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Looking for the best alternatives to Sprout Social? Whether you’re hunting for a more affordable option, a tool with different features, or just curious about what else is out there, you're in the right place.
Sprout Social is a popular, well-regarded platform for social media management, but it isn’t always the perfect solution for every brand or business. Maybe you're looking for more budget-friendly options, specific features like enhanced analytics or team collaboration, or simply a tool that better suits your workflow.
Luckily, there are plenty of powerful (and cheaper!) alternatives out there that cater to different needs - whether it’s deeper insights, creative tools, or more customization. Finding the right platform can make all the difference in how you manage your social media strategy.
In this article we’ll run through Sked’s top picks for Sprout Social alternatives in 2024, breaking down their core strengths to help you find your ideal tool.
Why switch from Sprout Social?
While Sprout Social is a high-quality platform, it’s not the best fit for every business, particularly at its price point. It’s best suited for companies with a strong focus on social media marketing and larger budgets. Small businesses or those with limited social media presence may find the cost unjustifiable.
The platform's support for popular video formats like Instagram Reels and TikTok is lacking, and customer service delays have been frequently noted in reviews. While Sprout Social offers comprehensive tools, many businesses feel that they can get similar or better features for a more affordable price elsewhere.
- Unaffordable Plans. Sprout Social’s pricing is one of the highest in the industry, with no free options for individuals or small businesses beyond the 30-day free trial. Many users feel the platform’s functionality doesn’t justify the cost.
- Instagram & TikTok Features. Sprout Social lacks strong support for Instagram Reels and video features, and it does not allow auto-posting for TikTok, making it less appealing for businesses focused on video content.
- Customer Service. Many reviews highlight long wait times and delays with customer service, which can frustrate users who need timely support for their social media efforts.
What to look for in Sprout Social competitors
When choosing a Sprout Social alternative, focus on features that align with your business needs. Think about what will help simplify your social media tasks, such as easy-to-use scheduling, helpful analytics, and multi-channel support. For instance, if your team is juggling multiple platforms, you'll want a solution with simple scheduling across Instagram, TikTok, and more. Analytics should be easy to interpret, providing clear insights on which posts drive engagement.
If your team works collaboratively, features like approval workflows can save time by streamlining content reviews. Efficient inbox management is also key for responding to customer inquiries, and AI tools are becoming a must-have for automating tasks like scheduling or suggesting content ideas. Finally, look for flexible pricing options that suit your budget, so you’re not overpaying for features you don’t need.
- Scheduling. A good scheduling tool should allow you to plan and post content across all your platforms with ease. Look for features like bulk scheduling, calendar views, and automatic posting to save you time and effort.
- Analytics. Choose a platform that provides clear insights on how your posts are performing, including data on engagement, reach, and audience behavior. This will help you fine-tune your strategy based on what’s working best.
- Approval Workflows. If you work in a team, you’ll know that having an efficient approval process is a must. Look for a tool that makes it easy to review, edit, and approve posts before they go live, ensuring consistency and quality across all of your content.
- Inbox Management. An all-in-one inbox lets you manage messages and comments from different platforms in one place. This makes it easy to respond quickly and keeps your customer service efficient and organized.
- AI Tools. AI can be a real game-changer, helping you automate tasks like scheduling and generating content suggestions. Look for platforms that have AI-powered features to make your social media management smarter and save precious time.
- Support for Multiple Channels. Make sure the platform supports all the social networks you’re active on, whether it’s Instagram, TikTok, Facebook or even Linkedin. Managing everything from a single dashboard will save you time and help keep your strategy organized.
- Flexible Pricing. Flexible pricing plans are essential, especially if you’re a small business or growing team. Look for a platform that offers different pricing tiers so you’re only paying for what you need, without spending a fortune on features you won’t use.
Our picks for 2024’s best Sprout Social alternatives
- Sked Social. A more cost-effective alternative to Sprout Social for agencies, franchises, and enterprise brands.
- Buffer. The best free alternative to Sprout Social for individual users.
- Agorapulse. A strong alternative to Sprout Social for smaller teams.
- Hootsuite. A popular Sprout Social competitor for mid-size brands.
Other platforms to consider
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1. Sked Social
Sked Social offers a great alternative to Sprout Social, especially for businesses looking for a more affordable, feature-packed platform. With Sked, you get unlimited users and the most popular plan for less than you’ll pay for a single Sprout Social user. The platform’s focus on visual content management and its affordable pricing make it a strong alternative for businesses looking to simplify their social media efforts without sacrificing functionality.
Unlike Sprout, Sked is known for features such as auto-posting for Instagram Stories, Reels, and TikTok, making it ideal for businesses that prioritize image and video content.
Sked is ideal for agencies, franchises, and enterprises managing multiple accounts, as it allows for smooth collaboration, content creation, and management all in one place. With a focus on visual content and efficient workflows, Sked Social makes social media management easier without breaking the bank.
See how Sked stacks up against Sprout in our Sprout Social vs. Sked Social guide.
Best for
Sked Social is perfect for agencies, franchises, and enterprise brands seeking a more cost-effective solution compared to Sprout Social. With its advanced scheduling, media library and support for visual platforms, it’s especially suited for teams managing large-scale social media accounts with a strong focus on Instagram and TikTok.
Key features
- Visual Content Calendar: Organize, plan, and manage posts across multiple platforms with an easy-to-use centralized calendar
- Team Collaboration: Assign roles and collaborate seamlessly with multi-user features for content approvals and scheduling
- Integrated Link in Bio tools: Help drive traffic from Instagram by creating customizable landing pages for key content
- Instagram Automation: Automatically schedule and post Instagram Stories, Reels, and carousels, streamlining content management
- Detailed Analytics: Track post performance and gather insights to optimize social media strategies and improve engagement.
Pros
- Very affordable pricing compared to Sprout - Sked doesn’t charge extra for seats, and has budget-friendly plans for smaller businesses
- Excellent for Instagram-focused content management with advanced scheduling options
- Great AI-powered content generation with Captivate AI, integrated into Sked’s core features
- Provides a dedicated link-in-bio feature, making it easier to drive traffic from Instagram
Cons
- Other platforms may have more in-depth social listening and analytics
- Some users report issues with managing non-Instagram platforms like LinkedIn or YouTube
Customers say
“Working as a SMM for multiple organisations has never been so easy with the teams & approvals add-on that Sked offers. Forget cumbersome spreadsheets and shared drives, Sked has not only been a time-saver but is also an exceptional way to streamline the social media scheduling process. I love how user friendly it is and their support staff are great also. I frequently use Sked to schedule post across multiple companies and platforms.” Claire, G2
“I've used most social media management tools, including HootSuite, Later, Content Cal, and Sprout, and I'm consistently blown away by the robustness and value of Sked Social. I use it to manage my roster of 8+ clients.” Jenessa, G2
“I have tried many social media management tools over the years, however Sked has remained the best platform I have used. They are constantly innovating for new ways to enhance their offering. I very rarely have hiccups with the auto-posting feature, it's much more like once in a blue moon, whereas other platforms I've used have been multiple times a week. Highly recommend to anyone in marketing.” Paige, Capterra
Cost
Sked’s Essentials plan starts at $59/month, or $199/month for the Professional plan. Contact Sked to book a demo for Enterprise pricing.
2. Buffer
Buffer is a social media management platform designed to simplify scheduling and publishing across multiple platforms. Buffer offers a similar feature set to Sprout - unlimited post scheduling, analytics and reporting, engagement features and a mobile app - but Buffer does it at a significantly lower price.
Buffer’s biggest strengths lie in its user-friendly interface and straightforward pricing, making it ideal for small businesses and startups. Unlike Sprout Social, Buffer offers a decent free plan for individual users, and affordable paid tiers compared to other platforms. It’s a pretty solid choice for teams on a budget.
While Buffer excels in simplicity and is ideal for small brands and individuals, it lacks the depth of analytics and advanced reporting features that other platforms offer. Buffer’s collaboration tools are more limited, so you might look elsewhere for more advanced team coordination features.
Best for
Buffer is the best free alternative to Sprout, ideal for small brands and individuals who don’t need more advanced analytics and team workflow features.
Key features
- AI-powered scheduling to optimize posting times based on audience activity
- Visual calendar for easy post scheduling
- Central, multi-channel social media management lets you manage across different platforms from a single dashboard
Pros
- Very user-friendly and intuitive interface, easy to navigate
- Very affordable, with the free plan offering a decent set of features
- Great, simple tool for publishing and scheduling posts
Cons
- Lacks the depth of analytics and advanced reporting features of other platforms
- AI tools are not as advanced or versatile as other platforms
- Collaboration tools are quite limited, not ideal for large teams
Customers say
“I love the affordability of Buffer, I wanted software that I could easily plan a content calendar and schedule posts. They offer this for free for 3 accounts, and they have seamless integration with Canva which is great.” Hannah, Capterra
“I love Buffer and their freemium model is incredible. Setting up an account with them was easy, and allowed me to try the services for free before purchasing a larger plan for my business. The robust reporting system that comes with each package makes it great for showing successes to stakeholders - and I also appreciate the ability to easily repost high-performing content via rebuffering.” Dario, G2
Cost
Buffer’s free plan allows 3 social accounts. The Essentials plan starts at $6/month, Team at $12/month, and Agency plans starting at $100/month.
3. Agorapulse
Agorapulse is a popular social media management platform known for its affordability and user-friendly interface. Compared to Sprout Social, Agorapulse offers more competitive pricing, especially for small businesses and agencies, while maintaining key features like social inbox management and reporting.
Agorapulse stands out with the ease of its Inbox Zero feature, allowing users to easily manage all social media messages in one place. It also provides unlimited reporting on all plans, unlike Sprout’s limit on this feature to higher tiers, giving Agorapulse an edge in affordability. With handy tools like a social media ROI calculator and built-in CRM management tools, it’s got a great suite of features at a lower price.
However, Agorapulse lacks more advanced social listening capabilities and third-party integrations that you’ll find in other platforms. Its analytics can lack the detail you might require for large enterprises, as well as lacking more advanced content planning and visual management tools.
Best for
Agorapulse is best suited for smaller teams to mid-sized businesses, ideal for social media teams that need an affordable solution for managing social media interactions and content publishing.
Key features
- Unified social inbox to manage your social media messages, comments, and reviews in one place.
- Social Media ROI Calculator tool to track top-performing platforms, content, and even team members.
- Built-in CRM management tool to learn about your most passionate followers
Pros
- Content scheduling and publishing across platforms is intuitive and efficient
- Inbox Zero feature helps users manage all social media conversations in one place
- Unlimited reporting on all plans, including advanced performance reports and data exporting options
Cons
- Pricing is per user, which can get expensive if you need a lot of users.
- Reporting and analytics features are limited compared to other platforms
- Many users point out poor integration with some platforms
Customers say
“Agorapulse has really expedited the time it has taken me to schedule our post. I love that I can edit them simultaneously if I need to differentiate them. It's a really easy interface and the customer service is excellent.” Karen, G2
“I liked the convenience of managing the majority of platforms and being able to see the analytics regarding how each account is performing currently alongside the comparison between my organization and competitors. I loved the ease of scheduling from the calendar view.” Gartner
Cost
Agorapulse has a free plan for 3 profiles, and ranges from the Standard plan at $49/month to the Advanced plan at $119/month.
4. Hootsuite
Hootsuite is a mainstay in social media management, a popular platform offering extensive features for businesses of all sizes. Compared to Sprout Social, Hootsuite’s strength lies in its scalability and flexibility, catering to teams of any size. With similarly priced plans, you’ll get a wider array of tools from Hootsuite.
Hootsuite stands out for its integrations with over 20 social networks, along with its powerful scheduling tools and comprehensive analytics. For businesses that need to manage numerous accounts, Hootsuite’s advanced team collaboration features make it a solid choice. You’ll also pay a flat fee for most plans with up to five user seats with no extra fee, unlike Sprout who charge for extra seats.
Despite these advantages, Hootsuite can feel overwhelming for smaller teams due to its steep learning curve and higher pricing structure as team sizes grow. Platforms like Sked may offer a simpler, more cost-effective option for smaller teams and growing businesses.
Looking for a Hootsuite alternative? Check out our list of Hootsuite's top competitors or our breakdown of Hootsuite vs. Sked Social.
Best for
Hootsuite is best for larger enterprises with complex social media needs, particularly those managing multiple accounts or working on global campaigns. It’s particularly useful for teams looking to automate social tasks and handle day-to-day social media operations efficiently.
Key features
- Publish and schedule posts across multiple platforms of up to 350 posts
- Monitor brand mentions, hashtags, and keywords in real-time
- Built-in Canva templates, an AI caption writer, and streams to discover the best content to share.
Pros
- Easy-to-use interface for managing multiple social accounts
- Strong integration options with third-party apps and tools like Canva
- Great analytics features to track and visualize the performance of each post
Cons
- Higher costs for larger teams, as pricing increases significantly with added users and features
- Lacks advanced Instagram features like auto-posting Reels and Stories
- Many of its best features like advanced inbox management are limited without a high-end plan
Customers say
“Hootsuite is a wonderful tool for managing multiple social media handles from a single dashboard. This tool has been a time saver as I can draft, schedule and post similar posts over multiple social media accounts at once and can also track each of their performance without having to login to each social media account which is simply superb.” Gartner
“I've used Hootsuite for at least 10 years across multiple roles, and have trained numerous employees on it. While there are a few glitches and a couple of things that can be frustrating, it is an industry leader for good reason, and it reliably performs as expected. Gartner
Cost
Hootsuite’s pricing starts at $99/month for the Professional plan (1 user), $249/month for the Team plan (3 users), and custom pricing for the Enterprise plan.
5. Sendible
Sendible is a social media management platform designed for agencies and teams handling multiple clients. Compared to Sprout Social, Sendible offers more specialized tools for managing client relationships and workflows, making it a perfect fit for agencies needing a tailored approach.
Sendible shines with its client management capabilities, allowing agencies to provide custom dashboards and branded reports for clients. The platform’s integration with Google My Business, Canva, and Slack offers seamless posting, design, and communication advantages that Sprout Social doesn’t match as effectively for creative and team collaboration. The Compose Box helps you schedule your social media posts in bulk, preview posts on each platform, and post at the optimal engagement times throughout the day.
However, Sendible’s user interface can feel a bit outdated, especially when compared to platforms with a more modern, sleek design. Sendible’s analytics features are also not as customizable, limiting the depth of insights for advanced users. You might look elsewhere for more user-friendly experience for content planning and detailed analytics
Best for
Sendible is ideal for agencies managing multiple clients, as its white-label reporting, customizable dashboards, and client management tools are well tailored for this. It’s also a great choice for businesses seeking strong integrations with design and communication platforms.
Key features
- Client management dashboards that allow custom reports and white-label branding for agencies.
- Integration with Canva to design and post visual content directly from the platform.
- Smart Compose Box that allows users to tailor content for each social platform and preview how posts will appear before publishing.
Pros
- Strong integrations with Canva, Google Analytics, and Slack, providing seamless workflow, design, and reporting options.
- Excellent client management tools for agencies, with white-label reporting and custom dashboards
- Affordable plans tailored for small teams and agencies,
Cons
- User interface can feel outdated and less polished compared to competitors
- Steeper learning curve, particularly for users who are new to social media management tools
- For bigger organizations, the white label subscription is quite costly
Customers say
“Love Sendible and the use for the price! It's great when you need to schedule and report on social posts.” Gartner
“The content assistance feature is a true lifesaver. Sendible provides suggestions and ideas to keep your content fresh and engaging. Building content calendars with your team is a breeze. Sendible’s personalized customer service is top-notch. When you need assistance, their dedicated and helpful support team is there to guide you.” G2
Cost
Sendible has 4 pricing options, from $29/month for the Creator plan to $750/month for White Label+.
6. Later
Later is a social media management platform designed with a strong focus on visual content, making it perfect for businesses that rely heavily on platforms like Instagram and Pinterest. Compared to Sprout Social, Later offers a more visual-first approach, particularly with its simple drag-and-drop calendar for content planning.
What sets Later apart is this visual-first design, great for users and brands who are focused on Instagram and Pinterest content. The platform also offers an inbuilt Linkin.bio tool to turn posts into traffic-driving opportunities. For visually-driven campaigns, Later delivers a smoother, more focused experience than other platforms.
Later tends to fall short on advanced analytics compared to competitors like Sprout and Sked, which offer more comprehensive reporting. It’s also limited in multi-platform support, making it less versatile for managing a wide range of social networks. Sked Social might be a better choice if you need deep reporting or broad platform management.
Best for
Later is ideal for small businesses, influencers, and content creators who prioritize visual content, particularly on Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok. It’s perfect for users looking for an easy-to-use tool that focuses on content scheduling, visual planning, and traffic conversion through posts.
Key features
- Visual content calendar with drag-and-drop functionality to easily schedule and organize posts
- Linkin.bio tool to convert social media posts into traffic and sales for websites
- Hashtag suggestions to improve reach and engagement on Instagram and other visual platforms
Pros
- Easy-to-use, visual-first interface perfect for Instagram and Pinterest
- Very affordable pricing plans, especially for small businesses and creators
- Integrated Link in Bio feature is simple and great for converting sales
Cons
- Limited advanced analytics, especially compared to Sprout Social
- Less support for multi-platform management, focusing mainly on visual-heavy platforms
- Not ideal for large teams, lacking collaboration and workflow tools
Customers say
“The scheduler feature is super easy to use and we are able to schedule posts a month in advance. Instagram analytics were very helpful in growing the company followers. Their pricing is aslo reasonable as compared to their competitors.” Elizabeth, G2
“I love the ease of use, the calendar feature, the option to copy a post to another channel, the option to filter through unused photos, analytics and the option to see all posts our company has been tagged in.”Hayley, G2
Cost
Later offers a free plan, and paid plans range from the $15/month Starter to $80/month Advanced plan (6 social sets and users per month).
7. Zoho Social
Zoho Social is a full-featured, affordable and user-friendly social media management platform built for businesses and agencies, making it a great alternative to Sprout. It helps streamline social media tasks like scheduling posts, tracking mentions, and managing multiple brands through one central dashboard.. Backed by Zoho’s suite of 40+ tools, Zoho Social integrates effortlessly with broader business workflows, helping everything run smoothly.
One of its standout strengths is its integration with Zoho’s CRM system, allowing businesses to track social media-driven revenue and generate leads directly from platforms like Instagram and Facebook. Zoho Social's powerful collaboration tools also make it easy for enterprise teams to assign roles, set permissions, and track performance, allowing for smoother teamwork and better insights to guide strategic decision-making.
Zoho Social's main weakness lies in its lack of depth for Instagram analytics, especially in areas like tracking performance for Reels and Stories. Additionally, Zoho’s platform can feel less user-friendly when managing visual content like Instagram carousels, so it may not be the best fit for Instagram-focused businesses.
Best for
Zoho is a great option for those looking to combine social media management with a Customer Relationship Management system. Its smooth integration with Zoho CRM makes it easy to track social media leads and revenue, making it a great fit for teams focused on building strong, data-driven customer relationships.
Key features
- Zoho CRM integration allowing businesses to track leads and social media-driven revenue
- Allows the creation of listening columns to track brand reviews, @mentions and brand keywords.
- Visual content calendar, bulk scheduling, and planner to manage content across multiple platforms.
Pros
- Pricing starts at only $15/month, perfect for smaller businesses looking for a cheap alternative to Sprout
- Integration with Canva to create and edit visuals for social media
- Easy to interact with leads and potential customers from the dashboard and refer them to the CRM program
Cons
- Mobile app lacks the full functionality of the desktop version, making on-the-go management less efficient
- Limited third-party integrations compared to other platforms
- A steep learning curve when navigating advanced features
Customers say
“The platform is intuitive and easy to use. After deploying Zoho Social, we are much more organized in our SMM campaigns and have greater insights and transparency for the management team.” Gartner
“The standout feature for Zoho Social is creating a dashboard that is easy to navigate and use on a daily basis. From the moment you enter the platform, you feel at ease and in charge of the social media operations.” Gartner
Cost
Zoho has a free plan, with pricing starting at $15/month for a Standard plan up to $200/month for Agency.
8. Sprinklr
Sprinklr is a social media management platform with integrated AI-powered tools for real-time social listening, sentiment analysis, and detailed reporting, offering deeper insights into audience behavior and campaign performance.
Sprinklr’s biggest strengths for social media management are its ability to handle large-scale operations across 30+ channels and its AI-powered features. If you're managing multiple teams and need scalability, Sprinklr offers more flexibility and AI-driven efficiency compared to Sprout Social.
Although a powerful platform, Sprinklr can be harder to navigate with its complex features, which can be pretty overwhelming for newer users. Users also point to issues with Sprinklr's tag functionality, particularly with platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn.
Best for
Sprinklr is best for users managing multiple social media channels at scale. It’s ideal for businesses wanting advanced AI tools for easy social listening, analytics, and customer engagement.
Key features
- Track brand sentiment and customer insights in real-time with AI
- Customizable dashboards for tracking performance across paid, earned, and owned media
- Monitor ratings for consumer insights, then integrate them on your site or app to boost conversions.
Pros
- Integrates smoothly with other business systems, making it flexible and easy to use for enterprise-level social media management
- Customizable workflows let you set things up exactly how your team needs
- AI simplifies managing multiple channels, helping you respond faster and stay organized
Cons
- Complex platform, not particularly intuitive for new users
- Many users mention the platform being buggy or slow, particularly when handling large amounts of data
- Significantly higher cost compared to other platforms
Customers say
“Great product that allows us to monetize all the social interactions with our clients. It also integrates extremely well with Salesforce.” Gartner
“Using this tool, our customer base has sky-rocketed and we're able to see clear impact of our promotions. The tool is very flexible to allow content create, preview and trigger on various experience portals.” Gartner
Cost
Sprinklr’s lowest cost plan is the Social Media Management Solution Self- Serve, starting at $199/month, scaling up to $299/month for SMM and Customer Service Solution Self Serve. Enterprise plans are custom priced.
9. Statusbrew
Statusbrew is a versatile social media management platform that’s perfect for agencies, businesses, and teams that need to stay on top of their social presence. Compared to Sprout Social, Statusbrew focuses more on team collaboration and advanced audience targeting, giving you more flexibility in how you manage your social campaigns.
Where Statusbrew has an edge is in team collaboration features - whether you're working with a small team or a large enterprise, everyone can collaborate smoothly with built-in approval workflows. Plus, the advanced audience targeting lets you engage specific groups more effectively than Sprout Social.
On the flip side, Statusbrew’s interface isn’t as intuitive or user-friendly, which might make it tricky for beginners. Also, the pricing can get pretty steep for smaller teams as you scale, where platforms like Sked offer more affordable solutions.
Best for
Statusbrew is a great choice for agencies, enterprises, and large teams that need smooth collaboration tools and are looking for advanced audience targeting.
Key features
- Audience segmentation tools that allow businesses to create targeted lists for more personalized engagement
- Content scheduling and publishing across multiple platforms, with optimal times suggested based on audience activity
- Easy approval workflows for managing team roles and content approvals, ensuring smooth collaboration
Pros
- Excellent team collaboration features for managing multiple users
- The advanced audience segmentation tools allow you to create highly targeted campaigns
- Very easy to schedule posts with suggested optimal timing
Cons
- User interface can be tricky for beginners, less intuitive than other platforms
- Pricing can be unaffordable for smaller teams and individuals
- Fewer integrations compared to larger platforms like Sprout
Customers say
“Wide range of tools and functions very useful for agencies with multiple clients and social accounts. Customer service is also excellent, getting back to all our enquiries very quickly no matter the time of day, and always helping us solve specific operational challenges” Gartner
“I found the UI intuitive and easy to navigate right from the entry screen. One feature I appreciated was the ability to create separate workspaces for different projects, which helped keep everything organized and prevented data mixups. Since I manage multiple brands, this helped me a lot with the segregation. I’ve tried Agorapulse and Sendible but didn’t find this level of sophistication for clients. Feature-wise, Statusbrew is one of the most comprehensive platforms I’ve used.” Ashwani, G2
Cost
Statusbrew’s Lite plan starts at $69/month, scaling up to $129/month for Standard and $229/month for Premium (up to 8 users).
10. Brandwatch
Brandwatch is a bit of a different platform, built for monitoring social media sentiment and analyzing online conversations. It’s a great Sprout Social alternative for users who are more focused on customer sentiment and tracking trends across social channels. It also has an integrated content calendar, centralised inbox and a handy digital asset library.
Brandwatch stands out for its advanced social listening and analytics. It lets businesses monitor brand health, spot trends, and keep tabs on competitors, making it useful for organizations that rely on data to make decisions. It’s got a fairly intuitive UX, making it easy for new users to master.
While Brandwatch is excellent for social listening and analytics, it can be complex and difficult to navigate for new users. Compared to competing platforms, Brandwatch lacks advanced features for Instagram content, which can be a disadvantage for visually focused brands. Its non-transparent pricing structure is also a downfall, with no pricing information directly available.
Best for
Brandwatch is best if you’re more focused on comprehensive social listening and advanced analytics. It's really a platform for monitoring brand reputation, tracking competitor activity, and gathering deeper insights from online conversations.
Key features
- Tracks brand mentions, customer sentiment, and competitor insights across multiple social platforms in real time.
- Data visualization makes it easy for teams to interpret complex data and share insights.
- Provides in-depth analysis and reports to help you understand trends, audience behavior, and campaign performance.
Pros
- Great advanced, customizable analytics and a large variety of integrations
- Strong audience reporting, real-time monitoring, and alerting features
- Unlimited users and a range of distribution, sharing and permissions options
Cons
- Non-transparent pricing - you can only get a pricing quote by booking a demo
- Lacks automatic posting for Instagram Stories and Reels, which can be a disadvantage for visual content-heavy brands.
- Less of an all-in-one social media platform, more of a social listening and consumer intelligence tool.
Customers say
“Brandwatch offers intuitive yet robust boolean search functionality. Its source coverage is excellent. The widgets and filter options in the standard review and dashboard environment offer great flexibility and allow for intricate slicing and dicing of the data.” Gartner
“Brandwatch is a great social listening tool. I'm using it most for following up conversations about a brand or specific topics, and I'm finding great historical analysis. There are many filtering possibilities and It's easy to build queries. The tool seems to be very "DIY", you can learn how to work it quickly. Only downside is the pricing, higher than most of competitors.” Gartner
Cost
Contact Brandwatch for a pricing quote.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best alternatives to Sprout Social with free plans?
If you’re looking for free social media management tools, Buffer offers a great free plan for individual users with a great set of features. Zoho Social also has a free plan, ideal for smaller teams managing a few social profiles. These platforms provide decent functionality without the high costs associated with Sprout Social.
What are the best alternatives to Sprout Social for small businesses?
For small businesses, Agorapulse and Later are strong alternatives to Sprout Social. Agorapulse offers affordable pricing and intuitive social inbox features, while Later excels at visual content management, especially for Instagram and Pinterest. Both platforms provide useful features without breaking the bank.
What are the best alternatives to Sprout Social for mid-sized businesses?
Mid-sized businesses will benefit from platforms like Sked Social and Hootsuite. Sked Social is ideal for businesses managing visual content across Instagram and TikTok, with excellent support for Stories, Reels, and carousels. It also supports multiple users without extra costs, making it scalable as your team grows. Hootsuite excels with its powerful analytics and team collaboration features, allowing businesses to track performance across multiple social accounts and platforms. Both platforms provide scalability and reliable tools for businesses with more complex social media strategies.
What are the best alternatives to Sprout Social for enterprise brands?
For enterprise brands, Sked Social is a fantastic option, especially if you’re managing large-scale visual content across platforms like Instagram and TikTok. With unlimited user seats and advanced scheduling features, it’s perfect for big teams handling multiple accounts without the extra costs piling up. Sprinklr is another solid option if you’re willing to invest a bit more. It’s packed with AI-driven tools to help automate social listening and audience engagement, and it can handle complex social media campaigns across numerous channels.
What are the best alternatives to Sprout Social for social media agencies?
For social media agencies, Sked Social and Sendible are the best alternatives to Sprout. Sked allows for easy collaboration and content approvals across multiple accounts, while Sendible provides strong client management features and integration options with tools like Canva and Google My Business, making it a perfect fit for agencies managing multiple clients.