Hootsuite alternatives in 2026: OmniSocials vs Hootsuite, plus 5 others
OmniSocials is a Hootsuite alternative for teams that mainly plan, publish and answer messages. It costs $10 per seat a month billed yearly instead of $99 per user, posts to 12 platforms including Mastodon, Google Business and Telegram, and includes approvals and an MCP server for your AI agent in every seat. Below: a side-by-side comparison, prices checked October 18, 2026, and five other tools worth a look.
Robert LigthartFounder of OmniSocialsUpdated Prices checked 11 min readThe short answer
Pick OmniSocials if you mostly schedule posts and answer DMs and comments, if clients or teammates approve posts, or if you post to Mastodon, Google Business or Telegram. Approvals are in every seat, not only on a $399 plan.
Stay with Hootsuite if social listening, ads management, competitor benchmarking or a large customer care team with WhatsApp is the core of your work. Hootsuite starts at $99 per user a month and OmniSocials at $10 per seat, both billed yearly.
OmniSocials vs Hootsuite at a glance
 OmniSocials |  Hootsuite | |
|---|---|---|
| Price and limits | ||
| Starting priceBilled yearly | $10/month$12 billed monthly | $99/monthPer user, billed yearly |
| How you pay | Per seatEach workspace or teammate | Per userThe plan sets the features |
| Social accounts | One per platform12 platforms, per workspace | 10 on StandardUnlimited from $199 per user |
| Each extra teammate | $10/month | $99/month$199 on Professional |
| Posts per month | No cap | No cap |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Free trial | 14 daysCard required | 14 days10 to 20 posts a day |
| Platforms | ||
| Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, X, Threads, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, BlueskyPublishing on both | Yes | Yes |
| Mastodon | Yes | Through an appFedica |
| Google Business Profile | Posts | Reviews onlyIn the inbox |
| Telegram | Yes | No |
| No | Inbox | |
| Planning and publishing | ||
| Calendar with drafts and previews | Yes | Yes |
| Bulk scheduling | No | Yes |
| Link in bio page | No | Hootbio |
| Canva integration | No | Yes |
| Engage, analyze, collaborate | ||
| Social inbox | 7 platformsDMs, comments, mentions | 9 networksAdds WhatsApp and Google reviews |
| Approval workflows | Every seat | Advanced$399 per user |
| Analytics | IncludedPDF reports | IncludedCustom reports from Professional |
| Social listening | No | Included7 days of search on Standard |
| Competitor benchmarking | No | 5 to 20 competitors |
| Social ads management | No | Yes |
| AI and developers | ||
| AI | Your own agentClaude, ChatGPT, any MCP client | Wisdom AI100 credits a month |
| MCP server | 56 tools | YesNo X, LinkedIn or YouTube data |
| Public API | Every seat | YesDeveloper approval needed |
| SDKs, CLI and webhooks | Yes | WebhooksApp SDK, no CLI |
| Mobile app | Mobile web | Yes |
Hootsuite facts and prices checked on October 18, 2026 on hootsuite.com/plans and Hootsuite's list of supported networks. Prices in USD. Something out of date? Tell us.
Why people are leaving Hootsuite
Every user costs $99 a month or more. Hootsuite sells each plan per user: Standard $99, Professional $199 and Advanced $399 a month per user, billed yearly; the plans page shows no monthly prices. A team of three on Standard pays $297 a month, billed yearly.
Standard stops at 10 social accounts. Standard covers 10 social accounts for the whole team. At 4 accounts per brand, a third brand means Professional at $199 per user.
Approvals start at $399 per user. Post approval workflows, internal comments and pausing scheduled posts are only on Advanced and Enterprise.
No free plan, and the trial is capped. The plans page lists no free plan. The 14-day trial allows 10 to 20 posts per organization a day and no bulk scheduling.
The MCP connectors and the API leave gaps. Hootsuite's MCP connectors for Claude and ChatGPT leave out data from X, LinkedIn and YouTube, publish one post per instruction and cannot send inbox replies. Its REST API needs an approved developer account and does not publish to TikTok, YouTube or Bluesky.
What Hootsuite still does better
- Social listening on every plan (7 days of search on Standard, 30 on Professional) and competitor benchmarking for 5 to 20 competitors.
- An inbox that also covers WhatsApp, Google Business reviews and LinkedIn Page DMs, with automations from Professional and routing on Advanced.
- Social ads publishing, boosting and reporting on every plan.
- Bulk scheduling, a link in bio page (Hootbio), Canva and Adobe Express templates and a native mobile app.
- Enterprise options: single sign-on, compliance integrations, Salesforce and employee advocacy with Parliament.
If listening, ads or a large care team are the core of your work, Hootsuite covers more. OmniSocials has no listening, no ads tools, no bulk upload and no native app.
Hootsuite vs OmniSocials pricing
Both prices below are billed yearly and were checked on October 18, 2026. OmniSocials charges per seat: each brand (one workspace) and each teammate is a seat. Hootsuite charges per user, with 10 social accounts on Standard. OmniSocials costs less in every setup above. Hootsuite's price also pays for listening, ads management and a deeper care inbox; if you need those, OmniSocials does not replace them.
| Setup | OmniSocials | Hootsuite | Difference a year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solo creator1 brand, 1 person | $10/mo1 seat | $99/moStandard, 1 user | $1,068 less |
| Two brands, one person2 brands, 1 person | $20/mo2 seats | $99/moStandard, 1 user | $948 less |
| Small team3 brands, 2 people | $40/mo4 seats | $398/moProfessional, 2 users | $4,296 less |
| Agency6 brands, 4 people | $90/mo9 seats | $796/moProfessional, 4 users | $8,472 less |
Work out your own setup
OmniSocialsHootsuite$1,068 a year less on OmniSocials for this setup.
OmniSocials: $10 per seat a month billed yearly ($12 monthly), every feature included; X posts with a link use pass-through credits. Hootsuite: the cheapest plan that holds the setup, per user, billed yearly: Standard $99 (10 social accounts) or Professional $199 (unlimited), and we count 4 social accounts per brand. Approvals need Advanced at $399 per user. The plans page shows yearly prices only. Hootsuite has no post cap. From hootsuite.com/plans on October 18, 2026.
What you get with OmniSocials
One calendar, filled by you or your AI agent
Plan in a week or month view, keep drafts in the tray and preview each post the way each platform shows it. Connect Claude, ChatGPT or another agent through the MCP server, and the posts it schedules land on the same calendar for you to check. How the MCP server works
One inbox for 7 platforms
DMs, comments and mentions from Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, X and Threads in one list, on every seat. Hootsuite's inbox covers more networks, WhatsApp included, from $99 per user. See the inbox
Repost automations
Post on one platform and let an automation repost it to the others on your schedule, for example your Instagram Reels to TikTok, one a day at 9:00 AM. Automations can also bring in your older posts from 8 platforms. See automations
Approvals for teams and clients
Add approval steps per workspace, so a teammate or client signs off before a post goes live. Reviewers comment, request changes or approve, and roles decide who can post, reply or see analytics. On Hootsuite, approvals need Advanced at $399 per user. See collaboration
Hootsuite has an API and MCP connectors too. Here is how they compare.
Hootsuite offers REST APIs for publishing, inbox and analytics to approved developers, webhooks for post status and MCP connectors for Claude and ChatGPT. OmniSocials includes its REST API, an MCP server with 56 tools for any MCP client, SDKs in 8 languages, a CLI and signed webhooks in every seat, also during the trial.
1import { OmniSocials } from '@omnisocials/sdk';23const client = new OmniSocials(); // reads OMNISOCIALS_API_KEY45await client.posts.create({6content: 'Our spring drop is live',7channels: ['instagram', 'x', 'bluesky'],8scheduled_at: '2026-11-03T09:00:00Z',9});
 OmniSocials | Hootsuite | |
|---|---|---|
| REST API | api.omnisocials.com/v1 | platform.hootsuite.com, OAuth, approved developers |
| MCP server | mcp.omnisocials.com56 tools | Perch, Nest and Parliament connectors |
| SDKs | 8 languages@omnisocials/sdk | iFrame SDK for apps inside Hootsuite |
| CLI | 56 commandsagent skill | None |
| Webhooks | 5 eventsHMAC signed | Post and comment status events |
| Rate limit | 100 requests/minper key | 20 requests/second, 100,000 a day |
| Publishing by API | All 12 platforms | Not TikTok, YouTube or Bluesky |
Hootsuite column checked on October 18, 2026.
Other Hootsuite alternatives
OmniSocials is not the only option. These five come up most when people look for a Hootsuite alternative, from free schedulers to enterprise suites. Each price is the vendor's cheapest paid plan, checked on its own pricing page.
Buffer
Best for simple queues on a budgetFree for 3 channels. Essentials from $6 per channel a month ($5 billed yearly). (checked Oct 18, 2026)
The catch: You pay per channel and Essentials has one user, so 10 channels cost $60 a month billed monthly.
OmniSocials vs Buffer
Sprout Social
Best for customer care teams that manage reviews and DMsEssentials $99 per seat a month ($79 billed yearly) for 5 profiles. (checked Oct 18, 2026)
The catch: Essentials has no inbox; the inbox starts at $199 per seat billed yearly.
OmniSocials vs Sprout Social
Agorapulse
Best for teams that live in the social inboxStandard $99 per user a month ($79 billed yearly), with 10 social profiles. (checked Oct 18, 2026)
The catch: Every user pays the full plan price, and X costs $29 to $69 per X profile a month extra.
OmniSocials vs Agorapulse
Zoho Social
Best for teams that already use Zoho CRM or Zoho DeskFree for 1 brand without scheduling. Standard $15 a month ($10 billed yearly) for 1 brand. (checked Oct 18, 2026)
The catch: Standard takes no extra brands or users, and the inbox and approvals need Premium at $40 a month billed yearly.
OmniSocials vs Zoho Social
Metricool
Best for analytics and competitor trackingFree for 1 brand. Starter $25 a month ($20 billed yearly) for up to 5 brands. (checked Oct 18, 2026)
The catch: X is a $10 a month add-on per account, and LinkedIn needs a paid plan.
OmniSocials vs Metricool
How to switch from Hootsuite
Connect your accounts
Make a workspace for each brand and connect each account through the platform's own sign-in. Every feature is open for 14 days.
Rebuild your queue
There is no import from Hootsuite. Paste your upcoming posts into the composer, or give the list to your AI agent and let it schedule the week.
Cancel Hootsuite when you are live
Keep both running until your scheduled posts are in OmniSocials, then cancel Hootsuite under Account, Plan and billing, before your renewal date.
Frequently asked questions
Is OmniSocials a good alternative to Hootsuite?
Yes, if you mostly plan, publish and answer messages. OmniSocials costs $10 per seat a month billed yearly, posts to 12 platforms including Mastodon, Google Business and Telegram, and includes an inbox for 7 platforms, approvals, an MCP server and a REST API in every seat.
Hootsuite is the better fit if you need social listening, ads management, competitor benchmarking or a care inbox with WhatsApp and routing.
Is there a free or cheaper alternative to Hootsuite?
Yes. Buffer has a free plan for 3 channels and paid plans from $5 per channel a month billed yearly. OmniSocials costs $10 per seat a month billed yearly, with an inbox and approvals included. Hootsuite itself has no free plan and starts at $99 per user a month billed yearly (checked October 18, 2026).
How much is Hootsuite per month?
Billed yearly, Standard costs $99, Professional $199 and Advanced $399 per user a month; Enterprise is priced on request. Standard covers 10 social accounts, Professional and Advanced unlimited. Hootsuite's plans page shows only yearly prices (checked October 18, 2026).
Is Hootsuite free?
No. Hootsuite's plans page lists no free plan. Standard, Professional and Advanced come with a 14-day trial without a credit card, limited to 10 to 20 posts per organization a day and without bulk scheduling.
OmniSocials has no free plan either. Its 14-day trial opens every feature; a credit card is required and the first charge comes when the trial ends.
How do I cancel Hootsuite?
Go to Account, open Plan and billing and select Update subscription to cancel. In an organization you need to be a Super Admin. The cancellation takes effect at the end of your paid or trial period, and you keep your plan's features until then.
Hootsuite renews your subscription unless you cancel before the renewal date, and its billing FAQ calls the yearly plan a non-refundable payment. A subscription bought through the App Store or Google Play is cancelled there, at least 24 hours before the next billing date. Deleting your account instead takes effect at once and deletes your scheduled posts (Hootsuite help center, updated October 14, 2026).
Which is better, Hootsuite or Sprout Social?
Both are built for larger teams and price per user. Hootsuite starts at $99 per user a month billed yearly for 10 social accounts, with listening and an inbox included. Sprout Social starts at $79 per seat for 5 profiles without an inbox; its inbox starts at $199 per seat. OmniSocials costs $10 per seat a month billed yearly, with the inbox and approvals in every seat (prices checked October 18, 2026).
Does Hootsuite have an API?
Yes. Hootsuite has REST APIs for publishing, inbox and analytics, free for approved developers, with webhooks for post status and limits of 20 requests a second and 100,000 a day. Its publishing API does not post to TikTok, YouTube or Bluesky. Hootsuite also offers MCP connectors for Claude and ChatGPT, which leave out data from X, LinkedIn and YouTube.
OmniSocials has a REST API at api.omnisocials.com, an MCP server with 56 tools, SDKs in 8 languages, a CLI and 5 webhook events, in every seat and during the trial.
Does anyone use Hootsuite anymore?
Yes. Hootsuite still sells four plans, and its help center documents recent additions such as Bluesky publishing and MCP connectors for Claude and ChatGPT (articles updated in September and October 2026). Its prices are aimed at teams that also use listening, ads and customer care, starting at $99 per user a month billed yearly.
Can I move my scheduled posts from Hootsuite to OmniSocials?
There is no automatic import from Hootsuite. Connect your accounts, then paste your upcoming posts into the composer or give the list to your AI agent, which schedules them through the MCP server. Keep Hootsuite until your queue is live in OmniSocials, then cancel it before the renewal date.
How much does OmniSocials cost?
One plan with every feature: $10 per seat a month billed yearly, or $12 billed monthly. Each workspace (one brand) and each teammate or client is a seat. Every account starts with a 14-day free trial; a credit card is required and the first charge comes when the trial ends.
Try OmniSocials for 14 days
Connect your accounts, schedule your first week and bring your AI agent. The first charge comes when the trial ends.