Independently tested ranking
Best Social Media Management Tools in 2026
10 social media tools compared on scheduling, engagement inbox, analytics, team approvals and price.
- Tools compared
- 10
- With a free plan
- 4 of 10
- Median entry price
- $29/mo
- Average rating
- 4.5
On this page
Which social media management tool is best?
The best social media management tools in 2026 are Hootsuite for large teams and listening, Sprout Social for reporting and customer care, Buffer for simple scheduling, Later for Instagram and TikTok and Agorapulse for a full suite at a fair price. Entry plans range from $5 per channel to about $100 per user a month.
Our top picks
Best for large teams
Hootsuite
Covers scheduling, a shared inbox, monitoring and enterprise listening in one suite built for brands with many profiles.
Paid plans from $99/user/mo annual
See why we picked itBest for simple scheduling
Buffer
The easiest scheduler to learn, with a real free plan and per-channel pricing that stays cheap for small teams.
Paid plans from $5/channel/mo
See why we picked itBest value full suite
Agorapulse
Gives you a strong inbox, reports and ROI tracking for less per user than Hootsuite or Sprout Social.
Paid plans from $79/user/mo annual
See why we picked itKey takeaways
- Pricing varies most of any category: Buffer charges per channel, while Hootsuite and Sprout Social charge per user.
- Small teams rarely need an enterprise suite. Buffer, Metricool or SocialBee cover scheduling and basic analytics for under $30 a month.
- Sprout Social has the best reports, and Agorapulse has one of the best inboxes for comments and DMs.
- Agencies should look at Sendible and Planable for client approvals and white-label reporting.
- Check native publishing for every format you use, especially Reels, carousels and Stories.
Best social media management tools compared
| # | Tool | Best for | Free plan | Paid plans from | Our rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hootsuite |
Enterprise teams and listening | No (14-day trial) | $99/user/mo annual | ★4.0 |
| 2 |  Sprout Social |
Reporting and social customer care | No (30-day trial) | $79/seat/mo annual | ★4.5 |
| 3 | Buffer |
Simple scheduling for small teams | Yes (3 channels) | $5/channel/mo | ★4.4 |
| 4 |  Later |
Visual-first brands and creators | No (14-day trial) | $18.75/mo annual | ★4.4 |
| 5 | Agorapulse |
Mid-sized teams and agencies | Yes (limited) | $79/user/mo annual | ★4.5 |
| 6 |  Sendible |
Agencies and white-label | No (14-day trial) | $25/mo annual | ★4.3 |
| 7 |  Metricool |
Affordable analytics and ads | Yes (1 brand) | $20/mo annual | ★4.6 |
| 8 |  SocialBee |
Recycling evergreen content | No (14-day trial) | $24/mo annual | ★4.6 |
| 9 |  Loomly |
Collaboration and approvals | No (trial) | $49/mo annual | ★4.6 |
| 10 |  Planable |
Agencies and content teams | Yes (50 posts total) | $33/workspace/mo | ★4.7 |
Our rating comes from MakeSuccessOnline's hands-on reviews. Prices are the cheapest paid plan, billed annually unless stated, checked November 2026.
The 10 best social media management tools in 2026
Social tools range from simple schedulers to full suites with listening and team workflows. Each tool below leads a specific type of team.
#1Best for large teams and social listening
Hootsuite
The grown-up social scheduler — reports, approvals and inboxes at scale.
- Paid plans from
- $99/user/mo annual
- Free plan
- No (14-day trial)
- Best for
- Large brands, enterprise and multi-region teams
- Works on
- Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, Threads
Hootsuite is one of the oldest and most complete social media suites. It brings scheduling, a unified inbox, analytics and brand monitoring into one dashboard, so a team can plan, publish and reply across every major network without switching tools. It is built for organisations that run many profiles across brands, products or regions.
What sets it apart from the rest of this list is its enterprise depth. Hootsuite owns the listening platform Talkwalker, and its Enterprise plan adds advanced listening, employee advocacy, SSO and a Salesforce integration. Smaller plans still get scheduling, AI post writing and competitor monitoring, but approvals and message routing only arrive on the higher tiers.
Key features
- Planner and schedulingPlan and schedule posts for every connected network from one calendar, with suggested best times to publish. It keeps a busy team working from the same view of what is going out.
- Unified inboxComments, mentions and direct messages from all profiles land in one inbox. Higher plans add automation, assignment and auto-routing so the right person answers each message.
- OwlyWriter AIWrites captions, rewrites posts for different networks and suggests post ideas inside the composer. It saves time on the routine copy that fills a content calendar.
- Monitoring and listeningEvery paid plan includes brand and competitor monitoring. Enterprise adds Talkwalker-powered listening for tracking sentiment and conversations across the wider web.
- Enterprise controlsContent approvals, team performance reports, SSO, compliance options and employee advocacy help large organisations keep many people publishing safely.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | $99/user/mo annual | Up to 10 social accounts, scheduling, AI post and image tools, unified inbox and brand monitoring |
| Professional | $199/user/mo annual | Unlimited accounts, inbox automation, trend forecasting and custom reports |
| Advanced | Higher | Content approvals, message assignment and routing, and team performance reporting |
| Enterprise | Custom | Advanced listening, SSO, Salesforce integration, employee advocacy and expert services |
Priced per user. 14-day free trial on Standard, Professional and Advanced. Prices checked on hootsuite.com/plans, November 2026.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Covers almost every social task in one suite
- Strong listening through Talkwalker on Enterprise
- Handles many profiles, brands and regions
- Mature platform with a large app ecosystem
Cons
- Expensive, especially once you add users
- No free plan
- Approvals and inbox routing need the higher tiers
Is it right for you?
Choose Hootsuite ifYou run social for a large brand or several regions and want scheduling, engagement, listening and governance from one vendor.
Look elsewhere ifYou are a solo marketer or small business, where Buffer or Metricool do the core job for a fraction of the price.
#2Best for analytics and customer care
Sprout Social
Enterprise social suite with the best inbox and reporting in the category.
- Paid plans from
- $79/seat/mo annual
- Free plan
- No (30-day trial)
- Best for
- Mid-size and enterprise teams that report on social
- Works on
- Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, TikTok, Threads, Pinterest, YouTube
Sprout Social is a full social media suite best known for its reporting. Its reports are clean and ready to share with leadership, and they cover profile, post, competitor and paid results. For teams that need to prove what social is worth, it gives the clearest numbers of any tool on this page.
Its other strength is social customer care. The Smart Inbox gathers messages from every network, shows past conversations with each person, and supports tagging and help desk integrations on higher plans. That makes it a strong fit when social doubles as a support channel. The trade-off is price, since every seat is billed separately.
Key features
- ReportingPresentation-ready reports for profiles, posts, competitors and paid campaigns. Managers can share results with stakeholders without rebuilding them in slides.
- Smart InboxOne inbox for comments, mentions and messages across networks, with conversation history for each contact. It helps teams reply quickly and with context.
- Trellis AISprout's built-in AI assistant helps with post copy and, on higher plans, with reply suggestions and sentiment analysis. A paid Trellis Plus add-on extends it.
- Listening and monitoringKeyword and location monitoring from the Standard plan, with deeper listening and spike alerts on higher tiers. It shows what people say about your brand outside your own posts.
- Customer care toolsMessage tagging, review management, help desk integrations and care reports support teams that handle customer questions through social.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Essentials | $79/seat/mo annual ($99 monthly) | Up to 5 profiles, scheduling, optimal send times, profile and post reports, Trellis AI |
| Standard | $199/seat/mo annual | Consolidated inbox, keyword and location monitoring, review management |
| Professional | $299/seat/mo annual | Unlimited profiles, message tagging, competitor and paid insights |
| Advanced | $399/seat/mo annual | AI reply help, sentiment analysis, API and help desk integrations, spike alerts |
| Enterprise | Custom | Tailored plan, implementation support, SSO and priority support |
Priced per seat. 30-day free trial, no card required. Prices checked on sproutsocial.com/pricing, November 2026.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Best reporting of any tool here
- Excellent inbox for social customer care
- Clean, easy-to-learn interface
- Strong competitor and paid insights on higher plans
Cons
- Per-seat pricing gets expensive fast
- The unified inbox starts on Standard, not the entry plan
- Many advanced features sit on the top tiers
Is it right for you?
Choose Sprout Social ifYou need to report on social to leadership or clients, or you handle customer support through social channels.
Look elsewhere ifYou mainly need scheduling for a small team, or each extra seat would strain your budget.
#3Best for simple scheduling
Buffer
Clean, simple scheduler for teams managing 5–15 social accounts.
- Paid plans from
- $5/channel/mo
- Free plan
- Yes (3 channels)
- Best for
- Solo marketers, creators and small businesses
- Works on
- Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn, X, Threads, Bluesky, Pinterest, YouTube, Mastodon, Google Business Profile
Buffer is the simplest scheduler on this list. You connect your channels, write a post, pick a time and it goes out. The calendar is clean, the composer is easy to follow, and an AI assistant helps with captions and post ideas. Most people can set it up and schedule their first week in under an hour.
What makes Buffer different is its pricing. You pay per channel, so a business with three profiles pays far less than with suites priced per user. It also supports newer networks such as Bluesky, Threads and Mastodon. The free plan is genuinely usable for three channels, but engagement and analytics stay basic compared with full suites.
Key features
- Publishing calendarSchedule posts, threads, Reels and videos to every connected channel from one queue or calendar. It keeps a small team's posting steady without much effort.
- AI AssistantGenerates post ideas, rewrites captions for each network and adjusts tone or length. Useful when you post often and need help with the wording.
- Ideas boardSave rough ideas, links and drafts in one place and turn them into scheduled posts later. It stops good ideas from getting lost between sessions.
- Analytics and reportsTrack reach, engagement and best posting times, and build simple reports on paid plans. Enough for small teams that want to see what works.
- Start PageA free link-in-bio page you can build inside Buffer and link from Instagram or TikTok, so followers can reach your site, shop or newsletter.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Up to 3 channels, 10 scheduled posts per channel, AI Assistant and basic insights |
| Essentials | $5/channel/mo | Unlimited scheduled posts, advanced analytics, first comment scheduling, hashtag manager and reports |
| Team | $10/channel/mo | Everything in Essentials plus unlimited users, approval workflows and access permissions |
Priced per connected channel, with a discount for annual billing. Prices checked on buffer.com/pricing, November 2026.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Easiest tool here to learn
- Usable free plan for up to 3 channels
- Per-channel pricing keeps costs low
- Supports newer networks like Bluesky and Mastodon
Cons
- Engagement tools are basic for busy inboxes
- Analytics are light next to Sprout Social or Metricool
- No social listening
Is it right for you?
Choose Buffer ifYou want a clean, affordable scheduler for a handful of channels and do not need advanced reporting or listening.
Look elsewhere ifYou manage high message volume, need detailed client reports, or want listening and competitor tracking.
- Paid plans from
- $18.75/mo annual
- Free plan
- No (14-day trial)
- Best for
- Visual brands, creators and ecommerce
- Works on
- Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Threads, YouTube, Snapchat
Later started as an Instagram planner and is still built around visuals. You drag photos and videos from a media library onto a calendar and preview how your Instagram grid will look before anything goes live. That makes it a natural fit for brands that sell through images, such as fashion, beauty, food and ecommerce.
Compared with the other tools here, Later is most at home on Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest. Its Linkin.bio page turns your feed into a clickable storefront, and best-time-to-post suggestions are based on your own audience. Higher plans add a social inbox, approvals and competitor benchmarks. Influencer campaigns are handled by Later's separate influencer product.
Key features
- Visual plannerDrag and drop media onto a calendar and preview your Instagram grid before posting. It helps brands keep a consistent look across their feed.
- Linkin.bioA link-in-bio page that mirrors your feed, so each post can link to a product or page. It turns Instagram and TikTok traffic into clicks to your site.
- Best time to postSuggests posting times for Instagram, Facebook and TikTok based on when your followers are most active, which helps each post reach more people.
- Media library and UGCStore, tag and reuse photos and videos, and collect user-generated content on higher plans. Useful for brands that post a lot of visual content.
- Analytics and benchmarksTrack post and profile performance, with longer history, competitor benchmarking and Meta ads analytics on the higher plans.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | $18.75/mo annual | 1 social set (8 profiles), 1 user, 30 posts per profile, Linkin.bio and best time to post |
| Growth | $37.50/mo annual | 2 social sets, 2 users, 180 posts per profile, approvals, social inbox and UGC collection |
| Scale | $82.50/mo annual | 6 social sets, 4 users, unlimited posts, competitive benchmarking and Meta ads analytics |
Billed yearly. Extra social sets and users cost more on Growth and Scale. 14-day free trial. Prices checked on later.com/pricing, November 2026.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Best visual planner for Instagram
- Linkin.bio works well for shoppable feeds
- Low entry price
- Clear best-time-to-post suggestions
Cons
- Less suited to LinkedIn and X-heavy B2B teams
- Starter caps posts at 30 per profile
- Inbox and approvals need the Growth plan
Is it right for you?
Choose Later ifYour brand lives on Instagram, TikTok or Pinterest and you care about how your feed looks.
Look elsewhere ifYour social is mostly LinkedIn and X, or you need deep reporting and listening for a large team.
#5Best value full-featured suite
Agorapulse
Mid-market social suite with a unified inbox and strong reporting.
- Paid plans from
- $79/user/mo annual
- Free plan
- Yes (limited)
- Best for
- Mid-sized teams and agencies
- Works on
- Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, Threads, Bluesky, Reddit, Google Business Profile
Agorapulse is a full social suite that costs less per user than Hootsuite or Sprout Social. It covers scheduling, a unified inbox, reports and team workflows, and its paid plans include 10 social profiles. For mid-sized teams and agencies, it delivers most of what the big suites do without the top-tier price.
Its inbox is the main reason to pick it. Comments, messages and ad comments come into one place, and you can assign, label and clear them like email, which works well at high volume. Agorapulse also tracks how social drives website traffic and conversions through its ROI reports, which most tools on this page do not offer.
Key features
- Unified inboxHandle comments, messages, mentions and ad comments from every profile in one inbox, then assign or clear each item. It keeps nothing unanswered when volume is high.
- Social ROI analysisConnects social posts to website traffic and conversions, so you can show which content leads to results. Included on the Advanced plan and above.
- Shared calendar and approvalsPlan posts on a shared calendar, leave internal notes and send content for approval before it publishes. Useful for agencies working with clients.
- Automated moderationRules can label, hide or route incoming messages automatically, and saved replies speed up common answers. It cuts down on repetitive inbox work.
- ReportsBranded report exports on every plan, with team performance, advanced and ads reports on higher tiers. Good for showing results to managers or clients.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | A limited free tier for trying the basics |
| Standard | $79/user/mo annual ($99 monthly) | 10 profiles, unlimited scheduling, unified inbox, basic reports and AI writing help |
| Professional | $119/user/mo annual | Link in bio, assignments, internal comments, approvals and Canva integration |
| Advanced | $149/user/mo annual | Automated moderation, bulk scheduling, advanced and ads reports, ROI analysis |
| Custom | Custom | Unlimited profiles, SSO, custom roles, multi-step approvals and API access |
Priced per user, with 10 social profiles included on paid plans. 30-day free trial. Prices checked on agorapulse.com/pricing, November 2026.
Pros and cons
Pros
- One of the best inboxes for high message volume
- Cheaper per user than Hootsuite or Sprout Social
- ROI tracking ties social to website results
- Supports a wide range of networks, including Reddit and Bluesky
Cons
- The interface takes time to learn
- ROI and advanced reports are only on higher tiers
- Per-user pricing still adds up for large teams
Is it right for you?
Choose Agorapulse ifYou manage a busy inbox for several brands or clients and want a full suite without enterprise pricing.
Look elsewhere ifYou only need to schedule posts for a few channels, where Buffer is simpler and much cheaper.
#6Best for agencies managing clients
Sendible
Agency-focused scheduler with white-label and client access.
- Paid plans from
- $25/mo annual
- Free plan
- No (14-day trial)
- Best for
- Agencies managing many client brands
- Works on
- Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, Threads, Bluesky, Google Business Profile, WordPress
Sendible is a social media tool built for agencies. Each client gets its own workspace, so posts, profiles, approvals and reports stay separate. Every plan includes unlimited users, which means you can add team members and clients without paying per seat, and the price grows with the number of workspaces and profiles instead.
That structure is what makes it different from the per-user suites on this page. It is easy to bring clients in to approve posts, and higher plans add content libraries, campaigns and branded reports you can send on a schedule. A white-label option, which puts your agency's brand on the dashboard, is available as a paid add-on on the top plans.
Key features
- Client workspacesKeep each client's profiles, content and reports in a separate workspace. It stops posts and messages from getting mixed up between brands.
- Approval workflowsAssign posts for review and let clients approve or comment before anything goes live, from the Plus plan up.
- Unified inboxMonitor and reply to comments and messages across client profiles from one place, so the team can respond without logging into each network.
- Branded client reportsBuild custom reports with your branding and send them to clients automatically. It saves hours of manual reporting each month.
- Bulk scheduling and content libraryUpload many posts at once and store reusable content in libraries, which helps agencies fill calendars for several clients quickly.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Core | $25/mo annual | 1 workspace, 6 profiles, unlimited users, scheduling, inbox and standard reports |
| Plus | Higher | 3 workspaces, 18 profiles, plus assignment and approvals |
| Premium | Higher | 7 workspaces, 42 profiles, content libraries, branded reports and campaigns |
| Elite and Enterprise | Higher | More workspaces and profiles, advanced permissions, white label as an add-on, SSO on Enterprise |
Priced by workspaces and profiles, with unlimited users on every plan. Yearly billing is cheaper than monthly. 14-day free trial, no card required. Prices checked on sendible.com/pricing, November 2026.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Built around client workspaces
- Unlimited users on every plan
- Easy client approvals
- Branded reports clients can read
Cons
- Analytics are less detailed than Sprout Social
- White label costs extra and only on top plans
- Approvals are not on the entry plan
Is it right for you?
Choose Sendible ifYou run an agency or freelance practice and manage social for several clients who need to review posts and receive reports.
Look elsewhere ifYou manage one brand in-house and want the deepest analytics or listening.
#7Best for analytics on a budget
Metricool
Analytics-first social media manager — great for agencies.
- Paid plans from
- $20/mo annual
- Free plan
- Yes (1 brand)
- Best for
- Freelancers, small businesses and small agencies
- Works on
- Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn, X, Threads, Bluesky, Pinterest, YouTube, Twitch, Google Business Profile
Metricool combines scheduling and analytics in one low-cost tool. You plan posts on a calendar, then see results for each network, your website and your ads side by side. Its free plan covers one brand, which makes it one of the easiest ways for a freelancer or small business to try a proper social dashboard.
What makes it different on this page is analytics for the price. Metricool tracks competitors, reports on Meta, Google and TikTok ads, and exports reports to PDF or PowerPoint. Paid plans are priced by the number of brands rather than users, which suits small agencies. Its inbox and team features are lighter than those in the full suites.
Key features
- PlannerSchedule posts across networks from one calendar, with a link-in-bio page and Canva and Google Drive integrations for bringing in content.
- AnalyticsTrack followers, reach and engagement for each network and your website, with unlimited history on paid plans. It shows what works without exporting data by hand.
- Competitor analysisFollow competitor profiles and compare their activity and results with yours. The free plan covers 5 competitors and paid plans many more.
- Ads reportingSee Meta, Google and TikTok ads results next to organic social. Useful for small teams that run both and want one view of performance.
- Reports and connectorsExport PDF and PowerPoint reports, and on higher plans use custom templates and a Looker Studio connector for client reporting.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 1 brand, 20 scheduled posts per month, 30 days of analytics; LinkedIn and X not included |
| Starter | $20/mo annual | Up to 5 brands at this price, unlimited publishing, LinkedIn, reports and longer analytics history |
| Advanced | From $53/mo annual | More brands, team and client management, approvals, report templates and API |
| Custom | Custom | Custom brand count, white label and a dedicated account manager |
Priced by number of brands. Monthly billing costs more than annual. X management is a paid add-on. Prices checked on metricool.com/pricing, November 2026.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Strong analytics for a low price
- Free plan for one brand
- Ads reporting alongside organic social
- Priced per brand, not per user
Cons
- Inbox and team features are lighter than full suites
- Free plan excludes LinkedIn and X
- X management costs extra on paid plans
Is it right for you?
Choose Metricool ifYou want detailed analytics, competitor tracking and ads reporting without paying suite prices.
Look elsewhere ifYou handle a large volume of messages or need enterprise approvals and listening.
#8Best for evergreen content recycling
SocialBee
Category-based evergreen content scheduling for solopreneurs.
- Paid plans from
- $24/mo annual
- Free plan
- No (14-day trial)
- Best for
- Small businesses and solo marketers
- Works on
- Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, TikTok, Pinterest, YouTube, Threads, Bluesky, Google Business Profile
SocialBee is a scheduler built around content categories. You sort posts into groups such as tips, promotions or blog links, set a weekly schedule for each, and SocialBee fills the slots. Evergreen posts can go back into the queue automatically, so your accounts keep posting even when you have not written anything new.
That recycling is what sets it apart from the other tools here. It suits small businesses that want a steady presence with little daily effort. An AI copilot helps plan and write content, and SocialBee also sells done-for-you services through its in-house team. Analytics and engagement tools are simpler than in the full suites.
Key features
- Content categoriesGroup posts by type and assign each category its own time slots. It keeps your content mix balanced without planning every post by hand.
- Evergreen recyclingPosts marked as evergreen return to the queue after they publish, so good content keeps working and the schedule never runs empty.
- AI copilotSuggests a content strategy, drafts posts and creates images for your categories, which helps busy owners get a plan started quickly.
- Post approval and workspacesFrom the Accelerate plan, send posts for approval, and on Pro and agency plans manage several clients or brands in separate workspaces.
- Concierge servicesSocialBee's in-house team can handle content creation, community management and ads for you, sold separately from the software.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Bootstrap | $24/mo annual ($29 monthly) | 5 profiles, 1 user, 10 categories and 3 months of analytics |
| Accelerate | $40/mo annual ($49 monthly) | 10 profiles, post approval, bulk editing, CSV upload and 2 years of analytics |
| Pro | $82/mo annual ($99 monthly) | 25 profiles, 5 workspaces with 3 users each, unlimited categories and report exports |
| Agency plans | Higher | 50 to 150 profiles with more workspaces and users |
Priced by profiles and workspaces, not per user. 14-day free trial. Prices checked on socialbee.com/pricing, November 2026.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Evergreen recycling keeps the queue full
- Category scheduling keeps your content mix balanced
- Affordable entry plan
- Optional done-for-you services
Cons
- Analytics are basic
- Engagement tools are limited compared with full suites
- No permanent free plan
Is it right for you?
Choose SocialBee ifYou want your accounts to keep posting steadily from a library of evergreen content with little daily work.
Look elsewhere ifYou need detailed analytics, a busy inbox or social listening.
#9Best for content planning and approvals
Loomly
Content calendar + scheduler with strong post-approval workflows.
- Paid plans from
- $49/mo annual
- Free plan
- No (trial)
- Best for
- Small marketing teams that need sign-off
- Works on
- Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, Threads, Google Business Profile
Loomly is a content calendar built around planning and approvals. You draft posts, see how they will look on each network, and send them through an approval workflow before they publish. It suits small marketing teams where a manager or client has to sign off on every post, and anyone new can learn it in an afternoon.
What makes it different is the guidance around each post. Loomly suggests post ideas from trends, holidays and RSS feeds, and gives optimisation tips for each network as you write. The entry plan includes 3 users, approval workflows and analytics, which many tools save for higher tiers. Listening is not part of the product.
Key features
- Post ideasSuggests topics based on trends, holidays and RSS feeds, and can turn feed items into draft posts. It helps when you are short on ideas.
- Optimisation tipsGives network-specific tips as you write, such as length or hashtag use, so each post fits the platform it goes to.
- Post previews and mockupsShows how each post will look on every network and lets you share mockups for review, which cuts down on back-and-forth.
- Approval workflowsSet roles and approval steps so posts go through the right people before publishing. Higher plans add custom roles and workflows.
- Calendar, inbox and analyticsCalendar and list views, a unified inbox with assignment and saved replies, and post and account analytics with scheduled reports.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | $49/mo annual ($65 monthly) | 3 users, 12 social accounts, approvals and roles, advanced analytics and AI Assistant |
| Beyond | $249/mo annual | Unlimited users, 60 accounts, custom branding, custom roles and workflows, hashtag manager |
| Enterprise | Custom | More than 60 accounts and priority support |
Priced per plan, not per user. Free trial, no card required. Prices checked on loomly.com/pricing, November 2026.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Simple approval workflows on every plan
- Helpful post ideas and per-network tips
- Clear previews make reviews fast
- Several users included on the entry plan
Cons
- No social listening
- Big price jump from Starter to Beyond
- Analytics are less detailed than Sprout Social or Metricool
Is it right for you?
Choose Loomly ifYour posts need sign-off from a manager or client and you want a clear, simple planning tool.
Look elsewhere ifYou need listening, deep reporting or a tool built mainly for engagement.
#10Best for team collaboration
Planable
Visual collaboration tool for social media approvals — agency-friendly.
- Paid plans from
- $33/workspace/mo
- Free plan
- Yes (50 posts total)
- Best for
- Agencies and content teams
- Works on
- Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, Threads, Google Business Profile
Planable makes reviewing social posts feel like editing a shared document. Each post appears as a pixel-perfect preview, and teammates or clients can comment, suggest changes and approve right on it. Agencies and in-house teams use it to get sign-off on posts much faster than through long email threads, screenshots and shared spreadsheets.
Collaboration is what sets it apart from every other tool on this page. Pricing is per workspace with unlimited users, so adding reviewers costs nothing extra. Higher plans support required and multi-level approvals. Analytics, the social inbox and listening are paid add-ons, so it works best as the review and publishing layer rather than a full suite.
Key features
- Pixel-perfect previewsShows each post exactly as it will appear on the network. Reviewers see the real thing, which leads to fewer surprises after publishing.
- Comments and approvalsReviewers comment on posts in context and approve them in one click. Pro adds required approvals and Enterprise adds multi-level approvals.
- Multiple viewsSwitch between feed, calendar and grid views, with a list view on Enterprise, to plan content the way each team prefers.
- Universal contentDraft and approve non-social content such as newsletters, blog posts and ads in the same workspace and with the same review flow.
- Add-onsAnalytics, a social inbox and social listening are available as paid add-ons per workspace, so you only pay for what you use.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 50 posts in total to try the tool, no time limit |
| Basic | $33/workspace/mo | 60 posts per month, 4 pages, optional approvals, feed and calendar views |
| Pro | $49/workspace/mo | 150 posts per month, 10 pages, required approvals, grid view and API |
| Enterprise | Custom | Unlimited posts, multi-level approvals, SSO and add-ons included |
Priced per workspace with unlimited users. Analytics, inbox and listening cost extra. Prices checked on planable.io/pricing, November 2026.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Fastest client and team approvals here
- Unlimited users on every plan
- Previews match the live post
- Handles non-social content too
Cons
- Analytics and inbox cost extra
- Monthly post limits on Basic and Pro
- Not a full engagement or reporting suite
Is it right for you?
Choose Planable ifGetting posts approved by clients or managers is your main bottleneck.
Look elsewhere ifYou want analytics, inbox and listening included in one price.
Best social media management tool by need
How much do social media management tools cost in 2026?
Social tools price by users, channels, brands or workspaces, so the cheapest tool depends on your team shape.
| Tier | Typical price | Tools at this level | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Buffer, Metricool, Planable, Agorapulse | Solo users with a few profiles |
| Starter | $5 to $50/mo | Buffer, Later, Metricool, SocialBee, Sendible, Loomly, Planable | Small businesses and freelancers |
| Team | $79 to $150/user/mo | Agorapulse, Sprout Social, Hootsuite | Marketing teams needing inbox and reports |
| Enterprise | Custom | Hootsuite Enterprise, Sprout Advanced, Agorapulse Custom | Large brands with listening and governance needs |
Entry prices from vendor pricing pages, November 2026.
Listening, advocacy and premium analytics are often add-ons, so price the full package you need.
How we chose the best social media management tools
We started with the 12 social media tools in the MakeSuccessOnline directory and scored each on the criteria below using hands-on reviews, vendor documentation and current pricing. Prices were checked on vendor sites in November 2026.
- Publishing and schedulingNetwork coverage, calendar, bulk scheduling and format support (Reels, carousels, Stories).25%
- Engagement inboxHow well the tool handles comments, DMs and mentions at volume.15%
- Analytics and reportingDepth of insights and how easy it is to share reports.20%
- CollaborationApprovals, roles and client access.15%
- Pricing and valueCost per user and per channel at common team sizes.15%
- Ease of useHow quickly a new team member can schedule and report.10%
How to choose a social media management tool
- List your networks and formatsCheck the tool supports every network you use, including Reels, carousels, Stories and LinkedIn documents.
- Count users and profilesPricing depends on users, channels or brands, so map your team before comparing plans.
- Decide whether you need an inboxBrands handling lots of comments or DMs need a strong inbox, not just a scheduler.
- Check approval needsAgencies and regulated industries need approval workflows and client access.
- Test reportingBuild the report your boss or client wants during the trial.
- Avoid paying for unused extrasListening and advocacy add-ons cost extra, so only buy them if you will use them.
Check during the free trial
- Does it publish natively to every network you use?
- Can you schedule Reels, carousels and Stories?
- Is the inbox fast enough for your volume?
- Can clients or managers approve posts easily?
- Can you export the reports you need?
Red flags
- Missing support for a network you rely on
- Push notifications instead of direct publishing for key formats
- Per-seat pricing that blocks adding teammates
- Analytics locked to the top plan
- Long contracts with no monthly option
Social media management tools FAQ
What is the best social media management tool?
Hootsuite is best for large teams and social listening, Sprout Social for analytics and customer care, Buffer for simple scheduling, and Agorapulse for a full-featured suite at a lower price.
What is the best free social media scheduler?
Buffer's free plan covers three channels with 10 scheduled posts each. Metricool's free plan covers one brand, and Planable lets you create 50 posts for free.
How much do social media management tools cost?
Simple schedulers cost $5 to $50 a month, while team suites such as Agorapulse, Sprout Social and Hootsuite cost $79 to $150 per user a month on entry plans.
Is Hootsuite or Sprout Social better?
Sprout Social has better reporting and customer care tools, while Hootsuite has stronger listening and suits very large teams. Both are expensive, so smaller teams often choose Agorapulse.
What is the best social media tool for agencies?
Sendible and Planable are best for agencies, thanks to client approvals, white-label options and multi-brand management. Agorapulse also suits agencies that handle community management.
Can I schedule Instagram Reels and TikTok?
Yes. All tools on this list support Instagram and most support TikTok publishing, but check whether each format posts directly or sends a reminder notification.
About the reviewer
Editor & Reviewer, MakeSuccessOnline
William Harrison is an editor and reviewer at MakeSuccessOnline. He reviews each tools ranking before it goes live, checking plans, prices, free tiers and features against the tool's own documentation, and keeps rankings current as tools change.