Alternatives · Social Media
Zoho Social alternatives
Zoho Social compared with 5 alternatives: Hootsuite, Buffer, SocialPilot, Sendible and Agorapulse.
Zoho Social has a free plan. Paid plans start at $10 per month for 1 brand (14 channels), billed annually ($15 monthly). 1 of the 5 alternatives is free or has a free plan. 4 more offer a free trial.
5 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 17, 2026 · Where the facts come from
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zoho SocialThis tool | Free plan · from $10/mo | Yes | Web, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| Hootsuite | Free trial · from $99/mo | Trial only | Web, iOS, Android |
| Buffer | Free plan · from $5/mo | Yes | Web, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| SocialPilot | Free trial · from $25.50/mo | Trial only | Web, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| Sendible | Free trial · from $29.75/mo | Trial only | Web, Browser extension |
| Agorapulse | Free trial · from $79/mo | Trial only | Web, iOS, Android |
Price against what you get
Zoho Social starts at $10 a month and scores 3.0 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. None of the 5 alternatives on this chart both scores higher and starts lower.
Hootsuite scores higher without starting lower. Buffer starts lower without scoring higher.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
How each one differs from Zoho Social
- Free trial · from $99/mo
Hootsuite
Social media suite for publishing, inbox, listening and reports
- Hootsuite starts at $99 per user / month, billed annually. Zoho Social starts at $10 per month for 1 brand (14 channels), billed annually ($15 monthly).
- Zoho Social has a free plan. Hootsuite does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Zoho Social lists a browser extension.
Suits: Marketing and social teams that also handle customer messages on social
- Free plan · from $5/mo
Buffer
Social media scheduler priced by the channel, with a free plan
- Buffer starts at $5 per channel / month, billed annually ($6 billed monthly). Zoho Social starts at $10 per month for 1 brand (14 channels), billed annually ($15 monthly).
- Buffer also covers templates.
- Zoho Social also covers shared inbox.
Suits: Solo creators and small businesses posting to a handful of accounts
- Free trial · from $25.50/mo
SocialPilot
Social media scheduler for agencies and small teams, priced by plan
- SocialPilot starts at $25.50 per month for up to 7 accounts, billed annually ($30 billed monthly). Zoho Social starts at $10 per month for 1 brand (14 channels), billed annually ($15 monthly).
- Zoho Social has a free plan. SocialPilot does not, though it has a free trial.
- Zoho Social also covers shared inbox.
Suits: Small agencies that want client approvals and branded reports at a flat price
- Free trial · from $29.75/mo
Sendible
Social media management for agencies, with unlimited users
- Sendible starts at $29.75 per month for up to 6 profiles, billed yearly ($35 billed monthly). Zoho Social starts at $10 per month for 1 brand (14 channels), billed annually ($15 monthly).
- Zoho Social has a free plan. Sendible does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Zoho Social lists iOS and Android apps.
Suits: Agencies that want every team member and client to log in without seat fees
- Free trial · from $79/mo
Agorapulse
Social media inbox, publishing and ROI reports, priced per user
- Agorapulse starts at $79 per user / month, billed annually ($99 billed monthly). Zoho Social starts at $10 per month for 1 brand (14 channels), billed annually ($15 monthly).
- Zoho Social has a free plan. Agorapulse does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Zoho Social lists a browser extension.
Suits: Teams that spend much of their day answering comments and DMs
Limits worth knowing in Zoho Social
- A brand holds one account per network, so two Instagram accounts need two brands; Professional can add up to 5 brands at $14.50 a month each.
- The free plan only publishes straight away; scheduling, drafts and the calendar start at Standard.
- Standard and Professional include 1 team member; extra members cost $10 a month each billed yearly, on Professional and Premium only.
- The full inbox, approvals, custom reports and the Zoho CRM and Desk links need Premium.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to Zoho Social?
The alternatives to Zoho Social in this directory are Hootsuite, Buffer, SocialPilot, Sendible and Agorapulse. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Zoho Social.
Is there a free alternative to Zoho Social?
Yes. Buffer has a free plan alongside paid ones.
When were these prices checked?
Every listing on this page was checked on Oct 17, 2026, against the pages it cites. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.