Hootsuite vs Later: Which Social Media Management Software is Better?
Hey there! So, you’re stuck between Hootsuite and Later for social media management.
It makes a huge difference to use the social media management tool to streamline and automate your social media marketing strategy!
Over the past few years, I’ve experimented with social media marketing and tried out various social media management tools, including both Hootsuite and Later. I’ve tested out both of these social media platforms to manage multiple social media accounts, giving me firsthand experience of their ease of use and functionality.
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But I didn’t stop there. I also heavily researched both social media management tools to carefully note their features, pricing, strengths, and weaknesses.
And I’m excited to share my insights and experiences with you in this article. You’ll learn about how each platform stacks up against each other regarding user experience, customer service, and value for money.
By the end of this post, you should have all the information you need to make the right decision that best suits your social media management needs.
So, let’s dive into the nitty-gritty details of Hootsuite vs. Later, shall we?
Brief Overview: Hootsuite vs Later
First, I’ll give you a quick overview of Hootsuite and Later:
Hootsuite
Hootsuite is a versatile social media management platform facilitating the scheduling, monitoring, and analysis of social media presence across various channels, all from a unified dashboard.
Key Selling Points:
- Comprehensive dashboard that integrates multiple social networks.
- Advanced scheduling capabilities allow bulk uploads and calendar views.
- Real-time analytics and customizable reports to track social performance and ROI.
- Team collaboration tools with assignment and approval workflows.
- Extensive app directory for integration with various third-party applications.
Later
Later focuses on visual content, offering a user-friendly social media management platform to schedule social media posts, particularly on Instagram, while providing social media marketing, planning, and analytics tools.
Key Selling Points:
- Visual content calendar with drag-and-drop functionality for easy planning.
- Specialized in Instagram and Linkin.bio to drive traffic from scheduled posts.
- User-generated content (UGC) tools to source and share content from fans.
- Hashtag suggestions and the best time to post recommendations.
- Simplified analytics for tracking followers’ growth and engagement rates.
Quick Verdict: Hootsuite vs Later
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Hootsuite is a social media management platform that allows users to manage and schedule posts, track social media engagement, and monitor various social media accounts from a single dashboard.]=
Hootsuite stands out as a robust, multi-channel social media management tool. It’s ideal for those needing comprehensive coverage across several social media platforms.
With its ability to manage multiple social media accounts in one dashboard, extensive analytics, and many integration options, Hootsuite is geared toward professionals who need a tool that does it all in their social media endeavors. Its strength lies in its powerful monitoring capabilities and detailed reporting, providing you with crucial insights into your campaigns’ performance.
Social Media Management Made Easy
Later is a great social media management platform designed to help businesses, influencers, and content creators streamline their social media processes.
Later differentiates itself with a focus on visual content, particularly for Instagram, offering a more streamlined and intuitive approach. It’s perfect for brands and influencers who need to plan visually engaging stories and posts.
Later’s user-friendly interface simplifies scheduling posts, organizing visual content, and managing Instagram’s aesthetic flow. The platform’s unique selling proposition is its visual content calendar and straightforward usability, making it a favorite among those who prioritize content quality and visual storytelling on social media.
Product Overview: Hootsuite vs Later
What is it?
Hootsuite is a comprehensive social media management tool that allows you to manage multiple social media platforms, schedule posts, track analytics, and facilitate social commerce experiences from a single dashboard.
Later is a visually oriented-social media scheduling tool focusing primarily on Instagram. It provides all the features, such as visual content calendars, post-auto-scheduling, and performance analytics.
Who is it for?
Hootsuite is ideal for large to small businesses, marketers, and individuals who handle several social media accounts or platforms. It’s especially beneficial for those who need to streamline customer conversations and require advanced analytics for their strategy.
Later is perfect for Instagram marketers, social media managers, visually-focused brands, or anyone looking for a user-friendly interface to plan and manage aesthetically pleasing and promotional posts.
What makes it special?
Hootsuite sets itself apart in its ability to manage all customer conversations from one place. Its comprehensive features make it a one-stop social media management solution for managing multiple social media platforms, making it a favorite among businesses and marketers handling various social accounts.
Later stands out with its visually-oriented interface. It’s especially useful for planning and managing Instagram posts, making it a go-to choice for visually-focused brands and Instagram marketers.
What does it do?
Hootsuite allows you to plan, schedule, and syndicate posts across multiple networks from a single dashboard. It also offers advanced analytics and supports social commerce experiences, making it a comprehensive tool for social media management.
Later lets you visually plan and schedule their social media posts, particularly for Instagram. It also provides robust performance analytics, allowing you to track the effectiveness of your social media campaigns.
Quick Comparison: Hootsuite vs Later
| Key Features | Hootsuite | Later |
|---|---|---|
| #1) Pricing | Winner | |
| #2) Free Plan | Tie | Tie |
| #3) Design & Functionality | Winner | |
| #4) Social Media Scheduling Tools | Tie | Tie |
| #5) Social Media Channels & Integrations | Winner | |
| #6) Social Media Performance & Analytics Feature | Winner | |
| #7) Team Collaboration Features | Winner | |
| #8) AI & Automation Tools | Winner | |
| #9) Mobile App | Winner | |
| #10) Customer Support | Tie | Tie |
| Overall | Winner |
Feature Comparison: Hootsuite vs Later
Let’s compare the features of these social media management software tools so you can make the right decision for you and your business.
#1) Pricing
Hootsuite offers a range of pricing plans to accommodate different needs. The Professional Plan starts at $99 per month, which includes one user and ten social media accounts. They also offer Team and Enterprise Plans to support 3-5 users and manage 20-50 accounts.
Later offers its Starter Plan at $25 per month, covering one social set and user. They also have Growth and Advanced Plans that cater to 3-6 social sets and 3-6 users, respectively.
Analyzing the pricing structures, Later takes the edge for those conscious of budget, offering a lower starting price point with its Starter Plan than Hootsuite’s Professional Plan. While Hootsuite provides an expansive range of features, its starting cost is significantly higher, making Later the more accessible option for individuals or small businesses starting their journey in social media management or those operating with a tight budget.
Verdict: For pricing, Later is the winner.
#2) Free Plan
Hootsuite offers the opportunity to try any of their plans for free for a period of 30 days. However, it’s important to note that this trial requires you to input your credit card details.
Later, however, provides a 14-day free trial to test out any of its paid plans. The trial is entirely free for these 14 days.
Comparing the two, Hootsuite offers a longer trial period, giving you more time to explore and understand all these features. However, the requirement for credit card credentials could be a point of contention for some users. Later, while offering a shorter trial period, it does not require credit card details, which might be more appealing to potential users who are cautious about sharing such information.
Verdict: For the free plan, it’s a tie. Hootsuite offers a longer trial period, but Later doesn’t require credit card details for their trial. Both have their own advantages depending on the user’s preferences.
#3) Design & Functionality
Hootsuite is renowned for its user-friendly interface and practicality, offering a dashboard that integrates different social media streams into one unified view. This multi-column layout is ideal for those who wish to monitor various feeds and activities simultaneously.
Later focuses heavily on a visually appealing aesthetic and an intuitive design, particularly evident in its social media calendar layout and image preview functionality. It’s streamlined for scheduling posts, especially for multiple platforms like Instagram. The platform simplifies content planning and offers a more approachable user experience for individuals or businesses prioritizing relevant content appearance and scheduling.
In comparing the two, Later’s design and functionality are better for those who appreciate a cleaner, more organized, and visually intuitive interface, especially beneficial for platforms emphasizing visual content. While Hootsuite offers robust functionalities and a comprehensive view, Later’s ease of use and sleek design make it more appealing if you prefer simplicity and visual planning in your social media interactions.
Verdict: For design and functionality, Later.
#4) Social Media Scheduling Tools
Hootsuite excels with social media scheduling tools, offering a dynamic platform that allows you to bulk schedule posts, which is ideal for businesses or individuals needing to plan out user-generated content in advance. Its auto-scheduling feature optimizes post timings for maximum engagement, and the calendar view clarifies content distribution over time.
Later focuses on enhancing the quality and engagement of content with its unique set of features. Its Linkin.bio tool drives traffic from Instagram posts to websites or blogs, directly contributing to conversion rates. The platform’s caption writer and media library help craft compelling stories for posts, while its intelligent hashtag suggestions maximize post visibility and engagement. These features combined make Later an excellent tool for creators and businesses looking to deepen engagement and refine their content strategy and post-performance.
Comparing the two, it’s a tight race. Hootsuite offers comprehensive, wide-reaching scheduling capabilities ideal for extensive, diverse campaigns. At the same time, Later specializes in content curation and engagement, with tools designed for customization and refined audience interaction. Both offer valuable yet distinct tools catering to the varied needs of social media professionals, making them stand together at the pinnacle of social media scheduling functionality.
Verdict: For social media scheduling tools, it’s a tie between Hootsuite and Later.
#5) Social Media Channels & Integrations
Hootsuite offers extensive compatibility, allowing users to integrate various social media channels, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and YouTube. Beyond these, Hootsuite integrates with over 250 third-party apps, including Google Analytics, Google Business profile, and Dropbox, creating a versatile, all-encompassing social media management and analysis platform.
Later is primarily designed for visually centric social platforms, specializing in Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn and Pinterest integration. While it doesn’t support as broad a range of third-party integrations as Hootsuite, it does offer unique Instagram-specific features like Linkin.bio, making it an attractive tool for businesses or influencers who focus on these platforms.
Regarding comprehensive social media channel support and integrations, Hootsuite takes the lead. Its ability to combine an extensive array of social platforms and third-party apps makes it a powerhouse for integration, catering to professionals who require depth in social media tools and analytics. While Later’s specialized services are invaluable for a visual content creator and social media manager, Hootsuite’s broad-spectrum compatibility makes it more versatile for diverse social media strategies.
Verdict: For collaboration, Hootsuite.
#6) Social Media Performance & Analytics Feature
Hootsuite offers comprehensive analytics tools, allowing you to track various metrics across multiple social media networks. Its dashboard provides an overview of performance data, including growth in followers, content engagement tools, and conversion rates, helping businesses understand and improve their social media strategies.
On the other hand, Later comes with visually oriented analytics, particularly beneficial for platforms like Instagram. It tracks standard metrics and provides insights into post-performance, audience engagement, and best posting times. Moreover, the “Linkin.bio” feature tracks traffic and sales from Instagram, offering in-depth insights into ROI from social content.
Later, it stands out for businesses, particularly those focused on visually-driven platforms, seeking a user-friendly interface with straightforward, actionable insights. Its unique features like “Linkin.bio” analytics give it an edge, especially for e-commerce brands leveraging Instagram for traffic and sales.
Verdict: For Social Media Performance & Analytics Feature, Later is the winner. Its visually intuitive analytics and unique tools for tracking sales and traffic from social posts offer businesses direct, actionable insights into their social media performance and audience preferences.
#7) Team Collaboration Features
Hootsuite has robust team collaboration features that allow for efficient social media management. You can assign social media networks to team members, who can then post messages, create views and columns, and interact with the details of these networks. Hootsuite also offers a mobile app to share engagement streams with teams, facilitating collaborative monitoring of the same social feed.
On the other hand, Later also supports team collaboration but in a more limited capacity compared to Hootsuite. It allows multiple users to access the social media marketing platform and schedule the most relevant posts but lacks Hootsuite’s advanced team management and assignment features.
Hootsuite is the better option for team collaboration, content creation, and social media efforts due to its comprehensive capabilities. Its features, such as team assignments, shared social feeds, and mobile app collaboration, provide a more efficient and streamlined process for managing social media tasks within a team.
Verdict: For team collaboration features, Hootsuite takes the lead.
#8) AI & Automation Tools
Hootsuite provides a range of marketing automation features, including an Auto-scheduler, which uses an algorithm to determine the optimal posting times for maximum engagement. It also integrates with various third-party apps, enabling you to automate content curation and customer management tasks.
On the other hand, Later focuses on a suite of AI and automation tools that significantly ease the content creation process. Its innovative Linkin.bio feature transforms Instagram engagement by creating a shoppable feed, driving traffic directly to a user’s website. The platform also boasts creative tools for automated Content Creation and a Caption Writer that enhances post performance and relevance. Its Hashtag Analytics and Suggestion feature also employs AI to recommend the most effective hashtags, seamlessly increasing content reach and engagement.
While Hootsuite maintains a strong position with its comprehensive tools, Later’s specialized, content-centric AI features like Linkin.bio, automated Content Creation, Caption Writer, and Hashtag Suggestions make it particularly attractive for content creators and marketers. These content automation tools are not just innovative but tailored explicitly to enhancing content quality, engagement, and social selling, offering a level of specificity and innovation that is highly valuable in social media strategy execution.
Verdict: For AI and Automation Tools, Later takes the win with its unique and specialized features.
#9) Mobile App
Hootsuite’s mobile app, designed for Android and iOS, brings convenience and functionality right at your fingertips. It replicates the desktop experience well, allowing you to schedule posts, engage with their target audiences, and monitor social metrics from their mobile devices. This comprehensive approach ensures that managing social media campaigns can be as dynamic as the platforms themselves.
In contrast, Later’s mobile app, available for Android and iOS, is a game-changer for those who thrive on visual content. Its user-friendly interface allows for the seamless planning, previewing, and posting of social media content directly from a phone. Notably, features like the visual content calendar and post preview, especially for Instagram, make scheduling a more intuitive experience, emphasizing the visual layout of one’s social media feed.
While Hootsuite provides a solid, versatile mobile experience, Later takes the lead with its visually intuitive, user-centric design and easy-to-use features. It caters exceptionally well to creators and marketers who need a more hands-on approach to their visual content, offering tools that simplify and enhance the overall content planning and publishing process.
Verdict: For mobile apps, Later is the winner due to its strong emphasis on visual content management, intuitive design, and user-friendly experience, making scheduling and publishing a breeze for marketers and creators alike.
#10) Customer Support
Hootsuite is known for its comprehensive customer support, which includes 24/7 assistance, an extensive online help center, interactive webinars, and a community forum. These resources are designed to help you solve any issues or answer questions that arise while using the platform, ensuring they can maximize the tools available to them effectively.
On the other hand, Later focuses on a mix of self-service and direct support options. You can access a detailed help center, email support, and additional resources like guides and tutorials. While it may not offer round-the-clock live support, the quality and accessibility of its resources make for an effective support system.
Deciding on the superior customer support system between Hootsuite and Later can hinge on user preference. Hootsuite’s around-the-clock support might be crucial for businesses that operate across time zones and need immediate assistance. At the same time, Later’s detailed self-help resources are excellent if you prefer to troubleshoot issues or independently learn at your own pace.
Verdict: For customer support, it’s a tie. Hootsuite stands out with its 24/7 live assistance, while Later excels with its in-depth, user-friendly self-service options. The choice between the two would depend on individual or business preferences and needs regarding customer service interactions.
Final Thoughts on Hootsuite vs Later
When it comes to choosing between Hootsuite and Later, both platforms bring a lot to the table.
Hootsuite stands out with its comprehensive features and extensive third-party integration capabilities, making it an excellent choice for businesses that require a wide range of functionalities and services.
On the other hand, Later shines with its innovative AI tools and visually appealing mobile app. It’s a perfect fit for businesses focusing on visual content, especially those who want to leverage Instagram’s marketing potential.
For those prioritizing comprehensive analytics and multi-platform outreach, Hootsuite is your go-to. But if your approach is visually oriented, focusing on user-friendly design and efficient, creative planning, Later should be your choice.
Drawing on my in-depth analysis and experience testing out both tools, I am a massive fan of Later for its ease of use and visual content, particularly for Instagram marketing.
Ready to optimize your social media strategy? Give Later a try today!
Social Media Management Made Easy
Later is a great social media management platform designed to help businesses, influencers, and content creators streamline their social media processes.
