Here are detailed explanations for each of the best paid social media post distribution tools, including features, use cases, and pricing.
- Hootsuite
Overview: Hootsuite is one of the most widely used tools for managing social media platforms. It combines scheduling, analytics, and ad management in one platform.
Key Features:
- Schedule posts across Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Pinterest.
- Comprehensive analytics to track post performance.
- Ad management tools to manage and optimize paid campaigns.
- Team collaboration and approval workflows.
- Content curation with RSS feeds and libraries.
Best for: Medium to large businesses and agencies.
Pricing: Starts at 99 dollars per month for the Professional plan with 10 social accounts and 1 user.
- Sprout Social
Overview: A robust platform for social media management with a focus on analytics and reporting.
Key Features:
- Advanced post scheduling across all major platforms.
- Detailed analytics reports to measure ROI and performance.
- Social listening to monitor brand mentions and industry trends.
- CRM integrations for social customer relationship management.
- Team workflows for collaboration and approvals.
Best for: Businesses and agencies focused on data-driven decision-making.
Pricing: Starts at 249 dollars per month for the Standard plan with 5 social profiles.
- Buffer
Overview: Buffer is a simple and affordable tool for scheduling and publishing social media posts.
Key Features:
- Schedule posts for Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.
- Easy-to-use calendar and post previews.
- Basic analytics to track post engagement.
- Engagement tools to respond to comments and messages.
- Affordable pricing for solopreneurs and small teams.
Best for: Small businesses, startups, and individual marketers.
Pricing: Starts at 6 dollars per month per social channel.
- Later
Overview: Later specializes in visual content management, particularly for Instagram marketing.
Key Features:
- Visual content calendar for drag-and-drop scheduling.
- Auto-publish posts to Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and TikTok.
- Link-in-bio tool for driving traffic from Instagram.
- Content curation and hashtag suggestions.
- Analytics to measure post and story performance.
Best for: Visual brands, creators, and Instagram-focused businesses.
Pricing: Starts at 18 dollars per month for the Starter plan.
- CoSchedule
Overview: CoSchedule is a content marketing calendar that integrates social media scheduling and blogging.
Key Features:
- Unified content calendar for blogs, email, and social media.
- Social campaign scheduling and automation.
- Team collaboration with approval workflows.
- Best time posting recommendations to optimize engagement.
Best for: Content marketers and editorial teams.
Pricing: Starts at 29 dollars per month per user.
- SocialPilot
Overview: A cost-effective solution for scheduling, managing, and analyzing social media posts.
Key Features:
- Bulk scheduling for large volumes of posts.
- Content curation and discovery tools.
- White-label reports for agencies.
- Team management for client-based work.
- Integration with major platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.
Best for: Agencies and small businesses needing a budget-friendly option.
Pricing: Starts at 30 dollars per month for 10 social media accounts.
- Agorapulse
Overview: A powerful tool for social media scheduling, monitoring, and customer relationship management.
Key Features:
- Unified inbox for managing comments, messages, and reviews.
- Advanced scheduling with category-based content planning.
- Social listening to track brand reputation.
- In-depth reporting and analytics dashboards.
- Collaboration tools for agencies and teams.
Best for: Agencies, large teams, and brands.
Pricing: Starts at 69 dollars per month for the Standard plan with 10 social profiles.
- Sendible
Overview: A platform tailored for agencies to manage multiple clients’ social media accounts.
Key Features:
- Bulk post scheduling across all platforms.
- White-label client reporting for branding.
- Content recommendations based on target audience.
- Team workflows for approvals and feedback.
Best for: Freelancers, agencies, and marketers managing clients.
Pricing: Starts at 29 dollars per month for the Creator plan with 1 user and 6 social profiles.
- Loomly
Overview: A simple yet powerful tool for scheduling, collaboration, and post optimization.
Key Features:
- Post scheduling with previews for every platform.
- Content suggestions to inspire post ideas.
- Approval workflows for team collaboration.
- Optimization tips for post text, hashtags, and visuals.
- Basic analytics and post-performance tracking.
Best for: Teams and businesses that focus on collaboration.
Pricing: Starts at 32 dollars per month for the Base plan.
- MeetEdgar
Overview: A unique platform that focuses on recycling evergreen content for consistent posting.
Key Features:
- Content library for storing and reusing posts.
- Automated re-posting to keep content alive.
- Supports Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
- Category-based scheduling for content organization.
Best for: Solopreneurs, bloggers, and small businesses.
Pricing: Starts at 24.91 dollars per month.
- HubSpot Social Media Management
Overview: HubSpot integrates social media tools within its all-in-one marketing suite.
Key Features:
- Schedule and publish posts across platforms.
- Track campaigns alongside other marketing efforts.
- Integrated CRM for better lead and customer tracking.
- Analytics and reporting to measure ROI.
Best for: Businesses already using HubSpot CRM.
Pricing: Starts at 50 dollars per month as part of HubSpot Marketing Hub Starter.
- Zoho Social
Overview: Zoho Social is a feature-rich tool ideal for small businesses and agencies.
Key Features:
- Post scheduling and calendar planning.
- Social media monitoring for brand mentions.
- CRM integration with Zoho Suite.
- Custom reporting with easy-to-read analytics.
- Team collaboration features for approvals and comments.
Best for: Small businesses and teams needing an affordable yet powerful tool.
Pricing: Starts at 15 dollars per month.
Here is a detailed comparison between Hootsuite and Buffer, two popular social media management tools:
1. Overview
Hootsuite: A comprehensive tool suitable for businesses of all sizes, offering robust features like scheduling, analytics, social listening, and ad management.
Buffer: A simpler, more affordable tool focused on scheduling posts and basic analytics, ideal for small businesses and individual marketers.
2. Features
| Features | Hootsuite | Buffer |
|---|---|---|
| Post Scheduling | Supports bulk scheduling and queuing | Supports easy post scheduling |
| Platforms Supported | Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest | Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest |
| Analytics | Advanced analytics and ROI reports | Basic engagement analytics |
| Social Listening | Yes, robust monitoring tools | No |
| Ad Management | Full integration for ad campaigns | No ad management features |
| Team Collaboration | Team workflows, approval processes | Limited team collaboration tools |
| Content Curation | RSS feeds, content library | Basic content scheduling |
| Integrations | 150+ third-party app integrations | Limited integrations |
| Mobile App | Yes | Yes |
| Customer Support | 24/7 support for higher plans | Email and chat support |
3. Pricing
| Plan | Hootsuite | Buffer |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $99/month (10 social accounts, 1 user) | $6/month per social channel |
| Mid-Tier Plans | $249/month (20 social accounts, 3 users) | $12/month per social channel |
| Free Trial | 30 days | 14 days |
| Free Plan | No free plan | Offers a free plan for 3 social channels |
4. Pros and Cons
| Hootsuite | Buffer |
|---|---|
| Pros: | Pros: |
| – Advanced analytics and reporting tools | – Very affordable for small businesses |
| – Robust social listening and ad management | – Simple and easy-to-use interface |
| – Supports large teams with approval workflows | – Great for scheduling posts and basic tracking |
| – Integrates with numerous third-party apps | – Free plan available |
| Cons: | Cons: |
| – Expensive for small businesses | – Limited analytics and no advanced features |
| – Steeper learning curve for beginners | – Not suitable for large teams or enterprises |
| – Free plan no longer available | – No social listening or ad management |
5. Best For
- Hootsuite:
- Medium to large businesses
- Agencies managing multiple accounts
- Businesses needing social listening, team workflows, and ad management
- Buffer:
- Small businesses and solopreneurs
- Individuals looking for simple scheduling tools
- Budget-conscious marketers needing basic features
6. Final Verdict
- Choose Hootsuite if you need an all-in-one platform with advanced features like analytics, social listening, and ad management. It’s ideal for larger teams and enterprises.
- Choose Buffer if you are a small business, startup, or solopreneur looking for affordable, simple scheduling and basic analytics.