NEWJoin 1M+ SaaS Professionals|Get Weekly Insights, Trends & Expert PicksSubscribe Free →

Spotsaas logo

Hootsuite vs Sprout Social vs Cortex vs Zoho Social Comparison

Last updated:

Hootsuite

3.9(2,932 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

  • Free Trial
  • Freelancers / Consultants
  • Large Enterprises

Hootsuite Enterprise integrates social media management into team's workflow. Get a complete picture of everything happening across all the social networks from one dashboard and collaborate with team to manage all the s…

Sprout Social

4.3(2,477 reviews)

Starting at $199 per seat/month

  • Free Trial
  • Freelancers / Consultants
  • Large Enterprises

Sprout Social is a Social Media Management Platform that allows business users to manage, plan, and track their social media presence across multiple networks. Sprout Social is used by progressive companies to drive incr…

Cortex

4.8(12 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

  • Free Trial
  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

Cortex is a social media management software that lets user respond to customer service requests within seconds with live chat, email, SMS, or any channel user chooses. Cortex's automation tools let user easily turn data…

Zoho Social

4.6(5,380 reviews)

Starting at $10 /Month

  • Free Trial
  • Individuals
  • Large Enterprises

Zoho Social is a powerful Social Media Management Software in with a low cost per user model. It includes integrated tools like Campaign Builder, Reporting Dashboard and much more. Zoho Social allows to manage multiple s…

Sprout Social leads on user satisfaction with a 4.3-star rating across 2,477 reviews.

Hootsuite vs Sprout Social vs Cortex vs Zoho Social — at a glance

FeatureHootsuiteSprout SocialCortexZoho Social
Rating3.9 / 54.3 / 54.8 / 54.6 / 5
Reviews2,9322,477125,380
Starting priceContact for pricing$199 per seat/monthContact for pricing$10 /Month
Free trial Yes Yes Yes Yes
Free version No No No No
Best forFreelancers / Consultants, Large Enterprises, Medium BusinessFreelancers / Consultants, Large Enterprises, Medium BusinessLarge Enterprises, Medium BusinessIndividuals, Large Enterprises, Medium Business
CategorySocial Media Management SoftwareSocial Media Management SoftwareSocial Media Management SoftwareSocial Media Management Software
PlatformsSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOSSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOSSaaS/Web/CloudSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS
APIAvailableAvailable
Support modes24/7 (Live rep), Business Hours, Online24/7 (Live rep), Business Hours, OnlineBusiness HoursBusiness Hours, Online
CertificationsSOC 2, GDPRSOC 2, GDPRGDPR
Data residencyGlobalUSGlobal

Key differences between Hootsuite and Sprout Social

  • Pricing: Sprout Social starts at $199 per seat/month. Hootsuite pricing is not publicly listed.
  • User satisfaction: Sprout Social scores higher with a 4.3-star average.
  • Deployment: Hootsuite supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS; Sprout Social supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS.

Compare Hootsuite vs Sprout Social vs Cortex vs Zoho Social — and walk away knowing which one fits.

01

Which tool fits your team best

02

Which is actually cheaper for your team size

03

Where each product wins, per real buyers

Most Social Media Management Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.

Hootsuite - Social Media Management Software
Talk to an expert
Talk to an expert
Sprout Social - Social Media Management Software
Talk to an expert
Talk to an expert
Cortex - Social Media Management Software
Talk to an expert
Talk to an expert

Free PDF comparison

Download this Hootsuite vs Sprout Social vs Cortex vs Zoho Social comparison

Get the full side-by-side as a PDF — these picks plus the top Social Media Management Software tools, with verified ratings, pricing and features.

  • Side-by-side on pricing, features & ratings
  • Plus the category top 10, scored & ranked
  • Emailed to you — no on-screen download

No file downloads on screen — we email it to you. One-click unsubscribe anytime.

Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

Hootsuite

Best for collaborative social media management across multiple networks.

Choose if
  • You need a unified dashboard to manage all social media channels in one place.
  • Your team requires built-in collaboration features for streamlined social media workflows.
  • You want integrated publishing, monitoring, and analytics within a single platform.
Consider alternatives if
  • Your company has minimal social media presence and needs a simpler tool.
  • You require highly specialized or niche social media functionalities not offered here.

Sprout Social

Best for managing and tracking multi-network social media to drive sales.

Choose if
  • You need to manage multiple social media networks from one platform efficiently.
  • Your marketing team wants to generate leads and drive incremental sales via social media.
  • You require integrated tools for social media planning, tracking, and brand management.
Consider alternatives if
  • You are a freelancer or very small team looking for low-cost, minimal-feature solutions.
  • You need highly customizable or niche social media tools beyond standard management features.

Cortex

Best for

Large Enterprises, Medium Business

Zoho Social

Best for affordable, easy multi-account social media management.

Choose if
  • You need to manage multiple social media accounts from one interface.
  • Your team is small to medium-sized and values simple, streamlined workflows.
  • You want integrated campaign building and reporting tools at low cost.
Consider alternatives if
  • Your enterprise requires advanced customization and deep CRM or sales automation integrations.
  • You need highly advanced analytics and extensive third-party business tool integrations.

Hootsuite: Best for collaborative social media management across multiple networks. Sprout Social: Best for managing and tracking multi-network social media to drive sales.

Description

Hootsuite Enterprise integrates social media management into team's workflow. Get a complete picture of everything happening across all the social networks from one dashboard and ... Read More about Hootsuite

Sprout Social is a Social Media Management Platform that allows business users to manage, plan, and track their social media presence across multiple networks. Sprout Social is used by ... Read More about Sprout Social

Cortex is a social media management software that lets user respond to customer service requests within seconds with live chat, email, SMS, or any channel user chooses. Cortex's automation ... Read More about Cortex

Zoho Social is a powerful Social Media Management Software in with a low cost per user model. It includes integrated tools like Campaign Builder, Reporting Dashboard and much more. Zoho ... Read More about Zoho Social

Entry Level Pricing

  • Not Available
  • Starts from $199 , yearly
  • Not Available
  • Starts from $10 , Billed Yearly

Free Trial Availability

Spotsaas Score

What's this? ↗

9.8/10

9.2/10

8.6/10

9.3/10

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

3.87

(2932)

4.8

(12)

Best Company Size

Small BusinessLarge Enterprises
Small BusinessMedium Business
1-50 employees51-500 employees
Get pricing help
Get pricing help
Get pricing help

Software Demo

Demo

No software demo available

Cortex has not given any software demo yet

If you're the owner of this profile, add your demo.Contact us

Need a second opinion?

Get shortlist help from a software advisor

Share your priorities, budget, and team needs, and we’ll help you narrow the options and understand the tradeoffs before you talk to vendors.

Spotsaas advisor
Get shortlist help from a software advisor
  • Independent advice — matched to your business
  • Understand the tradeoffs before you talk to vendors
  • Free 15-min call with a software advisor.

Step 1 of 4

How big is your team?

We tailor recommendations to companies your size.

Trusted by teams at

How do Hootsuite, Sprout Social, Cortex and Zoho Social Compare on Features?

Total Features

24 Features

9 Features

8 Features

9 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

No unique features

No unique features

Get Quote
Get Quote
Get Quote

Compare Hootsuite, Sprout Social, Cortex and Zoho Social on pricing

Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.

Pricing Option

          Starting From

          • Not Available
          • $199 , yearly
          • Not Available
          • $10 , Billed Yearly

          Pricing Plans

          • Not Available
          • Standard

            $249

            per seat/month

            • 5 social profiles

            • Keyword and location monitoring

            • Unlimited AI-generated alt text

            Show more +

          • Professional

            $399

            per seat/month

            • Everything in Standard; plus:

            • Unlimited social profiles

            • Message tagging

            Show more +

          • Advanced

            $499

            per seat/month

            • Everything in Professional; plus:

            • Enhance Reply by AI Assist

            • Sentiment in the Smart Inbox and Reviews

            Show more +

          • Browse all pricing plans
          • Not Available
          • Free Edition

            • 1 Team Member

            • 1 Brand

            • zShare Browser Extension

            Show more +

          • Standard (For Business)

            • 1 Brand (7 Channels)

            • 1 Team Member

            • Facebook Pages, Facebook Groups, Twitter Profiles, Instagram Business Profiles, LinkedIn Profiles, LinkedIn Company Pages, & Google My Business listings.

            Show more +

          • Professional (For Business)

            • 1 Brand (8 Channels)

            • Includes features of Standard plan, plus

            • Livestream

            Show more +

          • Browse all pricing plans

          Pricing Page

          Hootsuite pricing
          Sprout Social pricing
          Cortex pricing
          Zoho Social pricing

          Other Details

          Organization Types supported

          • Freelancers
          • Large Enterprises
          • Medium Business
          • Small Business
          • Individuals
          • Freelancers
          • Large Enterprises
          • Medium Business
          • Small Business
          • Individuals
          • Freelancers
          • Large Enterprises
          • Medium Business
          • Small Business
          • Individuals
          • Freelancers
          • Large Enterprises
          • Medium Business
          • Small Business
          • Individuals

          Platforms Supported

          • Browser Based (Cloud)
          • Mobile - Android
          • Mobile - iOS
          • Installed - Windows
          • Installed - Mac
          • Mobile - Windows
          • Mobile - BlackBerry
          • Browser Based (Cloud)
          • Browser Based (Cloud)
          • Mobile - Android
          • Mobile - iOS
          • Installed - Windows
          • Installed - Mac
          • Mobile - Windows
          • Mobile - BlackBerry
          • Browser Based (Cloud)
          • Browser Based (Cloud)
          • Mobile - Android
          • Mobile - iOS
          • Installed - Windows
          • Installed - Mac
          • Mobile - Windows
          • Mobile - BlackBerry
          • Browser Based (Cloud)
          • Browser Based (Cloud)
          • Mobile - Android
          • Mobile - iOS
          • Installed - Windows
          • Installed - Mac
          • Mobile - Windows
          • Mobile - BlackBerry
          • Browser Based (Cloud)

          Modes of support

          • 24/7 (Live rep)
          • Business Hours
          • Online
          • 24/7 (Live rep)
          • Business Hours
          • Online
          • 24/7 (Live rep)
          • Business Hours
          • Online
          • 24/7 (Live rep)
          • Business Hours
          • Online

          API Support

          • Available
          • Available
          • Not Available
          • Not Available
          Get help choosing
          Get help choosing
          Get help choosing

          Security & Compliance

          Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.

          SOC 2

          ✓ Yes
          ✓ Yes

          HIPAA

          ✗ No
          ✗ No

          GDPR

          ✓ Yes
          ✓ Yes

          Single Sign-On (SSO)

          ✓ Yes
          ✓ Yes

          Multi-Factor Auth (MFA)

          ✓ Yes
          ✓ Yes

          Data Encryption

          ✓ Yes
          ✓ Yes

          Audit Logs

          ✓ Yes
          ✓ Yes

          Data Residency

          🌐 Global
          🇺🇸 US

          Hootsuite vs Sprout Social vs Cortex User Reviews & Rating Comparison

          User Ratings

          Rating Distribution

          1473

          808

          219

          83

          349

          1498

          784

          113

          25

          57

          3

          1

          0

          0

          0

          300

          0

          0

          0

          2

          Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI

          Buyer sentiment

          Buyers appreciate Hootsuite's comprehensive social media management capabilities but note some usability and pricing transparency challenges.

          What buyers like

          • Ease of use
          • Team collaboration
          • Multi-network management

          Common complaints

          • Pricing transparency
          • Performance with large data volumes

          Buyer sentiment

          Buyers appreciate the platform's multi-network management and lead generation capabilities but express concerns about pricing transparency and feature depth.

          What buyers like

          • Multi-network management
          • Lead generation
          • Social media planning and tracking

          Common complaints

          • Pricing transparency
          • Feature limitations

          Buyer sentiment

          Buyer sentiment is very strong across 4 reviews, with consistently positive feedback.

          Buyer sentiment

          Users generally praise Zoho Social for its ease of use and affordability, though some desire more advanced features and integrations.

          What buyers like

          • Ease of use
          • Multi-account management
          • Value for money

          Common complaints

          • Limited advanced features
          • Lack of deep integrations

          Pros and Cons

          • Unified dashboard for managing multiple social networks

          • Collaboration features for team-based social media management

          • Comprehensive publishing, monitoring, and analytics in one platform

          • Pricing details are not fully transparent and may require sales contact

          • Some users report a learning curve for advanced features

          • Ability to manage multiple social media networks from one platform

          • Tools to plan and track social media presence effectively

          • Supports driving incremental sales and capturing leads

          • Lack of publicly available pricing information

          • Average user rating of 3.8 indicating mixed user satisfaction

          No pros or cons available for this product

          • Ability to manage multiple social accounts from a single interface

          • Integrated campaign builder and reporting dashboard

          • Low cost per user pricing model

          • Limited advanced customization options

          • May lack deep CRM or sales automation integrations

          Positive Reviews

          No reviews available for the product

          No reviews available for the product

          No reviews available for the product

          No reviews available for the product

          Negative Reviews

          No reviews available for the product

          No reviews available for the product

          No reviews available for the product

          No reviews available for the product

          List of Customers

          Customers

          Marketo

          Marketo

          Nokia

          Nokia

          The British Museum

          The British Museum

          Coldwell Banker

          Coldwell Banker

          Lowes

          Lowes

          Edelman

          Edelman

          No Customers information available.

          No Customers information available.

          Media and Screenshots

          Screenshots

          Hootsuite Timeline

          5 Screenshots

          sprout-social

          5 Screenshots

          screenshots

          10 Screenshots

          Videos

          video-0

          2 Videos

          video-0

          2 Videos

          No videos available.

          Expand your shortlist

          Add another option to compare side by side

          Search by product name to compare pricing, fit, and buyer feedback in one view.

          Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].

          Frequently asked questions

          Which is better, Hootsuite or Sprout Social?
          Sprout Social edges out the other on user ratings (4.3 vs 3.9). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
          Do Hootsuite and Sprout Social offer a free trial?
          Yes, both Hootsuite and Sprout Social offer a free trial.
          What is the starting price of Hootsuite vs Sprout Social?
          Hootsuite starts at Contact for pricing. Sprout Social starts at $199 per seat/month.
          What are the top alternatives to Hootsuite?
          Top alternatives to Hootsuite include Zoho Social, Crowdfire, SocialBee, Hubspot Marketing Hub, Zoho Connect.
          What are the top alternatives to Sprout Social?
          Top alternatives to Sprout Social include Zoho Social, Crowdfire, SocialBee, Buffer, Sprinklr.

          Grow your pipeline with buyers who are already looking for you

          254,000+ buyers use Spotsaas every month to evaluate and shortlist software. Get in front of them — for free, or with a managed growth plan built around your category.