Sprout Social vs Hootsuite: Choose the Right Tool in 2024?

Feeling overwhelmed by the sheer number of social media management tools out there? You’re not alone.

Choosing the right platform could be tricky, especially when two giants like Sprout Social and Hootsuite are vying for your attention.

Both offer powerful features, but which one comes out on top?

In this post, we’ll break down the key differences between Sprout Social and Hootsuite to help you make an informed decision for your business.

Sprout Social vs Hootsuite: Overview

To give you the most accurate comparison, we’ve spent weeks testing both Sprout Social and Hootsuite.

We dug deep into their features, explored their pricing plans, and even put their customer support to the test.

Now, let’s see how they stack up!

What is Sprout Social?

Ever wish managing your social media felt less like a chore and more like, well, socializing?

That's the vibe I get with Sprout Social. It's a robust platform that goes beyond basic scheduling.

Think in-depth analytics, detailed reports, and even tools to monitor what people are saying about your brand in online.

Key Benefits

Sprout Social is known for its powerful features, including:

• Social Listening: Track brand mentions and industry trends. Stay ahead of the curve!
• Engagement Tools: Easily manage messages and comments across all your profiles. Take advantage of every chance to connect.
• Detailed Analytics: Go beyond vanity metrics. Understand what's really working (and what's not).
• Team Collaboration: Streamline workflows and approvals with built-in collaboration tools. Teamwork makes the dream work!

Pricing

Sprout Social offers a range of plans to suit different needs and budgets.

• Standard: Starts at $249 per month for 5 social profiles.
• Professional: Starts at $399 per month unlimited social profiles.
• Advanced: Starts at $499 per month for enhance by AI assist.
• Enterprise: Request a demo

What is Hootsuite?

Need a tool to wrangle all your social media accounts?

Hootsuite might be your new best friend.

Think of it as mission control for your social presence. It's been around for ages (since 2008!), and it's known for being super user-friendly.

Whether you're scheduling posts, tracking mentions, or diving into basic analytics, Hootsuite has you covered.

Key Benefits

• Content Curation: Easily find and share relevant content from across the web. Keep your audience engaged!
• Team Collaboration: Assign tasks, approve posts, and manage permissions with ease. Teamwork makes the dream work!
• Advanced Analytics: Dive deep into your social media performance with detailed reports. Track your progress like a pro.
• Social Listening: Monitor brand mentions and industry trends. Stay ahead of the curve.

Pricing

• Professional: Starts at $99 per month for unlimited post scheduling
• Team: Starting at $249 per month for link in bio, Automatic link tracking.
• Enterprise: Custom pricing, Advanced social listening.

Sprout Social vs Hootsuite: Feature Comparison

Ready for a head-to-head showdown? Let's compare Sprout Social and Hootsuite across seven key features that are very essential for any successful social media strategy.

Supported Social Media Platforms

Both Sprout Social and Hootsuite are social media management platforms that integrate with all the major social networks, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and YouTube.

However, Hootsuite edges out Sprout Social with a wider range of integrations, including TikTok, Reddit, and several others.

This makes Hootsuite a more versatile social media management tool if you're active on less mainstream social media platforms.

Social Listening Tools

Want to know what people are saying about your brand online?

Both platforms offer social listening tools, but Sprout Social's are more robust. You can track keywords, hashtags, and even specific profiles to get a comprehensive view of online conversations.

This is incredibly valuable for reputation management, identifying potential crises, and uncovering new opportunities.

While Hootsuite offers basic social listening tools, it provides a different depth of analysis than Sprout Social.

Publishing and Scheduling

Both social media management platforms offer robust publishing and scheduling features.

You can plan and schedule your social media campaigns weeks in advance, ensuring a consistent flow of content across all your channels.

Hootsuite allows for bulk scheduling, which is a major time-saver if you manage a high volume of content.

Sprout Social, on the other hand, focuses on optimizing your posting schedule based on when your audience is most active.

This makes it a powerful social media management tool for maximizing the reach of your social media campaigns.

Social Analytics and Reporting

Understanding the impact of your social media platforms efforts is crucial.

Both Sprout Social and Hootsuite provide in-depth social analytics and reporting features.

However, Sprout Social's reporting is more comprehensive and visually appealing, making it easier to extract actionable insights from your social media analytics.

You could track key metrics like engagement, reach, & impressions and even generate custom reports to share with your team.

Engagement and Inbox Management

Managing interactions across multiple social media platforms can be a challenge. Both tools provide a unified inbox to streamline engagement.

You could respond to comments, messages, and mentions all in one place. This is essential for efficient social media management and ensuring timely responses to your audience.

Sprout Social takes it a step further with features like automated responses and chatbots, helping you provide timely and efficient customer service.

Team Collaboration and Workflow

If you're working with a team, efficient collaboration is key to successful social media management.

Sprout Social excels in this area with features like task assignment, approval workflows, and shared content calendars.

This ensures everyone is on the same page and that your social media efforts are aligned with your overall marketing strategy.

While Hootsuite offers basic team management features as a social media management tool, it lacks the robust workflow tools found in Sprout Social.

User Interface and Experience

Both social media platforms have intuitive interfaces, but their approaches differ.

The Sprout Social dashboard is clean and modern, focusing on visual data representations to help you quickly assess your social media analytics.

Hootsuite, with its customizable social feeds and streams, offers a more traditional social media management feel.

Ultimately, the best choice depends on your personal preference and how you like to organize your social media efforts.

What to Look for When Choosing a Social Media Management Tool?

Choosing the right social media management tool could feel overwhelming. Here's a quick checklist to help you narrow down your options:

• Your Budget: Pricing varies wildly. Determine what you can realistically afford.
• Social Networks: Make sure the tool supports all the platforms you use.
• Team Size: Consider whether you need collaboration and workflow features.
• Analytics Needs: How deep do you need to dive into your social data?
• Customer Support: Look for responsive and helpful support channels.
• Ease of Use: Choose a tool that feels intuitive and easy to navigate.
• Unique Features: Consider any specific needs, like social listening or automation.
• Trial Periods: Most tools offer free trials. Take them for a test drive!

Final Verdict (Our Pick)

In the battle of Sprout Social vs. Hootsuite, Sprout Social emerges as the winner for businesses serious about maximizing their social efforts.

While Hootsuite is a user-friendly and affordable option, Sprout Social's advanced features, in-depth analytics, and robust project management capabilities give it a clear edge.

Remember it, the best choice depends on your specific needs & budget.

If you prioritize detailed insights, streamlined workflows, and efficient collaboration (even during business hours!), Sprout Social is the clear winner.

We've spent weeks testing these platforms so that you can trust our recommendation.

Ready to elevate your social media game?

Frequently Asked Questions