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Best Social Media Management Software of 2024

Sprout Social is the best overall social media management software

Most businesses use social media as a marketing tool, and it’s easy to see why. Social media platforms like Meta, X (formerly Twitter), Pinterest, and Instagram have billions of users combined. Having a cohesive social media presence allows businesses to reach their customers in creative ways.

However, with so many prominent platforms out there, managing multiple social media accounts can be extremely difficult. After all, business owners would have to find the time and energy to log into multiple social media accounts, write a post for each, and schedule them as needed throughout the day.

This is simply not feasible for many small businesses that operate with a handful of employees. With that in mind, many small businesses turn to social media management platforms that let them create a comprehensive social media strategy they can manage all in one place.

Investopedia compared all the top social media management platforms available today to see which ones offer the best tools and features for companies that want to expand their reach across all the major networks. If you’re in the market for a platform your company can use to get ahead, keep reading to learn more.

Best Social Media Management Software of 2024

Best Social Media Management Software of 2024
Best Social Media Management Software of 2024

Best Overall : Sprout Social


SproutSocial

 SproutSocial

Key Specs
  • Price: Starts at $249/month
  • Free Trial: 30 days
  • Mobile App: Android, iOS
Why We Chose It

We chose Sprout Social as our best overall due to the platform’s usability, publishing features, and analytics across all major social media platforms. This provider also offers one of the longest free trials in the business.

Pros and Cons
Pros
  • Dashboard lets you manage your social networks in one place

  • Utilize Social Media Optimization tools

  • Analytics and reports help manage user engagement and ROI

  • Scheduling tools make creating posts a breeze

  • Free 30-day trial

Cons
  • Expensive standard plan

  • Limits to how many social profiles you can manage

Overview

We chose Sprout Social as the best option for businesses based on the array of scheduling tools and analytics it offers, its mobile app for iOS and Android, and its paid promotion tools to help you expertly boost Meta posts. One major benefit of Sprout Social is a 30-day free trial with any of its plans. If you’re unsure of the value of this software, this free trial gives you a full month to try it out.

This software currently supports all the major social media platforms, including Meta, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Pinterest, making it an excellent choice for all-in-one management. There are three paid plans to choose from:

  • Standard: $249 per month
  • Professional: $399 per month
  • Advanced: $499 per month

Sprout Social says its Professional plan is the most popular since it lets you manage an unlimited number of media accounts in one place. It also comes with an all-in-one social box, social content calendar, response rate and time analysis reports, analysis tools for X hashtags, and plenty more valuable tools. With any of its plans, you also get a mobile app to manage your social media accounts on the go.

The Standard plan includes many of the features of the Professional plan, yet you can only manage up to five social profiles if you choose this option, among other reduced features.

Best for Analytics : Hootsuite


Hootsuite

 Hootsuite

Key Specs
  • Price: Starts at $99/month
  • Free trial: 30 days
  • Mobile App: Android, iOS
Why We Chose It

Hootsuite earns high rankings for its tracking tools and analytics. This software lets you analyze trends and engagement in real-time. Its analytics tools extend to both regular posting and social media ads.

Pros and Cons
Pros
  • Professional plans start at just $99 per month

  • Free plan available

  • Connects with 20+ social networks

  • 30-day trial available

Cons
  • Some analytics reports are at an additional cost

  • Plans can be costly if you have a lot of social profiles

  • Free plans have limited tools

Overview

Hootsuite made our ranking as best for analytics because it offers some of the most comprehensive analytics and social media tracking tools on the market today, including customizable reports and team productivity reporting.

While paying more for detailed analytics and reporting can cause the cost of Hootsuite to swell, having access to this information can be crucial for businesses that rely on social media for the bulk of their marketing efforts.

Hootsuite has four paid options:

  • Professional: $99 per month
  • Team: $249 per month
  • Business: $739 per month
  • Enterprise: Varies (it's for larger or more complex institutions)

The starter Professional plan can be a good option for small businesses because it allows you to manage 10 social profiles in one place. You also get unlimited scheduling, although you're limited to one user. The Team plan is available for up to three users, and you can manage up to 20 social profiles in one place.

Note that all plans from Hootsuite come with unlimited scheduled messages, unlimited auto-scheduling, a publishing calendar, a social inbox, and plenty of other tools. You can also try two of Hootsuite's four plans free for 30 days, which is a major benefit if you prefer to try before you buy.

Best All-in-One Tool : Zoho


Zoho Social

 Zoho Social

Key Specs
  • Price: Starts at $20/month
  • Free trial: No, but offers a free limited plan
  • Mobile App: Android, iOS
Why We Chose It

Zoho stands out as an all-in-one tool consumers can use to run the social aspects of their business in one place while managing their email, projects, accounting, and webinars.

Pros and Cons
Pros
  • CRM product lets you manage email, projects, accounting, and more under one umbrella

  • Can integrate social media management platform with all major networks

  • Social media planning for individuals starts at $20 per month

  • Free edition with limited features

Cons
  • Plans for agencies on the expensive side

  • Plans for individuals and businesses include only one to three team members

Overview

Zoho made our ranking as the best all-in-one tool based on the CRM product it offers in addition to social media management software. You can utilize Zoho to store and manage your email, create and oversee products, and take care of accounting all in one place.

Zoho also offers comprehensive social media management software you can buy separately or integrate for complete all-in-one management.

When it comes to its social media management software, Zoho offers three plans for businesses:

  • Standard: $20 per month
  • Professional: $35 per month
  • Enterprise: $50 per month
  • Ultimate: $65 per month

Each plan lets you publish and schedule posts across multiple platforms, access summary reports and analytics, and access a Bitly integration & URL shortener. The Standard and Professional plans are limited to one brand and one team member, but both plans let you add additional team members or social channels for an additional cost. 

A free plan with limited functionality is also available. With the free plan, you get access for one team member and brand and the ability to publish multiple posts in one place. Zoho also offers social media software for agencies that manage at least 10 different brands under its business umbrella.

Best for Automation : MeetEdgar


MeetEdgar

 MeetEdgar

Key Specs
  • Price: Starts at $29/month
  • Free trial: 7 days
  • Mobile App: Android, iOS
Why We Chose It

MeetEdgar stands out due to its automation and scheduling features. It even offers continuous posting, which means it will automatically curate and reshare relevant posts on your social media accounts.

Pros and Cons
Pros
  • Automation and scheduling features let you set your social media and forget it

  • Analytics for engagement and response

  • Free trial offered


Cons
  • No central inbox for messages or managing comments

Overview

MeetEdgar wins for best automation because it is set up to help time-strapped businesses automate their accounts. This software lets you generate posts using a browser extension, set up category-based scheduling that saves you time and effort, and execute continuous posting that ensures you’re constantly engaging your audience. 

With MeetEdgar, you also get access to an unlimited content library, which the platform will shuffle and schedule on your behalf. You can also set up your account to automatically upload your newest content and use an automatic link shortener that helps you save space when you share your content on social media.

MeetEdgar offers two main plans:

  • Eddie: $29.99 per month or $299 per year
  • Edgar: $49.99 per month or $499 per year

Both plans offer similar tools, although the Eddie plan only lets you integrate with five social media accounts. The more expensive plan also offers 1,000 recurring scheduling time slots per week versus just 10 with the Eddie plan. Either way, you can try MeetEdgar for free for seven days.

Best for Large Teams : Loomly


Loomly

 Loomly

Key Specs
  • Price: Starts at $35/month
  • Free trial: 15 days
  • Mobile App: Android, iOS
Why We Chose It

Loomly is our top pick for large teams due to its comprehensive plans for teams of up to 30 people. All plans also come with core features such as audience targeting, post preview, automated publishing, analytics, and more.

Pros and Cons
Pros
  • Try it free for 15 days

  • Base plans start at just $35 per month

  • Manage and share all your social assets in one place

  • Real-time optimization of posts

Cons
  • Plans for large teams can be costly

  • Companies with large ad spend may have to upgrade to a more expensive plan

Overview

Loomly is an excellent option for large teams that want to collaborate on a social media strategy. While its base plan is only accessible for up to two users, its top-tier plan for businesses can include up to 30.

Core plans from Loomly include the following:

  • Base: $35 per month (2 users)
  • Standard: $79 per month (6 users)
  • Advanced: $172 per month (14 users)
  • Premium: $359 per month (30 users)
  • Enterprise: Price available upon request (31+ users)

This pricing is only available if you pay for a year of management upfront; you’ll pay more if you want to pay for your plan monthly. As you compare options, you’ll also note that each tier of management software has a cap for ad spend, so you will have to use the Premium plan if your business spends $5,000 or more on ads with Meta.

All plans from Loomly let you post unlimited content and come with core features like audience targeting, automated publishing, post sponsoring, interaction tracking, and basic analytics. You’ll also get chat and email customer service with each of its plans. A 15-day free trial is also available regardless of which tier of coverage you want to try out.

Best Integration : Sendible


Loomly

 Loomly

Key Specs
  • Price: Starts at $25/month
  • Free trial: 14 days
  • Mobile App: Android, iOS
Why We Chose It

We chose Sendible as best for integration based on the sheer number of platforms you can use it with. As a Sendible customer, you can integrate with Meta, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, Google My Business (GMB), YouTube, WordPress, Canva, Google Analytics, Google Drive, and so much more. In total, Sendible allows you to integrate with 17 different platforms or tools.

Pros and Cons
Pros
  • More integration options than some other providers

  • Social media dashboard lets you monitor your social game in one place

  • Starter plans start at $25 per month

  • You can save 15% if you pay for a year of management upfront

  • 14-day free trial available

Cons
  • Basic plans are for one user only

  • No free option available

Overview

Sendible earned the top spot in our ranking in terms of integration since it lets you sync with all the top social media networks and popular tools like Canva, Google Analytics, and more. This lets you manage almost all aspects of your social media strategy in one place, saving you time along the way.

Sendible offers four plans for companies of different sizes:

  • Creator: $25 per month
  • Traction: $76 per month
  • Scale: $170 per month
  • Custom: Price available upon request

However, you do have to pay for a year of software access to secure these low prices, or you’ll pay about 15% more for your plan on a monthly basis.

All plans from Sendible include at least 10 queues, content publishing, workflow tools, bulk scheduling, keyword tools, and an inbox for engagement and monitoring. However, more expensive plans include more queues and users and the ability to include a larger number of social profiles for management purposes.

The good news is that all social media management plans from Sendible offer a 14-day free trial. You can also cancel at any time.

Best Budget Option : Buffer


Buffer

 Buffer

Key Specs
  • Price: Starts at $5/month
  • Free trial: 14 days
  • Mobile App: Android, iOS
Why We Chose It

Buffer scored well in our ranking because its plans start at just $5 per month. You can try any Buffer plan free for 14 days, and there’s a free plan for one user that lets you access three social channels and create 10 scheduled posts.

Pros and Cons
Pros
  • Plans start at $5 per month

  • Free 14-day trial available

  • Free plan available

  • Works for Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Tik Tok, and Pinterest

Cons
  • Doesn’t integrate with as many major platforms as competitors

  • Free plan limited to three social profiles

Overview

Buffer is the best budget option for small businesses with few employees that want to manage social media without a pricey management plan. It offers a free plan that lets one user access three social channels. For an extra $5 per month, a Team Pack upgrade allows for unlimited social channels and unlimited users.

Either way, you can use a 14-day trial to get started, and all plans let you directly schedule posts on the platform. Other core benefits of Buffer’s plans include a posting scheduling tool, a link shortener tool, and optimization tools for hashtags, tags, and mentions across platforms.

All plans also come with a browser extension, access to a mobile app, two-factor authentication, social media, and email support, and access to the Buffer community.

Best for Small Teams : SocialPilot


SocialPilot

 SocialPilot

Key Specs
  • Price: Starts at $30/month
  • Free trial: 14 days
  • Mobile App: Android, iOS
Why We Chose It

We believe SocialPilot is best for small teams since its Small Team plan allows up to three users. By contrast, many competing software programs allow only one user on their more affordable plans.

Pros and Cons
Pros
  • Most affordable plan is $30 per month

  • Discount available if you pay for one year of usage upfront

  • 14-day free trial available

  • Manage a minimum of 10 social media accounts with any plan

Cons
  • Must pay for a year upfront for lowest pricing

  • Basic plans don’t include as many tools or features

Overview

SocialPilot is the best option for businesses that want access to affordable social media software for more than one user. Its Small Team plan lets up to three users have access for just $50 per month.

In total, four plans are available:

  • Professional: $30 per month (10 social media accounts; 1 users)
  • Small Team: $50 per month (20 social media accounts; 3 users)
  • Agency: $100 per month (30 social media accounts; 6 users)
  • Agency+: $200 per month (50 social media accounts; Unlimited users)

Remember that to access this special pricing, you must pay for a year of access upfront after your 14-day trial.

All plans from SocialPilot come with features like unlimited scheduling, bulk scheduling, access to social media analytics, a browser extension, and customer support. Higher-tier plans from SocialPilot let you have more users, oversee more social accounts, manage more Facebook ad accounts, and gain access to special features like client management tools.

Guide to Choosing

Managing multiple social media accounts in a digital age can be highly time-consuming. Still, it's possible to manage a creative media strategy from one location with social media management platforms. A great platform will allow you to manage your social media accounts, automate posts to more than one site, and analyze data provided by the software to help your brand or company stand out in a sea of online competition.

When shopping around for software, look for free trial periods, the ability to sync across multiple social media platforms, and one that comprehensively provides analytics. If you are new to social media marketing, an uncomplicated and easy-to-use program might be a good fit. Take the time to investigate all your options and utilize programs that offer a free trial period before you buy one.

Final Verdict

Sprout Social stood out among the best social media management software we reviewed because of its user-friendly dashboard, compatibility across multiple platforms, and optimization tools. It also offers a 30-day free trial, which means you have plenty of time to decide if it's the right choice for you. It is nearly impossible to build a brand or for a company to succeed without using some form of social media, and Sprout's professional plan allows you to manage up to 10 accounts in one place.

When deciding whether Sprout or one of our other choice is best for your needs, be sure the software you choose is compatible with the networks you use, meets your advertising needs, and allows access for multiple team members if that is something you need.

Compare the Best Social Media Management Software

Software Price Free Trial Mobile App
Sprout Social
Best Overall
Starts at $249/month 30 days Android, iOS
Hootsuite
Best for Analytics
Starts at $99/month 30 days Android, iOS
Zoho
All-in-One Tool
Starts at $20/month No, but offers a free limited plan Android, iOS
MeetEdgar
Best for Automation
Starts at $29/month 7 days Android, iOS
Loomly
Best for Large Teams
Starts at $35/month 15 days Android, iOS
Sendible
Best Integration
Starts at $25/month 14 days Android, iOS
Buffer
Best Budget Option
Starts at $5/month 14 days Android, iOS
SocialPilot
Best for Small Teams
Starts at $30/month 14 days Android, iOS

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What Is Social Media Management Software?

    Social media management software is used to integrate across multiple social media platforms, run data about the impact of a company or brand, and save time and money by creating and scheduling posts from one location. This software also provides valuable engagement tools and feedback like idea generation, analytics, and integration with other software you use.

  • Does Google Have a Social Media Management Tool?

    Google does not offer a specific social media management tool but offers tools like Google My Business (GMB), Google Analytics, and Google Drive, which can be integrated using social media management software like Sendible, which can integrate with multiple platforms, including those hosted by Google.

  • What Tools Do Social Media Managers Use?

    A social media manager is responsible for a company or brand's identity and presence on social media outlets. Social media managers use many tools to drive brand awareness online using platforms like X, Instagram, and Meta's Facebook, plus Google Analytics and other online software programs like the ones we listed above.

  • What Are the Expected Costs of Social Media Management Software?

    Social media management software can be free, but the free basic plans some companies offer come with minimal tools and are typically only suitable for one user. If you want more features and the ability to integrate with more platforms or manage more accounts, you can expect to pay $5 per month to $600+ per month. If you have a large company and you need many user profiles or access to more social media accounts across many brands, you may even need to pay more than that. 

  • Why Should I Buy Social Media Management Software?

    If you run a business, a social media management tool can help you streamline your social media presence by posting to multiple accounts, boosting your online profile, and scheduling out posts. Using the tool may help increase brand awareness and provide a broader reach to potential customers. Using a social media management tool can save a business time and money.

Methodology

For this ranking, we looked for social media management software programs that let users access the broadest range of social media networks. We also checked for integration options with other tools and programs, and we gave preference to providers that let customers manage more social media accounts across as many networks as possible.

Price was also a significant factor in our ranking of the eight software programs. While we included many social media software program options that cost $100 per month or more, we gave preference to the providers that offer an inexpensive or free option and a free trial for users.

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Getty Images / Metamorworks

Article Sources
Investopedia requires writers to use primary sources to support their work. These include white papers, government data, original reporting, and interviews with industry experts. We also reference original research from other reputable publishers where appropriate. You can learn more about the standards we follow in producing accurate, unbiased content in our editorial policy.
  1. Sprout Social. "Pricing."

  2. Hootsuite. "Plans & Pricing."

  3. Zoho. "Free CRM Software."

  4. MeetEdgar. "Pricing."

  5. Loomly. "Pricing."

  6. Sendible. "Pricing."

  7. Buffer. "Pricing."

  8. SocialPilot. "Plans & Pricing."