Hootsuite and Later are two of the most recognized names in social media management — and they are aimed at almost opposite buyers. Hootsuite is an enterprise social intelligence platform priced per seat, bundling listening, employee advocacy, and 100+ integrations most small teams never open. Later is an Instagram-first visual planner that has pivoted toward influencer marketing — and ended X support entirely in 2025. This page compares the two honestly — pricing, platforms, and publishing limits as of June 2026 — and shows where a third option, SocialKit, covers all 11 major networks on one flat EUR plan.
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All three tools side by side, grouped by category. Pricing and feature availability as of June 2026.
| Feature | Hootsuite | Later | SocialKit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Platforms | |||
| Platforms supported | 10 of 11Also supports: WhatsApp (messaging) | 7 of 11Also supports: Snapchat | All 11 |
| Bluesky | Yes | No | Yes |
| Mastodon | No | No | Yes |
| Threads | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Google Business | Yes | No | Yes |
| Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Pricing & trial | |||
| Entry price | $99/mo per user (Standard)Listed price, annual billing — as of June 2026 | $25/mo (Starter, 1 social set)Lists at $18.75/mo billed annually (June 2026) | €29/mo flat (€17.40/mo billed annually) |
| Pricing model | Per user — every teammate is another full subscription | Per “social set” — extra sets, users, and AI credits are paid add-ons | Flat plans — all 11 platforms included, no per-network pricing |
| Social accounts included | Up to 10 on StandardUnlimited from the Advanced plan (listed $249/mo) | 1 social set (8 profiles) on Starter2 sets (16 profiles) on Growth · 6 sets (48) on Scale | 15 on Solo · 30 on Team |
| Free trial | 30 daysNo free plan; converts to a paid plan unless cancelled | 14 days (no free plan) | 7 days — €0.00 due today |
| Money-back guarantee | Not listedNot shown on Hootsuite’s plans page (June 2026) | Not listedNot shown on Later’s pricing page (June 2026) | 7 days |
| Publishing & scheduling | |||
| Scheduled posts | Unlimited on paid plans | 30/profile/mo on Starter · 180 on GrowthUnlimited only on Scale ($110/mo) | Unlimited on every plan |
| Best-time auto-posting | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Per-platform customization | Yes | Not listedNot shown on Later’s pricing page (June 2026) | Yes |
| First-comment scheduling | Not listedNot itemized on Hootsuite’s plans page (June 2026) | Not listedNot shown on Later’s pricing page (June 2026) | Yes |
| Calendar view | Yes | Visual calendar + Instagram grid preview | Yes |
| Content & AI | |||
| AI assistant | OwlyGPT AI assistantIncluded from the Standard plan | Metered credits: 5/mo on Starter50/mo on Growth · 100/mo on Scale; extra credits are paid add-ons | Every plan (metered credits) |
| Post templates | Not listedNot itemized on Hootsuite’s plans page (June 2026) | Not listedNot shown on Later’s pricing page (June 2026) | Yes |
| Content library | Asset & content libraryListed on all plans on Hootsuite’s plans page (June 2026) | Not itemizedNot detailed on Later’s pricing page (June 2026) | Yes |
| Thread posts (X, Threads, Bluesky, Mastodon) | Not listedNo Mastodon publishing; thread support not itemized (June 2026) | No X, Bluesky, or Mastodon to thread onLater ended X support Aug 28, 2025 | Yes |
| Hashtag manager | Not listedNot itemized on Hootsuite’s plans page (June 2026) | Hashtag suggestionsUsers report on G2 the hashtag tools feel limited | Yes |
| Collaboration | |||
| Team seats | Per-user — each seat billed separatelyStandard lists at $99/mo per user (June 2026) | 1 on Starter · 2 on Growth · 4 on ScaleExtra users are paid add-ons | 2 on Team · unlimited on Enterprise |
| Approval workflow | Enterprise plan onlyPer the plans-page feature table — Enterprise is custom-quoted (June 2026) | Not listedNot shown on Later’s pricing page (June 2026) | Team & Enterprise plans |
| Comments on posts | Not listedNot itemized on Hootsuite’s plans page (June 2026) | Not listedNot shown on Later’s pricing page (June 2026) | Team & Enterprise plans |
| Integrations & support | |||
| Analytics | Included · custom reports from Advanced | Up to 3 months history on Starter1 year on Growth · 2 years on Scale | Included on every plan |
| API + webhooks | 100+ app integrationsPublic API access not itemized on the plans page (June 2026) | Not listedNo public API or webhooks shown on Later’s pricing page (June 2026) | Every plan, incl. Solo |
| Support | Chatbot & help center · premier support on EnterpriseUsers report slow responses on lower tiers | Help centerSupport tiers not detailed on the pricing page (June 2026) | Email · priority on Enterprise |
| Verdict | |||
| Best for | Enterprises and large agencies running social listening at scale | Instagram-first visual planning and influencer campaigns | Posting to many platforms on one flat EUR plan |
Pricing as of June 2026. Hootsuite figures per their public pricing page; Later figures per their public pricing page. Both may change. SocialKit facts per our own pricing page.
Entry plans compared. SocialKit prices are in EUR; all 11 platforms included — no per-network pricing.
Listed at $99/mo per user, billed annually, with up to 10 social accounts. Advanced lists at $249/mo; Enterprise is custom-quoted. As of June 2026 — Hootsuite renders prices dynamically, so confirm on their plans page.
One social set = up to 8 profiles, 1 user, 30 posts per profile/month, 5 AI credits, 3 months of analytics history. Lists at $18.75/month billed annually. As of June 2026.
billed annually · €29/month billed monthly
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Pricing as of June 2026. Hootsuite and Later prices are taken from their public pricing pages (linked above) and may change. Full SocialKit plan details on our pricing page.
Each tool genuinely wins somewhere. Here is the honest split.
Bottom line
These two rarely compete for the same buyer. Hootsuite is the better of the two for large organizations that genuinely need listening, advocacy, and enterprise integrations — and are budgeted for per-seat pricing. Later is the better of the two for Instagram-first brands that live in a visual grid planner and want creator campaigns from the same vendor. The catch is that most creators and small teams need neither an intelligence suite nor an influencer platform — they need to publish everywhere, including the networks Later dropped or never added, without paying $99 per user. That is the case SocialKit is built for: all 11 platforms, unlimited scheduled posts on every plan, approvals on a flat €49/month Team plan, and a 7-day money-back guarantee on top of the trial.
FAQ
Still weighing it up? These are the answers people look for before they switch.
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Every SocialKit plan includes all 11 platforms, analytics, AI, and API + webhooks — no per-channel meters, no per-seat pricing. Try it free for 7 days.
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