Published on Apr 23, 2025 4 min read

5 Hootsuite Alternatives in 2025 That Take Social Media Management to the Next Level

If you're still using Hootsuite and wondering if it's time to switch, you’re not alone. Over the past year, many social media managers have sought tools with simpler dashboards, better pricing, and smarter automation. While Hootsuite once led the pack, several other platforms are catching up quickly—and some are even surpassing it.

If you're tired of juggling clunky features or paying for tools you never use, here are five Hootsuite alternatives worth trying in 2025. Each offers unique features that might perfectly fit your workflow.

The 5 Best Hootsuite Alternatives in 2025

Buffer – Still the Go-To for Simplicity

Buffer excels at making scheduling stress-free. If you don’t need all the bells and whistles and just want a clean interface to schedule, edit, and analyze posts, Buffer might be your best bet.

Its browser extension is a favorite for quickly sharing articles or creating drafts while browsing. You also get a visual queue, which neatly lines up your posts across channels, perfect if you prefer seeing your content plan in one spot.

Buffer may lack deep listening tools, but it compensates with a focus on ease. Pricing remains predictable, with no sudden jumps for adding profiles.

Sprout Social – Best for Teams Needing More Insight

Sprout Social caters to users managing social accounts at a higher scale. If you're part of a team that handles multiple clients or brands, Sprout’s collaboration tools stand out. You can assign tasks, tag content, and follow up without leaving the platform.

Sprout excels in reporting, providing analytics that offer context, not just numbers. If engagement drops, you gain insights into what happened and why.

While not the cheapest option, teams needing strong customer support, reliable features, and solid reporting find it worth the investment.

Later – A Visual Planner for Visual Brands

For industries like fashion, design, or travel—anything centered around visuals—Later is a strong contender. Originally Instagram-focused, it now supports TikTok, Facebook, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

Later’s standout feature is its drag-and-drop calendar. It allows post rearrangement, feed previews, and even story planning. For Instagram-first brands, visual planning is a game-changer.

Additionally, the LinkedIn.bio tool transforms your Instagram bio link into a mini landing page, quietly boosting traffic when utilized effectively.

Sendible – Built for Agencies

If you manage social media for several clients, Sendible might be your sanity saver. Designed with agencies in mind, each client gets a separate dashboard, preventing posting errors.

The content calendar is user-friendly, and the built-in image editor allows you to tweak posts without switching tabs. Approval workflows enable client content reviews before going live.

One of its strongest features is the smart inbox, consolidating messages from all channels into one place, ensuring no comments, tags, or DMs are missed.

Zoho Social – A Budget-Friendly Choice That Doesn’t Cut Corners

Though commonly associated with CRMs and office tools, Zoho Social is full-featured and budget-friendly, ideal for small businesses or solo marketers.

The interface is intuitive for Zoho users. From post-scheduling to keyword tracking, everything is logically placed. Integration with Zoho CRM is seamless, allowing you to track how social media interactions convert into leads.

Unlike many budget tools, Zoho Social offers detailed stats and custom reports, providing insights without requiring a "premium" plan.

Final Thoughts

Switching tools can be daunting, especially if you’re accustomed to a specific layout or workflow. However, sticking with what you know could mean settling for features you don’t need or missing out on ones you do. The good news is that each option here offers a free trial or demo, allowing you to test before committing. You don’t need to overhaul your process overnight. Simply choose the tool that aligns with your work style and proceed from there.

While Hootsuite remains a viable option for some, in 2025, it’s no longer the only player worth considering. These five alternatives prove that social media management can be both efficient and cost-effective.