Hootsuite vs Sprout Social — Pricing, Plans, and Verified Costs (2026)
Hootsuite starts at $99/mo. Sprout Social starts at $249/mo. Hootsuite is $150/mo cheaper on the entry tier than Sprout Social.
See price history: Hootsuite · Sprout Social
The category-defining social media management platform, founded 2008 in Vancouver. Positioned as the enterprise-grade alternative to Sprout Social with deeper analytics + governance for regulated industries (banks, government, healthcare). Restructured 2026 into 'Hootsuite Social OS' with 5 modular products (Perch/Nest/Lumen/Wisdom/Parliament) and 4-tier subscription (Standard/Professional/Advanced/Enterprise). Wisdom AI included in every plan. Priced $99-$399/user/mo published, Enterprise custom. Under private equity ownership since 2019 (Vector Capital majority stake since 2024).
Social media management platform positioned as the modern, marketer-friendly alternative to Hootsuite — known for its polished UI + better analytics + Salesforce/Zendesk-tier support integrations. Distinctive for its Smart Inbox (unified message queue) and best-in-class reporting used by 34,000+ brands. Priced $199-$499/user/mo across Standard/Professional/Advanced tiers plus custom Enterprise. Public since 2019 (NASDAQ: SPT), $1.5B market cap. Acquired Tagger (influencer marketing) in 2023 and Repustate (AI/sentiment analysis) in 2022.
All plans compared
| Tier role | Plan | Hootsuite monthly | Hootsuite annual | Sprout Social monthly | Sprout Social annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry paid | Standard | $99 | $99 | $249 | $199 |
| Mid tier | Professional | $199 | $199 | $399 | $299 |
| Pro / power | Advanced | $399 | $399 | $599 | $499 |
| Enterprise | Enterprise | Custom | Custom | Custom | Custom |
Tier names differ across vendors. Rows are aligned by tier role, not name. Full tier structures on each tool's page.
What each is best for
Hootsuite is worth it if… marketing teams (3-100 people) managing 10+ social accounts across multiple brands or regions — particularly if you need approval workflows, compliance controls, or deep listening. Standard covers solo social managers (10 accounts); Professional unlocks unlimited accounts + trend forecasting; Advanced adds team collaboration + approvals; Enterprise adds SSO + compliance.
Sprout Social is worth it if… marketing teams (5-100 people) that treat social as a revenue channel and want modern UI + deep analytics + CRM integrations — particularly if Hootsuite feels dated. Standard covers small teams (5 profiles); Professional adds unlimited profiles + competitive reports; Advanced adds chatbots + sentiment analysis; Enterprise adds SSO and advanced permissions.
Bottom line: Similar positioning, closer to a preference call than a strategic one.
Choose Hootsuite over Sprout Social if…
Choose Hootsuite if…
- You're comfortable with Hootsuite's from $99/mo entry point.
- You match the profile Hootsuite is built for: marketing teams (3-100 people) managing 10+ social accounts across multiple brands or regions — particularly if you need approval workflows, compliance controls, or deep listening.
- You're building for healthcare.
Choose Sprout Social if…
- You're comfortable with Sprout Social's from $249/mo entry point.
- You match the profile Sprout Social is built for: marketing teams (5-100 people) that treat social as a revenue channel and want modern UI + deep analytics + CRM integrations — particularly if Hootsuite feels dated.
- You need a general-purpose marketing & email option rather than a vertical-specific one.
At a glance
| Hootsuite | Sprout Social | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No | No |
| Entry price | $99/mo | $249/mo |
| Enterprise available | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing model | — | — |
| Verification | Verified August 12, 2026 | Verified August 12, 2026 |
| Full pricing | View full pricing | View full pricing |
Pricing last verified September 18, 2026. Tracked daily.
Frequently asked questions
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Common questions about Hootsuite and Sprout Social
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- How much does Sprout Social cost in 2026?
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