Sprout Social is a good social media software for social media managers or creators fortunate sufficient to have the funds.
But it surely’s on the pricier finish. Plans for solo customers begin at $99 per 30 days ($79 in the event you pay yearly), and plans for groups begin at $249 per consumer per 30 days ($199 in the event you pay yearly).
It’s little doubt cash effectively spent for giant social media advertising groups at enterprise corporations, however entrepreneurs at smaller corporations or creators must work arduous to justify that spend.
Fortunately, there are many different nice social media administration instruments on the market that may do the whole lot Sprout Social can do and extra — usually at a extra inexpensive value level and even at no cost. Value is one motive individuals look elsewhere, nevertheless it’s not often the one one.
Listed below are a number of price weighing:
- Funds: Instruments with per-user pricing can get pricey shortly.
- Analytics: The necessity for less complicated, extra easy social media analytics.
- Interface: Wanting a software that’s simpler to make use of at each step from producing content material concepts to creating studies.
- Platforms: Needing a social channel that’s not supported, resembling Substack.
- API and MCP: The power to shortly and simply construct customized workflows and instruments.
I’m a former Sprout Social consumer and social media marketing consultant, and I’ve been across the block with regards to social media administration and analytics platforms. If any of the above apply to you, I’ve received an amazing listing of Sprout Social options to share.
On this article, I’ll discover among the greatest, how a lot they price, and their standout options.
Key takeaways
- Greatest general worth: Buffer has an actual free-forever plan and pricing beginning at $6/channel per 30 days, making it the best choice for creators and small groups on the lookout for an inexpensive Sprout Social various.
- Greatest for enterprise groups: Hootsuite is the closest match to Sprout Social’s personal value level and complexity, constructed for giant, well-resourced advertising and assist groups that handle excessive message quantity via social channels.
- Greatest for proving return on funding (ROI): Agorapulse is constructed round reporting that exhibits management social spend is working.
- Greatest for Instagram-driven influencer advertising: Later pairs visible planning for Instagram with a devoted toolkit for operating influencer campaigns.
- Greatest for companies: Sendible is designed for managing a number of shoppers and social channels in a single place.
- Greatest for content material entrepreneurs: CoSchedule brings your weblog, publication, and occasions into the identical calendar as your social channels.
- Greatest for paid social: Metricool enables you to handle Meta, Google, and TikTok advert campaigns alongside your natural content material.
- Greatest for video creators: RecurPost’s Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok toolkit makes it the deepest possibility on this listing for groups constructed round video.
- Pricing actuality: Sprout Social’s workforce plan begins at $249/consumer per 30 days with no free plan — each various right here prices meaningfully much less.
Sprout Social options at a look
| Device | Greatest for | Beginning value |
|---|---|---|
| Buffer | Creators, small to mid-sized companies, and rising companies that desire a versatile, inexpensive social media administration software. | Free (paid plans from $6/channel/month) |
| Hootsuite | Massive groups that deal with many messages, feedback, and assist requests on social media. | 14-day free trial, then $149/consumer/month |
| Agorapulse | Advertising and marketing groups that want to offer ROI of social media to management. | 30-day free trial, then $99/consumer/month |
| Sendible | Businesses managing a number of shoppers and social media channels that want a extra inexpensive various. | 14-day free trial, then $35/month |
| CoSchedule | Creators and groups seeking to handle their total advertising technique from one platform. | Free (paid plans from $39/month) |
| Later | Manufacturers that mix an Instagram-heavy presence with influencer advertising campaigns. | Free (paid plans from $25/month) |
| Metricool | Creators and advertising groups that need to handle advert campaigns alongside their social media content material. | Free (paid plans from $25/month) |
| RecurPost | Creators and groups which have a video-heavy social media presence. | 14-day free trial, then $9/month |
The most effective Sprout Social options:
1. Buffer
Greatest for creators, small to mid-sized companies, and rising companies that desire a versatile, inexpensive social media administration software.
| Pricing data | Particulars |
|---|---|
| Free plan | ✅ |
| Paid plans | Beginning at $6/channel per 30 days (billed month-to-month) |
| Annual billing | 20% off on all paid plans |
| Free trial | ✅ 14 days |
I’m a long-time Buffer consumer, and regardless of what number of instruments I’ve tried, I maintain coming again to Buffer.
It gives a lot of the options creators, small groups, and companies want with out breaking the financial institution.
Buffer’s Free and Necessities plans are designed for one consumer to handle their total social media presence at an inexpensive price ticket.
Right here’s what you get on the Free plan, which makes it the most effective free options to Sprout Social obtainable:
- Select from a variety of social media channels: You may connect with all the most important social media platforms, together with Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Fb, Instagram, TikTok, Google Enterprise Profile, Pinterest, YouTube, Threads, and Bluesky. Buffer additionally connects with publication platform Substack and decentralized community Mastodon, one thing you’re unable to do with Sprout Social.
- Schedule as much as 30 posts at a time throughout three channels: Buffer’s Free plan enables you to plan and schedule as much as 10 posts per channel at a time (refillable as they’re revealed). That’s 30 posts able to go at any time moderately than the max you’re allowed. Crossposting makes it simple to draft a put up and customise it for various platforms from the composer itself.
- Construct a content material financial institution: Use Create House to avoid wasting as much as 100 content material concepts till you’re able to publish. Mix that with the template library (each pre-made and customized templates you may create for your self) and it’s possible you’ll by no means run out of concepts.
- Get analytics which are simple to grasp and act on: You’ll discover all of your information and analytics in Insights, which exhibits you the numbers and tells you what you are able to do with them. AI-powered takeaways assist you to double down on what’s working, and you may export a snapshot of your information to share your progress.
- Reply to your viewers: The Group inbox enables you to reply to feedback and mentions throughout all of your social media channels in a single place. You not have to hop between platforms or fear about lacking a notification.
- Create customized instruments and workflows with the API and MCP: You get one API key, detailed developer docs, assist from the Buffer workforce, and encouragement from a passionate builder group in Discord.
- Use Buffer’s AI Assistant: Creating sufficient content material for all of your social media profiles on a regular basis might be overwhelming, which is why our AI Assistant — obtainable with limitless utilization on the Free plan — helps take the load off.
- Useful integrations: Buffer connects with Canva, Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive and Images, Zapier, and extra. Connecting these instruments enables you to pull pictures into your posts with out leaving Buffer and automate components of your workflow so the whole lot works easily.
All of that is obtainable on the Free plan, which is actually free — no strings connected.
For those who’re a creator who wants greater than three social media accounts or superior options, Buffer’s Necessities plan begins at $6/channel per 30 days.
For those who’re not able to make the leap, Buffer gives a 14-day free trial on all plans so you may put each characteristic via its paces first.
Buffer is a good possibility for groups — whether or not that’s for a enterprise or company — because of the simple workforce collaboration options.
The Crew plan begins at $12/channel per 30 days. Right here’s what you are able to do with it:
- Add limitless customers at no further price: Every consumer has their very own login and permission ranges (extra on this under), which makes it simpler to maintain observe of who’s working the place.
- Set permission ranges for various customers: Select precisely who can put up or have interaction together with your viewers on every of your social media channels.
- Arrange approval workflows: With these totally different permissions, some workforce members might want to ask for approvals on their posts earlier than they’re revealed. This makes positive nothing goes out that isn’t speculated to and your (or your shoppers’) social media content material stays on level.
- Collaborate on concepts: The Create House is shared by all workforce members, so you may work collectively to refine concepts till they’re able to publish. You may also add customized templates to the template library for the entire workforce to make use of.
- Depart notes for workforce members: You may add feedback to posts which are in draft or pending approval mode. Crew members with entry to publishing options in that channel can learn the notes and reply, so all collaboration takes place in Buffer itself.
Collaboration options are distinctive to groups. For different publishing, analytics, and engagement options, the Crew plan enjoys increased limits and extra superior options like analytics exports in human- and AI-friendly codecs.
2. Hootsuite
Greatest for giant groups that deal with many messages, feedback, and assist requests on social media.
| Pricing data | Particulars |
|---|---|
| Free plan | ❌ |
| Paid plans | Beginning at $149/consumer per 30 days (billed month-to-month) for as much as 10 social channels |
| Annual billing | Between 20% and 34% off relying in your plan |
| Free trial | ✅ 14 days with some options restricted |
Hootsuite is one other highly effective social media administration platform. It’s just like Sprout Social in that it really works effectively for advertising groups, nevertheless it additionally comes at a excessive value level. It’s an amazing possibility for well-resourced groups that collaborate with others, like buyer assist and success groups.
Hootsuite permits you to publish and schedule content material for Fb, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X/Twitter, Threads, LinkedIn, Bluesky, and Pinterest. It additionally boasts greater than 100 apps and integrations — suppose Canva, Figma, Monday.com, HubSpot’s CRM, Zendesk, inventory picture websites, and extra.
The software additionally has some nice social listening options, approval workflows, bulk scheduling, and a unified social inbox that may mix public feedback and messages for a lot of the channels it helps.
The inbox has some neat workforce collaboration options. You may assign messages to a workforce member, depart notes for the subsequent one who takes over, create customized inboxes, and connect with assist instruments like Zendesk to create tickets straight out of your social conversations.
3. Agorapulse
Greatest for advertising groups that want to offer ROI of social media to management.
| Pricing data | Particulars |
|---|---|
| Free plan | ❌ |
| Paid plans | Beginning at $99/consumer per 30 days (billed month-to-month) for as much as 10 social channels |
| Annual billing | 20% off on all paid plans |
| Free trial | ✅ 30 days |
Agorapulse is just like Hootsuite in that it might be Sprout Social various for medium-to-large advertising groups.
Agorapulse connects with all the most important platforms, together with Fb, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn, X/Twitter, and Pinterest.
It has comparable options, too — an all-in-one inbox, deep analytics, sturdy reporting, approval workflows, and social listening instruments that may help you maintain your finger on the heartbeat (see what they did there?) of all of the conversations that point out your model.
Not like among the different choices on this listing, Agorapulse is actually targeted on proving the ROI (return on funding) of social media, so you may drill down on what content material is definitely driving leads, gross sales, or no matter is significant on your advertising targets. This may be notably useful in the event you’re seeking to show the success of your total social media technique to firm leaders.
4. Sendible
Greatest for rising companies managing a number of manufacturers and social media channels that want a extra inexpensive various to Sprout Social.
| Pricing data | Particulars |
|---|---|
| Free plan | ❌ |
| Paid plans | Beginning at $35 per 30 days (billed month-to-month) for 1 workspace that features as much as 6 social channels |
| Annual billing | 15% off on all plans |
| Free trial | ✅ 14 days |
Sendible works for each social media entrepreneurs and companies alike. It’s a barely pared-down system, however I’m positive some customers will want this to the overwhelm of platforms like Sprout Social.
Sendible permits you to schedule posts on Fb, Instagram, TikTok, X/Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Threads, Bluesky, and Google My Enterprise. Its dashboard is neat and streamlined, and you may view your scheduled, draft, and undelivered posts at a look.
For groups, Sendible additionally has a useful ‘duties’ system, the place workforce members or shoppers can assign social media duties, which is fairly nifty in the event you don’t work with a separate mission administration software program.
It’s a very nice advertising software for companies because of its separate workspaces, white label possibility, automated studies, and the Shopper Join portal, the place you’ll be capable to give shoppers restricted entry. Since Sendible consists of limitless customers on all plans, you gained’t have to fret about your funds as your workforce grows.
5. CoSchedule
Greatest for creators and groups seeking to handle their total advertising technique from one platform.
| Pricing data | Particulars |
|---|---|
| Free plan | ✅ |
| Paid plans | Beginning at $39 per 30 days (billed month-to-month) for as much as 3 social channels |
| Annual billing | $10 off per 30 days on all paid plans |
| Free trial | ✅ 14 days |
For those who’re juggling a weblog, publication, occasions, and different content material alongside your social media efforts, CoSchedule is the one software on this listing that allows you to see the whole lot collectively.
It may be useful to consider it as a mission administration system for a content material advertising workforce. I may see it being helpful for full-time creators or influencers who’re monetizing their content material past social media.
It connects with number of social media channels too (Fb, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Threads, X/Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Bluesky, and Mastodon), together with WordPress and e-mail advertising instruments like Mailchimp and ActiveCampaign.
CoSchedule is laser-focused on being a advertising calendar software, so that you’ll should look elsewhere in the event you’re after deep analytics or social listening instruments.
6. Later
Greatest for manufacturers that mix an Instagram-heavy presence with influencer advertising campaigns.
| Pricing data | Particulars |
|---|---|
| Free plan | ✅ |
| Paid plans | Beginning at $25 per 30 days (billed month-to-month) for 1 social set that features as much as 8 social channels |
| Annual billing | 25% off on all paid plans |
| Free trial | ✅ 14 days |
Later was created as an Instagram scheduler, so whereas the software has expanded effectively past that, visible content material planning continues to be at its core.
That stated, Later permits you to publish to most main social networks, together with TikTok, Fb, Snapchat, LinkedIn, Threads, Pinterest, and YouTube together with some analytics for these channels.
It has some nifty options, although all of them are largely centered round Instagram — Greatest Time to Publish on Instagram, Instagram hashtag solutions, and naturally, that useful visible planner for an aesthetic feed, for instance.
Later has not too long ago expanded its options for creators and enterprise manufacturers, with a powerful give attention to influencer advertising. It’s a separate platform and price for enterprises and is designed to run influencer campaigns from begin to end. Creators can use Later to seek out and accomplice with manufacturers to earn on fee on gross sales.
If Instagram and influencer campaigns are an enormous a part of your technique, Later may be the suitable Sprout Social various for you.
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7. Metricool
Greatest for creators and advertising groups that need to handle advert campaigns alongside their social media content material.
| Pricing data | Particulars |
|---|---|
| Free plan | ✅ |
| Paid plans | Beginning at $25 per 30 days (billed month-to-month) for as much as 5 manufacturers |
| Annual billing | 20% off on all paid plans |
| Free trial | ✅ 14 days |
Metricool is an easy-to-use platform largely geared toward social media managers targeted on paid social.
It permits you to publish on all the most important social networks like Fb, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, Pinterest, YouTube, Threads, Bluesky, Twitch, and Google Enterprise Profile, and boasts some fairly superior analytics. With it, you can too handle Meta, Google, and TikTok advertisements, which is a useful addition.
Past the standard providing, there are some fascinating instruments, like a heatmap-style content material calendar that recommends the most effective instances so that you can put up, competitor evaluation, and a hashtag tracker.
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8. RecurPost
Greatest for creators and groups which have a video-heavy social media presence.
| Pricing data | Particulars |
|---|---|
| Free plan | ❌ |
| Paid plans | Beginning at $9 per 30 days (billed month-to-month) for two social accounts |
| Annual billing | Two months free |
| Free trial | ✅ 14 days |
RecurPost is a social media scheduling software constructed round content material that retains operating — evergreen libraries and automatic DMs — plus AI picture technology and customized studies which are each significantly spectacular.
It connects with all the most important platforms — Fb, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, Pinterest, X/Twitter, YouTube, Threads, Bluesky, and Google Enterprise Profile — however the place it actually stands out is with its video options.
For Instagram particularly, you may put up trial reels, add licensed audio, tag collaborators and merchandise, enhance posts, and arrange automated DMs the second a put up goes dwell, which is a deeper toolkit than most schedulers supply. On YouTube, RecurPost helps full video uploads, and for TikTok, you may set privateness per put up, flip off feedback, and allow duets and stitches proper from the composer.
If most of what you put up is video, RecurPost provides you extra management over publishing than most different instruments on this listing.
Find out how to discover the suitable Sprout Social various for you
I’ve all the time discovered round-ups like these to be a useful start line in choosing the proper software for my use case. However there’s no higher approach to determine which one will assist you to attain your social media targets till you strive it.
Earlier than you do, take into consideration what issues to how you’re employed.
- Do you want a software that’s free, or are you able to funds for it? Buffer, CoSchedule, Later, and Metricool all have free plans in the event you’re bootstrapping. When you have a funds, their paid plans offer you extra — and you have got the remainder of the listing as choices too.
- How many individuals are in your workforce? If it is solo, this does not matter. For those who’re constructing a workforce, per consumer pricing provides up quick. Buffer fees per channel, and Sendible fees per workspace as a substitute, in order that they scale in a different way.
- Which platforms are you truly on? Most of those instruments cowl Fb, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn. But when Instagram is 90% of your life, Later was constructed for that. For those who’re a video creator, RecurPost provides you instruments the others do not. For those who put up on Mastodon, Buffer gives it.
- How a lot analytics depth do you want? For those who’re reporting to management on ROI, Agorapulse and Hootsuite are constructed for that. If you need insights on what to do subsequent, Buffer’s AI-powered takeaways assist you to with that.
- Are you an company, or simply your individual model? Businesses want issues like white-label choices (Sendible has them), consumer portals, or separate workspaces. If it is simply your individual model, this issues much less.
- Do you run paid advertisements? If Meta Adverts Supervisor and Google Adverts are a part of your workflow, Metricool enables you to schedule campaigns and natural posts collectively.
I’d advocate discovering the one on this listing that seems like the most effective match for you and giving your self at the very least per week with the software to grasp all of the nuances of the platform. You may uncover some performance I didn’t point out right here that’s a game-changer for you!
You may also discover that, regardless of how easy the system is, it’s simply not intuitive for the way in which your content material calendar or mind works. Trial and error is essential, which is why a lot of the instruments I’ve chosen for this listing have a stable free trial possibility. Some — together with Buffer — even have free plans.
Whether or not you’re on a social media advertising workforce, company, or a solo creator, social media administration platforms are a reasonably private alternative. For those who land on Buffer, that’s nice! We’re so comfortable to have you ever as a part of our group. If not, no sweat. I hope you have discovered the software that makes probably the most sense on your model proper now.
FAQs about Sprout Social options
Is there a free model of Sprout Social?
No, there is not any free plan on Sprout Social. After a 30-day free trial, customers have to decide on a paid plan to maintain utilizing the software.
What are some free instruments just like Sprout Social?
There are lots of free Sprout Social options to select from. These social media administration instruments usually have some limitations on the variety of posts per 30 days, analytics and exports codecs you get, and AI credit. Some free instruments that provide X/Twitter restrict it to the paid plans or supply it as a paid add-on.
Buffer‘s Free plan enables you to join as much as three social channels and schedule as much as 30 posts (10 per channel) at any time. There are not any caps on the AI Assistant for producing concepts and publishing content material, or restrictions on which platforms you may join from these supported. CoSchedule’s free plan enables you to publish to at least one social channel, Metricool’s helps 20 posts per 30 days on a number of social media accounts, Later’s consists of 12 posts per channel.
What is an efficient Sprout Social various?
There are lots of social media administration instruments which are good Sprout Social options. Which one is nice for you relies on your targets, funds, channels you are lively on, and the way your workforce works.
Can I swap from Sprout Social with out shedding my content material?
Sure, you may nonetheless entry all of your social accounts and revealed content material immediately from the platforms you are lively on. Hook up with a brand new software earlier than you cancel your Sprout Social account. This manner, you may copy and re-schedule any posts which are queued for publishing in Sprout Social.
Some instruments — like Buffer — additionally deliver revealed posts and information into the software so you are not ranging from scratch. How far behind these posts and information sync relies on the software and what the social platforms enable.
