Hootsuite vs Later (2026 comparison)
Hootsuite and Later are both social media management tools. Hootsuite is best for larger teams wanting the broadest integrations and social listening, at the highest entry price of the four (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)). Later is best for creators and small brands focused on Instagram and visual content, with a genuine free plan to start on (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).
Pricing and features verified against each vendor's published information on 2026-09-18. Sources linked below.
At a glance
| Feature | Hootsuite | Later |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Pricing from | 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) | 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 |
| Best for | larger teams wanting the broadest integrations and social listening, at the highest entry price of the four | creators and small brands focused on Instagram and visual content, with a genuine free plan to start on |
| Founded | 2008 | 2014 |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android |
Quick verdict
Choose Hootsuite for larger teams wanting the broadest integrations and social listening, at the highest entry price of the four. Choose Later for creators and small brands focused on Instagram and visual content, with a genuine free plan to start on. Both are compared on published information only, so confirm current pricing at each source below.
More options
Sources
FAQ
- Is Hootsuite or Later cheaper?
- As published, Hootsuite starts at 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) and Later starts at 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. Verify current pricing at each vendor.
- Does Hootsuite have a free plan?
- No, Hootsuite does not offer a free plan as of 2026-09-18.