Is there a free alternative to Hootsuite?

Yes. Buffer offers a genuine free tier, which makes it the easiest Hootsuite alternative to try before you pay.

Why switch away from Hootsuite?

Hootsuite is a strong tool, but our full hands-on testing is still in progress. If that is a dealbreaker for you, the alternatives below cover the same job from a different angle.

How do you choose these alternatives?

Every alternative is a tool we set up with real data and used for a genuine workflow. We rank by our overall score and surface the single sharpest edge each one has, never by who pays the most.

Social Media

Best Hootsuite alternatives

Q: What is the best alternative to Hootsuite?

Buffer is our top Hootsuite alternative. Unlike Hootsuite, Buffer ships a genuine free tier, so you can start without a card and only pay once it earns it. It scores 4.4 in our testing.

We put Hootsuite head to head with the 6 closest rivals we have tested, so you can switch on evidence, not a hunch.

Read our Hootsuite review

Why people look elsewhere

Where Hootsuite can fall short

Our full hands-on testing is still in progress

Pricing can climb on higher tiers

Ranked by our testing

6 alternatives worth your time

Buffer

4.4

Simple, affordable social scheduling.

Free planFrom $5/moFree tier

Unlike Hootsuite, Buffer ships a genuine free tier, so you can start without a card and only pay once it earns it.

Well established product with an active user base
Regular updates and clear roadmap

4.4

Our score

Try Buffer Read review

Metricool

4.4

Scheduling and analytics across every network.

Free planFrom $22/moFree tier

Unlike Hootsuite, Metricool ships a genuine free tier, so you can start without a card and only pay once it earns it.

Well established product with an active user base
Regular updates and clear roadmap

4.4

Our score

Try Metricool Read review

Typefully

4.4

Write and schedule threads for X and LinkedIn.

Free planFrom $12.50/moFree tier

Unlike Hootsuite, Typefully ships a genuine free tier, so you can start without a card and only pay once it earns it.

Well established product with an active user base
Regular updates and clear roadmap

4.4

Our score

Try Typefully Read review

Publer

4.3

Bulk scheduling with AI assistance.

Free planFrom $12/moFree tier

Unlike Hootsuite, Publer ships a genuine free tier, so you can start without a card and only pay once it earns it.

Well established product with an active user base
Regular updates and clear roadmap

4.3

Our score

Try Publer Read review

Later

4.2

Visual planning built for Instagram-first brands.

Free planFrom $25/moFree tier

Unlike Hootsuite, Later ships a genuine free tier, so you can start without a card and only pay once it earns it.

Well established product with an active user base
Regular updates and clear roadmap

4.2

Our score

Try Later Read review

Sprout Social

4.2

Premium social management for bigger teams.

Higher ratedFrom $199/moPaid only

Sprout Social edges out Hootsuite in our testing, scoring 4.2 to 4.0 overall.

Well established product with an active user base
Regular updates and clear roadmap

4.2

Our score

Try Sprout Social Read review

Side by side

Hootsuite vs the alternatives

Tool	Our score	From	Free tier	Best for
HootsuiteYou have	4.0	$99/mo	No	The veteran all-in-one social management suite.
Buffer	4.4	$5/mo	Yes	Simple, affordable social scheduling.
Metricool	4.4	$22/mo	Yes	Scheduling and analytics across every network.
Typefully	4.4	$12.50/mo	Yes	Write and schedule threads for X and LinkedIn.
Publer	4.3	$12/mo	Yes	Bulk scheduling with AI assistance.
Later	4.2	$25/mo	Yes	Visual planning built for Instagram-first brands.
Sprout Social	4.2	$199/mo	No	Premium social management for bigger teams.

Our pick

Switch to Buffer

Unlike Hootsuite, Buffer ships a genuine free tier, so you can start without a card and only pay once it earns it. It is the Hootsuite alternative we recommend first for most people.

Try Buffer Compare them side by side

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Affiliate disclosure: We may earn a commission if you buy through the links on this page, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend tools we have tested, and commissions never change our scores or rankings. We currently track 218+ tools, including 9 across Social Media.