When it comes to managing your social media presence, choosing the right platform is crucial. Hootsuite and Sprout Social are two of the most popular social media management tools available. Both platforms offer a range of features to help businesses and individuals manage their social media accounts efficiently.
In this article, we will compare Hootsuite and Sprout Social to help you determine which platform is the best fit for your needs. So, whether you’re a small business owner looking to improve your social media presence or a social media manager handling multiple accounts, read on to find out which platform comes out on top.
Hootsuite: Pros and Cons
When it comes to social media management tools, Hootsuite is a popular choice. Here are some pros and cons of using Hootsuite:
Pros:
- Wide range of integrations: Hootsuite offers a wide range of integrations with other tools and platforms, making it easy to manage all aspects of your social media presence in one place.
- Powerful analytics: Hootsuite’s analytics tools are powerful and offer a lot of insights into your social media performance.
- Ease of use: Hootsuite is easy to use, with a simple and intuitive interface that makes it easy to get started.
- Affordable pricing: Hootsuite’s pricing is affordable, with plans starting at just $19 per month.
Cons:
- Limited customer support: Hootsuite’s customer support is somewhat limited, with no phone support available for lower-tier plans.
- Not as feature-rich as some competitors: While Hootsuite offers a lot of features, it’s not as feature-rich as some of its competitors, like Sprout Social.
- Can be overwhelming for beginners: Hootsuite’s many features and options can be overwhelming for beginners, who may find it difficult to navigate and use effectively.
Overall, Hootsuite is a solid choice for social media management, with a lot of powerful features and a relatively affordable price point. However, it may not be the best choice for everyone, especially those who are just starting out with social media management or who need more advanced features.
Sprout Social: Pros and Cons
When it comes to Sprout Social, there are several pros and cons to consider. Let’s take a closer look at some of its strengths and weaknesses.
Pros
- Competitive analysis: Sprout Social offers a suite of competitor analytics tools and reports that can help you uncover insights on your competitors. This can help you stay agile and competitive in your market.
- Ease of use: Sprout Social is known for its user-friendly interface and intuitive design. This makes it easy for teams to collaborate and manage social media accounts.
- Customer support: Sprout Social offers excellent customer support, with a dedicated team available 24/7 to answer questions and provide assistance.
- Visual reports: Sprout Social provides visually appealing reports that can help you track your social media performance and make data-driven decisions.
Cons
- Pricing: Sprout Social can be more expensive than some of its competitors, particularly for larger teams or businesses with multiple social media accounts.
- Limited integrations: While Sprout Social offers integrations with popular tools like Salesforce and Google Analytics, it may not have as many integrations as some other social media management platforms.
- Limited automation: While Sprout Social does offer some automation features, it may not have as many automation options as some other platforms. This could be a drawback for businesses looking to streamline their social media management processes.
Hootsuite vs Sprout Social: Features Comparison
When it comes to social media management tools, Hootsuite and Sprout Social are two of the most popular options available. Both platforms offer a range of features designed to help businesses manage their social media presence more effectively. In this section, we’ll compare the key features of Hootsuite and Sprout Social to help you decide which platform is right for your needs.
Post Scheduling
Both Hootsuite and Sprout Social allow you to schedule posts in advance, which can save you time and ensure that your content is published at the optimal time for your audience. However, there are some differences between the two platforms when it comes to post scheduling.
Hootsuite allows you to schedule posts across multiple social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. You can also create custom scheduling plans based on your specific needs. Sprout Social, on the other hand, only allows you to schedule posts for Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.
Social Media Engagement
Engaging with your audience is an important part of social media management, and both Hootsuite and Sprout Social offer tools to help you do this effectively. Hootsuite’s engagement features include the ability to like, comment, and share posts directly from the platform, as well as the ability to monitor and respond to comments and messages across multiple social media platforms.
Sprout Social’s engagement features include a unified inbox that allows you to manage all of your social media messages in one place, as well as the ability to monitor and respond to comments and messages across multiple platforms. Sprout Social also offers a feature called “Smart Inbox,” which uses machine learning to prioritize messages based on their importance.
Social Listening
Social listening is the process of monitoring social media channels for mentions of your brand, industry, or competitors. Both Hootsuite and Sprout Social offer social listening tools to help you stay on top of what’s being said about your business online.
Hootsuite’s social listening features include the ability to create custom streams that monitor specific keywords or hashtags. You can also set up alerts to notify you when your brand is mentioned on social media. Sprout Social’s social listening features include the ability to monitor brand mentions, as well as the ability to track industry keywords and hashtags.
Analytics & Reporting
Analytics and reporting are essential for measuring the success of your social media strategy. Both Hootsuite and Sprout Social offer comprehensive analytics and reporting tools to help you track your performance over time.
Hootsuite’s analytics features include the ability to track key metrics like engagement, reach, and audience growth across multiple social media platforms. You can also create custom reports to share with your team or clients. Sprout Social’s analytics features include the ability to track engagement, reach, and audience growth across multiple platforms, as well as the ability to create custom reports with drag-and-drop functionality.
Ease of Use
When it comes to social media management tools, ease of use is a crucial factor to consider. Both Hootsuite and Sprout Social have their strengths and weaknesses in this area.
Sprout Social has a reputation for being user-friendly, with an 8.9 score for ease of use on G2. Customers praise its intuitive interface and straightforward navigation. However, some reviewers have noted that the platform can be overwhelming due to its extensive features and customization options.
On the other hand, Hootsuite has a less intuitive interface, with some users finding it cluttered and difficult to navigate. However, it does offer a variety of customization options and integrations, allowing users to tailor the platform to their specific needs.
It’s worth noting that both platforms offer extensive resources and support to help users get started and troubleshoot any issues. Sprout Social provides personalized onboarding and training, while Hootsuite offers a comprehensive knowledge base and community forum.
Pricing Comparison
When it comes to pricing, Hootsuite and Sprout Social have different approaches. Hootsuite offers a range of plans that cater to businesses of all sizes, from small businesses to large enterprises. The plans start at $19 per month for the Professional plan and go up to $599 per month for the Business plan. The plans are based on the number of users and the features included.
On the other hand, Sprout Social has a more limited pricing model. They offer three plans: Standard, Professional, and Advanced. The Standard plan starts at $99 per user per month, while the Advanced plan costs $249 per user per month. The plans are based on the features included, and the number of users is not a factor.
While Hootsuite’s pricing is more flexible and can accommodate businesses of all sizes, Sprout Social’s pricing may work better for businesses with fewer users who don’t need all the features offered by Hootsuite.
Customer Support
When it comes to customer support, both Hootsuite and Sprout Social offer various options to their users.
Hootsuite provides 24/7 support through email, phone, and live chat. They also have a Help Center with articles, videos, and webinars that cover a wide range of topics. Additionally, Hootsuite offers a social media certification program that includes training and support to help users become social media experts.
Sprout Social also offers 24/7 support through email, phone, and live chat. They have a Help Center with articles, videos, and webinars that cover a wide range of topics. In addition, Sprout Social has a dedicated Customer Success team that provides personalized support to help users achieve their social media goals.
Both platforms have received positive reviews for their customer support. However, some users have reported longer wait times for Hootsuite’s live chat support compared to Sprout Social’s.
Integration Capabilities
When it comes to integration capabilities, both Hootsuite and Sprout Social offer a wide range of options to connect with other platforms and tools.
Hootsuite has over 150 integrations available, including popular platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram. It also offers integrations with other tools such as Salesforce, Google Analytics, and Adobe Analytics. Additionally, Hootsuite has an open API, which allows for custom integrations to be built.
Sprout Social offers integrations with over 20 platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. It also offers integrations with other tools such as Salesforce, HubSpot, and Google Analytics. Sprout Social also has an open API, which allows for custom integrations to be built.
Both platforms offer integrations with popular CMS platforms like WordPress and Drupal. Hootsuite also offers integrations with popular e-commerce platforms like Shopify and Magento, while Sprout Social offers integrations with customer service platforms like Zendesk and Help Scout.
User Reviews
We looked at user reviews for both Hootsuite and Sprout Social to get a better understanding of what real users think about these social media management tools.
On G2, Hootsuite has a rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars with over 4,000 reviews. Many users praise Hootsuite for its ease of use, robust features, and excellent customer support. However, some users have reported issues with the platform’s stability and occasional glitches.
Sprout Social has a slightly higher rating on G2, with 4.4 out of 5 stars and over 2,600 reviews. Users appreciate Sprout Social’s intuitive interface, comprehensive reporting, and excellent customer service. However, some users have noted that the platform can be expensive, especially for small businesses.
On Capterra, Hootsuite has a rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars with over 1,500 reviews. Users highlight Hootsuite’s scheduling capabilities, social listening tools, and integration options. However, some users have mentioned that the platform can be overwhelming for beginners.
Sprout Social also has a rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars on Capterra, with over 1,000 reviews. Users appreciate Sprout Social’s user-friendly interface, detailed analytics, and excellent customer support. However, some users have noted that the platform can be pricey, especially for small businesses.
Conclusion
After comparing Hootsuite and Sprout Social, we can see that both platforms have their strengths and weaknesses.
Hootsuite offers a wider range of features and integrations, making it a more comprehensive social media management tool. On the other hand, Sprout Social has a more intuitive and user-friendly interface, making it easier to use for beginners.
Ultimately, the choice between Hootsuite and Sprout Social will depend on your specific business needs and budget. We recommend evaluating both platforms based on your requirements and taking advantage of their free trials to see which one is the best fit for your team.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the key differences between Hootsuite and Sprout Social?
Hootsuite and Sprout Social differ in terms of the number of social media platforms they support, pricing, and features. Hootsuite supports more social media platforms than Sprout Social, but Sprout Social offers more advanced analytics and reporting features.
Hootsuite supports all major social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Sprout Social supports the same social media platforms as Hootsuite, but it also supports Pinterest and Google My Business.
