Best Sprout Social alternatives (2026)
Alternatives to Sprout Social include Buffer (solo creators and small teams wanting a simple, affordable per-channel scheduling tool), Hootsuite (larger teams wanting the broadest integrations and social listening, at the highest entry price of the four), Later (creators and small brands focused on Instagram and visual content, with a genuine free plan to start on), among 3 social media management tools compared here on pricing and features.
Pricing and features verified against each vendor's published information on 2026-09-18. Sources linked below.
At a glance
| Tool | Free plan | Pricing from | Best for | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffer | Yes | Free plan for up to 3 channels and 10 scheduled posts; paid Essentials from about $5 per channel per month billed annually ($6 monthly), Team from about $10 per channel per month billed annually ($12 monthly) | solo creators and small teams wanting a simple, affordable per-channel scheduling tool | Web, iOS, Android |
| Hootsuite | No | No free plan, only a 30-day free trial; paid Professional from about $99 per month billed annually (1 user, 10 social profiles), Team from about $249 per month billed annually (3 users, 20 profiles) | larger teams wanting the broadest integrations and social listening, at the highest entry price of the four | Web, iOS, Android |
| Later | Yes | Free plan for one social set with a limited number of scheduled posts a month (documented on Later's own help centre, separate from its 14-day paid trial); paid Starter from about $18.75 per month billed annually ($25 monthly), 1 user, 1 social set, 30 posts per profile a month | creators and small brands focused on Instagram and visual content, with a genuine free plan to start on | Web, iOS, Android |
See the full comparison
FAQ
- What is the best alternative to Sprout Social?
- Buffer is the top pick here for solo creators and small teams wanting a simple, affordable per-channel scheduling tool (free plan for up to 3 channels and 10 scheduled posts; paid Essentials from about $5 per channel per month billed annually ($6 monthly), Team from about $10 per channel per month billed annually ($12 monthly)). Compare the full shortlist below for other social media management tools.
- Do any Sprout Social alternatives have a free plan?
- Free-plan options here include Buffer, Later. Compare limits before committing.