Hootsuite
Cappy’s Quick Take
| At a glance | Details |
|---|---|
| What it is | An all-in-one social media management platform for scheduling, engagement, analytics and listening |
| Pricing | Standard $99/user/month · Professional $199/user/month · Advanced $399/user/month (annual billing) |
| Free plan | No free plan, a 14-day free trial with no credit card |
| Works with | Major social networks, plus Canva and Adobe Express |
| Best for | Marketing teams that need scheduling, inbox and analytics in one place |
| Cappy Score | 4.1/5 |
What is Hootsuite?
Hootsuite is one of the best-known social media management platforms. It combines scheduling, a shared inbox, analytics and social listening, so teams can manage many accounts from one dashboard.
Its AI assistant helps write captions and create images, and it suggests the best times to post. Higher plans add approval workflows, team permissions and more advanced reporting.
Hootsuite is priced per user and aimed at teams. It ended its free plan in 2023, so you can only try it with a 14-day trial.
Key features
- Scheduling: plan and publish posts across many accounts.
- AI assistant: write captions and generate images.
- Best time to post: recommendations based on your audience.
- Unified inbox: manage messages and comments in one place.
- Analytics: track performance and build reports.
- Approvals: review workflows for teams (Advanced).
Pricing plans
| Plan | Price | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | $99/user/month billed annually | One person managing up to 10 social accounts |
| Professional | $199/user/month billed annually | Users who need unlimited social accounts |
| Advanced | $399/user/month billed annually | Teams that need approvals and shared workflows |
| Enterprise | Custom | Large organizations needing listening, SSO and governance |
Which plan should you pick? Use the 14-day trial first. Standard covers one person with up to 10 accounts. Choose Professional for more accounts, and Advanced only if your team needs approval workflows.
Hootsuite free trial: what to know
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Free plan | None (ended in 2023) |
| Trial length | 14 days |
| Credit card | Not required |
| Trial limits | Limited daily posts and no bulk scheduling |
The catch: Every price is per user, so a five-person team on Standard pays about $495 a month. That’s far more than per-channel tools like Buffer or Publer.
Who is Hootsuite for?
- Marketing teams: manage many accounts from one dashboard.
- Agencies: handle multiple client brands.
- Enterprises: add listening, governance and SSO.
- Social media managers: combine scheduling, inbox and reports.
Consider something else if you’re a solo creator or small business on a budget, or you only need simple scheduling.
Pros and cons
Pros
- All-in-one scheduling, inbox and analytics
- AI assistant for captions and images
- Strong enterprise and listening options
- Integrations with Canva and Adobe Express
Cons
- No free plan
- Expensive per-user pricing
- Approvals need Advanced
- Much more than small businesses need
Hootsuite alternatives
| Tool | Why consider it |
|---|---|
| Sprout Social | Polished analytics and inbox for teams |
| Buffer | Simple scheduling with a free plan |
| Publer | Low per-account pricing |
| Predis.ai | AI that creates posts, videos and ads |
How to get started with Hootsuite
- Start a 14-day trial at hootsuite.com (no card needed).
- Connect your social accounts.
- Schedule posts and try the AI assistant and inbox.
- Choose a plan before the trial ends.
Tip: Work out your total cost before buying: multiply the plan price by the number of people who need access.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hootsuite free?
No. Hootsuite ended its free plan in 2023. You can try it with a 14-day free trial, with no credit card needed.
How much does Hootsuite cost?
Standard costs $99, Professional $199 and Advanced $399 per user per month, billed annually. Enterprise is custom.
Is Hootsuite priced per user?
Yes. Every Hootsuite plan price is per user, so the cost grows with your team size.
How many social accounts does Hootsuite allow?
Standard includes up to 10 social accounts. Professional and higher plans include unlimited accounts.