Hootsuite vs Metricool · Tool comparison · Social Media Management
Hootsuite vs. Metricool: pricing, teams and data location compared on facts
Hootsuite
9.0/ 10 Social media platform ("Hootsuite Social OS") with modules for planning and publishing (Perch), inbox and customer service (Nest), social listening (Lumen), AI assistant (Wisdom) and employee advocacy (Parliament).
- Price
- from € 99/month
- Data location
- USA
- Headquarters
- Vancouver, Canada
- Try it
- Free trial
Advantage in 3 of 8 criteria
Metricool
8.9/ 10 Social media management tool for planning, publishing, analytics, inbox, ad campaigns and link in bio, used by over 4 million professionals according to the vendor.
- Price
- Free plan, paid from € 16/month
- Data location
- EU
- Headquarters
- Madrid, Spain
- Try it
- Free plan
Advantage in 1 of 8 criteria
The Hootsuite vs Metricool comparison pits a platform with listening and per-user billing against an affordable management tool from Madrid that charges by brand. Take Hootsuite if you want to assign messages within the team, monitor your brand online or use single sign-on. Take Metricool if price and data location matter more to you: according to its pricing page there is a permanent free plan, Starter costs 16 EUR a month for up to 5 brands with annual billing, and according to its privacy policy the data sits on servers in the EU (as of October 2026).
Criterion by criterion
| Criterion | Weight | Hootsuite | Metricool |
|---|---|---|---|
| Networks & publishing | 15 % | 10.0 Advantage | 9.6 |
| Team & approvals | 10 % | 9.4 Advantage | 8.8 |
| Community & inbox | 15 % | 10.0 Advantage | 6.3 |
| Analytics & reporting | 15 % | 10.0 | 10.0 |
| Data protection & GDPR | 15 % | 5.0 | 8.8 Advantage |
| German language | 5 % | 6.7 | 6.7 |
| Price transparency | 5 % | 10.0 | 10.0 |
| AI connectivity & integrations | 20 % | 10.0 | 10.0 |
Where Hootsuite and Metricool differ
| Checkpoint | Hootsuite | Metricool |
|---|---|---|
| X (Twitter)Networks & publishing | + yes | ½ add-on only |
| Single sign-on (SSO)Team & approvals | ½ enterprise/custom only | ? not documented |
| Assignment to team membersCommunity & inbox | + yes | − no |
| Sentiment detectionCommunity & inbox | + yes | ? not documented |
| Data stored in the EU (mixed = half points)Data protection & GDPR | − no | + yes |
| Provider based in the EU/EEA (country with EU adequacy decision = half points)Data protection & GDPR | ½ partly | + yes |
| Security certification (e.g. ISO 27001, SOC 2)Data protection & GDPR | + yes | ? not documented |
Prices and data protection
| Item | Hootsuite | Metricool |
|---|---|---|
| Price | from € 99/month | Free plan, paid from € 16/month |
| Free trial | yes | not documented |
| Free plan | no | yes |
| German interface | yes | yes |
| Data location | USA | EU |
| DPA | yes | yes |
| Headquarters | Vancouver, Canada | Madrid, Spain |
Facts as of 13 October 2026. Details and sources in the reviews of Hootsuite and Metricool.
How do Hootsuite and Metricool differ?
Hootsuite and Metricool differ above all in pricing model, data location, listening and how inbox work is divided. According to the vendors, they share a content calendar, AI support for copy, bulk scheduling by CSV, competitor analysis and PDF reports. According to their help centres, both interfaces are available in German.
- Pricing model: according to its plans page, Hootsuite charges per user; according to its pricing page, Metricool charges by number of brands, with unlimited team members from Advanced.
- Data location: according to its Trust Center, Hootsuite stores data in the USA; according to its privacy policy, Metricool stores it in the EU.
- Listening: Hootsuite has basic listening in all plans. For Metricool no general social listening is documented, only a paid Hashtag Tracker.
- Advertising: according to its help centre, Metricool creates campaigns for Meta Ads and Google Ads. According to its product page, Hootsuite names Facebook campaigns and boosts for Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
- Inbox: according to its plans page, Hootsuite assigns messages to team members from Advanced; according to its help centre, the Metricool inbox does not.
- X (Twitter): according to its pricing page, X costs 10 USD per month and account as an add-on at Metricool.
More in the Hootsuite fact check and the Metricool fact check.
How much do Hootsuite and Metricool cost in comparison?
According to the pricing pages, Metricool is considerably cheaper, but the prices can only be compared with caution: according to its German pricing page, Hootsuite quotes euros per user, Metricool euros per package with a set number of brands. All figures apply with annual billing, excluding taxes, as of October 2026:
| Tier | Hootsuite (per user and month) | Metricool (per month) |
|---|---|---|
| Free | no free plan | Free: 1 brand, 20 scheduled posts per month |
| Entry | Standard 99 EUR | Starter up to 5 brands 16 EUR, up to 10 brands 29 EUR |
| Middle | Professional 199 EUR | no equivalent plan |
| Approvals from | Advanced 399 EUR | Advanced up to 15 brands 43 EUR, up to 50 brands 130 EUR |
| Large | Enterprise on request | Custom on request |
With monthly billing, according to its pricing page, Metricool Starter for up to 5 brands costs 20 EUR, Advanced for up to 15 brands 54 EUR. Hootsuite does not show monthly prices. For a team of 3 people you pay the user price three times at Hootsuite; at Metricool the price does not change from Advanced.
Extra costs arise at Metricool for X, plus Advanced Analytics from 10 EUR a month and the Hashtag Tracker at 25 USD per day. According to its pricing page, the free plan includes neither LinkedIn nor X. Metricool’s pricing page names no trial for paid plans; Hootsuite gives 14 days without a credit card.
Which tool is better for teams and approvals?
According to its pricing page, Metricool makes approvals affordable much earlier; for dividing inbox work only Hootsuite documents assignment. Metricool has an approval system and role management from Advanced, so from 43 EUR a month for up to 15 brands, with unlimited team members. At Hootsuite, according to its plans page, approval workflows start with Advanced at 399 EUR per user.
In the inbox, according to its plans page, Hootsuite assigns messages to team members from Advanced and routes them by skill. According to its help centre, Metricool offers no assignment, only notes. The Metricool inbox answers direct messages for Facebook, Instagram and X, but not LinkedIn DMs.
For agencies, Metricool’s tiers up to 50 brands in the Advanced plan and white label in the Custom plan count in its favour. Hootsuite allows unlimited accounts from Professional. According to its pricing page, Metricool sends reports automatically every month; Hootsuite schedules reports from Professional. From Advanced, Metricool adds report templates and a connector for Looker Studio. Hootsuite has single sign-on in the Enterprise plan; at Metricool SSO is not documented.
Hootsuite or Metricool: which can do social listening?
Hootsuite or Metricool: according to the sources, general social listening is documented only for Hootsuite. According to its product page, Hootsuite includes basic listening in all plans. According to its plans page, extended listening with Lumen on Talkwalker technology, alerts and review monitoring is part of the Enterprise plan; Hootsuite names print, TV and radio in its business intelligence offer. Hootsuite gives different figures for how far back listening looks: 13 or more than 24 months.
According to its product page, Metricool has a paid Hashtag Tracker that follows hashtags on X and Instagram in real time and shows the most active and influential users in a conversation, at 25 USD per day. Sentiment analysis, alerts and sources such as news sites are not documented for Metricool. If you need listening and use Metricool, add a second tool from the social media monitoring tools. We assign Metricool only to the management pillar, so this duel follows the management criteria of the methodology.
What about data protection and GDPR?
The two tools differ most clearly on data location; we give no legal assessment. According to section 6 of its privacy policy, Metricool stores all data on servers in the EU and makes no international transfers; Metricool does not name its hosting provider. According to its Trust Center, Hootsuite uses AWS data centres in the USA, third parties may process data worldwide, and the Data Processing Addendum secures transfers through standard contractual clauses.
Both have a data processing agreement: according to its help centre, Metricool issues one under Art. 28 GDPR on request, and Hootsuite provides a pre-signed version via a web form. Hootsuite is better documented on certificates, with SOC 2 Type II and ISO/IEC 27001, 27701 and 27017 according to its security practices; Metricool names no certification. According to its legal notice, Metricool is headquartered in Madrid, Spain, Hootsuite in Vancouver, Canada. According to its About page, Metricool has belonged to team.blue since 2024. Whether the processing suits your use, clarify with your data protection team.
Hootsuite vs Metricool: who is each tool for?
Metricool suits freelancers, small teams and agencies that want to schedule, analyse and advertise many brands at low cost and value EU servers. With the free plan you can start at no cost, and approvals and roles come from Advanced for the whole team. According to its help centre, you set up campaigns for Meta Ads and Google Ads directly in Metricool. Plan for X costing extra and message assignment missing, though.
Hootsuite suits larger teams that need an inbox with assignment and routing, social listening and security certificates, for example in corporations that require SSO. According to its plans page, employee advocacy with Parliament is part of the Enterprise plan. In return you pay per user and accept the USA as data location.
If neither fits, the Hootsuite alternatives and the Metricool alternatives help, sorted by need. The social media management tools overview shows all management tools.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Hootsuite and Metricool?
Hootsuite charges per user, stores data in the USA and has basic listening in all plans; Metricool charges by brand and, per its privacy policy, stores data in the EU. Hootsuite assigns messages to team members from Advanced; according to its help centre, Metricool's inbox does not. Metricool has a permanent free plan and creates Meta Ads and Google Ads campaigns. Both interfaces are available in German.
Hootsuite or Metricool: which tool is cheaper?
Metricool is cheaper: Starter costs 16 EUR a month for up to 5 brands, Hootsuite Standard 99 EUR per user and month, per the pricing pages, both annual, excluding taxes (as of October 2026). Approvals cost from 43 EUR for up to 15 brands at Metricool, 399 EUR per user at Hootsuite. X costs extra at Metricool; from Advanced you do not pay per person.
Is Hootsuite or Metricool available for free?
According to its pricing page, Metricool has a permanent free plan with 1 brand, 20 scheduled posts per month, 5 competitors and 30 days of analytics, without LinkedIn and X. Hootsuite has no free plan, only a 14-day trial without a credit card, allowing 10 to 20 posts per day with bulk scheduling locked. Metricool's pricing page names no trial for paid plans.
Where do Hootsuite and Metricool store data?
According to its privacy policy, Metricool stores all data on servers in the EU, without international transfers, and names no data centre. According to its Trust Center, Hootsuite uses AWS data centres in the USA and secures transfers through standard contractual clauses. Both provide a data processing agreement. Metricool is based in Madrid per its legal notice, Hootsuite in Vancouver. Whether that meets your requirements, ask your data protection team.
From which plan do Hootsuite and Metricool offer approvals?
With both tools approvals start with the Advanced plan, but the prices are far apart. According to its pricing page, Metricool Advanced costs 43 EUR a month for up to 15 brands, with role management and unlimited team members. According to its German pricing page, Hootsuite Advanced costs 399 EUR per user and month. Both prices apply with annual billing, excluding taxes, as of October 2026.
Which tool is better for agencies?
Metricool fits agencies with many client brands and a small budget, Hootsuite rather agencies that divide inbox work and need listening. According to its pricing page, Metricool scales Advanced up to 50 brands at 130 EUR a month and offers white label in the Custom plan. Hootsuite allows unlimited accounts from Professional and assigns messages from Advanced. Prices annual, excluding taxes, as of October 2026.
Can you assign messages in Metricool as in Hootsuite?
No, according to its help centre the Metricool inbox offers no assignment of messages to team members, only notes. Metricool supports direct messages for Facebook, Instagram and X. According to its plans page, Hootsuite assigns messages from Advanced and routes them by skill. If your team splits many comments and direct messages, check this difference before you decide.
Are Hootsuite and Metricool available in German?
Yes, according to their help centres both tools can be switched to German. In Hootsuite you choose the display language in your profile, in Metricool in the account settings. German-language support by chat or phone is not documented in the sources for either vendor. According to its legal notice, Metricool is based in Madrid, Hootsuite in Vancouver, Canada, so both headquarters lie outside the German-speaking region.
Does Metricool have social listening like Hootsuite?
General social listening is not documented for Metricool; according to its product page, Hootsuite has basic listening in all plans. According to its product page, Metricool sells a Hashtag Tracker for X and Instagram that costs 25 USD per day. In the Enterprise plan Hootsuite adds Lumen with alerts and review monitoring. For listening alongside Metricool, you find candidates in the social media monitoring tools.
Does X cost extra at Metricool?
Yes, according to its pricing page, X (Twitter) at Metricool is usable only via a paid add-on at 10 USD per month and account; the free plan lacks X entirely. The add-on is charged per X account, so three times for three accounts. According to its integration page, Hootsuite lists X among its networks; a surcharge for it is not documented in the sources.
Can I manage ads with Hootsuite or Metricool?
Yes, both tools have advertising features, Metricool for Meta Ads and Google Ads, Hootsuite for Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. According to its help centre, Metricool creates Meta Ads and Google Ads campaigns directly in the tool. According to its product page, Hootsuite names Facebook campaigns and boosts for posts on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. If Google Ads is part of your routine, that is documented for Metricool, not for Hootsuite.
How many competitors do Hootsuite and Metricool analyse?
According to its plans page, Hootsuite tracks 5 competitors in the Standard plan and 20 in Professional; Metricool tracks 5 to 100 competitors depending on the plan. According to its pricing page, the Metricool free plan includes 5 competitors. Hootsuite has no free plan. If you want to keep an eye on many competitor profiles, compare both plans' limits with your list beforehand.
What alternatives are there to Hootsuite and Metricool?
Which alternative fits depends on what you are missing: listening, an inbox with assignment, a German vendor or a different pricing model. A selection by need is in the Hootsuite alternatives and the Metricool alternatives. The social media management tools overview shows all management tools with documented facts.
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