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Hootsuite vs Sprout Social
What each one costs, which platforms each lists, and who each suits, read from their own pricing pages.
Last updated 30 September 2026
The short answer
Choose Hootsuite if
You run a large team or need enterprise features, listening, contracts and support.
Choose Sprout Social if
You run a larger team that needs an all-in-one suite and pays per seat.
Hootsuite vs Sprout Social at a glance
| Hootsuite | Sprout Social | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | None | None |
| Free trial | 14 days | 30 days |
| Platforms listed | Not listed on its pricing page | 8 |
| API and MCP | MCP listed | API listed |
| Approvals | Listed | Not listed on its pricing page |
| Inbox for comments and messages | Listed | Listed |
| Pricing page read | 30 September 2026 | 30 September 2026 |
How Hootsuite and Sprout Social differ
- Sprout Social's free trial is longer: 30 days against 14.
- Hootsuite's pricing page lists an MCP server for AI assistants; Sprout Social's doesn't mention one.
- Hootsuite's pricing page lists approval workflows; Sprout Social's doesn't mention one.
Hootsuite vs Sprout Social pricing
Hootsuite: Per user; the page's own FAQ gives the US-dollar starting prices. Sprout Social: Per seat, US dollars, billed yearly unless stated.
| Hootsuite | Sprout Social | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | None; a 14-day free trial, no credit card | None; a 30-day free trial, no credit card |
| Free trial | 14 days | 30 days |
| Hootsuite Standard / Sprout Social Essentials | From $99 per user a month; up to 10 social accounts, unlimited posts, AI posts and images, inbox | $79 per seat a month billed yearly, $99 billed monthly; 5 social profiles, inbox, Trellis AI agent |
| Hootsuite Professional / Sprout Social Standard | From $199 per user a month; unlimited social accounts, inbox automation, custom reports | $199 per seat a month, 5 social profiles |
| Hootsuite Advanced / Sprout Social Professional | From $399 per user a month; approvals, message routing, advanced analytics and listening | $299 per seat a month, unlimited social profiles |
| Hootsuite Enterprise / Sprout Social Advanced | Custom pricing | $399 per seat a month, unlimited profiles, the Sprout API, sentiment in the inbox |
Main plans shown. All Hootsuite plans · All Sprout Social plans · Sources: hootsuite.com/plans (read 30 September 2026) and sproutsocial.com/pricing (read 30 September 2026).
Platforms: Hootsuite vs Sprout Social
- Hootsuite's pricing page doesn't list its platforms.
Features: Hootsuite vs Sprout Social
| Hootsuite | Sprout Social | |
|---|---|---|
| AI | Wisdom AI assistant and MCP connectors on every plan | Not listed on its pricing page |
| API and MCP | Wisdom AI assistant and MCP connectors on every plan | Not listed on its pricing page |
| Team and approvals | Not listed on its pricing page | Not listed on its pricing page |
| Inbox | Yes, from Standard | Not listed on its pricing page |
| Analytics | Not listed on its pricing page | Not listed on its pricing page |
Questions
Is Hootsuite free?
There is no free plan on Hootsuite's pricing page; it lists a free trial (14 days). For comparison, Sprout Social: there is no free plan on Sprout Social's pricing page; it lists a free trial (30 days).
Is Sprout Social free?
There is no free plan on Sprout Social's pricing page; it lists a free trial (30 days). For comparison, Hootsuite: there is no free plan on Hootsuite's pricing page; it lists a free trial (14 days).
Do Hootsuite and Sprout Social support the same platforms?
Hootsuite's pricing page doesn't list its platforms; check its site. Its pricing page lists 8: Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, X, Threads, TikTok and Pinterest.
Does Hootsuite or Sprout Social have an API or MCP for AI assistants?
Hootsuite's pricing page lists an MCP server: Wisdom AI assistant and MCP connectors on every plan. Sprout Social's pricing page lists an API: see its pricing page for the plan.
What is the main difference between Hootsuite and Sprout Social?
Hootsuite suits you if you run a large team or need enterprise features, listening, contracts and support. Sprout Social suits you if you run a larger team that needs an all-in-one suite and pays per seat.
Is there an alternative to both Hootsuite and Sprout Social?
Yes. Dripost posts to Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, X and Threads, is priced per client with a free plan, lets clients approve from a link with no login, and gives you a link to every post once it is live.
We're not affiliated with Hootsuite and Sprout Social. Facts about them come from their own pricing pages, read on 30 September 2026, and may have changed since.