s visual planner and Best Time to Post feature help you get the most out of your content. Explore it’s features today!

Pricing: It has a free trial. Paid plan Starts at $16.67/month

Key Features:

Visual Planner
Best Time to Post
Linkin. bio

Try Later for FREE Read Full Review

What is Hootsuite?

Hootsuite is like the veteran in the social media management world.

It’s been around forever, and tons of businesses rely on it. Why?

Because it’s powerful and packed with features to help you manage all your social stuff in one place.

Also, explore our favorite Hootsuite alternatives…

Our Take

Take control of your social media chaos and streamline your workflow. Explore Hootsuite and discover how it can simplify your social media management.

Try Hootsuite For FREE Read Full Review Hootsuite alternatives

Key Benefits

Stay organized with streams: Monitor multiple social feeds, hashtags, and keywords in real time.
Never miss a message: Manage all your social conversations from a unified inbox.
Amplify your impact: Boost your top-performing posts directly within the platform.
Collaborate seamlessly: Assign tasks, approve content, and manage permissions across your team.
Get the big picture: Track your progress with comprehensive analytics and custom reports.

Pricing

Hootsuite offers a limited free plan for basic needs.

Professional ($99/month): Unlimited post scheduling, Best time to post recommendations, Competitive benchmarking tool.
Team ($249/month): for three users with 20 social accounts.
Enterprise Custom: Start with five users and 50 social accounts.

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Pros

Wide range of integrations.
Easy to publish.
Great for team collaboration.
Reliable & well-established.
Customer support.

Cons

Can be expensive.
Analytics can be basic.
Limited content curation features.

Try Hootsuite For FREE

What is Later?

Later is like the cool, visual kid on the social media block.

It’s known for its awesome visual planner and focus on Instagram, but it works with other platforms too.

If you’re all about making your social feed look amazing, Later is your new best friend.

Also, explore our favorite Later alternatives…

Our Take

Later is a great choice for businesses that prioritize visual content and Instagram marketing. It’s easy to use, affordable, and offers a range of features to help you create & schedule beautiful, engaging content.

Try Later for free Read Full Review Later aLTERNATIVES

Key Benefits

Features: Later offers scheduling, publishing, analytics, and a visual planner for creating and previewing your social media content.
Supported social networks: It integrates with Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and TikTok.
Ease of use: The interface is drag-and-drop and very visual, making it easy to plan and schedule your content.
Customer support: Later offers email and chat support, as well as a comprehensive help center.
Integrations: It connects with a few key tools, such as Canva, Unsplash, and Dropbox.
Scalability: Later offers plans for businesses of all sizes, from solopreneurs to large teams.

Try Later for free

Pricing

Later has a free plan with limited features. Paid plans start at $18/month and go up depending on the number of social profiles and users you need.

Starter: $16.67/month
Growth: $30/month
Advanced: $53.33/month

Try Later for free

Pros

Intuitive interface.
Visual planning.
Feature-rich.
Convenient mobile apps.
Free plan option.

Cons

Limited free features.
Pricey for some.
Advanced features have a learning curve.

Try Later for free

Feature Comparison

This comparison provides a quick review of Hootsuite and Later, two top social media management software options. We examine how they can meet your social media marketing needs and improve your overall social media strategy.

1. Target Audience and Focus

Hootsuite is a social media management solution built for large organizations and marketing teams managing multiple social media accounts. Its comprehensive features and scalability are designed to handle complex social media campaigns and various social media networks.
Later is a social media management platform that focuses on visual content, especially for Instagram posts. It is a social media management software that caters to individual social media users, content creators, and small businesses who prioritize a clean, user friendly interface and visual planning.

Hootsuite allows users to schedule social media posts & manage multiple personal social media accounts from a single dashboard. It supports a large variety of social media networks and provides extensive social media scheduling tools.
Later, a popular social media management app, is known for its visual content calendar with a drag and drop interface. It is particularly effective for visually planning Instagram posts and can schedule content across several social media platforms.

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3. Content Creation and Curation

Hootsuite offers content creation tools and a media library. Its focus is on streamlining social media efforts and providing a unified dashboard to manage social media tasks. It also has a hashtag suggestions feature.
Later excels at content curation and visual planning. It allows users to easily find and repost user generated content from social media channels. Its media library and hashtag suggestions tools are integral to its visual-first approach.

4. Team Collaboration

Hootsuite is known for its robust team collaboration features. It offers a variety of team collaboration tools, including complex approval workflows and the ability to assign tasks to different team members, making it ideal for a large social media team.
Later offers team collaboration features on its paid plans, with tools for getting content approved. While useful for small teams, its collaboration capabilities are not as extensive as Hootsuite’s robust team collaboration features.

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5. Analytics and Reporting

Hootsuite’s social media analytics capabilities are a key strength. It offers detailed reporting, including a competitive analysis feature and integration with tools like google analytics, to provide valuable insights into social media campaigns and overall social media strategies.
Later provides strong analytics, with a focus on post performance and audience engagement. It also offers hashtag analytics to track the effectiveness of your hashtags. However, its analytics are generally less comprehensive than Hootsuite’s in-depth reporting.

Hootsuite’s social media management solution includes advanced social listening features that help a social media manager or multiple social media managers track brand mentions and keywords across multiple networks. It also has a unified inbox to manage all social media engagement.
Later’s engagement tools are more basic, focusing on managing comments and direct messages from the social media management platform. It does not have the same level of social media monitoring or listening capabilities as Hootsuite.

Try Later for free

7. Supported Platforms and Integrations

Hootsuite supports a very wide range of social media networks and offers a large number of integrations with other marketing tools, including various app integrations for all your social media efforts.
Later focuses on several social media platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. It also offers a dedicated link in bio feature, social media calendar and supports the Google business profile.

8. User Interface and Ease of Use

Hootsuite is a powerful & successful social media marketing platform with several features, which can make its user interface seem cluttered and complex for new users.
Later is widely praised for its user friendly interface and clean design. Its simple and intuitive layout makes it one of the easiest social media tools to learn and use, especially for visual planning.

Try Later for free

9. Pricing and Plans

Hootsuite is typically a more expensive social media management platform, reflecting its focus on enterprise features and managing a large number of social media accounts. Its pricing tiers start at a higher point than Later.
Later offers more accessible pricing, with a free trial and affordable paid plans. Its pricing structure, based on social sets and post limits, makes it a budget-friendly option for content creators and small businesses.

Choosing the right social media management tool can be a game-changer. Here are some extra factors to consider:

Customer Support: What kind of support does the platform offer? Do they have helpful resources, responsive customer service, and a knowledgeable support team?
Integrations: Does the platform integrate with other tools you use, like your CRM, email marketing platform, or analytics dashboards?
Mobile App: Do you need to manage your social media or multiple social media networks on the go? Check if the platform has a mobile app that meets your needs.
Security: How secure is the platform? Do they have strong security measures in place to protect your accounts and data?
Scalability: Can the platform grow with your business? Will it still meet your needs as your social media presence expands?

By considering these factors, you can choose a social media management tool that helps you achieve your goals and streamline your workflow.

Final Verdict

So, which platform takes the crown? It’s a tough call, but we’re leaning towards Hootsuite!

It’s the more powerful of the two social media management tools, especially if you manage multiple social media platforms.

Hootsuite gives you more control over scheduling and offers in-depth analytics to track your social media performance.

While Later is great for visual planning and Instagram.

Hootsuite is better for managing a complex social media platform strategy across various networks.

We’ve tested both platforms extensively so that you can trust our judgment. If you’re serious about social media, Hootsuite is the way to go!

Try Hootsuite For FREE Read Full Review Hootsuite alternatives

Try Later for FREE Read Full Review Later alternatives

More of Hootsuite

Hootsuite vs Sprout Social: It’s standout feature is its robust project management and in-depth analytics for large teams.
Hootsuite vs Metricool: It’s standout feature is its focus on a more user-friendly interface and team collaboration.
Hootsuite vs SocialPilot: It’s standout feature is its comprehensive scheduling and valuable features for multi-location brands and agencies.
Hootsuite vs Sendible: It’s standout feature is its agency-focused design with custom dashboards and white-label reporting.
Hootsuite vs Content Studio: It’s standout feature is its powerful content discovery and curation tools for creators.
Hootsuite vs Heropost: It’s standout feature is its AI writing assistant and ability to create branded short links.
Hootsuite vs Agorapulse: It’s standout feature is its unified social inbox and transparent, user-friendly approach to customer support.
Hootsuite vs Zoho Social: It’s standout feature is its SmartQ predictions for optimal scheduling and a highly user-friendly interface.
Hootsuite vs Buffer: It’s standout feature is its simplicity and ease of use, making it ideal for small businesses.
Hootsuite vs Sprinklr: It’s standout feature is its advanced social listening and deeper customer engagement capabilities for enterprises.
Hootsuite vs Later: It’s standout feature is its visual-first approach, especially for Instagram, with its visual planner and Linkin.bio.
Hootsuite vs Loomly: It’s standout feature is its daily post inspiration and a streamlined, collaborative content approval workflow.
Hootsuite vs Blaze: It’s standout feature is its AI-first approach, specializing in creating high-quality AI images and content.
Hootsuite vs Planable: It’s standout feature is its focus on intuitive collaboration and an in-depth, visual content planning process.

More of Later

Later vs Sprout Social: It offers comprehensive social listening and advanced analytics, making it a more robust, but complex tool.
Later vs Metricool: It offers broader analytics and ad management.
Later vs Socialpilot: It supports more platforms and has a social inbox.
Later vs Sendible: It has robust collaboration and reporting.
Later vs Content Studio: It excels in content discovery.
Later vs Heropost: It uses AI for content creation.
Later vs Agorapulse: It offers strong social listening.
Later vs Zoho Social: It integrates with the Zoho suite.
Later vs Buffer: It is known for its simplicity.
Later vs Sprinklr: It is an enterprise-level platform.
Later vs Loomly: It focuses on team content workflows.
Later vs Blaze: It depends on Blaze’s specific features.
Later vs Hootsuite: It is a more comprehensive tool with a wider range of platform integrations and in-depth analytics.
Later vs Planable: It is a collaboration-first tool, with a strong focus on content approval workflows for teams

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Later and Hootsuite?

Hootsuite is a comprehensive, enterprise-grade powerhouse for text-heavy platforms and support teams, starting at $99/month. Later is visually driven, perfect for Instagram/TikTok content and much more affordable at roughly $17/month. Choose Hootsuite for data depth; choose Later for visual scheduling.

Is Hootsuite not free anymore?

Hootsuite effectively phased out its popular free plan in favor of limited free trials and paid tiers. The current data indicates the entry-level “Standard” plan starts at $99/month, making it a premium choice rather than a free entry point for hobbyists.

What are the disadvantages of Hootsuite?

The biggest drawback is the price—it’s significantly more expensive than most competitors. The interface can also feel cluttered due to the sheer volume of features. It’s often overkill for small businesses or solo creators who just need simple scheduling tools.

Is Buffer or Hootsuite better?

Buffer is better for solo users and small teams wanting simplicity and low cost. Hootsuite is better for large organizations needing complex reporting, social listening, and integrated customer support workflows. It comes down to complexity versus ease.

Who is Hootsuite competition?

Major competitors include Sprout Social for enterprise needs, Buffer for small businesses, and Later for visual-first brands. Zoho Social and Metricool are also strong contenders. Each serves a specific niche, with Hootsuite fighting primarily on the comprehensive management front.

What to use instead of Hootsuite?

Consider Later if you focus on visuals and have a tighter budget ($16.67/mo). Look at Buffer for simplicity, or Sprout Social if you want a high-end alternative with different features. Metricool is also a rising favorite for comprehensive analytics at a lower price point.

Is Hootsuite the best scheduler?

It is arguably the best for large teams requiring deep analytics and social listening. However, for visual-first creators or small brands, it isn’t the “best” value. Later or Buffer often win on ease of use, visual planning interfaces, and price.

More Facts about Hootsuite and Later

General Differences

Hootsuite is a tool that helps both people and businesses manage all their social media accounts from a single screen. It was one of the first tools to do this.
Later is a tool for planning and posting content on apps like Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and X (formerly Twitter).
Hootsuite is best for big companies or agencies that manage many brands and need to see a lot of data at once.
Later is best for smaller teams, influencers, or creators who care most about how their posts look on Instagram and TikTok.
Hootsuite lets you view multiple social media feeds on one screen so you can see everything happening in real time.

Features and Tools

Hootsuite connects with over 100 other apps (like Google Business Profile) to give you more tools.
Later has a special tool called Linkin bio that turns Instagram pictures into clickable links so people can buy products on your website.
Hootsuite has a “Social Inbox” that lets you reply to messages from all your social networks in one place.
Later is very good for visual planning. It has a calendar where you can drag and drop photos to see how they will look before you post them.
Hootsuite lets you upload a large list of posts all at once (bulk uploading). This is very helpful if you are moving from a different tool.
Later has tools to help you find and work with influencers (popular people online) for marketing campaigns.
Hootsuite can analyze your past posts to tell you the exact best time to post new content.
Later lets you tag products in your posts so people can shop directly from Instagram.
Hootsuite lets you turn a regular social media post into an advertisement without leaving the tool.
Both tools let you use Canva to design graphics, but Hootsuite lets you edit them and add them to your post very easily.

Pricing and Plans (2026 Estimates)

Hootsuite is generally more expensive. Their plans usually start around $149 per month.
Later is more affordable. Their plans usually start around $25 per month.
Hootsuite’s “Team” plan costs about $399 per month and lets you have 20 social accounts. (Note: The Enterprise plan is custom-priced and costs more than this.
Later’s “Growth” plan is about $45 per month and lets you post more often.
Hootsuite offers a 30-day free trial so you can test it out.
Later offers a 14-day free trial.
If you pay for a full year at once, Hootsuite usually gives you 20% off, while Later often offers a deal that’s equivalent to 4 months free.

Support and Help

Hootsuite has support available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This is great for businesses that work in different time zones.
Later lets users on all plans ask questions through a chat system, but their most expensive plan guarantees a reply from a human within 12 hours.
Hootsuite offers special training and consulting for its biggest “Enterprise” clients.
Both companies have online libraries and help centers where you can read articles to answer your own questions.