Managing social media is tough. But using the right scheduling tool can save you 10+ hours a week, boost engagement by up to 30%, and improve ROI for 67% of marketers. This guide compares 8 tools to help you pick the best one for your needs.
Quick Overview of Tools
- Coso.ai: AI-powered content creation, trends analysis, starts at $99/month.
- Hootsuite: Advanced analytics, AI tools like OwlyWriter, starts at $99/month.
- Buffer: Simple scheduling, AI assistant, starts at $6/month.
- Sprout Social: Enterprise-grade analytics, starts at $249/month.
- Later: Best for Instagram visuals, starts at $25/month.
- CoSchedule: Unified marketing calendar, custom pricing.
- Zoho Social: CRM integration, starts at $15/month.
- Agorapulse: Team-friendly workflows, starts at $99/month.
Quick Comparison
| Tool | AI Features | Platforms Supported | Starting Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coso.ai | Content generation, trends | Major platforms | $99/month | Small to medium businesses |
| Hootsuite | OwlyWriter AI, analytics | All major platforms | $99/month | Advanced analytics |
| Buffer | Basic AI | Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok | $6/month | Solopreneurs |
| Sprout Social | Advanced analytics, AI tools | All major platforms | $249/month | Enterprises |
| Later | Visual content planning | Instagram, TikTok, Facebook | $25/month | Instagram-focused businesses |
| CoSchedule | AI Social Assistant | Major platforms | Custom | Marketing teams |
| Zoho Social | AI assistant, CRM integration | Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn | $15/month | CRM integration |
| Agorapulse | AI writing, approval workflows | Instagram, Facebook, TikTok | $99/month | Agencies |
Key Takeaways:
- Budget-Friendly: Buffer ($6/month) is great for basics.
- AI-Powered: Coso.ai and Hootsuite excel in automation.
- Visual Content: Later specializes in Instagram.
- Enterprise-Ready: Sprout Social offers scalability.
Choose based on your budget, team size, and goals. Read on for detailed comparisons of each tool.
Best Social Media Management Tools Compared (2025)
1. Coso.ai
Coso.ai is an AI-powered platform designed to simplify content creation and scheduling for social media. It works by analyzing your product catalog, blog posts, and media assets, while also leveraging Google Trends to identify trending topics and evergreen opportunities. The result? Your social media stays relevant and engaging with minimal effort.
Key Features
- AI-driven content creation tailored to your brand’s voice
- Automatic population of content calendars
- Alerts for trending topics
- Support for videos and infographics
- User-friendly approval workflows
- Expert onboarding and account management
Pricing Plans
| Plan | Monthly Price | Core Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Social Media Co-Pilot | $99 | AI content generation, calendar automation, approval workflows |
| Social Media Manager | $299 | Includes Co-Pilot features plus expert onboarding, account support, advanced infographics |
| Agency/Enterprise | Custom | Scalable solutions for managing multiple brands |
Proven Impact
Coso.ai has a track record of delivering results. For instance, 257 posts generated over 53,733 impressions, showcasing its ability to drive engagement.
What Users Say
“Coso makes sure all our social media content is on-brand, and we only spend a couple of minutes per week approving content!” — John, Founder at Bua Nua (SaaS Business)
“We’ve seen a great improvement in the quality of content going out each week. And it’s always very localized to things going on in the area. Awesome service!” — Vanessa, Owner at Links Taxis
Coso.ai is a great fit for small to medium-sized businesses looking to maintain consistent social media engagement without investing hours of manual work.
2. Hootsuite
Hootsuite is a social media management platform that combines AI-driven content creation tools with scheduling features. It supports major platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, WhatsApp, and Threads beta.
AI-Powered Features
Hootsuite’s OwlyWriter AI simplifies content creation by generating captions, recommending hashtags, and reworking top-performing posts to increase engagement. Another tool, Blue Silk AI, summarizes data into actionable insights and tracks brand mentions.
“OwlyWriter AI is a phenomenal tool that really helps crank out great verbiage on the fly or whenever my team is in a pinch. I’ve seen better numbers since my team has been using OwlyWriter AI. I love it and I don’t know how I lived so long without it.” — Joel Acosta, Digital Media Manager, Concert Golf Partners
Pricing Structure
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Professional | $99 (annual) / $149 (monthly) | 1 user, 10 social accounts |
| Team | $249 (annual) / $399 (monthly) | 3 users, 20 social accounts |
| Enterprise | Custom pricing | 5+ users, 50+ social accounts |
3. Buffer
Buffer is a well-known social media management tool trusted by over 100,000 users. While it started as a simple scheduling app, it now includes AI-driven features for content planning.
AI-Powered Features
Buffer’s AI Assistant is integrated directly into its content composer. It can help users brainstorm ideas, rewrite posts, and tailor content for specific platforms.
“Buffer’s AI Assistant is a game-changer for my social media strategy. It effortlessly generates engaging content ideas and suggests trends, saving me valuable time.” — Thibault B.
Pricing Options
| Plan | Cost | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 3 social profiles, 10 scheduled posts/profile |
| Essentials | $5/channel/month (annual) | Unlimited scheduling, analytics |
| Team | $10/channel/month (annual) | Collaboration tools, approval workflows |
4. Sprout Social
Sprout Social is a powerful platform designed for enterprise-level social media management. It processes over 600 million social messages every day, using AI to enhance engagement on a large scale.
AI-Powered Features
| Feature | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Content Creation | AI Assist helps draft engaging posts |
| Customer Service | Offers automated response suggestions and analyzes sentiment |
| Social Listening | Suggests keywords and identifies trends |
| Analytics | Tracks performance metrics and provides competitor insights |
Pricing Structure
| Plan | Monthly Cost (per user) | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | $249 | Basic publishing and analytics |
| Professional | $399 | Advanced reporting and listening |
| Advanced | $499 | Custom workflows and automation |
| Enterprise | Custom | Tailored solutions and premium support |
5. Later
Since its launch in 2014, Later has established itself as a go-to platform for Instagram-focused businesses. With over 8 million users, it specializes in managing and strategizing visual content.
Visual Content Management
Later simplifies organizing and managing visual content with its intuitive Media Library and drag-and-drop tools - perfect for businesses prioritizing Instagram.
Pricing Structure
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | $25 | 1 social set, 30 posts/profile, 5 AI credits |
| Growth | $45 | 3 social sets, 150 posts/profile, 30 AI credits |
| Advanced | $80 | 6 social sets, unlimited posts, 50 AI credits |
| Agency | $200 | 15 social sets, 10 users |
6. CoSchedule
CoSchedule is an all-in-one marketing platform that combines social media scheduling with broader campaign management. Teams using CoSchedule report up to 125% more work completed and over 90% on-time delivery rates.
Pricing Options
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free Calendar | $0 | 1 user, 1 social profile |
| Social Calendar | $29 ($19 annually) | 3 users, 3 social profiles |
| Agency Calendar | $69 ($59 annually) | 3 users, 5 social profiles |
7. Zoho Social
Zoho Social is a platform designed for managing social media, offering seamless integration with other Zoho products. Its AI assistant, Zia, simplifies tasks like content creation and engagement.
Pricing Structure
| Plan Type | Monthly Cost | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | $15 | 1 brand, 1 team member |
| Professional | $40 | 1 brand, 1 member, extra brands $14/month |
| Premium | $65 | 1 brand, 3 members, extra brands $19/month |
8. Agorapulse
Agorapulse combines social media management with AI tools to simplify content creation and scheduling. Its intuitive interface and broad publishing options make it a go-to choice for managing major social platforms.
Pricing Structure
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 3 social profiles, 1 user |
| Standard | $99 | 10 social profiles, 1 user |
| Professional | $149 | 10 social profiles, advanced tools |
| Advanced | $199 | 10 social profiles, premium features |
Which Tool Should You Choose?
Looking to pick the right tool? Let’s break it down based on your needs and budget.
If you’re a solopreneur or a small business with a tight budget, Buffer is a solid choice. Starting at just $6 per month per channel, it covers the basics of publishing and analytics without unnecessary complexity.
For businesses that are growing or have dedicated marketing teams, tools like Hootsuite or Zoho Social are worth considering. Hootsuite offers advanced analytics and tools for optimizing content, while Zoho Social shines with its CRM integration and team collaboration features.
For agencies or large-scale operations, Coso.ai and Sprout Social stand out. Coso.ai’s Social Media Co-Pilot plan ($99 per month) uses AI to generate content and comes with dedicated onboarding support. Sprout Social, capable of managing 600 million daily messages, provides powerful analytics and scalability tailored for enterprise needs.
When deciding, think about these key factors:
- Your content creation demands (like AI tools or visual planning options)
- The size of your team and how you collaborate
- Budget limitations
- Integration with other platforms you use
- The level of analytics you require
Pick the tool that matches your current goals but also leaves space for future growth in your social media strategy.