Hootsuite vs Social Studio
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Social Studio has the lower starting price: about $10 a month, against $99 for Hootsuite.
At a glance
Best for
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Content calendar
- OwlyWriter AI
- Unified inbox
- Social listening
- Analytics reports
- AI post content
- AI captions
- Hashtag suggestions
- Post design editor
- Instagram scheduling
| Feature | Hootsuite | Social Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Social media management with AI writing and listening | AI Instagram post writer, designer and scheduler |
| Category | Marketing | Marketing |
| Pricing model | Free trial | Free trial |
| Starting price | $99/mo | $9.99/mo |
| Free plan | No, 14-day trial | No, 3-day trial |
| Made by | Hootsuite | Social Studio |
| Based in | Canada | Canada |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
Social Studio has the lower starting price: about $10 a month, against $99 for Hootsuite.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
4 plans
Standard
$99/mo
- Per user, billed annually
- Up to 10 social accounts
- Unlimited scheduling and AI posts
Professional
$199/mo
- Per user, billed annually
- Unlimited social accounts
- Automated inbox replies
- Custom reports
Advanced
$399/mo
- Per user, billed annually
- Content approvals
- Message routing
- Team performance metrics
Enterprise
Contact sales
- Custom pricing
- Enterprise solutions
2 plans
Personal
$9.99/mo
- 30 posts per month
- AI content and captions
- Auto-generated hashtags
- Upload your own assets
Premium
$19.99/mo
- 100 posts per month
- Multiple Instagram accounts
- Direct Instagram scheduling
Prices in USD, checked Oct 28, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
Hootsuite
- Supports all major networks
- Listening built in
- Strong team workflows
- Per-user pricing is high
- No free plan
Social Studio
- Writes and designs posts in one place
- Low monthly price
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Only supports Instagram
- Direct scheduling needs Premium
- Post credits cap monthly output
Which one should you choose?
Choose Hootsuite if you want:
- Supports all major networks
- Listening built in
- Strong team workflows
Watch out: per-user pricing is high.
Choose Social Studio if you want:
- Writes and designs posts in one place
- Low monthly price
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Watch out: only supports instagram.
Hootsuite vs Social Studio FAQ
What is the difference between Hootsuite and Social Studio?
Hootsuite: Social media management with AI writing and listening. Social Studio: AI Instagram post writer, designer and scheduler. Both are marketing tools.
Is Hootsuite or Social Studio cheaper?
Social Studio has the lower starting price: about $10 a month, against $99 for Hootsuite.
Do Hootsuite and Social Studio have free plans?
Hootsuite: No, 14-day trial. Social Studio: No, 3-day trial.
Who makes Hootsuite?
Hootsuite is made by Hootsuite, based in Canada.
Who makes Social Studio?
Social Studio is made by Social Studio, based in Canada.
Which should I choose, Hootsuite or Social Studio?
Choose Hootsuite if you value supports all major networks and listening built in. Choose Social Studio if you value writes and designs posts in one place and low monthly price.