Sprout Social is a powerful social media management platform used by agencies and mid-to-enterprise brands for publishing, social listening, analytics, and customer engagement. It’s known for its sleek design and in-depth reporting, but it comes with a higher price tag — especially as you scale users or need custom workflows.
In 2025, many teams are switching to Sprout Social alternatives that offer similar scheduling, inbox, and reporting features, but at more affordable prices. Whether you’re a solo creator, small business, or full-service agency, there are tools that provide better value, faster learning curves, and even AI enhancements for content planning and post creation.
This article highlights the best Sprout Social alternatives in 2025 for content scheduling, collaboration, analytics, and social engagement.
What is Sprout Social?
Sprout Social is a comprehensive social media suite offering post scheduling, smart inbox engagement, advanced analytics, and team collaboration. It supports Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, TikTok, and YouTube. While robust, Sprout’s pricing and per-user costs can make it tough to scale affordably — especially for agencies managing many clients or brands.
Why Look for Sprout Social Alternatives?
1. Expensive Plans: Per-user pricing makes Sprout costly for growing teams or multi-brand use.
2. Feature Locking: Key features like automation or listening are only on higher tiers.
3. Learning Curve: Some users find the platform complex for basic scheduling and reporting tasks.
4. No AI Tools: Sprout lacks built-in AI content or hashtag generation features found in newer tools.
5. Better Value Elsewhere: Modern tools offer strong publishing, analytics, and even approval flows for a fraction of the cost.
Top Sprout Social Alternatives (Comparison Table)
| # | Tool | Free Plan | Best For | Deployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Buffer | Yes | Simple scheduling for creators | Cloud |
| #2 | Zoho Social | Yes | Team workflows + CRM | Cloud |
| #3 | Later | Yes | Visual Instagram + TikTok planner | Cloud |
| #4 | Metricool | Yes | Analytics + ads + scheduling | Cloud |
| #5 | Sendible | No | Agencies + white-label reports | Cloud |
| #6 | SocialBee | Yes | Content queues + AI captions | Cloud |
| #7 | Publer | Yes | Bulk upload + Canva + AI | Cloud |
| #8 | Loomly | No | Collaborative content calendar | Cloud |
| #9 | Planable | Yes (limited) | Team approvals + client reviews | Cloud |
| #10 | ContentStudio | No | Content curation + publishing | Cloud |
Detailed Alternatives to Sprout Social
#1. Buffer
Buffer offers a clean interface and essential features for scheduling and analyzing content. It’s a lightweight Sprout alternative for solo creators and small businesses.
Features:
- Schedule posts across major platforms
- Visual calendar + drag-and-drop
- AI assistant for captions (2025 update)
- Basic link shortener and engagement insights
- Affordable paid tiers with free option
#2. Zoho Social
Zoho Social is part of the Zoho suite, offering robust social tools with collaboration and CRM integration. It replaces Sprout Social for B2B and agency teams.
Features:
- Approval workflows + team roles
- Unified inbox and brand mentions
- Integrates with Zoho CRM
- Custom reports and sentiment analysis
- Free plan available
#3. Later
Later is a visual content scheduler focused on Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest. It’s a Sprout Social alternative for visual-first brands and creators.
Features:
- Drag-and-drop grid planner
- Hashtag suggestions and analytics
- Linkin.bio landing page
- Supports all major social platforms
- Easy media library management
#4. Metricool
Metricool combines scheduling, web analytics, social metrics, and ad campaign tracking in one dashboard — replacing Sprout’s reporting features at a better price.
Features:
- Post scheduling for all major platforms
- Ad analytics (Google, Meta, TikTok)
- Web traffic + hashtag tracking
- Competitor analysis and PDF exports
- Affordable paid plans + free tier
#5. Sendible
Sendible is built for agencies managing multiple brands or clients. It offers deep customization, white-label reporting, and team access — replacing Sprout for B2B services.
Features:
- Client inbox + Smart Queue
- Branded reports + approval workflows
- Canva + Google Drive integration
- RSS and auto-publishing options
- Built-in content library and drafts
#6. SocialBee
SocialBee offers content recycling, AI features, and category-based queues. It’s a great Sprout Social alternative for managing evergreen content and posting efficiency.
Features:
- AI caption generation + post variations
- Category-based scheduling and automation
- Post recycling rules
- Client workspaces and role settings
- Supports all major platforms + Google My Business
#7. Publer
Publer is an affordable and intuitive tool with bulk scheduling, AI assistance, and built-in image editing. It’s perfect for small teams or freelancers replacing Sprout.
Features:
- AI captioning and hashtag suggestions
- Bulk uploads with CSV and calendar view
- Image editor and watermarking
- Auto-deletion and recycling options
- Supports Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, etc.
#8. Loomly
Loomly is a content planning platform for social and paid ads, built with collaboration in mind. It’s a top Sprout Social alternative for larger teams.
Features:
- Content calendar + approval flows
- Optimization tips and post previews
- Asset library + post labeling
- Ad creation support (Meta + Google)
- Slack and email integrations
#9. Planable
Planable focuses on visual content approvals. It replaces Sprout for agencies and brands managing internal or client post review workflows.
Features:
- Live post previews (per platform)
- Approval and commenting features
- Drag-and-drop scheduling calendar
- Multibrand workspace support
- Free tier with limited usage
#10. ContentStudio
ContentStudio is a content discovery, scheduling, and analytics platform. It goes beyond Sprout with curation, trending topics, and automation flows.
Features:
- Multi-channel publishing and scheduling
- Trending topic finder by niche
- Engagement inbox + team approvals
- Content planner and campaign builder
- Integrated blog + social workflows
Conclusion
Sprout Social is a feature-rich tool — but it’s not for everyone. In 2025, many marketers and agencies are switching to platforms that offer similar capabilities at lower prices, with better user experience or AI-powered content support.
Try Buffer or Publer for simple, budget-friendly scheduling. Choose Sendible or Zoho Social for agency workflows. Use Metricool or ContentStudio for all-in-one analytics and publishing. The best Sprout Social alternative depends on your team size, feature priorities, and budget.
FAQs
What are the best Sprout Social alternatives in 2025?
The best Sprout Social alternatives are:
- Buffer
- Zoho Social
- Later
- Metricool
- Sendible
- SocialBee
- Publer
- Loomly
- Planable
- ContentStudio
Which Sprout Social alternative is best for agencies?
Sendible, Zoho Social, and Planable offer client workspaces, approval flows, and white-label reports built for agencies.
Is there a free Sprout Social alternative?
Yes — Buffer, Publer, Zoho Social, and Planable all offer free plans or free trials for individuals and small teams.
Which alternative supports AI for captions or hashtags?
SocialBee, Publer, and ContentStudio all include AI tools for writing captions, suggesting hashtags, or optimizing posts.
What’s the most affordable Sprout Social alternative?
Publer and Buffer are among the most budget-friendly tools with core publishing and scheduling features.
