Starts atFree trial · paid from $99/mo
- No free plan
- Free trial14 days, no card
Head-to-head
Hootsuite vs Sprout Social: which suite fits your team?
At a glance
Starts atEssentials from $79/seat/mo billed yearly ($99 monthly), 30-day trial
- No free plan
- Free trial30 days
Both are team suites, not solo-creator tools. Sprout Social has the cheaper entry seat: Essentials at $79/month billed yearly for 5 profiles. Hootsuite Standard starts from $99 per user but allows 10 social accounts. Neither has a free plan.
Quick verdict
- Choose Hootsuite if you need more than 5 accounts on the entry plan.
- Choose Sprout Social if you want the lowest entry seat price and a longer 30-day trial.
- Choose neither if you are one creator posting Shorts. Buffer or Later cost far less.
Side-by-side comparison
| Detail | Hootsuite | Sprout Social |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No. 14-day free trial | No. 30-day free trial, no card required |
| Entry plan | Standard: from $99 per user, 10 social accounts | Essentials: $79/seat/month billed yearly ($99 monthly), 5 profiles |
| Mid plan | Professional: from $199, unlimited accounts | Standard: $199/seat, 5 profiles |
| Upper plans | Advanced: up to $399. Enterprise: custom | Professional: $299, Advanced: $399, unlimited profiles. Enterprise: custom |
| Billing detail | FAQ does not say if "from" prices are monthly or yearly | Standard and up shown under annual billing |
| Trial limits | 10 to 20 posts a day per organization, no bulk scheduling | Not listed on Sprout's pricing page (Oct 2026) |
| Best for | Agencies with many accounts | Brands that want the cheapest seat to start |
For Shorts, TikTok and Reels
Both post to TikTok, Instagram and YouTube. The difference is cost per account. On Hootsuite Standard you get 10 accounts for one seat. On Sprout Essentials you get 5. If you run three brands on three platforms, that is 9 accounts: one Hootsuite Standard seat covers it, Sprout needs Professional.
How to choose
- Count your social accounts.
- Count the people who need a login. Both charge per user or seat.
- Up to 5 accounts and price matters most: Sprout Essentials.
- 6 to 10 accounts on one seat: Hootsuite Standard.
- Use the free trial on both before paying for a year.
Questions people search
Is Sprout Social cheaper than Hootsuite?
At entry level, yes: $79 per seat a month billed yearly vs Hootsuite's from $99 per user. Sprout's entry plan has 5 profiles, Hootsuite's has 10.
Does Hootsuite have a free plan?
No. Hootsuite offers a 14-day free trial with no card.
How long is the Sprout Social free trial?
30 days, no credit card required.
Related: Buffer vs Hootsuite, Hootsuite vs Metricool, Hootsuite alternatives.
Sources: hootsuite.com/plans, sproutsocial.com/pricing. Checked on 16 October 2026. Based on published plans and terms, not a hands-on test.