Social media management has become indispensable for businesses aiming to maintain a robust online presence. Today's battle is between Metricool vs Hootsuite - two of the most popular choices in the field.
Metricool and Hootsuite have emerged as powerful contenders, offering a range of features tailored to social media managers' needs. In this in-depth comparison, we will explore key aspects of these two tools to ultimately determine which one is the superior choice for social media managers.
What is Metricool?
At its core, Metricool is a digital Swiss army knife, designed to empower professionals, agencies, and brands in their social media endeavors. It goes beyond mere analytics; Metricool allows users to analyze, manage, and monitor the triumphs of their digital content with unmatched precision. With a user base exceeding one million, Metricool has established itself as a promising destination for social media and online ad management.
Metricool's philosophy is encapsulated in its motto: "One for all and all in one." This ethos emphasizes the provision of a singular tool catering to every social media task, regardless of the user's skills, knowledge, or resources. Metricool believes that every individual, business, and company, irrespective of their size or budget, deserves a prominent digital presence. It enables them to connect with their audiences and transform their aspirations into tangible realities.
What is Hootsuite?
Hootsuite is a renowned social media management software designed to empower users in creating engaging content, expanding their follower base, and enhancing their online presence. Founded in 2008, Hootsuite has a rich history of serving the needs of digital marketers, and it has evolved to stay at the forefront of social media management.
Hootsuite's journey began when the founder's digital marketing agency required a tool to streamline social media management. Over the years, the platform has grown significantly, with over 1,000 employees spread across the globe, from Montreal to Milan to Mexico City and beyond. This vast and diverse team enables Hootsuite to cater to the needs of users from different backgrounds and industries.
Metricool vs Hootsuite: A comprehensive comparison
Let's delve into the detailed comparison between Metricool vs Hootsuite, focusing on key aspects that matter most to social media managers:
Features and functionality
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Scheduling and Posting:
Both Metricool and Hootsuite offer multi-account management and intuitive calendar views for efficient scheduling. Metricool’s integration of a URL shortener and emoji compatibility enhances its user experience. Hootsuite, on the other hand, provides detailed post-scheduling options, including recommended publish times for optimized engagement.
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Interaction Management:
Hootsuite takes the lead in interaction management with its unified inbox that combines private messages and public mentions. Metricool, while functional, lacks the depth seen in similar platforms, making it a better fit for basic interaction tracking.
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Social Media Monitoring:
Metricool social media monitoring feature facilitates easy tracking of key metrics from competitors' social media accounts. This significantly assists users in making more informed decisions. Hootsuite's grid format is ideal for social listening, although some users find it visually overwhelming due to its cluttered nature.
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Reporting and Analytics:
We highly appreciate the Metricool analytics feature, allowing users to connect their blogs and analyze crucial web performance metrics. Its social metrics include detailed data tailored to different platforms. Hootsuite offers extensive analytics with customization options, albeit limited for lower-tier plans, making it more suitable for enterprises with substantial budgets.
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Team Management:
Metricool offers team member management for users on specific tiers, allowing unlimited team members with straightforward role assignments. Hootsuite, designed for substantial marketing teams, provides extensive collaboration features, allowing role assignments, collaborative post creation, and productivity insights. However, these features come at a significant cost, making them suitable for large enterprises with substantial budgets.
Supported platforms
Both Metricool and Hootsuite support major social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Pinterest. However, Metricool takes the lead by integrating with additional platforms that cater to diverse needs. Notably, Metricool supports emerging platforms like TikTok, Google My Business, and Twitch. While these platforms might not be crucial for every user, the inclusivity showcases Metricool's commitment to staying ahead of the curve.
Moreover, Metricool's ad management integration extends to Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok. Social media managers can efficiently monitor ad campaigns, conduct keyword research, and optimize their strategies. In contrast, Hootsuite, while powerful, only focuses on major markets like Facebook, Instagram, and Google. It provides comprehensive campaign management tools but might lack the depth Metricool offers in this area.
User interface and ease of use
Metricool’s user-friendly interface
One of Metricool’s standout features is its innovative and clutter-free user interface. Unlike Hootsuite’s vertical column layout, Metricool adopts a tab-based approach that simplifies navigation and enhances focus. While it lacks a fully customizable dashboard, its division into five distinct pages – evolution (for metrics), real-time (for social listening), planning (for scheduling), advertising, and embeddable Instagram smart links – ensures that users can swiftly access the specific tools they need for their tasks.
Hootsuite's vertical column interface
In contrast, Hootsuite pioneered the vertical column view, which, despite its prevalence, can sometimes overwhelm users due to visual bloat. However, Hootsuite compensates with its deep analytics reporting capabilities and dense, customizable screens. The stream view is particularly useful for managing essential social feeds, and the accurate post previews tailored to each platform enhance the user experience. Furthermore, Hootsuite’s collaboration features allow multiple team members to efficiently schedule posts across various platforms, making it a preferred choice for collaborative environments.
Integrations
Integrations enable users to streamline their workflow by connecting various tools and platforms. Metricool, while somewhat limited in comparison to Hootsuite, offers substantial integration options. As a Google partner, Metricool integrates seamlessly with Google Ads and Google My Business, providing users with the ability to manage ad campaigns and access in-depth analytics.
Moreover, Metricool allows users to funnel data to Google Data Studio, enhancing their data visualization capabilities. However, it's worth noting that this feature is exclusive to Metricool's enterprise and team price tiers, limiting its accessibility to all users.
On the other hand, Hootsuite stands out as an integration powerhouse. With a whopping 150 direct integrations, Hootsuite significantly expands its functionality. Notable integrations include Zendesk, which enables the management of help requests on platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest. Additionally, CRM integrations empower users to create detailed user profiles, enhancing their social media marketing strategies.
While Hootsuite's integrations are impressive, most of its advanced connections are not available in the free version. This limitation might be a factor to consider for budget-conscious users.
Cost and pricing structure
Understanding the cost and pricing structures is crucial for businesses, especially for those operating on a tight budget. Metricool provides a compelling option with its free plan, enabling users to manage social media accounts, plan content, and analyze competitors without incurring any cost.
Metricool plans and pricing
For those requiring more features, let's take a look at the Metricool pricing structure. Metricool offers the Starter plan at $18/month (annual payment) or $22/month (monthly payment), providing additional functionalities like LinkedIn connection and analysis of 100 competitor profiles. The Advanced plan, priced at $45/month (annual payment) or $54/month (monthly payment), includes team and client access, role management, customizable templates for reports, and integration options.
Hootsuite plans and pricing
On the other hand, Hootsuite offers a Professional plan at $99 per month, catering to individual users with 10 social accounts and unlimited posts. The Team plan, priced at $249 per month, expands the offering to three users, 20 social accounts, and additional features like roles & permissions. Hootsuite's Enterprise plan, available at custom pricing, is suitable for larger teams, starting at 5 users and 50 social accounts. This plan includes social ads management, analytics, employee advocacy, and automation tools for social media customer service.
While Metricool pricing plans cater to various budgets, Hootsuite pricing plans are relatively higher in cost. This makes Metricool one of the more budget-friendly Hootsuite alternatives for small and medium-sized businesses.
For those looking for a Metricool alternative, Loomly and SocialPilot present cost-effective options without compromising on essential features. Loomly offers content creation, collaboration, and scheduling tools, making it an excellent choice for creative teams. SocialPilot, on the other hand, emphasizes social media scheduling and management, catering to businesses seeking efficient content distribution.
Customer service
When it comes to customer service, Metricool and Hootsuite adopt different approaches. Metricool, while lacking in diverse support options, compensates with the quality of its service. Users have praised the platform's responsive support team, available through a contact form and an efficient chat window in the help center. This quick response time ensures that users’ issues are addressed promptly, enhancing their overall experience.
Hootsuite customer service stands out with its around-the-clock “priority” support, exclusively available to users in the highest two price tiers. However, users opting for lower tiers might face longer waiting times. Additionally, the Hootsuite Academy is a valuable resource, offering educational materials on various topics, from account management to social media strategy.
Customer reviews
Customer reviews often provide valuable insights into a product's real-world performance. Analyzing customer reviews paints a vivid picture of user experiences with both Metricool and Hootsuite.
Metricool reviews stand out with a stellar 4.6-star rating on Trustpilot. Users consistently praise its fantastic service, smooth operation, and affordable pricing. Metricool’s design simplicity and ease of use have won the hearts of many, making it a preferred choice for numerous social media managers.
Hootsuite, despite its beneficial impact on business campaigns, faces challenges in the realm of customer satisfaction.
Users are satisfied with the platform’s efficiency in managing events. However, some do express discontent over automatic billing practices. Additionally, abrupt account terminations without prior notice have led to frustration, eroding user confidence in the platform.
Final verdict: Who came out on top?
To provide a summarized view of the comparison, here's a table that highlights the key differences between Metricool vs Hootsuite:
Aspect |
Metricool |
Hootsuite |
Scheduling and Posting |
Intuitive scheduling, URL shortener, emoji compatibility |
Detailed post-scheduling, recommended publish times |
Interaction Management |
Basic interaction tracking |
Unified inbox for private messages and public mentions |
Social Media Monitoring |
Easy tracking of key metrics from competitors' accounts |
Grid format for social listening |
Reporting and Analytics |
Detailed data tailored to different platforms |
Extensive analytics with customization options |
Team Management |
Simple team member management |
Extensive collaboration features, role assignments |
Supported Platforms |
Major platforms, plus TikTok, Google My Business, Twitch |
Major platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Google |
Ad Management |
Facebook, Twitter, TikTok |
Facebook, Instagram, Google |
User Interface |
Clutter-free tab-based approach |
Vertical column layout, dense customizable screens |
Integrations |
Google Ads, Google My Business |
150+ direct integrations including Zendesk, CRM |
Cost (Starting Plan) |
Free, $18/month (Starter), $45/month (Advanced) |
$99/month (Professional) |
Customer Service |
Responsive support via contact form, chat window |
Around-the-clock “priority” support, Hootsuite Academy |
In the ultimate battle of Metricool vs Hootsuite, the choice boils down to individual needs and budget constraints. Metricool emerges as a strong contender for small to medium-sized businesses, offering powerful features at a reasonable price point. Its intuitive interface, inclusive platform support, and responsive customer service make it an attractive option.
On the other hand, Hootsuite caters to larger enterprises with its extensive features and collaboration tools. While it comes at a higher cost, its deep analytics capabilities and around-the-clock support might justify the investment for businesses with substantial budgets.
If you're leaning towards trying Metricool, note that they frequently offer discounts on their pricing plans. Check out CouponATime for any ongoing promotions and get a Metricool discount code now. We have secured some exclusive Metricool discount codes to enhance your social media management experience:
FAQs
How much is Metricool?
Metricool offers a range of pricing plans to accommodate different users. Starting with a free version, it provides essential features for individuals and small businesses. For more advanced functionalities and increased usage limits, Metricool offers affordable paid plans, making it a cost-effective choice for social media managers.
How to cancel Hootsuite?
Canceling your Hootsuite subscription is a straightforward process. If you decide to cancel your subscription, the changes will take effect at the end of your paid or trial period. Here’s how you can cancel Hootsuite subscription:
- Go to My Profile: Start by going to the Hootsuite login window, logging into your Hootsuite account, and navigating to the ‘My Profile’ section.
- Select Account Settings, Preferences, and Billing: Within the My Profile section, look for ‘Account Settings, Preferences, and Billing’ and click on it.
- Update Billing Information: Once in the Account Settings, go to the Billing tab and click on ‘Update Billing Information.’
- Cancel Subscription: In the Manage My Subscription section, select ‘Cancel Subscription’ to initiate the cancellation process.
During this period, you can continue to enjoy all the features included in your current plan.
Does Metricool have an affiliate program?
Yes, Metricool offers an enticing affiliate program that allows users to earn commissions effortlessly. To get started, users need to create a free Metricool account. Once inside the Metricool panel, they can access the Metricool affiliate program from the menu, where they will find a personalized affiliate link. This link can be shared with potential Metricool customers.
Users are encouraged to explore special offers to enhance their outreach efforts and maximize their conversion rates. When a friend subscribes and signs up with Metricool through the shared affiliate link, the user earns a 50% commission on their friend’s spending each month, up to $50 per user.