We understand that being a social media marketer, agency owner, or business owner takes a lot of work and discipline.
However, having the right social media tools can amp up your brand’s presence and broaden its reach by bringing automation to the equation in 2025. They are like Swiss Army knives of the digital world, offering a wide range of features to help you manage and supercharge your social presence.
Whether you’re a solopreneur, an agency, or a new brand striving to make an impact on social media, this guide will help you shortlist the best tool for your social media needs.
What Are Social Media Tools?
Social Media tools refer to the platforms that enable individuals and businesses to create, manage, and analyze their social media presence. You can streamline tasks such as creating content, scheduling posts, monitoring engagements, social listening, analyzing performance metrics on social media, and much more.
Manage multiple accounts across different social media platforms, simplify social media management efforts, save time, improve content strategy, understand audience behavior, and maximize your brand presence.
How We Analyze and Select These Social Media Tools:
We have meticulously curated this list of premier tools through detailed research and hands-on testing. We considered various factors such as user satisfaction, G2 ratings and user reviews, pricing structure, and scalability. We also actively analyzed the abilities of these tools in automation, developing content, visualization, analytics, and collaborative workflows. We have assembled this list to provide marketers with essential insights, enabling them to make well-informed decisions on the best tools to expand their businesses.
Overview of the Top Social Media Tools
Here is an in-depth analysis of top 5 tools for social media management to automate your planning, engagement, and publishing.
SocialPilot |
Loomly |
Hootsuite |
Sendible |
Buffer |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pricing | Starts at $30/Month | Starts at $42/Month | Starts at $99/Month | Starts at $29/Month | Starts at $6/Month |
Best for | Agencies & Small Businesses | Brands & Enterprises | Brands & Enterprises | Brands | Mid-size Businesses |
Social Profiles | 7 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 1 |
Ease of Use | |||||
Support | |||||
Publishing | |||||
Bulk Scheduling | 500 Posts | 400 Posts | 350 Posts | 350 Posts | |
Smart Queues | |||||
Repeat Post | |||||
First Comment | |||||
Audience Targeting | |||||
Content Planning & Creation | – | – | – | – | – |
Calendar View | |||||
AI Assistant | |||||
Custom Call-To-Actions | |||||
Content Library | |||||
Instagram Collab Posts | |||||
Location Tagging | |||||
Holiday Calendar | |||||
Image Editor | |||||
Engagement | |||||
Social Inbox | |||||
Reply to Reviews & Queries | |||||
Reply to DMs & Comments | Only Facebook and Instagram | ||||
Analytics | |||||
Detailed Social Media Analytics | |||||
Custom Report Builder | |||||
Auto-Schedule Report Sharing to Clients | |||||
Team and Client Collaboration | |||||
Client Management | |||||
Approval Workflows | |||||
Per Post Multi-User Collaboration | |||||
Approval-on-the-go | |||||
White Labeling | |||||
White Label Dashboard | |||||
White Label Downloadable Report | |||||
Learn More | Learn More | Learn More | Learn More |
Best Overall Social Media Tools
Best Social Media Tool for:
Marketing agencies, SMBs, multi-location brands & professionals.
Star Rating:
4.5 stars on G2 & 4.4 stars on Capterra
Apps:
Android and iOS Mobile App and Web Version.
Social Media Platforms Supported:
X (Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Google Business Profile, Threads, TikTok, and Bluesky.
Key Features:
- Bulk Scheduling
- Team Collaboration
- Social Inbox
- Multi-account Management
- Social Media Content Calander
- Image WaterMarking
- Content Library
- Hashtag Suggestions
- Collaborator Tagging
- Schedule Posts Across Multiple Channels
- Report Scheduling
- Downloadable Reports
- Client Approval-On-the-Go
- Detailed Analytics
- Mobile Application
- Approval Workflow
- Client Management
- AI Pilot
- White Label Dashboard and Reports
Pros
- With SocialPilot schedule up to 500 social media posts for multiple accounts for peak engagement times in one go.
- It has one of the most user-friendly UI making it easy to understand and use effectively.
- SocialPilot is know fortis cost-effective and transparent pricing plans suitable for SMBs and Agencies.
Fady S.
I really like the overall SocialPilot platform. It has all the features we require for the 20+ pages we manage on our account. It was also super easy to integrate with all our pages on the different platforms. We use it several times a week to schedule posts and ensure our calendar is properly setup. I highly recommend this platform as it’s a great deal for the price as well.
Cons
- It does not offer the ability of competitor analysis.
- With SocialPilot, you won’t be able to run social media ads, which is crucial for businesses.
Jenny N.
I wish there were a more significant difference in the number of accounts you get with the small team versus the agency.
About SocialPilot:
SocialPilot is a complete social media suite that makes social media management hassle-free for small businesses and agencies while giving an optimum results. It allows you to automate tasks like scheduling and publishing across multiple social media networks, track analytics, get creative with post ideas, and more.
You can better plan your campaigns, seamlessly work with your team, better manage clients better, optimize your social media posts, and increase the ROI of your marketing efforts.
Furthermore, SocialPilot is trusted by more than 14,000+ customers globally when it comes to anything social media.
Pricing and Value
SocialPilot offers a 14-day free trial and access to all premium features (no credit card required & cancel any time). Choose a plan that meets your requirements.
Ultimate | Premium | Standard | Essentials |
$170.00/mo$200
Billed annually (Save 15%)
|
$85.00/mo$100
Billed annually (Save 15%)
|
$42.50/mo$50
Billed annually (Save 15%)
|
$25.50/mo$30
Billed annually (Save 15%)
|
Social Media Made Easy With SocialPilot
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Overall Verdict:
SocialPilot is a overall social media tool made for SMBs and agencies. It can automate all the boring and repetitive tasks like social media posting, performance monitoring, report creation, content creation and overall planning. The dashboard and UI is so intuitive even new users get it instantly. The pricing tiers are affordable so marketing on social media is scalable and sustainable.
Best Social Media App for:
Star Rating:
4.5 on G2 & 4.5 on Capterra
Apps:
Android and iOS Mobile App and Web Version.
Social Media Platforms Supported:
Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), YouTube, Pinterest, Google Business Profile, Shopify, Threads, Mastodon, and TikTok.
Key Features:
- AI-Powered Assistance
- Social Inbox
- Start Page Creator
- Customizable Schedule
- Team Collaboration
- Mobile Application
- Multi-account Scheduling
- Analytics and Reporting
- Content Calendar
- Browser Extension
- RSS Feed Integration
Pros
- Buffer has an intuitive interface that ensures users have a smooth experience.
- It has flexible scheduling options to cater to users from across the globe in different time zones.
- Buffer’s have impressive analytics insights to help track post performance.
Yulia L.
I work for a social media marketing agency, and we use Buffer to manage multiple accounts. I like how easy it is to schedule posts. Reports are probably the best out there. Plus, it’s relatively inexpensive.
Cons
- No hashtag suggestions for marketing agencies and social media managers.
- Tool crashes often and you have to reconnect again and again.
- Doesn’t tell you the best time to post on different social media profiles based on audience activity.
Charles F.
If you’re using this platform from an agency perspective, meaning you have multiple clients and multiple internal and external stakeholders, this platform falls short. It lacks in critical areas including: not supporting multiple users, not having an option for client access, and not providing a useful view for routing or reviewing materials. Specifically, the preview function doesn’t show an accurate representation of how content will actually look once posted, which is extremely troublesome.
About Buffer:
Buffer is a simple, reliable social media tool built for small businesses and agencies. Plan, schedule and publish to Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and X all from one clean dashboard. Collaborate with your team, assign roles and set up approval workflows to keep everything on track. Great for managing multiple brands or clients without the mess.
One of Buffer’s best features is its analytics — simple but effective. You get clear insights so you can adjust your content strategy without digging through a mountain of data. It also has a visual content calendar and basic engagement tools so you’re not just posting — you’re connecting too.
Pricing and Value:
Overall Verdict:
Buffer is a good choice for agencies and small businesses who want a clean, no-fuss tool to stay social. Easy to use, affordable and gets the job done. Just note it’s not as advanced for deep engagement or listening as some competitors.
Best Social Media Platform for:
Star Rating:
4.5 on G2 & 4.6 on Capterra
Apps:
Android and iOS Mobile App and Web Version.
Social Media Platforms Supported:
Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), YouTube, Pinterest, Google Business Profile, and TikTok.
Key Features:
- Team Collaboration
- Visual Content Calendar
- Social Listening
- Hashtag Tracking and Suggestions
- Comprehensive Dashboard
- Multi-platform Publishing
- In-depth Analytics
Pros
- Sendible is an all-in-one solution for the needs of social media agencies.
- It is a strong analytics tool that helps measure marketing campaigns’ ROI.
- Streamlined team collaboration and workflow management that smooth their tasks
Lolla L.
My favorite thing about sendible is the ability to schedule in advance for multiple platforms, posting constantly every day is a hassle but when you can sit down and schedule it in advance it makes things so much easier.
Cons
- Sendible pricing may be high for some marketing agencies working on budget constraints.
- Customer support response is often delayed, which leads to compromising campaign effectiveness.
- The platform is complex and less intuitive for beginners and new users.
Charles K D.
It doesn’t auto-rotate evergreen content. It doesn’t highlight posts with high engagement rates that can be reposted. It doesn’t have a way to integrate with other software.
Our Experience:
Sendible is a comprehensive social media management tool designed to streamline brand and enterprise marketing efforts.
It offers a range of features, including multi-platform scheduling, content curation, and social listening. Users can manage all their social channels from one dashboard, schedule posts in advance, and monitor engagement with real-time analytics.
Sendible also integrates with top social platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and even YouTube, making it versatile for various content types. Additionally, the tool provides collaboration features, allowing teams to work seamlessly on campaigns and reports.
Pricing Comparison
Overall Verdict:
Sendible is great for brands and enterprises looking to supercharge their social media. The scheduling tools, analytics and multi-platform integration makes it a powerful tool for managing and growing your online presence. But the pricing might be a bit steep for smaller businesses or solo marketers.
Social Media Tools for Scheduling and Publishing
Best Social Media Software for:
Star Rating:
4.5 star on G2 & 4.4 star on Capterra
Apps:
Android, iOS Mobile App, and Web Version.
Social Media Platforms Supported:
Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), LinkedIn, Pinterest, TikTok, Google Business Profile, Mastodon, Bluesky
Key Features:
- Content Curation
- Email Marketing Integration
- WordPress Integration
- Social Listening
- Comprehensive Marketing Calendar
- Scheduling and Automation
- Team Collaboration
- Workflow Management
- Social Media Analytics
Pros
- The color coding feature on the CoSchedule marketing calendar makes task visualization effortless.
- Its ReQueue feature is a great help in reposting the top-performing posts to garner maximum engagement.
- One content calendar to schedule posts on multiple networks.
Verified User in Marketing and Advertising
CoSchedule Marketing Suite impresses me with its all-inclusive arsenal of marketing tools, harmoniously working together to simplify campaign planning, automate workflows, foster collaboration, and maximize marketing effectiveness, ultimately boosting efficiency and achieving outstanding results.
Cons
- CoSchedule users find it frustrating to navigate the platform because of its UI/UX.
- CoSchedule has limited platform support, which can disadvantage businesses with a presence on multiple social media platforms.
- No option to custom edit posts specific to each platform.
Allie C.
Nothing really. We were excited about the calendar functionality but that didn’t end up being enough to get my team on board with adopting it.
Our Experience:
CoSchedule is a complete marketing suite with a prime focus on scheduling and project management. Like any other social media scheduling tool, it allows you to create, schedule, and publish social media posts with its social calendar. The content calendar gives you a complete glimpse of all your tasks, projects, and campaigns.
Easy Drag and Drop Calendar Interface
The drag-and-drop interface makes it easy for users to schedule posts and reschedule them in case of any change in plans. You can schedule your content for platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Instagram.
Collaboration and Workflow Efficiency
In any social media tools list, CoSchedule stands out with its collaboration features to help you streamline your workflow. To keep your audience engaged, you can use its ReQueue feature to reshare your best posts automatically
Pricing and Value
Overall Verdict:
CoSchedule is a social media tool with lots of features for scheduling, collaboration and project management. It’s great for team collaboration and streamlining workflows but can be overwhelming for new users. Overall CoSchedule is a great tool for marketing teams looking to get more productive and organized but may take a little learning to get the most out of it.
Best Social Media Software for:
Star Rating:
4.5 star on G2 & 4.5 star on Capterra
Apps:
Android and iOS Mobile App and Web Version.
Social Media Platforms Supported:
Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), YouTube, Pinterest, Google Business Profile, Shopify, Threads, Mastodon, and TikTok.
Key Features:
- Social Media Calendar
- Content Ideas Generation
- Hashtags Suggestions
- Image and Video Editing Tool
- Content Planning Tools
- Team Collaboration
- Post Performance Analytics
Pros
- You can add stock images and emojis to your content.
- It lets you schedule multiple posts at once.
- The tool gives suggestions for each platform, such as if the scheduled posting time or day is not good.
Melissa M.
All in one space and the amount of platform options it gives – this makes it great for my agency which is why I chose it. I also like the fact you can schedule FB Reels not just videos as many schedulers only allow for FB videos. I love that I can schedule to Google Business as well!
Cons
- Users cannot upload GIFs or videos.
- You cannot schedule long-form posts for X (formerly Twitter).
- Loomly’s analytics and reporting abilities might not meet all agency needs.
Verified User in Marketing and Advertising
I don’t like that we have to pay additional to add more collaborators even if the previous collaborators no longer work for our agency. I was charged to upgrade my package to add a new prop stylist to our collaborator because we lost our other one.
Our Experience:
Loomly lets you after every aspect of your social media strategy, from scheduling posts to tracking the performance of your campaigns.
You can enable your team or clients to visualize all planned posts and campaigns through a content calendar and share customized reports in XSLV, CSV, or PDF format.
Loomly offers integrations with multiple popular platforms like Canva, Google Drive, Giphy, and more, offering you a seamless way to organize your chaos. It is available as a web platform and mobile app (iOS, Android).
Pricing Comparison
Overall Verdict:
Loomly is designed for agencies of all sizes, especially smaller teams and client bases. If you’re a social media agency looking for a clean and easy to use platform to manage your social media Loomly can help. This is a lightweight solution that keeps teams and clients on the same page without the hassle.
Best Social Media App for:
Star Rating:
4.3 on G2 & 4.3 on Capterra
Apps:
Android and iOS Mobile App and Web Version.
Social Media Networks Supported:
Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Threads.
Key Features:
- Visual Instagram Grid Planner
- Instagram Auto-Posting
- AI Caption Writer
- Instagram Hashtag Manager
- Content Calendar
- Media Library
- Instagram Content Previews
- Stock Photo Integration
- Cross-Platform Posting
Pros
- Planoly is a highly visual planner ideal for brands focused on a cohesive, aesthetic IG feed.
- It offers Story and Reel support that handles all major IG content formats with auto-post.
Prem K.
Planoly is one of the best tools to manage social media. I can easily connect multiple social media accounts and post on all accounts at the same time in a very few steps. I can also reschedule posts.
Cons
- Planoly’s free plan is very limited to unlock serious functionality, you need a paid plan.
- Its analytics are pretty basic not suitable if you need deep performance insights.
Kaia S.
This app has caused me so much stress for my page. I use the scheduler because I am asleep when I want to reach my audience on the other side of the world, but half the time it doesn’t post even though it has been scheduled without any error messages.
About Planoly:
Planoly is a social media management tool for scheduling and publishing content, mostly for Instagram.
It has a drag and drop content calendar that makes scheduling a breeze, plan and organize posts in advance. Planoly also has analytics to track post performance so you can optimize your content.
The visual layout allows you to see your social media feed before you publish, so you can make sure it looks consistent and cohesive. Plus Planoly has multi account management so it’s perfect for brands with multiple profiles.
Pricing and Cost-effectiveness
Overall Verdict:
Planoly is great for users who want to simplify their social media content with a easy to use scheduling tool. It’s super pretty and easy to use for social media managers. But limited for users who manage multiple social media accounts as it’s more Instagram focused.
Best Social Media Tools for Analytics
Best Social Media Platform for:
Star Rating:
4 on G2 & 4.4 on Capterra
Apps:
Android and iOS Mobile App and Web Version.
Social Media Networks Supported:
Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), YouTube, Threads, Pinterest, Google Business Profile, and TikTok.
Key Features:
- Approval Workflow
- Hashtag Suggestions
- Custom Social Media Streams
- Social Media Ads
- Employee Advocacy
- AI Writer
- Multi-platform publishing
- Multi-account management
- In-depth analytics
- Team Collaboration
Pros
- The tool makes it super easy for users to manage all their social media accounts from one place.
- Hootsuite monitors the KPIs of social profiles effectively.
- It lets you repurpose popular posts to reuse them on other networks.
Gabriela P.
I love how easy it is to schedule. Especially the calendar view. I also love the recommended times to post, that saves a lot of time for us, since we’re a marketing agency.
Cons
- There is a learning curve that makes it hard for new users to use.
- The tool is priced higher than other competitors.
Ally C.
Sometimes when I add content in to be posted to a platform, I get a notice that the format doesn’t work which is strange. I usually have to lower the quality or the size to make it work. I wish it would work better with larger size files! It’s also a bit expensive for a small business or agency.
Our Experience:
Having used Hootsuite extensively, we observed that it’s a powerful platform ideal for large teams needing comprehensive control over their social strategy.
Centralized Management and Scheduling
Hootsuite allows users to schedule posts, monitor conversations, and engage with their audience from a unified dashboard. One of the major strengths is how well it handles multi-network posting and collaboration, enabling streamlined workflows across departments.
Monitoring and Analytics
You can monitor keywords, conversations, and brand mentions easily to stay on top of your reputation. Hootsuite also allows for analyzing both organic and paid content in one interface, helping optimize strategies and boost ROI. However, the pricing model with hidden charges may not sit well with budget-conscious agencies.
Pricing and Value
Overall Verdict:
We used Hootsuite for everything an agency could need it for and then we experienced the joy of managing social media for all clients in one place. But Hootsuite’s pricing is a major problem for smaller agencies or those on a budget. Hootsuite is expensive and has hidden fees, it charges almost double its monthly plan which agencies can usually afford.
Best Social Media App for:
Star Rating:
4.5 on G2 & 4.4 on Capterra
Apps:
Android and iOS Mobile App and Web Version.
Social Media Platforms Supported:
Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), YouTube, Threads, Pinterest, and TikTok.
Key Features:
- Influencer Collaboration Features
- Social Listening Tools
- Customizable Reporting
- Robust Analytics Dashboard
- Advanced Scheduling Tools
- Unified Social Inbox
- Team Collaboration and Workflow Approval
- Automated Report Generator
- Hashtag Suggestions
Pros
- Sprout Social has scheduling features that save time and can be used for marketing.
- Eases team collaboration and client approval process, no more continuous approval emails.
Kavin V.
Sprout has a clean, simple and intuitive interface and main navigation. It makes it easy for new users to learn. At the same time the tool is feature packed and customizable. I love the reporting section and how easy it is to sort and filter with quick responsiveness.
Cons
- Price plan is very high for the features, no integration or YouTube publishing.
- Social inbox is available for different platforms but not under one roof.
Alisanne S.
I wish I could edit posts across different platforms on one editing page, rather than making duplicates. That is one thing about Hubspot that I always liked. At times it is difficult to get questions answered by their customer support team, as calling them is easier than email or chat.
Our Experience:
Sprout Social is a comprehensive tool that helps businesses do basic things like scheduling, publishing, and engaging with their audience. It also allows you to measure your account and post-performance to understand what posts resonate with your audience base.
The tool shares with you suggestions on the best times to post on social media based on 16 weeks of audience data. Speaking of engagement, the Social Inbox helps you manage all your conversations and comments in one place. You can even improve your responses using AI.
Social listening can help you understand what people are saying about your brand on social media. This tool offers integration with Zendesk, UserVoice, and Salesforce. For more information, you can check out this list of social listening tools.
Pricing Comparison
Overall Verdict:
We use Sprout Social and think it’s a great tool for managing Instagram engagement and monitoring performance. Users say it’s too expensive for smaller businesses and agencies but it’s still a good one if you want a strategy.
Best Social Media App for:
Star Rating:
4.5 on G2 & 4.6 on Capterra
Apps:
Android and iOS Mobile App and Web Version.
Social Media Platforms Supported:
Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), YouTube, Google Business Profile, and TikTok.
Key Features:
- Direct Publishing Tool
- Bulk-Scheduling
- Content Calendar
- Team Collaboration
- Social Listening Capability
- Smart AI Image and Content Assistant
- PulseLink in Bio
- Unified Social Inbox
- ROI Tracker
- Detailed Analytics & Reporting
Pros
- It’s a dependable management tool with a responsive customer support team to address user questions.
- Agorapulse provides strong team collaboration features that streamline communication and accelerate workflows.
Sandra H.
Agorapulse is incredibly intuitive and user-friendly, making it easy for me to schedule posts, engage with our audience, and track performance across multiple platforms. The reporting features are also robust, providing valuable insights.
Cons
- It doesn’t support scheduling for Instagram Stories.
- Users frequently encounter crashes when using Agorapulse’s web version.
- Agorapulse’s interface is complex, leading to a steep learning curve and taking up considerable user time.
- The mobile version of Agorapulse isn’t as intuitive as the web version and misses several vital features.
Verified User in Computer Games
I dislike that Agorapulse regularly fails to publish scheduled social media posts. I dislike that Agorapulse regularly loses connection with our multiple social media accounts. I dislike that Agorapulse cripples its features, like Listening to the point of making it useless, then has the audacity to try and upsell me an even more premium account just to make it functional.
Our Experience:
Agorapulse is a social media management tool with advanced analytics that helps businesses track their social media.
One of the big features is the reporting system, where you can see engagement, reach, clicks and follower growth across multiple platforms. It also has competitor analysis so you can see how you stack up against others in your industry.
With Agorapulse you can schedule posts, monitor social media conversations and generate reports for easy tracking of campaigns and ROI.
Pricing Comparison:
Overall Verdict:
Agorapulse is a full social media tool that stands out for its analytics and ease of use, perfect for businesses looking to optimize their social strategy. The competitor metrics is a big selling point. But the pricing is a bit steep for smaller businesses or startups with a limited budget.
Free Social Media Tools
Best Free Social Media App for:
Star Rating:
4.5 on G2 & 4.7 on Capterra
Apps:
Android and iOS Mobile App and Web Version.
Social Media Platforms Supported:
All social media networks
Key Features:
- Website analysis
- Real-time insights
- Campaign performance tracking
- Audience demographics
- Conversion tracking
- Custom reports
Pros
- Google Analytics can track traffic from multiple sources: organic, paid, referral, social.
- It works with multiple digital environments: websites, mobile apps, etc., including Google Ads accounts.
John C.
What I like best about Google Analytics is the detailed insights it provides. It helps me understand user behavior, track website performance, and make data-driven decisions.
Cons
- There’s a lot of learning involved to understand the tool.
- The newer GA4 version is less intuitive, requiring users to read multiple tutorials to create panels and access information easily.
Sergio A.
Google Analytics each time is more difficult to understand and work with it. Before GA4, was more intuitive, and now you need to read many tutorials to create panels to get the information in more easy way. If you want to get all the possible information need a more advanced implementation, that for some websites needs higher skills.
Our Experience:
Google Analytics is a free and awesome tool for tracking website traffic and social media performance.
You can monitor website visits, bounce rate, session duration and user demographics. You can set up custom goals and track conversions to measure your social media campaigns.
With Google Ads integration you can see the ROI of your paid social campaigns and the acquisition report will show you which social channels are driving the most traffic.
Pricing Comparison
Overall Verdict:
Google Analytics is a must have for any business looking to see the impact of their social media on their website. The reporting and integration with other Google services is great but the complexity can be a drawback for beginners as you’ll need to learn the features.
Best Social Media Tool for:
Star Rating:
4.7 stars on G2 & 4.7 on Capterra
Apps:
Android and iOS Mobile App and Web Version.
Social Media Platforms Supported:
Google Business Profiles, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Key Features:
- Drag-and-drop design tools
- Customizable templates
- Access to stock photos
- Collaboration tools
- Social media post sizing
- Custom branding options (for premium users)
- Animation and video tools
- Cloud storage for designs
Pros
- Canva’s user-friendly design helps new users understand and adapt to the tool design.
- Canva provides an extensive template library that helps create and store designs even for future use.
Nikhil D.
Canva is easy and fun to use and the customer support is great as well. The user interface is very much optimized. The wide range of templates available helps in saving time and effort. The drag and drop interface makes designing simple and fast.
Cons
- Regarding Google My Business, Canva lacks dedicated features to ensure perfect assist creation.
- As a design tool, Canva does not support post-scheduling or review management for Google My Business.
- When creating a design on Canva, you must ensure the size is small; for large files, the tool starts working slowly.
Juana V.
The only thing it´s on the mobiles this software can be slowly sometimes and hard to use and also they can add the basic Google fonts because some of the fonts are on Canva but some of the basics are not there.
Our Experience:
Having explored Canva and its capabilities, we found it’s a go-to platform for non-designers looking to create professional visuals for social media and beyond.
Easy-to-use Design Tool for Everyone
Canva is incredibly beginner-friendly with its drag-and-drop interface. One of its strongest features is the wide range of templates – whether you’re designing an Instagram post, a flyer, or a presentation, there’s a layout ready to use. It also provides access to a massive library of photos, fonts, icons, and illustrations. Canva supports real-time collaboration, making it perfect for teams. The free version gives access to most design tools, while premium unlocks branding options, animations, and more.
Pricing Comparison
Overall Verdict:
Canva is great for beginners or for creating social media content without complex design software. It’s super quick to use. But the free version is limited, and some premium features are locked behind a paywall.
Social Media Tools for Content Development
Best Social Media Platform for:
Star Rating:
4.5 stars on G2 & 4.5 on Capterra
Apps:
Web Version & Chrome extension
Social Media Platforms Supported:
Twitter, Instagram, YouTube channels, Facebook, & Tiktok.
Key Features:
- Content Ideation
- Competitor Analysis
- Ad Analysis
- Trending Content Identification
- Keyword Monitoring
- Audience Insights
- Video Performance Metrics
- Channel Benchmarking
Pros
- Content analyzer helps you identify top content for a particular keyword.
- Monitoring brand alerts and keyword alerts enables you to monitor online presence and mention by third parties.
- This tool identifies thought leaders and influencers in your niche for marketing campaigns.
Nicolas F.
BuzzSumo monitoring brand alerts and keyword alerts have been two great and useful features, enabling us to monitor our online presence and mention by third parties. The Content Analyzer and Facebook Page Analyzer are also two great features, enabling us to optimize our social media presence.
Cons
- The learning curve is complicated. Users take time to get used to the tool.
- BuzzSumo plans are not affordable for all small and medium-sized businesses.
Stephen F.
Honestly, it’s mostly just a matter of price. it’s extremely pricey for the features. You’ve got to have a serious budget to justify it. Fine if you’re established but painful when you’re just getting revenue streams in.
Our Experience:
BuzzSumo excels in content research and makes up for your needs. The tool helps users find the most popular and trending content across social media, including identifying the most shared content, popular topics, and influential authors. This helps you understand what people in your industry actively engage with on social media.
Analyze your competitor’s content strategy and understand what kind of content they create and how it performs. Use this to create an informed content plan.
You can even discover relevant influencers in your niche who are actively sharing content, making it easier for you to connect with them for collaboration or promotion purposes.
Pricing Comparison:
Overall Verdict:
BuzzSumo is good for content creators and marketers who want to track social trends and optimize their strategy. It’s great for finding viral content and influencers. But the free version is very limited, you’ll need to upgrade for more data and insights.
Best Social Media App for:
Star Rating:
4.6 on G2 & 4.7 on Capterra
Apps:
Android and iOS Mobile App and Web Version.
Social Media Channels Supported:
Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), YouTube, Threads, Pinterest, and TikTok.
Key Features:
- Content calendar
- Content discovery
- Curated content suggestions
- Media library
- Customizable templates
Pros
- It has powerful filters that allow users to create custom content for multiple networks at once easily.
- ContentStudio’s content curation allows users to fill publishing queues automatically without having to create content manually.
Rogelyn T.
What I like most about Content Studio is that it makes my life easier. Before, it took a lot of time to manage different social media accounts for my clients. Now, it’s faster than I expected.
Cons
- ContentStudio’s interface can be complicated, making the learning curve steep and time-consuming for beginners.
- Upgraded features often come with additional costs and upsells.
- Content curation results may not be as strong as other Instagram tools.
- Customer support response times can sometimes be delayed.
Alisanne S.
Their support is now dreadful and has gotten worse over time. It is a damn shame. A week or two can go by with several emails to them, and all we hear are crickets. There is no response sometimes until the third or fourth email. This is terribly unprofessional and is horrible for our agency and clients.
About ContentStudio:
ContentStudio is a full content creation tool that helps you create, curate and manage your social media content.
One of its best features is the content calendar where you can plan and schedule posts across multiple platforms. The tool also has content discovery where you can find trending topics, articles and media to share or repurpose.
ContentStudio allows teams to collaborate in real time and has detailed analytics to track performance and optimize future content.
Pricing Comparison
Overall Verdict:
ContentStudio is a great option for businesses that want to streamline their content creation and management. With its scheduling, discovery and analytics features it has everything you need for social media management. But the main drawback is the pricing is a bit steep especially for smaller teams or businesses on a budget.
Social Media Tools for Content Curation
Best Social Media Software for:
Star Rating:
4.5/5 (G2) & 4.6/5 (Capterra)
Apps:
Android and iOS Mobile App and Web Version.
Social Media Channels Supported:
Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok, and Pinterest
Key Features:
- AI video generator
- AI video editor
- Text to video
- AI script generator
- Pre-made templates
- Customizable text and fonts
- Drag and drop editor
- Voiceover recording
- Branding features
Pros
- Pre-made templates that make creating videos seamless.
- Easy-to-use dashboard with a minimal learning curve.
- Comprehensive list of graphics assets and background sounds.
Mohamed A.
The most helpful feature in Invideo its made for you templates that certainly meet any need. Whether a beginner, a marketer, an educator or merely someone who wants to engage audiences, Invideo is your key to making videos easily. Its user friendly dashboard, its rich library in scenes and background sounds, its Ai tools that can highly suggest what you exactly need, its sharing options, and above all, its support that can help you achieve what you want in few clicks, all make Invideo stand from the crowd.
Cons
- There are fewer video editing options compared to full-scale editing software.
- It needs precise prompts to generate videos.
About Invideo:
InVideo is a content creation tool for making professional looking videos fast and easy.
It has a huge library of templates, stock footage, music and text animations so perfect for social media marketers and creators who want to produce high quality videos without the need for advanced editing skills. InVideo’s drag and drop interface lets you add text, transitions and effects to your videos.
It also has voiceovers, team collaboration and export in multiple formats. Whether you need videos for Instagram, Facebook or YouTube, InVideo has all the tools you need to create content.
Pricing Comparison
Overall Verdict:
InVideo is great for those who want to make social media videos with minimal effort. It has a huge template library and easy to use interface so video creation is accessible to beginners. But the free version has watermarked exports so not ideal for those who need professional grade content without paying.
Best Social Media Tool for:
Star Rating:
4.4/5 (G2) & 4.7/5 (Capterra)
Apps:
Web-version, Android, iOS, and MAC
Social Media Channels Supported:
Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok, and Pinterest
Key Features:
- Text-to-Image generation
- Customizable images
- Design Assistant
- Instant content generation
- Integrated with Shutterstock library
Pros
- Large library of stock-free images.
- Various filters to skim through images and find the right one.
- AI designer helps curate the perfect images for specific needs.
Verified User
I have really enjoyed using Shutterstock over the years because I can always seem to find just the image that I’m thinking of. With great filters including various races, people/no people, or picture orientation, it is so easy to find the perfect picture for any project. Now that they have introduced AI I’m sure it will be even better at curating exactly what I need.
Cons
- Impromptu customer support.
- Some users found it hard to cancel subscription.
Mohamed A.
You need to contact their Support to cancel your service, and guess what for an early cancellation where I was two months away from the end of my plan, I got charged the equivalent of 6 months..why? simply because I was charged the discounted rate and the early cancellation fee is calculated using the non-discounted rate!! Never ever again ShutterStock.
Our Experience:
Shutterstock is a top of the line content curation tool with a massive library of high quality images, videos and music tracks.
It has a wide range of visuals to use for social media posts, blogs and ads. The main features include advanced search filters so you can find exactly what you need by keyword, category and licensing.
Shutterstock also has an editor to create custom visuals where you can crop, adjust and overlay text on images. With a subscription or credit based system you can access and download assets for your content needs.
Pricing Comparison
Overall Verdict:
Shutterstock is a great resource for content creators who need professional grade visuals for their social media campaigns. The library and search is huge so you can find what you need. But the pricing can be a drawback especially for smaller businesses or those on a budget as it may not be the most cost effective for occasional use.
AI Social Media Tools
Best Social Media Tool for:
Star Rating:
4.6 stars on G2 & 4.4 stars on Capterra
Apps:
Web version
Supported Social Media Networks:
Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), TikTok, LinkedIn, and YouTube
Key Features:
- Influencer Tracking
- Custom Dashboards
- Scheduled Exports
- Post Tagging
- Competitive Analysis
- Social Media Audits
- Social Listening
- Hashtag Analytics
Pros
- Compare yourself to your industry peers with Rival IQ.
- It’s easy to use—no technical skills required. That’s because it was designed to be simple.
- Make your reports as detailed or as general as you need with Rival IQ.
Brendan B.
The layout and ability to generate custom reports from all of our channels at once. My competitive nature also loves the ability to create landscapes and measure our efforts against our competition. An additional benefit is to be able to see breakout posts from our peers as well. Makes monitoring a lot easier.
Cons
- Rival IQ doesn’t track Pinterest or Snapchat due to API restrictions.
- Social listening features not as robust as specialized AI tools.
- New users take time to get used to advanced features.
Fernando D.
Rival IQ prices are out of the market, and even worst they do not respect previous agreement with loyal users that have been with them for years.
Our Experience:
After reviewing Rival IQ, we can say it’s an AI powered social media analytics tool to help businesses and marketers track performance, analyze competitors and optimize social media.
Competitive Benchmarking and AI-Powered Insights
One of its key features is competitive benchmarking where you can compare your social media metrics to top competitors. The platform also provides in-depth reporting on audience engagement, content performance and trends.
Trend Prediction and Smart Posting
With its social listening capabilities, Rival IQ monitors brand mentions and keywords across platforms. It also uses AI to predict trends and tell you the best times to post and what type of content drives engagement.
Pricing and Value
Overall Verdict:
Rival IQ is a great tool for businesses looking to get ahead of the competition and fine tune their social media with data. But it’s on the more expensive side so may not be ideal for smaller businesses or individuals with a limited budget.
Best Social Media App for:
Star Rating:
4.4/5 (G2) & 4.2/5 (Capterra)
Apps:
Web version
Supported Social Media Networks:
X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Reddit, LinkedIn, TikTok, Blogs and News websites, Tumblr, and Forums
Key Features:
- Real-time monitoring
- Customizable dashboard
- Sentiment analysis
- Mention volume
- Topic and trend detection
- Advanced filtration
- Historical data access
- Influencer identification
Pros
- Easy-to-use social media listening tool.
- Clean and straightforward Query builder.
- Training resources.
- Multiple dashboard templates.
Verified User.
Few competitors can beat Brandwatch when it comes to being an easy-to-use social listening tool. Its query builder is clean and simple, as are the Brandwatch Academy resources which teach junior colleagues how to use it. The Quick Search function rivals Google Trends in being a ‘pick up and play’ insight finder. The dashboard templates, equally, are great for both seasoned pros and novice users.
Cons
- Rival IQ doesn’t track Pinterest or Snapchat due to API restrictions.
- Social listening features not as robust as specialized AI tools.
- New users take time to get used to advanced features.
Sarah K.
Tiktok hasn’t been implemented into the platform. It takes a long time to load, the page is glitchy when i’m searching for my brand and keywords, I have to refresh constantly. I wish there were more filters when searching for key words. It doesn’t pick up which sentiment is neutral vs negative very well. When categorizing sentiment I have to click through each one instead of being able to click multiple for some reason.
Our Experience:
Brandwatch is an AI powered social media monitoring and analytics tool that helps you track online conversations, monitor brand sentiment and trends.
Its main features include real time social listening so you can stay on top of brand mentions and industry conversations. Brandwatch’s AI powered sentiment analysis gives you insight into how customers feel about a brand or product and its customisable dashboards give you a clear view of performance metrics.
It also offers in-depth competitive analysis so you can track competitors’ social presence and strategies. Brandwatch also does trend prediction so you can stay ahead of the market.
Pricing Comparison
Overall Verdict:
Verdict: Brandwatch is great for businesses that need advanced social media analytics and real time monitoring. Its AI is powerful and gives you valuable insights into customer sentiment and market trends. But its pricing is a bit steep so more suitable for larger businesses or those with big budgets.
Key Factors In Choosing Social Media Tools
Choosing the right social media tools can make or break your online presence and marketing. Here are the key things to consider when choosing social media tools:
1. Ease of Use
A user-friendly tool is key to smooth social media management. Look for a platform with an easy-to-use interface and minimal learning curve so your team can get up and running quickly and focus on creating content that matters.
2. Features and Functionality
Make sure the tool has the features you need, such as content scheduling, analytics, multi-platform support and collaboration tools. Choose a platform that fits your social media strategy and simplifies managing multiple accounts.
3. Pricing and Value
Consider the pricing structure and make sure it fits your budget. Look for tools that have transparent pricing with flexible plans so you can scale as your social media needs grow without breaking the bank.
4. Customer Support
Good customer support is crucial for resolving issues quickly. Opt for a tool with easy to get to and responsive support whether it’s live chat, email or phone support especially during time-sensitive campaigns.
5. Analytics and Reporting
The best social media tools have in depth analytics and customizable reports to track performance. This helps you measure engagement, optimize content and measure ROI to make sure you’re on the right track with your campaigns.
Why Use an Social Media Tools?
Use a social media tool to simplify, speed up and supercharge your strategy. These tools have automation, analytics and multi-account management to help you stay on top of your social media.
1. Time Saving
Social media tools automate tasks like scheduling and posting, so you save time. With these tools you can plan posts in advance and not have to do manual updates all the time.
2. Consistency and Organisation
Using a social media tool helps you maintain a consistent posting schedule across multiple platforms. It organises your content calendar so posts are timely and aligned with your overall marketing strategy.
3. Analytics and Insights
Social media tools give you in-depth analytics on engagement, reach and performance. These insights help you refine your strategy, optimise posts and measure your ROI so you can keep growing.
4. Multi Account Management
Managing multiple accounts from different platforms is overwhelming. A social media tool consolidates all your accounts into one dashboard so you can post, engage and monitor activity in one place.
5. Collaboration and Teamwork
For teams social media tools help with collaboration with features like approval workflows and shared content calendars. They help streamline communication and make sure everyone is on the same page.
Conclusion
As AI continues to revolutionize social media marketing, the social media tools available today make it easier than ever to create, schedule, analyze, and optimize content with minimal effort. With AI’s ability to predict trends, automate repetitive tasks, and provide deeper insights into audience behavior, marketers can focus on what truly matters—creating engaging content and building genuine connections.
SocialPilot is a prime example of how AI can be seamlessly integrated into social media management. Its AI-powered features streamline content creation, scheduling and analytics and help brands personalize content for their audience, all while saving time and improving results. Whether you’re an agency, a small business, or a solo entrepreneur, SocialPilot can be a great addition in your arsenal, giving you an added boost.
Want to try? Take a 14-day free trial!
Frequently Asked Questions
Why use a social media tool for my business?
A social media tool saves time by automating tasks like scheduling posts and analytics. It ensures consistency, manages multiple accounts in one place and gives you valuable insights to optimise your strategy and measure ROI.
How do social media tools help with content creation?
Social media tools like Canva or InVideo have easy to use features for creating content. They have templates, stock photos and design elements that make it easy to create engaging posts, videos and graphics without design skills.
Are social media tools only for big businesses or agencies?
No, social media tools are for businesses of all sizes. While big businesses may use advanced features, many tools have scalable pricing plans and features for small businesses, solopreneurs or startups to manage their social media better.
What should I look for in a social media tool?
When choosing a social media tool, look for features like post scheduling, analytics and reporting, content creation tools, multi account management and team collaboration. Make sure the tool supports the platforms you use and fits your business needs.