Hootsuite vs. Buffer vs. Sprout Social: Which is Best for Social Media Management?

Social media has become an indispensable component of any successful marketing strategy. Its immense influence on shaping sales campaigns and reaching target audiences is undeniable. To harness this power effectively, businesses are turning to social media management software. These tools empower marketers to streamline their social media efforts, from managing multiple profiles and scheduling posts to tracking keywords and analyzing performance.

Among the leading contenders in this space are Hootsuite, Buffer, and Sprout Social, each offering a unique set of features and capabilities. In this comprehensive comparison, we’ll dive deep into the intricacies of each platform, exploring their strengths and weaknesses to help you determine the ideal social media management tool for your specific needs.

If you compare Hootsuite vs Buffer or Buffer vs Sprout Social, you will find that all the three social media management tools perform with equal efficiency. An in-depth study should help you choose the one that suits your business.

Hootsuite Vs Buffer Vs Sprout Social

Pricing 

Hootsuite is available free of cost. It also has a Pro Version costing $8.99 per month. Hootsuite also offers Business and Enterprise plans that depend on the number of social media users it has to manage.
The Buffer pricing is competitive, as well. It has a free plan along with a $10 per month plan with annual billing options. The Business Plan of Buffer starts at $99 per month.

Sprout Social does not feature any free trials. There are three plans available with Sprout Social.

• Deluxe Plan costing $59 per user per month
• Premium Plan costs $99 per user per month
• Team Plan allows three users at the cost of $500 per month

Details of Plans

Let us now compare what the plans include.

Features 

Hootsuite

Hootsuite is a top-rated social media management tool, and one of the earliest ones, as well. It allows you to manage the more prominent social media channels like Facebook, Twitter, and so on. One can also manage other platforms like Pinterest, Vimeo, and others using 3rd-party apps. Hootsuite has a reputation for being the most extensive social media management tool when compared to the others.

Hootsuite comes with an organized dashboard in a customizable layout. Each social media platform features a dedicated tab that allows setting up of different streams depending on the account in question. You can experience this feature the best in Twitter, as it makes it possible to monitor retweets, hashtags, and private messages side by side.
The Pro Plan allows you to add another member of your team to collaborate. Uploading and scheduling bulk messages are possible by importing a CSV file. The Auto-scheduling features enable posting of the messages at the best time. However, Hootsuite allows to auto-schedule ten messages a day only.

Also Read: Top 10 Freemium Tools in Social Media Management

Buffer

When compared to Hootsuite, Buffer does not have rich features because Buffer has easy scheduling and sharing as some of its excellent virtues. These activities do not need robust management or powerful analytics. When compared to Hootsuite, Buffer does not have features to reply to messages or mentions. It is also not possible to customize your dashboard to track a keyword or a feed.

However, Buffer offers something that Hootsuite does not. It allows flexible scheduling of posts with the facility to set custom posting timings that can be different for each day. The Awesome Plan on Buffer has this feature. Pablo, an exclusive Buffer tool lets you create graphics and images to go along with your posts.
Buffer can schedule Instagram posts and pins, as well. However, it will not post to Instagram, but send a notification on your mobile reminding you to share the Instagram post. Besides, Buffer easily integrates into RSS readers, Chrome, Twitter, and WordPress.

Sprout Social

Sprout Social is different from both Hootsuite and Buffer, as it proves to be an encompassing tool that enables you to publish as well as schedule social messages. It comes with a set of exciting tab options like Messages Tab and Feeds Tab that allow users to engage with their customers productively.
Sprout Social offers a single column view, as opposed to Hootsuite. It enables users to search for a particular hashtag and save it but does not have a dedicated dashboard stream such as the one provided by Hootsuite.

The Viral Post feature is an exciting one, as it analyzes the right time for engaging with the audience and suggests the best time for publishing content. The Discovery Tab helps find new followers and lets you have a better look at those who engage with you on Twitter.
The CRM tools make Sprout Social stand out from Buffer and Hootsuite. This tool allows you to view interactions with users and add custom notes, as well. At the same time, Sprout Social has a drawback, as it cannot post to LinkedIn/Facebook groups, whereas Buffer has this facility.
Sprout Social and Buffer both use Bit.ly for shortening URLs, but it can use only one Bit.ly account for each social profile.

Also Read: The Evolution of Customer Engagement: SaaS Solutions Redefining

Comparing Analytics 

Hootsuite offers a free set of reports that can be generated using pre-created templates. However, advanced reports that require analysis of data from Facebook Insights, Google Analytics, and so on cost $50+ per report. The Pro version allows for one free report per month, whereas additional reports cost money.

In comparison, Buffer offers a basic set of analytics that allows you to track mentions, likes, retweets, and comments on various social media platforms. As it integrates with Bit.ly, it is also easy to track analysis outside the Buffer social media management tool.

Of the three social media management tools, Sprout Social offers the best analytics performance. Generating reports of overall social media activity is possible. It is also convenient to create segmented reports, team progress reports, and network comparison reports. However, Sprout Social does not customize them as you can do so with Hootsuite.

Comparing Pros

Comparing Cons

Verdict: Hootsuite vs. Buffer vs. Sprout Social

After a thorough examination of Hootsuite, Buffer, and Sprout Social, it’s clear that each tool brings unique strengths to the table. The ideal choice depends on your specific needs and budget.

Hootsuite: Best for those who need a comprehensive, customizable dashboard and manage a wide range of social media platforms. Its free plan and extensive app integrations make it a versatile option for businesses of all sizes. However, the cost of advanced analytics reports can be a drawback.

Buffer: Ideal for users prioritizing simple scheduling and sharing features. Its user-friendly interface and flexible scheduling options make it a great choice for individuals or small teams. However, its analytics capabilities are limited compared to other tools.

Sprout Social: Stands out for its comprehensive features, intuitive interface, and excellent customer support. Its social CRM tool is a unique advantage, allowing for in-depth customer engagement. However, it lacks a free plan and can be expensive for smaller businesses.

Overall:

• Choose Hootsuite if you need a powerful tool with extensive customization and integration options.
• Choose Buffer if you prioritize ease of use and simple scheduling features.
• Choose Sprout Social if you want a comprehensive tool with robust analytics and customer engagement features.

Ultimately, the best way to determine the right tool for your business is to try them out. All three platforms offer free trials or free plans, allowing you to explore their features and determine which one best fits your workflow and marketing goals.

Remember, the most effective social media management tool is the one that you and your team will actually use and enjoy.