Social media schedulers

Hootsuite review

Bigger teams that need social listening, inbox and approvals at scale.

We check it out so you don’t have to.

Disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend things we believe are useful. Read our full disclosure.

What it is
Social media management
Best for
Larger teams, social listening
Price
$99 per user/mo billed annually (Standard), checked October 26, 2026
Prices checked
October 26, 2026

We researched Hootsuite's official pricing, plan terms, product pages and help documentation. We haven't used Hootsuite ourselves, so this is a research-based review, not a hands-on test.

Who it’s best for

  • Larger teams and businesses that manage many social accounts.
  • Teams that need approvals and collaboration.
  • Brands that want scheduling, an inbox and analytics in one tool.

Who should skip it

  • Probably not worth it for a solo creator on a small budget.

How it works day to day

This part draws on Hootsuite’s own product pages, help center and documentation, read October 26, 2026 (listed under Sources). We haven’t used Hootsuite ourselves.

Day to day, you schedule posts across accounts, reply to messages in one inbox and check analytics.

Key features in use

  • Calendar and scheduling.
  • Unified inbox.
  • Analytics.
  • Automation (Professional and up).
  • Approvals (Advanced).

Setup and learning curve

Start the trial, connect accounts and invite your team.

Integrations

Hootsuite has an app directory of integrations.

Support

Hootsuite has a help center and support.

Real-world use cases

  • A brand manages 20 accounts.
  • A team approves posts before publishing.
  • A manager reports on campaigns.

What it costs

Prices checked October 26, 2026, from Hootsuite’s own pricing page unless noted. Prices change often, so check the official page before you buy.

  • Standard: $99 per user a month billed annually. Up to 10 social accounts.
  • Professional: $199 per user a month billed annually. Unlimited social accounts and automation.
  • Advanced: $399 per user a month billed annually. Approvals and team collaboration.
  • Enterprise: custom. Free 14-day trial on paid plans.

What we like

  • Manage many accounts from one calendar.
  • Automation and unlimited accounts on Professional.
  • Approvals and teamwork on Advanced.
  • 14-day free trial.

What to watch for

  • Higher prices than many alternatives.
  • Per-user pricing.
  • Standard is limited to 10 accounts.

The fine print

  • Listed prices are per user, billed annually.
  • Features vary by plan.
  • Enterprise pricing is custom.

The main alternative: Buffer

Buffer is the closest alternative on price. It has a free plan for up to 3 channels and simple per-channel pricing.

What it costs: Free (3 channels); Essentials $5/mo per channel billed yearly, checked October 26, 2026

Read our full Buffer review · Hootsuite vs Buffer

Pick Hootsuite if you…

  • manage many accounts as a team.
  • need approvals and automation.
  • want an established tool.

Pick Buffer if you…

  • want a much lower price.
  • manage a few channels.

Our take

Hootsuite is a full-featured social media tool for teams, with automation and approvals. It costs more than most. If you manage a few channels, compare Buffer.

Side by side

CompanyBest forStarting priceTrial / refund
Hootsuite Larger teams, social listening$99 per user/mo billed annually (Standard), checked October 26, 202614-day trial
Buffer Simple scheduling for creatorsFree (3 channels); Essentials $5/mo per channel billed yearly, checked October 26, 2026Free plan, 14-day trial

From our company records. Check the official pages for current prices.

What we checked

  • Hootsuite's pricing page and plan terms, read October 26, 2026
  • Buffer's details: its pricing page, read October 26, 2026
  • Hootsuite's feature pages, help-center articles and integration pages, read October 26, 2026

Sources

Visit Hootsuite’s official site

How we review

We read the company's own terms, test the sign-up or booking steps where we can, and compare it with alternatives. A commission never changes what we write. Read our disclosure.

Disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend things we believe are useful. Read our full disclosure.