Metricool and Hootsuite are both social media management tools, but they are not built for the same buyer.
Metricool is the lighter, more affordable analytics-and-scheduling option. Hootsuite is the heavier platform for teams that want a full dashboard, inbox, listening, and reporting suite.
Direct Answer
For most small businesses, Metricool is the better fit if you already create your own content and want affordable scheduling plus analytics.
Choose Hootsuite only if you need team workflows, inbox management, social listening, deeper reporting, and enough budget to justify a heavier platform.
| Need | Better fit |
|---|---|
| Lowest-cost scheduler with analytics | Metricool |
| Team inbox, listening, and broader dashboard | Hootsuite |
| Competitor tracking on a smaller budget | Metricool |
| Enterprise-style workflows | Hootsuite |
| Posts prepared for approval | Neither; use Glow Social |
If your deeper problem is that you do not have posts ready to schedule, start with Buffer alternatives with content creation built in or affordable social media management.
Metricool: Best for Affordable Analytics
Metricool is a good fit when you want:
- Scheduling.
- Analytics.
- Competitor tracking.
- Reporting.
- Multi-brand management.
- A lower starting price than Hootsuite.
Metricool's pricing page lists a free plan, Starter, Advanced, and Custom options. During this June 2026 refresh, the public pricing page showed the free plan for 1 brand with 20 posts per month and 30 days of analytics. Starter was listed from $20/month, with higher prices for more brands.
For a small business owner who likes data, Metricool is often enough tool.
Hootsuite: Best for Bigger Teams
Hootsuite is a good fit when you want:
- A larger social media dashboard.
- Unified inbox and messaging workflows.
- Listening and brand monitoring.
- Team collaboration.
- Advanced analytics and reporting.
- Support for multiple users and approvals.
Hootsuite's public plans are organized around Standard, Advanced, and Enterprise. Standard includes up to 10 social accounts, unlimited post scheduling, an inbox, AI assistance, and competitor/sentiment features. Advanced adds deeper reporting, bulk scheduling, more competitor benchmarking, and broader account support. Enterprise is custom.
For a single local business, that can be more than you need. For a team managing many accounts, it may be worth it.
Pricing Difference
| Tool | Public entry point | Best budget fit |
|---|---|---|
| Metricool | Free plan; Starter from $20/month on its public pricing page | Owners who want scheduling and analytics at a lower monthly cost |
| Hootsuite | Standard, Advanced, and custom Enterprise plans | Teams that need inbox, listening, dashboards, and workflow features |
| Glow Social | $99/month | Owners who need posts prepared for approval, not another scheduler |
The pricing comparison matters, but it is not the main question. A cheaper scheduler is only useful if you keep creating posts.
The Content-Creation Gap
Metricool and Hootsuite can help organize social media work. They do not make the business owner magically have more photos, captions, service tips, review posts, and local updates.
That is the common small-business failure mode:
- Buy a tool.
- Build a calendar.
- Fill it for two weeks.
- Get busy.
- Let the calendar go empty.
If that pattern sounds familiar, the tool comparison is secondary. You need a content source.
Where Glow Social Fits
Glow Social fits when the hard part is creating posts, not measuring them.
It turns your website into 20 posts ready to approve. You review the posts, approve what fits, and connect the profiles you want kept active.
Use Metricool or Hootsuite if you want to manage social media yourself. Use Glow Social if you want the baseline posts prepared before you worry about dashboards.
Sources Checked
Current facts were checked on June 11, 2026 against Metricool pricing and Hootsuite plans. Hootsuite plan pages also describe Standard, Advanced, and Enterprise feature differences.
Bottom Line
Metricool is usually the better small-business pick if you want affordable scheduling and analytics. Hootsuite is the better pick if you have a team and need a full social media command center.
If you do not have time to create posts in the first place, neither is the first tool to buy.
See posts from your website first
Related guides: Best social media tools under $50/month | Buffer alternative with content creation built in | Later vs Buffer | Social media management pricing guide | Affordable social media management
