Hootsuite is a well-known social media management platform used by many social media managers to schedule content, track engagement, and handle social media monitoring.
But if you are focused on one channel, Hootsuite might feel too complex, or too expensive, for what you really need. The plan starts at $149/month, and there is no free plan.
There are simpler, more affordable tools that offer better features for your social media, easier workflows, and enough advanced options without the overwhelm.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the top 5 Hootsuite alternatives that can help you manage, and grow on social media.
Quick Look at the Best Hootsuite Alternatives
- Podawaa: Perfect if you want to boost your LinkedIn posts with real likes and comments from a targeted audience.
- Buffer: Great for scheduling across multiple platforms with a clean, beginner-friendly interface.
- Sprout Social: Best for those who want advanced analytics and smart inbox features to manage replies and track performance.
- Later: Suitable for visually planning your content calendar with drag-and-drop scheduling and media organization.
- SocialPilot: A budget-friendly choice with strong bulk scheduling and solid LinkedIn and Google Business Profile support.
5 Hootsuite Alternatives in 2025
Here are 5 social media management tools that can give you more value, easier LinkedIn features, or a simpler experience for your social media marketing.
1. Podawaa - Forever Free Plan
If you're focusing on LinkedIn and want to get more visibility on your posts, Podawaa is a smart and simple tool that can help.
Unlike Hootsuite, which covers many platforms, Podawaa is built just for LinkedIn. That means all its features are designed to help you grow on one specific channel.
With Podawaa, you can schedule posts, get more engagement, and track how well your content is performing.
If you’re a LinkedIn creator or someone trying to build a stronger professional presence, this is one of the best Hootsuite alternatives out there. Try Podawaa for Free!
Key Features
- Boost Your LinkedIn Posts with Real Engagement: Depending on the plan you choose, Podawaa helps you boost your LinkedIn posts with likes and comments from real users. These interactions come from a targeted audience, so your post feels natural and gains more visibility on the platform.
- Choose Your Audience by Language: You can select your preferred languages, like English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese, and Podawaa will adjust your audience to match. This way, the people engaging with your content are more likely to understand and relate to your message.
- Add Relevant Comments to Your Posts: You can customize the type of comments you want on each post. Real people add these comments, and they’re related to your post’s topic, so they feel authentic and useful, not random.
- Private Mode: If you’d rather not automatically like or comment on other people’s posts, you can turn on Private Mode. This gives you more control while still allowing others to support your content. It’s perfect if you want the benefits of the tool but prefer a quieter approach.
Pricing
Podawaa offers several pricing options depending on how much engagement you need:
- Free Plan: Includes 2 boosts per month, with basic likes and comments.
- Pro Engage: €14.99/month: 20 boosts/month, with up to 50 likes and 20 comments per post.
- Elite Engage: €49.99/month: 90 boosts/month, with up to 100 likes and 50 comments per post.
- Agency Gold: €199.50/month: Unlimited boosts, up to 250 likes, and unlimited comments.
Social Media Platforms Supported
LinkedIn-only. Podawaa doesn’t support Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, so if you're looking for a tool just for LinkedIn, this is a focused alternative to Hootsuite.
2. Buffer
If you want a tool that’s easy to use and helps you stay active in your social media strategy, Buffer is a great option.
It’s especially useful if you're a small business or a solo creator who just wants to schedule posts without getting overwhelmed by too many advanced features.
Unlike Podawaa, which is LinkedIn-focused, Buffer supports several platforms, so it’s great if you’re trying to manage your full social media presence in one place.
Key Features
- Plan and Schedule Your Posts in Advance: You can set up posts ahead of time for all your connected social media accounts. Just pick a time, write your content, and Buffer will handle the rest.
- Simple Performance Insights: Buffer gives you basic analytics so you can see how your posts are doing. It's not overly complex, just enough to help you adjust your content strategy as you go.
- Work With Your Team Easily: If you’re working with others, you can invite team members and set roles. That way, everyone knows who’s posting what, and you keep things organized.
- Support for LinkedIn Company Pages: Whether you're posting from a personal profile or a company page, Buffer has you covered on LinkedIn.
Pricing
- Free Plan: Connect up to 3 social channels and schedule 10 posts per channel.
- Essentials: $6/month per month: Unlimited posts, extra tools, and insights.
- Team: $12/month per month: Adds team collaboration and more control over who can do what.
Social Media Platforms Supported
LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, X (Twitter), Pinterest
3. Sprout Social
If you're looking for social media tools that give you more data and help you stay on top of all your messages, Sprout Social might be the one for you.
It’s not just about scheduling posts, it also helps you understand what’s working, when to post, and how to stay connected with your audience in a more organized way.
Key Features
- Unified Inbox for All Your Messages: You can see all your messages, comments, DMs, replies, from different platforms in one single inbox. That means you don’t have to jump between apps to reply and keep conversations going.
- Detailed Insights About Your Posts: Want to know which posts are getting the most engagement? Or when your audience is most active? Sprout shows you all that, so you can post smarter and get better results.
- Keep Track of People You Interact With: You can build little profiles of people you’ve talked to before. This helps if you're chatting with the same people often, so you always have some context.
- Get Help With the Best Times to Post: Sprout will suggest the best times to share your content based on when your followers are most likely to see and interact with it.
Pricing
Sprout Social is on the pricier side, starting at $249/month per user. There’s no free plan, but they do offer a free trial if you want to test it out first.
Social Media Platforms Supported
LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, X (Twitter), TikTok, Pinterest, YouTube
If you want to know more about Buffer and how it compares with other competitors, we have an article about Buffer Alternatives.
4. Later
Later is another social media management platform. If you're someone who likes to see your social media posts laid out visually before they go live, Later could be a great fit for you.
It started as an Instagram scheduler but now supports multiple platforms, making it easier to manage your content all in one place.
Key Features
- Visual Content Calendar: Later offers a drag-and-drop calendar that lets you plan and schedule your posts by simply moving them around. This way, you can visualize how your content will appear over time.
- Media Library: You can upload and organize all your photos and videos in Later's media library. This helps you keep track of your content and makes scheduling posts quicker.
- Link in Bio Feature: Later provides a customizable "Link in Bio" page, allowing you to drive traffic from your social profiles to your website or other important pages.
- Hashtag Suggestions: When you're crafting a post, Later can suggest relevant hashtags to help increase your content's reach.
Pricing
Later offers several plans to suit different needs:
- Starter: $25/month: Includes 1 social set (one profile per platform), 1 user, and up to 30 posts per social profile.
- Growth: $45/month: Offers 3 social sets, 3 users, and up to 150 posts per social profile, along with social media analytics and additional features.
- Advanced: $80/month: Provides 6 social sets, 6 users, unlimited posts, and advanced tools for growing teams.
Social Media Platforms Supported
Instagram, Facebook, X (Twitter), Pinterest, TikTok, LinkedIn, YouTube
5. SocialPilot
If you're looking for a cost-effective way to manage multiple social accounts without compromising on features, SocialPilot could be a great fit.
It's designed to help you with social media scheduling, analyze performance, and engage with your audience, all from one place.
Key Features
- Schedule and Publish Posts Across Multiple Platforms: Plan your content in advance and have it automatically posted to various social media channels, saving you time and ensuring consistency.
- Bulk Scheduling: Upload and schedule up to 500 posts at once using a CSV file, making it easier to manage large volumes of content.
- Social Media Calendar: Visualize your scheduled posts in a calendar format, helping you keep track of your content strategy and make adjustments as needed.
- Analytics and Reporting: Gain insights into your social media performance with detailed reports, allowing you to understand what works and optimize your strategy.
- Team Collaboration: Invite team members, assign roles, and collaborate on content creation and scheduling, ensuring a smooth workflow.
Pricing
SocialPilot offers several pricing plans:
- Essentials: $30/month: Manage up to 7 social media accounts with 1 user.
- Standard: $50/month: Manage up to 15 accounts with 3 users, suitable for small teams.
- Premium: $100/month: Manage up to 25 accounts with 6 users, ideal for agencies handling multiple clients.
- Ultimate: $200/month: Offers full access to all features, making it ideal for larger teams and agencies.
All plans come with a 14-day free trial, so you can test the features before committing.
Social Media Platforms Supported
LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, Facebook, Bluesky, Google Business Profile.
Boost Your LinkedIn Profile with Podawaa
If you need more than just a scheduling tool, use Podawaa to boost your LinkedIn posts with real likes and comments, and see how your content performs with easy-to-read analytics.
You can try it for free and see the difference for yourself. Get started with Podawaa
FAQs About Hootsuite Alternatives
Does Hootsuite have a free plan?
Hootsuite does not offer a completely free plan. The lowest plan starts at around $149/month, which is why many users look for cheaper alternatives.
Which Hootsuite alternative is best for LinkedIn?
If LinkedIn is your main platform, Podawaa is your best option. It’s built specifically for LinkedIn and offers engagement pods, post scheduling, and performance tracking, all tailored for LinkedIn influencers and professionals.
Can I schedule posts on LinkedIn for free?
Yes, some tools like Buffer and Podawaa offer free plans that let you schedule LinkedIn posts. The features are limited on the free plan, but it’s a good way to test the tool before upgrading.
Is Sprout Social better than Hootsuite?
Sprout Social is more advanced when it comes to analytics, social listening, team collaboration, and inbox management. But it’s also more expensive than Hootsuite. If you need deeper insights and CRM-like features, Social Sprout might be a better fit.
Is Buffer or Hootsuite better?
Buffer is better for beginners or small teams looking for a clean, easy-to-use interface and affordable pricing. Hootsuite offers all the advanced features and supports larger teams but comes at a much higher cost.
Which tool is best for LinkedIn analytics?
Podawaa and Sprout Social offer solid LinkedIn analytics. Sprout is better for team-level reporting, while Podawaa helps individuals track post reach and engagement inside LinkedIn’s ecosystem.