Zoho Social vs Hootsuite
What To Choose?
What is Hootsuite?
One of the most well-known social media management tools, Hootsuite was founded in 2008 and has grown into a comprehensive platform trusted by brands and agencies worldwide. Hootsuite’s goal is to simplify social media management by offering a user-friendly interface and integration with multiple networks.
Best Suited For: Hootsuite excels in managing multiple social media profiles, making it a great choice for larger teams, agencies, or businesses with extensive social media campaigns. I found it to be highly efficient for teams collaborating on campaigns or for those with a broader social media presence.
What is Zoho Social?
Zoho Social is part of the Zoho suite, a collection of online productivity tools that cater to businesses of all sizes. Launched to simplify social media management, Zoho Social integrates with Zoho’s CRM, making it ideal for businesses already using Zoho products.
Best Suited For: After using Zoho Social for managing client accounts, I found it to be perfect for small to medium-sized businesses, especially those already using Zoho CRM. Its integrations with CRM data provide a unique advantage in tracking social engagement tied to customer interactions.
Overview
Choosing the right social media management tool is critical for businesses and individuals looking to enhance their online presence and streamline social media marketing efforts. With numerous tools on the market, it can be difficult to decide which one offers the best features, pricing, and support. In this comparison of Zoho Social vs Hootsuite, I’ll share my experience with both platforms to help you determine which one is the most suitable for your needs.
Zoho Social vs Hootsuite: User Rating
| Rating Categories | Zoho Social | Hootsuite |
| Star Rating (Out of 5) | 4.6 | 4.1 |
| Meets Requirements (Out of 10) | 8.8 | 8.3 |
| Ease of Use (Out of 10) | 9.2 | 8.4 |
| Ease of Setup (Out of 10) | 9.2 | 8.4 |
| Ease of Admin (Out of 10) | 9.2 | 8.5 |
| Quality of Support (Out of 10) | 8.7 | 7.9 |
| Business Partnership (Out of 10) | 9.0 | 8.3 |
| Product Direction (% positive) | 9.2 | 7.3 |
- Rating: 4.6/5 on G2 from over 2500+ reviews.
- Users love Zoho Social’s detailed reporting and how it integrates seamlessly with Zoho CRM, but some mention that the interface can feel a bit overwhelming for beginners.
Hootsuite:
- Rating: 4.3/5 on G2 with over 4,500 reviews.
- Hootsuite is praised for its easy-to-use interface and extensive integrations. However, some users feel the analytics could be more advanced for businesses with complex reporting needs.
Zoho Social vs Hootsuite: Feature Comparison
| Features | Zoho Social | Hootsuite |
| Pricing (per month in USD) | $10 | $99 |
| Free Trial | Yes | Yes |
| Platforms Supported | Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Google Business Profile, Youtube, Tik Tok | Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Youtube, Tik Tok |
| Bulk Scheduling | Yes | Yes |
| RSS feeds | No | No |
| Recurring Posts | No | No |
| Social Inbox | No | Yes |
| AI Content Generation | No | No |
| Hashtag Storage | No | Yes |
| Caption Customization | No | No |
| AI Images | No | No |
| Advanced Analytics | No | No |
| White Label Reports | No | No |
| URL Shortener | No | Yes |
| Unlimited Workspaces | No | No |
| Team Management | No | No |
Hootsuite’s AutoSchedule is a popular feature, which helps in scheduling posts based on an optimal time. However, I found that it doesn’t offer as much customization in terms of timing compared to Zoho Social’s SmartQ, which takes historical data into account.
b. Supported Social Media Platforms:
Supports major platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Google My Business, and YouTube. I found the integration with Google My Business especially useful for local businesses.
Similar to Zoho Social, Hootsuite supports a variety of platforms including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube. However, Hootsuite supports a broader range of third-party integrations, which is useful for businesses that use other tools like Slack, Shopify, or WordPress.
c. Analytics and Reporting:
Zoho Social offers in-depth analytics with features like detailed social listening and performance reports. For example, I used it for a client who needed to track customer sentiment across different channels, and the platform made it easy to track engagement metrics.
While Hootsuite also provides analytics, I found it less detailed compared to Zoho Social. The reporting tools are more basic, which might not be ideal for businesses requiring in-depth, customized reports. However, it does integrate well with Google Analytics for website tracking.
d. User Interface and Experience:
The interface is intuitive and clean, which is perfect for users who need to manage multiple profiles and campaigns efficiently. However, it may take some time to get used to all the features and integrations, especially if you’re new to Zoho’s ecosystem.
Hootsuite is known for its user-friendly interface, which makes it easy to jump right in, even for beginners. The dashboard is clean, and everything is visible at a glance, making it ideal for fast-paced teams. However, the simplicity sometimes comes at the cost of deeper functionality.
Pros and Cons of Using Zoho Social
Pros
- Great integration with Zoho CRM.
- SmartQ for optimal post timing.
- In-depth analytics and social listening.
Cons
- Limited third-party integrations.
- Learning curve for new users.
Ideal Use Cases:
Zoho Social – Best For:
- Small to medium-sized businesses already using Zoho CRM.
- Social listening and customer engagement tracking.
- Businesses looking for detailed analytics to improve their social media strategy.
For instance, if you’re a local business using Google My Business and need to track customer sentiment, Zoho Social is the ideal choice.
Hootsuite – Best For:
- Agencies and teams managing multiple social profiles.
- Businesses that need third-party integrations for tools like Slack, Shopify, or Salesforce.
- Larger teams that require team collaboration features like task assignments, approvals, and more.
For example, if you’re an agency managing campaigns across multiple client accounts, Hootsuite’s team collaboration features can make managing approvals and assignments much easier.
Conclusion of Zoho Social vs Hootsuite Comparison
Both Zoho Social and Hootsuite offer excellent social media management solutions, but they cater to different needs. Zoho Social is ideal if you’re already using Zoho CRM and need in-depth analytics and social listening features. It also works well for smaller businesses that want a more affordable solution.
On the other hand, Hootsuite excels if you need a user-friendly interface, team collaboration features, and third-party integrations. It’s the better option for larger teams managing a wide range of social profiles.
Ultimately, choosing the right tool depends on your specific needs and budget.
If you’re looking for something more cost-effective and flexible, RecurPost is another solid alternative. I found RecurPost particularly beneficial for businesses needing affordable social media scheduling with a focus on content recycling and advanced analytics. Plus, it integrates seamlessly with multiple social media channels.
| Feature | RecurPost | Zoho Social | Hootsuite |
| Pricing (per month in USD) | $25 | $10 | $18 |
| Free Trial | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bulk Scheduling | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| AI Content Generation | Yes | No | No |
| Advanced Analytics | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Team Management | Yes | On higher plans | On higher plans |
| Platform Support | Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Google Business Profile, YouTube, TikTok | Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Google My Business | Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Google My Business Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, YouTube |
| Caption Customization | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| URL Shortener | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| White Label Reports | Yes | No | On higher plans |
How RecurPost Addresses Common Pain Points
Pain Point Analysis:
- Some tools like Hootsuite can become pricey, especially for larger teams, while others like Zoho Social may be challenging to navigate for new users.
- RecurPost offers a simpler, more affordable solution with content recycling and easy-to-understand analytics, which is perfect for businesses looking to scale without breaking the bank.
RecurPost’s Solutions:
- Affordable Pricing with robust scheduling, social listening, and team collaboration features. It’s perfect for businesses or teams of any size looking to improve social media efficiency.
Feature Highlights of RecurPost
- Content Recycling: Keep your evergreen content alive without manually rescheduling.
- Detailed Analytics: Easily track your performance across social media channels.
- Affordable Plans: Starting at just $12.99/month, RecurPost offers a budget-friendly alternative to other tools.
Zoho Social and Hootsuite both offer unique benefits, but RecurPost stands out for its affordability and advanced features for businesses looking to manage multiple profiles across various social media channels without the hefty price tag.