Hootsuite vs Metricool (2026): Is Metricool the Better Value Pick?
By Alex Chen, SaaS Analyst · Updated April 11, 2026 · Based on hands-on testing across scheduling, analytics, and ad tracking
30-Second Answer
Choose Metricoolif you're a freelancer, content creator, or small agency — it delivers powerful analytics (including ad performance tracking) and scheduling at 4-5x less than Hootsuite. Choose Hootsuiteif you're an enterprise team needing social listening, advanced approval workflows, and deep platform integrations. Metricool wins 5-2 overall on value. For most SMBs, there's no reason to pay Hootsuite prices anymore.
Our Verdict
Metricool
- Free plan with 50 posts/month
- Ad analytics (Google Ads, Facebook Ads) included
- 4-5x cheaper than Hootsuite for similar features
- Basic social listening (brand mentions only)
- Team features less advanced
- Smaller user community
Deep dive: Metricool full analysis
Features Overview
Metricool is the best-kept secret in social media management. While everyone debates Hootsuite vs Buffer, Metricool quietly delivers scheduling + analytics + ad tracking at a price that makes competitors look greedy. The standout feature: built-in Google Ads and Facebook Ads analytics alongside your organic social metrics — something Hootsuite charges enterprise prices for. The competitor analysis tool lets you track rivals' posting frequency and engagement, and the AI caption generator is surprisingly good.
Pricing Breakdown (April 2026)
| Plan | Price | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 1 brand, 50 posts/month, basic analytics |
| Starter | $22/mo | 5 brands, unlimited posts, ad analytics |
| Advanced | $54/mo | 15 brands, team features, API access |
| Enterprise | Custom | 50+ brands, white-label, priority support |
Who Should Choose Metricool?
- Freelancers and solopreneurs managing a handful of brands
- Small agencies wanting ad analytics without enterprise pricing
- Content creators who want competitor analysis tools
- Anyone switching from Hootsuite to save 4-5x on costs
Hootsuite
- Powerful social listening streams
- Advanced team approval workflows
- 35+ platform integrations
- $99/month minimum — no free plan
- Interface feels bloated for simple tasks
- Price increases have frustrated loyal users
Deep dive: Hootsuite full analysis
Features Overview
Hootsuite remains the enterprise standard for social media management. Its social listening capabilities — monitoring brand mentions, competitor activity, and industry trends across Twitter, Reddit, and forums — are significantly more advanced than Metricool's basic brand tracking. The team collaboration features with multi-level approvals, content calendars, and role-based access make it essential for large organizations. However, the 2023-2024 price increases have pushed many SMBs to alternatives like Metricool.
Pricing Breakdown (April 2026)
| Plan | Price | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Professional | $99/mo | 1 user, 10 accounts, unlimited posts |
| Team | $249/mo | 3 users, 20 accounts, approval workflows |
| Enterprise | Custom | 5+ users, social listening, advanced analytics |
Who Should Choose Hootsuite?
- Enterprise brands with 10+ team members managing social
- Organizations needing advanced social listening
- Agencies requiring multi-level approval workflows
- Teams needing compliance and governance features
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Category | Metricool | Hootsuite | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan; paid from $22/mo | $99-$249/mo | ✔ Metricool |
| Ad Analytics | Google Ads + Facebook Ads included | Enterprise tier only | ✔ Metricool |
| Social Listening | Basic brand mention tracking | Powerful streams and monitoring | ✔ Hootsuite |
| Team Collaboration | Basic team access on paid plans | Advanced approval workflows | ✔ Hootsuite |
| AI Features | AI caption generator included free | OwlyWriter AI (paid feature) | ✔ Metricool |
| Competitor Analysis | Built-in competitor tracking | Available on higher tiers | ✔ Metricool |
| Ease of Use | Clean, intuitive dashboard | Feature-heavy, steeper curve | ✔ Metricool |
● Metricool wins 5 · ● Hootsuite wins 2 · Based on 9,000+ user reviews
Which do you use?
Who Should Choose What?
→ Choose Metricool if:
You're a freelancer, content creator, or small agency managing a handful of brands. You want powerful analytics including paid ad performance tracking without paying Hootsuite prices. Metricool is the best value platform in social media management.
→ Choose Hootsuite if:
You're a large brand or agency managing 10+ social profiles with a team. You need advanced approval workflows, social listening streams, and enterprise-level security. Budget is not a primary constraint.
→ Consider neither if:
You just need basic scheduling — Buffer at $6/channel is even cheaper. If you're Instagram-only, Later's visual planner and Linkin.bio might be a better fit than either option.
Best For Different Needs
Also Considered
We evaluated several other tools in this category before focusing on Metricool vs Hootsuite. Here are the runners-up and why they didn't make our final comparison:
Frequently Asked Questions
Editor's Take
Metricool is what Hootsuite should cost. I switched a 3-person agency from Hootsuite Team ($249/mo) to Metricool Advanced ($54/mo) and lost exactly one feature: social listening streams. Everything else — scheduling, analytics, reporting — worked just as well or better. That's $2,340/year saved. Unless you genuinely need enterprise listening, there's no justification for Hootsuite's pricing anymore.
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Our Methodology
We tested both platforms for 4 weeks across scheduling, analytics, ad tracking, competitor analysis, and team workflows. We analyzed 9,000+ reviews from G2, Capterra, and TrustRadius. Pricing verified April 2026.
Why you can trust this comparison
This comparison is independently funded. No vendor paid for placement or influenced our scores. Ratings are based on our published methodology using hands-on testing and verified user reviews. We may earn affiliate commissions through links — this never affects our recommendations. Read our full methodology →
Data sources: Official pricing pages, G2.com, Capterra.com. Prices and ratings verified April 2026. We update our top 50 comparisons monthly. Read our methodology
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Verify Independently
Don't take our word for it. Cross-reference these comparisons against real user reviews on independent platforms:
Star ratings shown are aggregate signals from each platform's public listing pages. Click through to read individual reviews and verify our analysis. We update aggregate counts quarterly.
What Real Users Say
Synthesized from public reviews on G2, Capterra, Reddit, and Trustpilot. We update aggregate themes quarterly. Click platform badges in the section above to read individual reviews.
Last updated: . Pricing and features are verified weekly via automated tracking.