The best Hootsuite alternatives for small businesses
Hootsuite is built for big teams: a shared inbox, listening, approvals and reports. For a small business that mainly needs posts to go out on time, that's a lot to pay for. Its plans start at $99 a month, and there's no free plan. Here are eight alternatives that cost less, and what you'd give up with each.
Posttyy publishes this article, and Posttyy is on the list. We've said plainly where it falls short. Prices were checked on each tool's own website on 25 September 2026.
What a small business actually needs
Before you compare tools, check which of these you'd really use:
- Scheduling to every network you use. Everyone needs this.
- A different caption per network. X is short, LinkedIn is long, Instagram needs hashtags.
- A shared inbox. Only if you answer lots of comments and messages across networks.
- Teammates and approvals. Only if more than one person posts.
- Listening and advanced reports. Rarely, for a small business.
If you only ticked the first two, you can spend a fraction of Hootsuite's price.
The alternatives at a glance
| Tool | Paid plans from | Free plan | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Posttyy | $19 a month for 2 accounts | No (7-day trial) | Scheduling only, flat price |
| Buffer | $6 per channel a month ($5 billed yearly) | Yes | A few accounts on many networks |
| SocialPilot | $30 a month for 7 accounts and 1 user | No | Many accounts on a budget |
| Sendible | $25 a month billed yearly for 6 profiles, unlimited users | No | Teams with lots of people |
| Vista Social | $79 a month for 15 profiles and 2 users ($64 billed yearly) | No | A cheaper full suite |
| Zoho Social | Priced by region | Yes | Businesses already on Zoho |
| Metricool | Priced by brand | Yes | Analytics on a budget |
| SocialBee | $29 a month ($24.20 billed yearly) | No | Recycling evergreen posts |
| Hootsuite | $99 a month (Standard) | No | Big teams needing everything |
1. Posttyy: best if you only need scheduling
Posttyy leaves out everything but scheduling, and costs much less as a result. Write a post, tick your accounts, pick a time.
- Price: $19 a month for 2 accounts, $39 for 10, $59 for unlimited. Unlimited posts on every plan.
- Networks: X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube.
- You'd give up: the inbox, listening, analytics and team approvals. TikTok, Threads and Pinterest are still waiting on those networks' approval.
2. Buffer: best for a few accounts on many networks
- Price: $6 per channel a month ($5 billed yearly). Free for 3 channels, 10 scheduled posts per channel.
- Networks: 11, including TikTok, Pinterest, Threads and Google Business Profile.
- You'd give up: listening and advanced reports. Per-channel pricing gets expensive past about 7 accounts.
3. SocialPilot: best for many accounts on a budget
- Price: $30 a month for 7 accounts and 1 user. Standard is $50 for 15 accounts and 3 users, with an inbox and approvals.
- Watch out: Essentials is one user, and you can't add more on that plan.
4. Sendible: best for teams with lots of people
- Price: $25 a month billed yearly for 6 profiles, unlimited users. Every plan includes unlimited users.
- Good for: businesses where several people post, since you never pay per seat.
- Watch out: each plan caps posts per day, from 100 per user a day on Creator.
5. Vista Social: best for a cheaper full suite
- Price: $79 a month for 15 profiles and 2 users ($64 billed yearly), with a 14 days free trial.
- Good for: an inbox, review management and listening, for less than Hootsuite.
- You'd give up: not much, but $79 a month is still a lot if you only schedule.
6. Zoho Social: best if you already use Zoho
- Free plan: 1 brand and 1 user, on 6 networks.
- Good for: businesses already using Zoho's other apps.
- Watch out: prices vary by region, so check Zoho's site for yours.
7. Metricool: best for analytics on a budget
- Free plan: 1 brand, one profile per network, 20 published posts a month.
- Good for: detailed reports and competitor tracking, for much less than Hootsuite.
- Watch out: the free plan's 20 posts a month is less than one a day.
8. SocialBee: best for recycling evergreen posts
- Price: $29 a month ($24.20 billed yearly), with a 14 days free trial.
- Good for: keeping a steady mix of posts going, by re-sharing your best evergreen ones.
- Watch out: no free plan, and categories take time to set up.
When Hootsuite is still the right choice
If you have a team handling hundreds of comments and messages a week, need listening across the web, or report to management every month, Hootsuite earns its price. So do Sprout Social ($199 per user a month ($169 billed yearly)) and Vista Social. For everyone else, one of the cheaper tools above will do the job.
How to switch from Hootsuite
- Export or note down any posts you have scheduled in Hootsuite.
- Sign up for the new tool and connect the same accounts.
- Schedule your upcoming posts again in the new tool.
- Delete them from Hootsuite, so nothing posts twice, then cancel.
New to scheduling in general? Start with how to schedule social media posts.
Common questions
What is the cheapest alternative to Hootsuite?
Free plans from Buffer, Metricool and Zoho Social cost nothing. For paid plans, Posttyy starts at $19 a month and SocialPilot at $30. See also the best free social media schedulers.
Does Hootsuite have a free plan?
No. It has a 30 days free trial, then plans start at $99 a month.
What about Buffer?
Buffer is one of the most popular Hootsuite alternatives. If you're weighing it up, see Buffer alternatives too, and the full comparison of scheduling tools.