Metricool vs Hootsuite: Which is Best for Your Business?

Metricool vs Hootsuite: Quick Comparison Overview

Running social media for many brands can feel messy. You jump between tabs, repeat captions, and still miss posts. So many teams end up weighing Metricool vs Hootsuite as their main social media management hub.

Both tools pack scheduling, analytics, and inbox work into one screen. Each one suits different team sizes, budgets, and ways of working.

What is Metricool?

Metricool is a social media management tool that keeps planning, analytics, and ads in one clean dashboard. It fits freelancers and small businesses that run many brands or social media accounts.

You see clear charts, simple reports, and neat social media scheduling for multiple channels. This makes daily content planning feel lighter for social media managers and agencies.

What is Hootsuite?

Hootsuite is a long-running social media management platform built for larger teams. It connects many social accounts, pulls them into a unified inbox, and keeps posting under one login.

Hootsuite leans on social listening and wide monitoring across each social platform. Seat-based plans grow into an enterprise plan with more team collaboration and controls.

Metricool vs Hootsuite Comparison Table

This quick view sets the stage for the rest of the Metricool vs Hootsuite breakdown.

Metricool vs Hootsuite Features Comparison

Features shape how calm your social media week feels. Both tools sit in the social media management space, but they suit different teams.

Core Features Overview

Metricool and Hootsuite both handle social media scheduling, analytics, and inbox work. From there, each platform adds its own set of extras around team collaboration, social listening, and ads.

Metricool Key Features

Metricool feels like a clean social media management tool for brands and small businesses.

• Visual planner and calendar: Shows all posts for multiple channels in one grid, so you can plan content at a glance.
• Scheduling features: Let you schedule posts across each social platform with best time hints for better reach.
• Content recycling (Autolists): Repeats evergreen posts from lists, so strong content keeps working without extra copy-paste.
• Unified inbox: Puts comments and messages from linked social accounts in one place for faster replies.
• Analytics and reports: Tracks social media performance and engagement metrics, then turns them into neat PDFs and PPTs.
• Ads and AI tools: Runs ad campaigns for Meta, Google, and TikTok, plus an AI caption writer for faster content creation.

Hootsuite Key Features

Hootsuite leans toward larger teams that juggle many brands and regions.

• Planner and calendar: Handles social media scheduling for many social media accounts from one main view.
• Streams: Shows feeds, searches, and tags in columns, so teams can monitor mentions while they work.
• Unified inbox: Pulls messages from many networks into one spot for shared team collaboration.
• Social listening: Tracks brand terms, hashtags, and topics, giving wider views of chats around your brand.
• Integrations hub: Connects tools like Slack and CRMs, turning Hootsuite into one platform for bigger workflows.
• Roles and approvals: Uses seats, content approval workflows, and routing rules to keep many users in sync.

Unique Features: Metricool vs Hootsuite

Metricool leans into a lighter, more user-friendly interface that feels easy for small businesses and solo social media managers. Its Autolists and content recycling shine for brands that post a lot but hate redoing work.

Hootsuite leans into social listening, add-ons, and premium features for larger teams with many seats and regions. Seat-based plans and extra modules suit brands that need many checks and multiple layers of control.

Analytics and Reporting Capabilities

Good analytics turn social media guesses into clear calls. Metricool and Hootsuite both track results, but they lean in slightly different ways.

Metricool Analytics Tools

• Channel and post stats: Shows reach, clicks, and engagement metrics for each post and each social account.
• Competitive benchmarking: Compares rivals on pace, growth, and content style, giving valuable insights for brands and clients.
• Advanced analytics and exports: Send reporting features to PDF, PPT, and tools like Looker Studio for key performance indicators.

This builds a nice, robust analytics layer for agencies that need clean reports.

Hootsuite Analytics Tools

• Dashboards across channels: Pulls data from each social platform into one view, powered by Hootsuite’s analytics.
• Listening and sentiment: Blends social listening with analytics, adding storylines around mood and brand care.
• Enterprise reporting: On the enterprise plan, teams get richer templates and exports that suit many stakeholders and clients.

User Interface and Ease of Use: Metricool vs Hootsuite

You live inside your social media management tool for hours. So the screen you stare at all day really matters. Here is how Metricool vs Hootsuite compares on looks and feel.

Interface Design Comparison

Metricool keeps things clean. One main dashboard, clear tabs, and a tidy calendar make it feel user-friendly from the first click. Most users see an intuitive interface with clear buttons, not a maze of panels.

Hootsuite looks more like a control room. Streams, widgets, and many columns sit on one big platform. Power users love this, but new social media managers can feel a bit lost at first.

Put simply, Metricool feels like a neat desk. Hootsuite feels like a full command center. Both work, but one looks calmer on a busy Monday.

Learning Curve and User Experience

Metricool keeps the early steps light. You connect a few social accounts, see the planner, and start scheduling within minutes. This suits small businesses that do not have time for a long learning curve.

Hootsuite packs in more knobs and switches. Seat settings, streams, and add-ons can bring multiple layers to simple tasks. Some teams love that control, while others see extra clicks and unnecessary features.

If you want fewer clicks and quick wins, Metricool feels like the smoother tool. If your team lives in dashboards all day, Hootsuite can match that heavier daily routine.

Mobile App Functionality

Both tools ship mobile apps for on-the-go work. You can check queues, reply to messages, and schedule posts from your phone.

Metricool keeps the mobile view close to its web planner, with a clear calendar and simple actions. Hootsuite’s app mirrors its wider platform, so you see streams and inbox views for many social media channels.

In both cases, you stay out of the laptop and still keep social media management moving.

Team Collaboration Features

Social media is rarely a one-person job. Designers, writers, clients, and managers all jump in. So Metricool vs Hootsuite need strong ways to keep teams in sync.

Workflow Management and Approval Processes

Metricool keeps workflows simple. You plan posts in the calendar, then send them for review inside the same screen. Clients or managers can give a thumbs up, ask for tweaks, or leave notes right on the post.

Hootsuite leans into heavier flows. Posts can pass through several steps across larger teams, with tasks and checks on the way. That suits brands that need many sign-offs and multiple layers of review before anything goes live.

Role-Based Permissions and User Management

Metricool uses roles tied to each Brand. You can set Manager, Editor, Analyst, and Client, then tweak custom roles for edge cases. This keeps users clear on what they can edit, view, or mark as ready.

Hootsuite builds roles around seats. Admins can create custom roles, control who publishes, who only drafts, and who just watches stats. This helps larger teams and agencies that work with many brands and outside clients.

Team Communication Tools

Metricool keeps chat close to the calendar. Reviewers can drop comments on single posts, so feedback sits right where edits happen. This keeps team collaboration tight during busy content planning days.

Hootsuite leans on tasks, tags, and notes. Teams can send items from the unified inbox to teammates, assign chats, and keep context on each thread. This fits support squads that manage many social media messages each day.

Metricool vs Hootsuite for Content Management

Content management is where Metricool vs Hootsuite spend most of their time. Here’s how each social media management tool handles planning, posting, and keeping things tidy.

Content Scheduling and Publishing

Both tools act as social media scheduling tools rather than just a posting box.

Metricool’s single calendar for multiple channels shows all posts for many social accounts, so you can see the whole week at a glance. It also suggests strong time slots, allowing you to schedule posts when your audience is more likely to engage.

The Autolists feature helps repeat content. You group posts in a list and set them to repeat, which keeps evergreen content running without fresh uploads every time.

Hootsuite’s planner and calendar handle social media scheduling across many profiles, lined up in one main view. Its bulk composer helps you upload a file and schedule big batches in one go, handy for busy, larger teams.

It’s higher plans even add best-time tips, long queues, and more room for multiple social accounts.

Content Library and Asset Management

Strong content needs a home, not just a send button.

Metricool saves past posts and drafts so you can reuse copy and media without hunting through folders. It pulls files straight from Drive, which keeps your content creation flow neat. It also links with Canva and other design tools, so artwork drops into the planner without downloads.

Hootsuite connects to cloud tools and storage through its big integrations hub, so teams grab assets from many places. They keep brand images and clips ready to use, which helps maintain a steady social media presence.

OwlyWriter and other AI tools speed up caption work when you fill that content library.

Multi-Platform Support

Good content management means posting across more than one social platform.

Metricool’s multi-network publishing pushes content to several networks at once, keeping social media efforts in one view. Each Brand links one account per network, which works well for small businesses with clear lines between brands.

Hootsuite’s multi-platform support connects a wide network list: Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, X (Twitter), LinkedIn, Pinterest, Threads, and more in one platform. It even adds WhatsApp and Google Business Profile through apps, so teams manage comments and chats from one place.

Social Media Management Capabilities

Social media work is more than just pushing posts out. You also need to watch the talk around your brand and reply on time. Here is how Metricool vs Hootsuite handles listening and day-to-day care.

Social Listening and Monitoring Tools

Social listening means watching brand words, rivals, and topics across many places online. It turns random comments into valuable insights you can act on. Here is how each social media management tool handles that side of things.

Metricool Listening Features

Metricool leans more toward analytics than full social listening. You track likes, clicks, and growth, plus basic competitive benchmarking in the reports.

• No full keyword scans across the web for brand terms.
• No wide sentiment maps or trend clouds.
• Inbox covers comments and DMs on your linked social media profiles.

So Metricool keeps you close to your own posts and rivals, but it does not run broad social listening like a stand-alone tool.

Hootsuite Listening Features

Hootsuite leans hard into social listening. Streams, searches, and Talkwalker tech sit right inside the platform.

• Streams to monitor mentions, hashtags, and keywords across multiple channels.
• Quick Search to watch trending topics and compare terms for competitive analysis.
• Talkwalker by Hootsuite for wide web coverage, sentiment, and strong competitive benchmarking on the enterprise plan.

Even basic plans include some social listening power, while higher tiers grow into serious monitoring across many sites.

Engagement and Response Management

Metricool and Hootsuite both step in once people start talking back. Here, the unified inbox and reply tools matter a lot.

Metricool gathers comments and messages in one inbox for linked social accounts. You can sort, reply, and keep social media efforts on track without jumping across tabs.

Hootsuite also runs a shared inbox for teams. Agents can tag chats, send them to teammates, and log work, which suits larger teams that treat social as a support line.

Both tools track engagement metrics around replies and threads inside their analytics screens. That means you can see how fast your team responds and how busy each channel feels.

Social Media Management Tools Compared

So, on the care and listening side, Metricool vs Hootsuite look quite different.

Metricool keeps things close to your own content and rivals, with social media management and reports in one tidy space. It suits small businesses and social media managers who mainly need a calm place to post and track.

Hootsuite feels more like a watchtower for social media and the wider web. Its social listening stack plus inbox tools suit businesses to manage large brands, more social media accounts, and busy clients.

Marketing and Automation Features

Strong marketing and smart automation cut a lot of busy work. Here is how Metricool vs Hootsuite handles ad work and repeat tasks inside your social media management stack.

Campaign Management Tools

Metricool brings ad campaigns into the same place where you run social media scheduling. You can manage ads for Google, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok from one dashboard. Paid and organic posts sit side by side, so you see how all work ties together for each Brand.

Hootsuite connects social ads to its wider social media management platform. You can run ad campaigns across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), and Reddit on one screen. Strong organic posts can turn into ads with a few clicks, so good content gets extra reach without a long setup.

Marketing Analytics

Metricool tracks impressions, clicks, conversions, and cost for your ads. You can see which ad campaigns bring better results and which ones burn budget with weak numbers. Reports are easy to share with managers and clients, and they sit next to organic social media performance.

Hootsuite shows paid and organic results in shared analytics dashboards. You can compare channels, track link clicks, and see which posts push more visits or actions. This gives users a clear picture of how their social media management supports wider marketing goals.

Automation Capabilities

Metricool leans on smart scheduling features and content recycling. Autolists run evergreen posts on a loop, so your feed stays active without fresh uploads each time. Best-time charts and bulk imports keep scheduling fast for busy teams and small businesses.

Hootsuite leans on bulk tools and AI. Bulk Composer lets teams schedule large batches of posts in one go, which suits larger teams with many brands. Inbox rules and AI caption tools cut repeat work across the platform, so you spend less time on small tasks.

Integrations and Platform Compatibility

Your social media management tool rarely works alone. It sits next to design apps, clouds, and CRMs. So integrations matter a lot in Metricool vs Hootsuite.

Native Integrations Comparison

Both tools connect with the main social networks. From there, their native integrations grow in different directions.

Metricool leans toward design tools and storage, such as Canva, Adobe Express, and Google Drive integration. Hootsuite leans toward a broad set of business apps, with 100+ integrations inside one dashboard.

Metricool Integrations

Metricool links its planner with Canva, Adobe Express, and Google Drive integration. That means you grab designs and files straight inside the calendar, with no download and re-upload dance.

Metricool also connects with Google Looker Studio for reports through its own API. So users can send analytics into dashboards without manual exports.

Hootsuite Integrations

Hootsuite connects to all major social networks from one platform tab. You can post and manage content for Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, X (Twitter), LinkedIn, YouTube, Pinterest, and more in one place.

On top of that, Hootsuite plugs into tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, Salesforce, Google My Business, HubSpot, Canva, and other apps from its directory. So users can connect social work with sales, support, and project tools without leaving the social media hub.

Third-Party Apps and API Access

Metricool connects with Zapier and Make, which link it to thousands of outside apps. You can trigger actions from new posts, inbox messages, or reviews, then send that data into CRMs or sheets.

Metricool also exposes its own API on higher plans, so teams can export stats or build custom social media workflows.

Hootsuite runs a large App Directory with 100+ third-party apps. Brands plug in tools for storage, reviews, influencer work, automation, and more inside the same platform.

For deeper builds, Hootsuite has public APIs for publishing, user management, inbox, and analytics data. That gives larger teams room to connect the tool with custom systems while keeping one main social dashboard.

Metricool vs Hootsuite Pricing and Plans

Price can decide the social media management tool you stick with. Here is how Metricool vs Hootsuite line up on plans, seats, and long-term cost.

Metricool Pricing Tiers

Metricool uses a brand-based model. You pay for how many brands you manage, not for extra seats. It has three paid tiers (on top of the Free plan):

• Starter: Entry-level paid plan. Starts around $22/month (or $18/month on annual billing) for up to 5 brands.
• Advanced: Mid-tier plan with team features and deeper analytics. Starts around $54/month (or $45/month annually) for up to 15 brands.
• Custom: Top tier for big agencies/organizations. Custom pricing, built for 50+ brands and white-label, API, and higher-touch support.

Hootsuite Pricing Tiers

Hootsuite uses seat-based pricing. You pay for users and higher limits on social media accounts. It currently sells three paid tiers:

• Standard: Starts at about $99 per user/month (on annual billing). For one user with a limited set of social accounts.
• Advanced: Around $249 per user/month (annual). For teams that need more collaboration features, deeper analytics, and stronger social listening.
• Enterprise: Custom pricing. For large organizations with unlimited social accounts and many users, plus advanced governance and extras.

Free Trial and Free Plans

Metricool includes a permanent free plan. You can manage one brand with a post cap and shorter analytics history, then upgrade later.

Hootsuite does not keep a long-term free plan. Instead, it runs a time-limited free trial on paid tiers, usually around 30 days.

So, in Metricool vs Hootsuite, Metricool suits small businesses that want to start with no spend. Hootsuite leans more toward teams ready to jump into a paid seat from day one.

Value for Money: Which Offers Better ROI?

Metricool lands as the more cost-effective choice for many small businesses and solo social media managers. You get brand-based pricing, a handy free plan, and strong analytics without a big jump in cost.

Hootsuite costs more but brings heavier premium features for larger teams. Seat-based pricing, broad social listening, and richer team controls suit companies that need a more comprehensive solution with many stakeholders.

So, for Metricool vs Hootsuite, the smarter choice depends on size. Smaller brands and agencies chasing value and clear social media management usually lean toward Metricool.

Enterprises that want deeper control and advanced features across many users lean toward Hootsuite, even with more strings attached.

Customer Support and Resources

When something breaks, you want answers fast. So the support side of Metricool vs Hootsuite matters as much as features.

Support Options and Response Times

Metricool runs support through live chat and email. Inside the app and on the site, you can open chat, send a ticket, or read their support center guides. Live chat usually feels quicker, while email suits longer questions.

Hootsuite uses in-dashboard chat, a web form, and a detailed support hub. Plans change the mix a bit, with stronger support paths on higher tiers. For larger teams, this setup can fit bigger social media management needs.

Training, Onboarding, and Documentation

Metricool has a full tutorials section with step-by-step guides and video lessons. New users can follow “start here” guides, then move into posts on content planning, ads, and analytics. There are also live and on-demand masterclasses for social media managers and small businesses.

Hootsuite leans hard on Hootsuite Academy. Academy classes cover the platform, social media basics, and advanced topics, plus paid certifications. This suits teams that want training paths for new hires and long-time users.

Community and User Resources

Metricool runs an active blog, YouTube channel, and regular masterclasses. These cover trends, social media tips, and new platform features in plain language.

Hootsuite brings a bigger content stack. You get a long-running blog, Academy lessons, case studies, webinars, and social feeds packed with tips. For teams that like to learn from guides, videos, and community stories, Hootsuite feels like a full learning hub around the tool.

Metricool vs Hootsuite: Which Should You Choose?

Both tools can run your social media week from one screen. The right choice depends on your team, your budget, and how heavy your process feels today. Here is how Metricool vs Hootsuite shakes out in real life.

When to Choose Metricool

Pick Metricool if you care about clear analytics and smooth social media scheduling. It suits freelancers, agencies, and small businesses that handle many brands but want a calm platform.

Metricool fits well when you:

• Run social media management for clients on a tight budget.
• Want a cost-effective tool with a long-term free plan to start.
• Like a light, user-friendly interface without too many menus.
• Need Brand-based pricing for more social media accounts under one roof.
• Care a lot about reports, advanced analytics, and competitive benchmarking.
• Enjoy extras like content recycling, an AI caption writer, and tidy scheduling features.

If you read Metricool vs Hootsuite comparisons and think, “I just want clear reports and an easy planner,” Metricool leans your way.

When to Choose Hootsuite

Pick Hootsuite if you run larger teams and busy brands. It suits companies that treat social media as a full support and marketing channel.

Hootsuite fits well when you:

• Need strong social listening across multiple channels and many terms.
• Work with big support queues in a shared unified inbox.
• Have strict approval workflows and multiple layers of review.
• Want rich team collaboration tools and premium features on an enterprise plan.
• Need wide integrations with CRMs, project tools, and other business apps.

If your metricool vs Hootsuite question starts with “We have many seats and regions,” Hootsuite usually lands closer to your needs.

Key Decision Factors for Your Business

When you pick between Metricool vs Hootsuite, think about a few simple points, such as:

• Team size and roles: Small crew with a few social media managers? Metricool keeps things light. Big squad with many seats and strict rules? Hootsuite suits that setup.
• Budget and pricing style: Brand-based plans and a steady free plan lean toward Metricool. Seat-based pricing with premium features and big enterprise plan perks leans toward Hootsuite.
• Work style: Want a smooth calendar, content planning, and quick scheduling with less noise? Metricool feels better. Want stronger social listening, heavy social media management across lots of social accounts, and rich routing? Hootsuite feels better.
• Growth plans: If you see more brands, more clients, and more social platform work ahead, check how each tool scales. Think about how many users you might add and how many multiple social accounts you may connect later.

Better Alternatives to Consider

If Metricool and Hootsuite both feel a bit much, RecurPost can sit in the middle. It leans hard on content recycling, queues, and post-based planning, so your social media presence stays active with less effort.

RecurPost suits small businesses and agencies that want:

• Strong evergreen queues instead of endless manual scheduling.
• A cost-effective social media management tool with core features that cover planning, analytics, and social media scheduling.
• A simple layout that feels close to a content calendar, not a giant control room.

So in the Hootsuite Metricool and RecurPost mix, Hootsuite fits bigger orgs, Metricool fits report-heavy teams, and RecurPost leans toward “set it once, let it run” social media work with fewer strings attached.

Metricool vs Hootsuite FAQs