you need broad platform coverage and one of the longest track records of any tool in this batch.
Move to Sway9 if
you want the creators you already have tracked and paid per view — free plan first, then $22/mo, unlimited team members, no annual contract.
Hootsuite entry$99/moMonthly or annual
Sway9$22/mofree plan first · no seat fees
Over a year4.5×$1,188 vs $264 a year
What does Hootsuite cost?
Hootsuite publishes per-user monthly rates for three named tiers — Standard $99, Professional $199, Advanced $399 — billed annually, plus a custom Enterprise tier; the page states these are per-user prices, so cost multiplies with every seat added rather than being a flat account fee.
Standard — $99/user/mo annual · 10 social accounts, unlimited scheduled posts
Professional — $199/user/mo annual · unlimited social accounts
Advanced — $399/user/mo annual · unlimited social accounts, team approval workflows
Enterprise — custom · advanced analytics, compliance features
Twelve months at that entry price is $1,188, against $264 for a year of Sway9 Starter — 4.5x the cost, before either of you adds a tier.
Read from Hootsuite’s own pricing page · source.
Pricing in this category changes often — confirm with the vendor before you commit.
What stands out about Hootsuite
Why do teams look for a Hootsuite alternative?
Hootsuite is a long-running social media scheduling, publishing and analytics platform for brands and agencies, and, since its 2024 acquisition, owner of Talkwalker's social-listening technology. Every seat is a decision about whether one more creator is worth it. Why that wears thin:
Your team is more than one or two people and per-seat pricing is multiplying the bill
You need more than 10 accounts without upgrading straight to the unlimited tier
You want creator payouts calculated automatically rather than reported through engagement analytics
5 alternatives to Hootsuite
1
Sway9
Track your own roster, pay per view
Free plan, then $22/mo
Where Hootsuite charges for every creator seat you fill, Sway9 charges on how many creator accounts you track and nothing else. It picks up every TikTok and Instagram post from creators you already work with, refreshes them automatically, and computes spend and effective CPM as the views arrive — the reconciliation Hootsuite leaves you to do by hand.
Per-seat billing maps cleanly to a fixed team, and Hootsuite is the stronger pick when the job is one of these:
Broad platform coverage and one of the longest track records of any tool in this batch
Unlimited scheduled posts from the entry tier up
Team approval and workflow automation on Advanced, useful for agencies with client sign-off steps
Now bundles Talkwalker's listening technology following the 2024 acquisition, rather than requiring a separate contract for it
If that is the software you are actually shopping for, Hootsuite is the better buy and nothing on this page should talk you out of it.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free alternative to Hootsuite?
Yes. Sway9 has a free plan with 3 tracked accounts and 100 credits a month, with no credit card and no expiry. Hootsuite does not offer a free plan.
How much does Hootsuite cost?
$99/user/mo billed annually (Standard), taken from Hootsuite’s own pricing page on 2026-08-22. The full breakdown is in the pricing section above.
What is the best Hootsuite alternative for paying creators per view?
Sway9. Hootsuite charges for every creator seat you fill; Sway9 is priced on tracked accounts and computes spend and effective CPM as views come in, so nothing is reconciled by hand. There is a free plan, and paid plans start at $22/mo with unlimited team members.
Can I switch from Hootsuite without a contract?
Sway9 is month-to-month and you can cancel any time. Note that Hootsuite is reported to require monthly or annual, so check your current term before you move.
What else competes with Hootsuite?
Beyond Sway9, the closest comparisons are Talkwalker, Metricool, Iconosquare, Sprinklr Influencer Marketing. Each targets a different job — Talkwalker for enterprise social listening and analytics, Metricool for all-in-one social media management, Iconosquare for instagram and social analytics suite, Sprinklr Influencer Marketing for enterprise social suite module.
Free plan · no card · no expiry
Try Sway9 free
3 tracked accounts and 100 credits a month, for as long as you like. Upgrade from $22/mo only when your roster outgrows it.
Try for freeCancel any time · unlimited team members on every plan
Every Hootsuite figure above was read off their own pricing page on 2026-08-22, not estimated. If they change it, this page is wrong until we re-check it — so confirm before you buy.