Top 26 social media management tools—why you need them
What are the best social media management tools?
The best social media management tools help you schedule posts, track results, and engage followers across many platforms from one dashboard.
- Top picks include Hootsuite, Buffer, Sprout Social, Statusbrew, and ContentStudio.
- They come in free, freemium, and paid plans to suit any budget.
- They keep your brand active even when no one is online 24/7.
Social media management tools keep companies active on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram, even when no one handles the accounts around the clock. In simple terms, these tools help brands build awareness with little hassle. Today, nearly everyone has a social media presence, and businesses are no different. So a strong presence is almost a must in the digital age.
Top 26 social media management tools
- Hootsuite
- Buffer
- TweetDeck
- Social Pilot
- Statusbrew
- ContentCal
- HubSpot
- SEMrush
- Sprout Social
- ContentStudio
- eClincher
- Sendible
- Crowdfire
- Social Hub
- Salesforce Social Studio
- Social Flow
- Zoho Social
- Loomly
- Sprinklr Social Cloud
- Later
- Agorapulse
- Iconosquare
- Spredfast
- Friends+Me
- SocialBee
- Post Planner
What do social media management tools do?
At their core, social media management tools let you schedule posts through the day. You can plan posts days or weeks ahead, and set exact times too. As a result, your pages stay active even when you step away. Keep in mind that an active page drives more traffic and engagement.
Do companies need a social media manager?
Yes, most companies need a social media manager, whether they are a big name or a startup. This person can be an in-house hire, or an outsourced role from a trusted staffing provider like Boomering. So the choice depends on your team and budget.
Having one person focus fully on social media beats handing the job to someone with other duties. For example, social media managers often work with the creative team to make content that drives engagement. Many brands also outsource social media management to save time and cut costs.
Why do businesses need social media management tools?
Businesses must engage with their followers on social media. These tools help them build real bonds with customers through their pages. Without them, brands find it hard to reach the public. Meanwhile, many customers now judge a brand by its social presence. To learn the fundamentals first, review the basics of social media marketing.
Top 26 social media management tools that you need to try
1. Hootsuite
Pricing: Freemium (free plan, paid tiers, and enterprise pricing)
Hootsuite is a popular tool that lets users connect over 35 accounts. There is no need to switch windows, since its panels let you jump between accounts anytime.
2. Buffer
Pricing: Freemium (free plan plus paid tiers)
Buffer lets your manager see ROI and other user metrics on each platform. As a result, the team can spot which platform needs more content and care.
3. TweetDeck
Pricing: Free
TweetDeck, now known as X Pro, is built for anyone with an X (formerly Twitter) account. Managers can view timelines from many accounts at once. So they can also schedule posts ahead of time for the best reach.
4. Social Pilot
Pricing: Freemium (paid tiers and enterprise pricing, with free trial)
Social Pilot offers a clear dashboard that pulls many accounts together. So it suits managers who handle several clients. In addition, it suggests content for fields like tech, education, and health.
5. Statusbrew
Pricing: Freemium (paid tiers with custom enterprise pricing and a free trial)
Statusbrew is a complete tool for managing many social accounts. It lets you create and schedule posts, engage your audience, and track results in real time. Moreover, features like spam filters, sentiment analysis, and approval workflows fit businesses of all sizes.
6. ContentCal
Pricing: Freemium (custom enterprise and premium tiers, with free trial)
ContentCal’s entry plan suits freelance managers who handle one client at a time. For example, this first tier gives up to four connected accounts, which covers the basics.
7. HubSpot
Pricing: Paid
HubSpot is an all-in-one social media and inbound marketing tool. Most agencies use it to watch their marketing funnels, presence, and engagement. As a result, its strong dashboard keeps it a favorite.
8. SEMrush
Pricing: Freemium (paid tiers with free trial)
SEMrush is mainly an SEO tool, but it also works as a social platform manager. So it lets you post on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and more. As a result, it fits agencies that juggle many clients.
9. Sprout Social
Pricing: Freemium (paid tiers with a free trial)
From scheduling to reporting, Sprout Social does it all. Moreover, it adds customer relationship management (CRM) tools on top. As a result, many users find their campaigns work better.
10. ContentStudio
Pricing: Paid tiers with a free trial
ContentStudio is a strong pick for social media excellence. It helps businesses create, publish, and manage content with ease. For example, its AI suggests hashtags, captions, and post times based on past data. In addition, it offers collaboration, auto-posting, and competitor analysis. As a result, it helps brands sharpen their strategy and drive better results.
11. eClincher
Pricing: Freemium (paid tiers and enterprise pricing with free trial)
eClincher covers the basics of social media management. So it lets you smart-queue your posts and RSS feed. In addition, it lets you reply to messages from your social platforms.
12. Sendible
Pricing: Freemium (paid tiers and enterprise pricing with free trial)
Sendible suits agencies and freelance managers with many clients. So it lets you match each brand’s style. As a result, brands engage customers while keeping their look and feel.
13. Crowdfire
Pricing: Free
Crowdfire is a free tool that holds nothing back. For example, it lets you manage your X account, your blog, and your YouTube channel. So it fits small businesses that build an audience across platforms.
14. Social Hub
Pricing: Freemium (paid tiers and a custom enterprise plan with free trial)
Social Hub is another good pick for solo managers. So its entry plan gives a user up to five slots for different platforms.
15. Salesforce Social Studio
Pricing: Paid
Salesforce Social Studio is one of the most powerful tools on this list. Industry experts know Salesforce for its CRM. So the company built a social media platform to match.
16. Social Flow
Pricing: Paid
Social Flow is well known in publishing. Many firms use it to manage their pages and web posts. For example, its clients include The National Geographic, The New York Times, and Fast Company.
17. Zoho Social
Pricing: Paid
Like Salesforce and HubSpot, Zoho is a popular multi-platform tool. So it can track keywords and schedule content on a client’s calendar. As an add-on, you can also plug in its many extensions for extra support.
18. Loomly
Pricing: Paid
Loomly serves freelance managers and small business owners. So we can view it as a basic stepping stone toward a fuller tool.
19. Sprinklr Social Cloud
Pricing: Paid
Sprinklr Social Cloud is part of Sprinklr’s services. So it lets managers connect with clients across platforms. In addition, it supports up to 25 accounts, which suits agencies and larger firms.
20. Later
Pricing: Free
Later is a small tool for solo managers and influencers. So it lets you schedule visual posts across Instagram, Facebook, X, and Pinterest. As a result, it is a great fit for heavy Instagram users.
21. Agorapulse
Pricing: Paid
Agorapulse has the basics of scheduling plus more. For example, it offers competitor analysis. In addition, it lets you boost Facebook posts to reach a wider audience.
22. Iconosquare
Pricing: Paid
Iconosquare is a great fit for Instagram influencers and managers. So it digs deep into Instagram and other platforms. In addition, it lets you schedule and preview content, which is why users love it.
23. Spredfast
Pricing: Paid
Spredfast serves enterprises that watch their presence across platforms. With real-time data, it helps managers craft content that drives engagement.
24. Friends+Me
Pricing: Freemium (paid tiers with free trial)
Friends+Me works across many platforms and covers the basics of social media management. So it is a solid pick for small businesses.
25. SocialBee
Pricing: Freemium (paid tiers with free trial)
SocialBee covers the basics plus simple lead generation. For example, it can recycle content over time. As a result, managers reach more of their audience without extra work.
26. Post Planner
Pricing: Paid
As the name says, Post Planner lets you schedule a full calendar of content. So it also suggests posts that did well before, using past data. As a result, it is very handy for quarterly reports.
Free, freemium, and paid social media management apps: What do they mean?
Here is a simple guide to these terms. Keep in mind that prices change often, so always check the vendor for current rates.
Free
Free means you pay nothing to use the app. So there is no commitment when you try these tools. This is a great fit for:
- Self-owned businesses
- Startup companies
- Newly established brands
Freemium
Freemium blends the words “free” and “premium.” As the name suggests, these apps may or may not ask you to pay to keep using their tools. However, one drawback is that the best tools are often locked to a trial period or a limited free version until you pay. This is a great fit for:
- Businesses that plan to move to other tools
- Name brands that test different platforms
Paid
Paid apps usually run on a subscription that may be tiered. So enterprise versions are among the most powerful tools a business can get. This is a great fit for:
- Companies that handle many brands across platforms
- Freelance managers who handle different clients
Frequently asked questions about social media management tools
What are social media management tools used for?
They help you schedule posts, track results, and reply to messages from one place. As a result, your brand stays active and engaged across many platforms.
Are there free social media management tools?
Yes, several tools are free or offer a free plan. For example, Crowdfire, Later, and TweetDeck all have free options. So small brands can start without any cost.
Do small businesses need a social media management tool?
Yes, even small brands gain a lot from one. These tools save time and keep posting steady. In addition, many pair well with outsourced marketing support.
Should you outsource social media management?
It depends on your goals and budget. However, outsourcing can cut costs and free your team for core work. To compare options, see the top BPO marketing platforms.
Key takeaways
- Social media management tools let you schedule, track, and engage from one dashboard.
- They come in free, freemium, and paid plans, so there is a fit for every budget.
- Top picks include Hootsuite, Buffer, Sprout Social, Statusbrew, and ContentStudio.
- A dedicated manager, in-house or outsourced, gets the most from these tools.
Independent
