Shortlist by what you need
Start here if you know why you are leaving Hootsuite.
Want the closest match?
VyondMost similar to Hootsuite in what it does, its category and its price.
Visit (opens Vyond in a new tab)Need a free plan?
BufferHas a free plan, rated 4.4 out of 5. Hootsuite has none.
Visit (opens Buffer in a new tab)Want to pay less than Hootsuite?
TailwindFrom $15/mo, against from $99/mo for Hootsuite.
Visit (opens Tailwind in a new tab)Want the best rated?
BirdeyeRated 4.3 out of 5 in our review, against 4.1 for Hootsuite.
Visit (opens Birdeye in a new tab)
At a glance
Green means better than Hootsuite, red means worse. Prices are starting prices per month.
| Tool | Our rating | Starts at | Free plan | Best for | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 HootsuiteBaseline | 4.1 | $99/mo | No | The category's original enterprise pioneer, with an extensive app ecosystem | |
| Vyond | 4.3+0.2 | $58/mo$41 less | No | The oldest tool in this category, pioneering animated explainer video since 2007 | vs Hootsuite |
| Tailwind | 4.3+0.2 | $15/mo$84 less | YesHootsuite has none | Pinterest's original scheduling pioneer, now extended with an AI design tool | vs Hootsuite |
| Buffer | 4.4+0.3 | $5/mo$94 less | YesHootsuite has none | One of the category's original tools, still known for radical simplicity | vs Hootsuite |
| Birdeye | 4.3+0.2 | Not listed | No | Leads with reviews across 200+ sites, plus healthcare, hospitality, and auto system integrations | vs Hootsuite |
 Sociality.io | 4.2+0.1 | $99/moSame price | No | Adds an MCP layer letting AI agents directly query social data, not just a dashboard | vs Hootsuite |
 Statusbrew | 4.3+0.2 | $69/mo$30 less | No | Explicitly matches Sprout Social and Hootsuite's features at a lower, fixed price | vs Hootsuite |
 Sendible | 4.2+0.1 | $30/mo$69 less | No | Unlimited team members on every plan, plus password-free client onboarding | vs Hootsuite |
 Sprinklr Social | 4.2+0.1 | Not listed | No | Social is one module inside a much larger enterprise customer-experience suite | vs Hootsuite |
The alternatives in detail
In order of how closely each one matches Hootsuite.
Vyond
4.3$58/mo
vs Hootsuite$41 less+0.2
The oldest tool in this category, pioneering animated explainer video since 2007.
- Operating since 2007, the oldest tool in this entire category
- Originally launched as GoAnimate before rebranding to Vyond
- Animated, cartoon-style explainer and training video specialization
Longest operating history of any tool in this entire category
No free plan to test before committing
Tailwind
4.3$15/mo
vs Hootsuite$84 less+0.2Free plan
Pinterest's original scheduling pioneer, now extended with an AI design tool.
- Original, most established third-party Pinterest scheduling tool
- Tailwind Create generating on-brand graphic variations automatically
- Free tier for standard use
Deepest Pinterest-specific expertise of any tool in this category
Pinterest-first heritage matters less for brands not active on that platform
Buffer
4.4$5/mo
vs Hootsuite$94 less+0.3Free plan
One of the category's original tools, still known for radical simplicity.
- Among the first tools to popularize the social-scheduling category itself
- Deliberately simple, clean interface maintained across years of growth
- Free tier for a limited number of channels
Long-standing reputation for simplicity even as competitors add complexity
Less feature depth than larger suites built for bigger organizations
Birdeye
4.3Not listed
vs Hootsuite+0.2
Leads with reviews across 200+ sites, plus healthcare, hospitality, and auto system integrations.
- Review generation, monitoring, and response across 200+ sites
- Industry-specific integrations: PMS, EHR, POS, and DMS systems
- Formal Google partnership for local-business visibility
Reviews-first structure suits reputation-sensitive multi-location businesses directly
Pricing isn't published, requires a sales conversation
Sociality.io
4.2$99/mo
vs HootsuiteSame price+0.1
Adds an MCP layer letting AI agents directly query social data, not just a dashboard.
- Model Context Protocol layer for direct AI-agent access to social data
- Traditional dashboard for publishing, engagement, and reporting also included
- Operating since 2017
MCP layer is a genuinely forward-looking capability few competitors offer yet
Among the higher entry prices in this category
Statusbrew
4.3$69/mo
vs Hootsuite$30 less+0.2
Explicitly matches Sprout Social and Hootsuite's features at a lower, fixed price.
- Explicit feature-parity positioning against Sprout Social and Hootsuite
- 230+ tracked analytics metrics with 18-month data backfill
- Statusbrew MCP for AI-agent-triggered platform actions
Explicit feature-parity claim against category leaders at a lower price
No free plan to test before committing
Sendible
4.2$30/mo
vs Hootsuite$69 less+0.1
Unlimited team members on every plan, plus password-free client onboarding.
- Unlimited team members included on every pricing plan
- Client Connect for password-free client account onboarding
- No free plan, paid access only
Unlimited seats on every plan avoids per-user pricing creep
No free plan to test before committing
Sprinklr Social
4.2Not listed
vs Hootsuite+0.1
Social is one module inside a much larger enterprise customer-experience suite.
- Social management as one module within a broader customer-experience platform
- Unified with customer service and marketing data across channels
- No free plan, paid access only
Unifies social with customer service and broader customer-experience data
No free plan to test before committing
FAQ
Questions people ask
Is Hootsuite free?
Hootsuite does not list a free plan. Paid plans start from $99/mo.
What is the best free alternative to Hootsuite?
Buffer is the highest-rated alternative here with a free plan (4.4 out of 5). Other free options: Tailwind.
What is the cheapest alternative to Hootsuite?
Among paid plans, Buffer has the lowest starting price (from $5/mo). If you need it free, start with Buffer.
How did you pick these alternatives?
We match tools on what they do, their category and their price, using the details in our directory. Ratings come from our reviews and reader reviews.