Metricool vs Hootsuite (2026): Which Is Better?

Metricool and Hootsuite both schedule and analyse social media, but they target very different budgets. Metricool is an affordable all-in-one for analytics, scheduling and even ad reporting, with a genuine free plan. Hootsuite is an enterprise suite built for large teams managing many channels, priced per seat. If you want strong analytics at a low price, Metricool wins comfortably; if you need enterprise workflows across a big team, Hootsuite fits. And if your real gap is content rather than tools, InMagic is a free third option worth knowing.

Metricool vs Hootsuite at a glance

Comparison	Metricool	Hootsuite
Best for	Affordable analytics, scheduling and ads	Enterprise, multi-channel teams
Free access	Free plan for one brand	14-day trial (no free plan)
Standout feature	Analytics plus ad-campaign reporting	Broad analytics, inbox, team workflows
Entry plan	Starter: up to 5 brands	Standard: 10 accounts, 1 user
Pricing model	Per set of brands	Per user (seats add up fast)
Starting price*	Free; €16/mo (Starter)	$99/user/mo annual

The short answer

Choose Metricool if you want analytics, scheduling and ad reporting in one affordable dashboard, with a free plan to start — ideal for creators, small businesses and marketers. Choose Hootsuite if you’re a large team managing many channels that needs enterprise workflows, approvals and a shared inbox. Metricool is the value and analytics pick; Hootsuite is the enterprise platform.

What Metricool does best

Metricool’s strength is all-in-one analytics at a low price. A free plan covers one brand, and Starter is €16 per month for up to five brands. Beyond scheduling, it reports on your organic performance and your paid campaigns — Meta, Google and TikTok ads — in the same dashboard, which few affordable tools do. For anyone who cares about the numbers and the budget, it’s hard to beat. See our Metricool alternatives guide or the full Metricool review.

What Hootsuite does best

Hootsuite’s strength is managing scale across many networks. Its Standard plan covers 10 social accounts, with broad analytics, a unified inbox and team collaboration on higher tiers. Standard starts at $99 per user per month billed annually, with per-seat pricing that suits organisations rather than individuals. For large brands and agencies operating across platforms, that breadth and those workflows are the draw. See our Hootsuite alternatives guide or the full Hootsuite review.

Where they differ most

Price and free access

Metricool has a free plan and a €16 entry tier; Hootsuite has no free plan and starts at $99 per user. For budget and getting started, Metricool wins by a wide margin.

Ads and analytics

Metricool’s in-dashboard ad reporting across Meta, Google and TikTok is a standout at its price. Hootsuite’s analytics are broad and enterprise-grade but cost far more.

Team and enterprise features

Hootsuite is built for large teams — approvals, roles, a shared inbox at scale. Metricool is leaner on heavy enterprise collaboration. For big organisations, Hootsuite leads.

A third option: InMagic

Both Metricool and Hootsuite publish and measure content — neither decides what to post or writes strong captions for you. That’s where InMagic fits. Its free, no-login tools include an Instagram audit plus caption, bio and hook generators, with a Creator plan ($15/month) for profile-tailored ideas. It isn’t a scheduler or analytics suite, so it pairs with either tool rather than replacing them — InMagic to create, Metricool or Hootsuite to publish and measure.

Choose Metricool if…

You want affordable analytics, scheduling and ad reporting in one dashboard, a free plan to start, and you’re a creator, small business or marketer rather than a large enterprise.

Choose Hootsuite if…

You manage many channels across a large team, need enterprise workflows, approvals and a unified inbox, and your budget supports per-seat pricing.

Price and value compared

On cost, Metricool wins decisively: a free plan and a €16 Starter tier sit far below Hootsuite’s $99 per user, and Hootsuite’s per-seat model multiplies with team size. But they price for different buyers. Metricool packs analytics, scheduling and ad reporting into a low monthly fee, ideal for anyone watching the budget. Hootsuite costs more because it bundles the breadth and collaboration a large organisation needs — many networks, approvals, roles and enterprise support. For creators, small businesses and lean marketing teams, Metricool is far better value. For enterprises managing many channels and people, Hootsuite’s cost can be justified. Since Metricool is free to start and Hootsuite offers a trial, test each against your real needs before committing.

Verdict

For value, analytics and ad reporting, Metricool is the easy recommendation for most creators, small businesses and marketers. For large, multi-channel enterprises that need workflows and scale, Hootsuite earns its higher price. Either way, pair your choice with a free content tool like InMagic so there’s always something worth scheduling. If you’re still deciding, compare the wider field in our guide to the best Instagram scheduling tools.

Frequently asked questions

Is Metricool or Hootsuite better for Instagram?

Metricool is better for most Instagram users — it offers analytics, scheduling and ad reporting affordably, with a free plan. Hootsuite is better for large teams managing many channels who need enterprise workflows. For creators and small businesses, Metricool is usually the stronger, cheaper fit.

Which is cheaper, Metricool or Hootsuite?

Metricool is far cheaper, with a free plan for one brand and a Starter plan at €16 per month for up to five brands. Hootsuite has no free plan and starts at $99 per user per month, with per-seat pricing that grows quickly for teams.

Do Metricool and Hootsuite create content?

Both include some AI assistance, but neither is a dedicated content tool — they focus on scheduling and analytics. For stronger captions, bios and a profile audit, a free tool like InMagic goes further and pairs with either platform.