Hootsuite
Metricool
| Feature | Hootsuite | Metricool |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | From $99/mo | Free / from $22/mo |
| Free Plan | ✗ No | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.2 / 5 | 4.4 / 5 |
| Best For | enterprise, agencies, marketing-teams, social-media-managers | marketing-agencies, social-media-managers, small-businesses, digital-marketers |
| Founded | 2008 | 2016 |
| Scheduling | ✓ | ✓ |
| Analytics | ✓ | ✓ |
| Social Listening | ✓ | ✗ |
| Inbox | ✓ | ✓ |
| Advertising | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ai Writing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Team Management | ✓ | ✗ |
| Smartlinks | ✗ | ✓ |
| Competitor Analysis | ✗ | ✓ |
| Ad Tracking | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Hootsuite Pros
- Supports all major social platforms
- Social listening for brand monitoring
- Comprehensive analytics and reporting
- OwlyWriter AI for content creation
✗ Hootsuite Cons
- Expensive — no free tier
- Interface feels dated
- Steep learning curve for full features
✓ Metricool Pros
- Comprehensive analytics across platforms
- Ad campaign tracking (Meta, Google)
- SmartLinks for bio pages
- Competitor analysis built in
✗ Metricool Cons
- Interface can feel busy
- Limited reporting customization
- Some features only in higher plans
The Verdict
Hootsuite is built for enterprise and agencies, with a focus on scheduling and analytics. Metricool targets marketing agencies and social media managers and leads with scheduling and analytics.
On pricing, Metricool is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $22/mo compared to $99/mo for Hootsuite. That $77/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Metricool has a free plan, which gives it a meaningful edge for individuals and small teams exploring their options. Hootsuite requires a paid subscription from day one.
Feature-wise, Hootsuite offers broader built-in capabilities (7 features vs 6), while Metricool takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
Both tools are a solid fit for social media managers — in those cases, the decision often comes down to workflow style and how your team prefers to organize work.
This is a genuinely close comparison. If you can, sign up for both free trials (where available) and run a one-week test with your actual team tasks before deciding.