Hootsuite vs Sprout Social: Which is better in 2026?
A side-by-side comparison of pricing, features, and use cases to help you decide between Hootsuite and Sprout Social.
Hootsuite
Social media management platform for teams
From $99/mo
No free plan
Sprout Social
Enterprise social media management and analytics
From $249/mo
No free plan
Head-to-head comparison
| Feature | Hootsuite | Sprout Social |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $99/mo ✓ Cheaper | $249/mo |
| Free plan | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Pricing model | paid | paid |
| G2 rating | 4.2/5 | 4.4/5 ↑ |
| Capterra rating | 4.4/5 | 4.4/5 |
| Founded | 2008 | 2010 |
Hootsuite: pros & cons
Pros
- ✓Most established platform
- ✓Supports all major networks
- ✓Strong team features
- ✓Extensive integrations
Cons
- ✗Very expensive
- ✗UI feels dated
- ✗Free plan removed
- ✗Pricing increased significantly
Sprout Social: pros & cons
Pros
- ✓Best analytics of any social tool
- ✓Excellent reporting
- ✓Strong team features
- ✓Good social CRM
Cons
- ✗Very expensive
- ✗Per-seat pricing adds up fast
- ✗Overkill for small teams