Sprout Social vs Lately
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Lately has the lower starting price: about $19 a month, against $99 for Sprout Social.
At a glance
Best for
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Smart Inbox
- AI Assist
- Publishing calendar
- Social listening
- Influencer marketing
- Content repurposing
- Brand voice model
- Video and audio clipping
- Employee advocacy
- Approval workflows
| Feature | Sprout Social | Lately |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Social media management, listening and AI-assisted engagement | AI that turns long content into social posts in your voice |
| Category | Marketing | Marketing |
| Pricing model | Free trial | Paid |
| Starting price | $99/mo | $19/mo |
| Free plan | No, 30-day trial | No |
| Made by | Sprout Social | Lately |
| Based in | United States | United States |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
|
|
Pricing compared
Lately has the lower starting price: about $19 a month, against $99 for Sprout Social.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
4 plans
Essentials
$99/mo
- Per seat
- $79/seat billed annually
Standard
$199/mo
- Per seat
- 5 social profiles
- Unified inbox and monitoring
- Trellis AI agent
Professional
$299/mo
- Per seat
- Unlimited social profiles
- Competitor and paid insights
Advanced
$399/mo
- Per seat
- Sentiment analysis
- Sprout API and helpdesk integrations
3 plans
Starter
$19/mo
- 1 user seat
- Repurpose longform content
- Basic scheduling and analytics
- $14/mo billed annually
Growth
$239/mo
- Unlimited user seats
- Repurpose text, audio and video
- Full calendar with AI scheduling
- $199/mo billed annually
Enterprise
Custom
- Custom voice models
- Unlimited social channels
- Pricing per package
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
Sprout Social
- Excellent reporting
- Polished interface
- Strong collaboration tools
- Expensive per seat
- Listening is an extra cost
Lately
- Gets many posts from one asset
- Learns brand voice
- Compliance controls
- Pricing not public
- Output needs review
Which one should you choose?
Choose Sprout Social if you want:
- Excellent reporting
- Polished interface
- Strong collaboration tools
Watch out: expensive per seat.
Choose Lately if you want:
- Gets many posts from one asset
- Learns brand voice
- Compliance controls
Watch out: pricing not public.
Sprout Social vs Lately FAQ
What is the difference between Sprout Social and Lately?
Sprout Social: Social media management, listening and AI-assisted engagement. Lately: AI that turns long content into social posts in your voice. Both are marketing tools.
Is Sprout Social or Lately cheaper?
Lately has the lower starting price: about $19 a month, against $99 for Sprout Social.
Do Sprout Social and Lately have free plans?
Sprout Social: No, 30-day trial. Lately: No.
Who makes Sprout Social?
Sprout Social is made by Sprout Social, based in United States.
Who makes Lately?
Lately is made by Lately, based in United States.
Which should I choose, Sprout Social or Lately?
Choose Sprout Social if you value excellent reporting and polished interface. Choose Lately if you value gets many posts from one asset and learns brand voice.