Last Updated: February 2026
Quick Verdict
Viraly is the better choice if: You want a feature-rich scheduling platform at a fraction of Hootsuite’s cost. Viraly offers flat-rate pricing ($19-99/month), unlimited AI on all plans, content recycling, and robust team features—including social sets for organizing multiple brands and granular permissions. There’s no feature sacrifice for the lower price.
Hootsuite is the better choice if: You specifically need social listening (Talkwalker), employee advocacy (Amplify), FedRAMP/HIPAA compliance, or deep Salesforce integration. These enterprise features justify Hootsuite’s premium for organizations that require them.
In this Viraly versus Hootsuite comparison, we examine whether enterprise-grade social listening and compliance certifications justify the steep price difference—and where a leaner tool delivers more value for teams focused on publishing.
At a Glance
| Feature | Viraly | Hootsuite |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | Limited (3 profiles, 10 posts/month) | 30-day trial only |
| Starting Paid Price | $19/month (5 profiles) | $99/month (1 user, 10 profiles) |
| Pricing Model | Flat rate per plan | Per-user |
| Platforms Supported | 10 | 10+ (varies by feature) |
| Evergreen/Recycling | Yes (all plans) | No |
| First Comment | Yes (Influencer+) | No |
| Link in Bio | Yes (1-50 pages) | Yes (Hootbio – 1 page) |
| AI Caption Generator | Unlimited (all plans) | Yes (OwlyWriter AI) |
| Social Listening | No | Yes (Talkwalker) |
| Team Members | Business: 5, Agency: 15 | Standard: 1, Advanced: 3+ |
| Social Sets (Brand Grouping) | Yes (all plans) | Limited |
| Permission-Based Access | Yes (granular) | Advanced+ only |
| Mastodon Support | Yes | No |
| Founded | 2023 | 2008 |
Pricing Comparison
Free Options
Hootsuite discontinued their free plan in March 2023, now offering only a 30-day trial. Viraly maintains a free tier, though it’s quite limited—suitable for testing or very light personal use, not for serious scheduling needs.
| What You Get | Viraly Free | Hootsuite |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0 | 30-day trial, then $99+/month |
| Social Profiles | 3 | 10 (during trial) |
| Posts per Month | 10 | Unlimited (during trial) |
| AI Caption Generator | Yes | Yes (during trial) |
| Analytics | 2 weeks history | Full (during trial) |
| Long-term viability | Limited use only | Requires paid plan |
Paid Plan Comparison
| Plan Level | Viraly | Hootsuite |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | $19/mo (5 profiles, 200 posts) | $99/mo (1 user, 10 profiles) |
| Mid-tier | $49/mo (15 profiles, 500 posts, 5 users) | $249/mo (3 users, 20 profiles) |
| Agency | $99/mo (50 profiles, unlimited posts, 15 users) | $249+/mo (unlimited users, custom) |
| Enterprise | Custom | $16,000+/year minimum |
Real Cost at Scale
| Team Size | Viraly Agency | Hootsuite Advanced |
|---|---|---|
| 1 user | $99/month | $249/month |
| 3 users | $99/month | $249/month |
| 5 users | $99/month | ~$415/month |
| 10 users | $99/month | ~$830/month |
| 15 users | $99/month | ~$1,245/month |
Annual savings with Viraly (5-user team): $3,792/year
Add-On Pricing
Viraly (Agency plan):
- Additional profile beyond 50: $2/month
- Additional team member beyond 15: $2/month
- Example: 75 profiles = $99 + (25 × $2) = $149/month
Hootsuite:
- Additional users: ~$83/month each (Advanced)
- Social listening (full): Enterprise only
- Advanced analytics: Add-on or Enterprise
- Employee advocacy (Amplify): Enterprise only
Platform Support
| Platform | Viraly | Hootsuite |
|---|---|---|
| Instagram (Business/Creator) | Yes | Yes |
| Facebook Pages | Yes | Yes |
| Facebook Groups | No | Yes (limited) |
| TikTok | Yes (videos + Photo Mode) | Yes (videos only) |
| X/Twitter | Yes (Influencer+) | Yes |
| LinkedIn (Personal + Pages) | Yes | Yes |
| YouTube | Yes (Shorts + videos) | Yes |
| Yes | Yes | |
| Threads | Yes | Yes (limited) |
| Bluesky | Yes (full) | Yes (monitoring only) |
| Mastodon | Yes | No |
| No | Inbox only | |
| Google Business Profile | No | Via integration |
Verdict: Tie with trade-offs. Hootsuite has WhatsApp inbox and Google Business Profile. Viraly has Mastodon and full Bluesky publishing (not just monitoring).
Feature Comparison
Scheduling & Publishing
| Feature | Viraly | Hootsuite |
|---|---|---|
| Visual Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Drag-and-Drop | Yes | Yes |
| Bulk Scheduling | Yes | Yes (350 post limit) |
| Queue/Time Slots | Yes | Yes (AutoSchedule) |
| Post Templates | Yes | No |
| Content Recycling | Yes | No |
| Best Time to Post | Manual time slots | Yes (AI-suggested) |
Verdict: Viraly wins. Content recycling is a major differentiator—Hootsuite has no equivalent for evergreen content automation.
Content Types Supported
| Content Type | Viraly | Hootsuite |
|---|---|---|
| Feed Posts | Yes | Yes |
| Carousels | Yes (up to 10-20) | Yes (up to 20) |
| Reels/Shorts | Yes | Yes (no FB Reels) |
| Stories | Yes | Yes |
| X/Twitter Threads | Yes (up to 25) | No (requires plugin) |
| LinkedIn Documents | Yes | Yes |
| TikTok Photo Mode | Yes (up to 35 images) | No |
| First Comment | Yes (Influencer+) | No |
Verdict: Viraly wins. First comment automation, X/Twitter threads, and TikTok Photo Mode are missing from Hootsuite.
Evergreen Content Recycling
| Feature | Viraly | Hootsuite |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-recycle posts | Yes | No |
| Recycle intervals | 7-365 days + custom | N/A |
| Caption variations | Yes (AI-generated) | N/A |
| End date control | Yes | N/A |
Verdict: Viraly wins. Hootsuite has no content recycling feature. Every post must be manually rescheduled.
Link in Bio
| Feature | Viraly | Hootsuite |
|---|---|---|
| Bio Pages | 1-50 (by plan) | 1 (Hootbio) |
| Custom Links | 5-100 (by plan) | Unlimited |
| Products/E-commerce | Yes (10-75 items) | No |
| Email Collection | Yes (Influencer+) | No |
| Donations/Tipping | Yes (12+ platforms) | No |
| Custom Domain | Yes (Business+) | No |
| Analytics | Yes | Limited |
Verdict: Viraly wins. Viraly’s Link in Bio is far more feature-rich with e-commerce, email collection, donations, and multiple pages.
AI Features
| Feature | Viraly | Hootsuite |
|---|---|---|
| AI Caption Generator | Unlimited (all plans) | Yes (OwlyWriter AI) |
| AI Hashtag Suggestions | Yes | Yes |
| AI Content Ideas | Yes | Yes |
| AI Usage Limits | None | Not published |
| AI Reply Suggestions | No | Enterprise only |
Verdict: Tie. Both have solid AI caption generation. Viraly’s unlimited AI on free plan is notable. Hootsuite’s AI reply suggestions are enterprise-only.
Analytics
| Feature | Viraly | Hootsuite |
|---|---|---|
| Post Performance | Yes (all plans) | Yes |
| Platform Coverage | All 10 platforms | Most platforms |
| Competitor Analysis | No | Yes (5-20 competitors) |
| Custom Reports | No | Yes |
| Scheduled Reports | No | Advanced+ |
| Export Formats | CSV | PDF, PPT, CSV, XLSX |
| ROI Tracking | No | Enterprise only |
Verdict: Hootsuite wins. Competitor benchmarking, custom reports, and ROI tracking give Hootsuite the edge for analytics-heavy teams.
Analytics History by Plan
| Plan | Viraly | Hootsuite |
|---|---|---|
| Free/Entry | 2 weeks | Limited |
| Mid-tier | 6-12 months | Extended |
| Agency/Advanced | 2 years | Extended |
| Enterprise | Unlimited | Indefinite |
Team Collaboration
| Feature | Viraly | Hootsuite |
|---|---|---|
| Team Members (Entry) | — | 1 |
| Team Members (Mid) | 5 | 3+ |
| Team Members (Top) | 15 (+$2 add-ons) | Unlimited |
| Social Sets (Brand Grouping) | Yes (all plans) | Limited |
| Permission-Based Access | Yes (per social set) | Advanced+ |
| Approval Workflows | Business+ | Advanced+ |
| Custom Roles | Yes | Advanced+ |
| SSO | No | Enterprise |
Verdict: Viraly wins. Viraly Business ($49) includes 5 team members with social sets for organizing brands and granular permissions per team member. Hootsuite Advanced ($249) includes only 3 users, and permission controls require higher tiers. For agencies and multi-brand teams, Viraly’s team management is both more capable and more affordable.
Social Listening
| Feature | Viraly | Hootsuite |
|---|---|---|
| Brand Monitoring | No | Yes |
| Sentiment Analysis | No | Yes (Blue Silk AI) |
| Keyword Tracking | No | Yes |
| Search History | N/A | 7-30 days (13 months Enterprise) |
| Sources Monitored | N/A | 30+ social + 150M websites |
Verdict: Hootsuite wins. Social listening via Talkwalker is a genuine enterprise strength. Viraly doesn’t compete in this space.
Integrations
| Category | Viraly | Hootsuite |
|---|---|---|
| Email Marketing/CRM | 8 platforms (Mailchimp, Klaviyo, HubSpot, AWeber, MailerLite, Brevo, Kit, Beehiiv) | Limited |
| Tracking Pixels | GA4, Meta Pixel, TikTok Pixel, GTM | GA4, Meta Pixel |
| AI | OpenAI GPT-4 (built-in) | OwlyWriter AI |
| Stock Photos | Unsplash (built-in) | Limited |
| Link Shortening | Built-in (vrl.link) with analytics | Built-in (Ow.ly) |
| Media Library | Yes (all plans) with collections | Yes (Content Library) |
| CRM (Sales-focused) | HubSpot (via email integration) | Salesforce, HubSpot, Zendesk |
| Design | Canva (via upload) | Canva (built-in), Adobe |
| Storage | — | Dropbox, OneDrive, Box |
| Automation | Zapier, Make | Zapier, 100+ apps |
Verdict: Trade-offs. Hootsuite has deeper CRM/Salesforce integrations for enterprise sales teams. Viraly has more email marketing integrations (8 platforms), full tracking pixel support (including GTM and TikTok Pixel), and built-in Unsplash stock photos. Both have built-in link shortening and media libraries.
Compliance & Security
| Feature | Viraly | Hootsuite |
|---|---|---|
| Data Encryption | 256-bit AES at rest | Yes |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes | Yes |
| CCPA Compliant | Yes | Yes |
| Cloud Hosting | AWS | AWS |
| FedRAMP/HIPAA | No | Yes |
| SOC 2 | No | Yes |
Verdict: Hootsuite wins for regulated industries. FedRAMP and HIPAA certifications matter for healthcare and government. For standard business use, Viraly’s 256-bit AES encryption and GDPR/CCPA compliance cover typical security needs.
Where Viraly Wins
- Significant cost savings — $19-99/month flat-rate vs Hootsuite’s $99-249+/month per-user pricing. A 5-person team saves $3,700+/year.
- Feature-rich at every tier — Unlimited AI, content recycling, first comments, and robust analytics included—not stripped-down budget features
- Social sets for brand organization — Group profiles by client or brand, assign team members to specific sets with granular permissions
- Content recycling — Automatic evergreen post republishing with AI-generated caption variations
- First comment automation — Post hashtags as first comment on Instagram
- Full platform support — Mastodon, Bluesky (full publishing), TikTok Photo Mode, X/Twitter threads up to 25 posts
- Link in Bio — E-commerce, donations, email collection, custom domains on higher plans
- Team management — Permission-based access per social set, approval workflows, without per-seat pricing
Where Hootsuite Wins
- Social listening — Talkwalker integration with Blue Silk AI
- Enterprise compliance — FedRAMP, HIPAA, SOC 2 certified
- Employee advocacy — Hootsuite Amplify for internal sharing
- Analytics depth — Competitor benchmarking, ROI tracking, custom reports
- CRM integrations — Salesforce, HubSpot, Zendesk native
- More integrations — 100+ apps vs Viraly’s focused set
- Established reputation — 15+ years in market, widely known
Who Should Choose Viraly
Freelancers & Solopreneurs
Viraly Influencer ($19/month) gives you 5 profiles, 200 posts, and unlimited AI—with content recycling and first comments included. Hootsuite’s minimum is $99/month. You save $960/year while gaining features Hootsuite lacks entirely.
Small Businesses
Viraly Business ($49/month) includes 15 profiles, 5 team members, and social sets for organizing your brands. A comparable Hootsuite setup costs $249+/month with fewer team features. You save $2,400/year with a more capable team setup.
Agencies Managing Multiple Clients
Viraly Agency ($99/month) includes 50 profiles, 15 team members, unlimited posts, and granular permissions per client. Use social sets to organize each client’s profiles and control exactly which team members can access what. Hootsuite would cost $1,000+/month for similar scale, without the same organizational flexibility.
Large Teams with Multiple Brands
Social sets let you segment profiles by brand, region, or client—then assign team members with specific permissions to each set. This makes Viraly ideal for marketing teams managing multiple product lines or regional accounts, all without per-seat pricing eating into your budget.
Content Creators with Evergreen Content
If you publish quotes, tips, tutorials, or promotional content that stays relevant, Viraly’s content recycler automatically republishes it with AI-generated caption variations. Hootsuite requires manual rescheduling every time.
Users Who Want to Test First
Viraly’s free tier (3 profiles, 10 posts/month) lets you explore the full interface before committing. It’s limited for production use, but sufficient to evaluate whether Viraly fits your workflow.
Who Should Choose Hootsuite
Enterprise Teams Requiring Compliance
FedRAMP, HIPAA, SOC 2, and GDPR certifications matter for regulated industries. Hootsuite has them; Viraly doesn’t.
Teams Needing Social Listening
Monitoring brand mentions, tracking sentiment, and competitive intelligence across 150M websites requires Hootsuite’s Talkwalker integration.
Organizations with Employee Advocacy Programs
Hootsuite Amplify enables employees to share pre-approved content from their personal accounts with gamification and tracking.
Heavy Salesforce/CRM Users
Deep Salesforce integration linking social conversations to CRM records is a Hootsuite strength.
Large Teams Needing Advanced Permissions
Enterprise teams with complex approval chains, SSO requirements, and granular role-based permissions benefit from Hootsuite’s advanced controls.
FAQ
Did Hootsuite remove their free plan?
Yes. Hootsuite discontinued their free plan in March 2023, now offering only a 30-day trial. After that, the minimum is $99/month. Viraly has a permanent free tier, though it’s quite limited at 3 profiles and 10 posts/month—useful for testing but not for regular scheduling needs.
How do Viraly and Hootsuite pricing compare?
Viraly uses flat-rate pricing; Hootsuite charges per user. Viraly costs $19-99/month regardless of team size. Hootsuite starts at $99/month for 1 user and scales up—a 5-person team on Hootsuite Advanced costs ~$415/month vs Viraly’s $99.
Which tool is better for small businesses?
Viraly. Hootsuite’s $99/month minimum is steep for small businesses, especially with per-user pricing on top. Viraly’s Business plan ($49/month) includes 15 profiles, 5 team members, social sets for brand organization, and features like content recycling that Hootsuite doesn’t offer. You save $2,400+/year while getting a more capable platform for team collaboration.
Which tool is better for agencies?
Viraly for most agencies. The Agency plan ($99/month) includes 50 profiles, 15 team members, unlimited posts, and social sets for organizing clients with granular permissions—everything an agency needs to manage multiple accounts efficiently. For enterprise agencies requiring compliance certifications or social listening: Hootsuite’s FedRAMP/HIPAA certifications and Talkwalker integration may justify the premium.
Can either tool recycle evergreen content automatically?
Only Viraly. Content recycling (automatically republishing posts on a schedule with caption variations) is a core Viraly feature. Hootsuite has no content recycling—every post must be manually rescheduled.
Does either tool have a first comment feature?
Only Viraly (Influencer+ plans). First comment automation posts hashtags or additional text as the first comment on Instagram posts. Hootsuite does not support first comments on any platform.
Which tool supports more social platforms?
Similar coverage with different gaps. Hootsuite has WhatsApp inbox and Google Business Profile integration. Viraly has Mastodon and full Bluesky publishing (Hootsuite is monitoring-only for Bluesky).
Does Hootsuite support Mastodon?
No. Hootsuite does not support Mastodon scheduling or analytics. Viraly supports any Mastodon instance with full scheduling and analytics.
Does Hootsuite support TikTok Photo Mode?
No. Hootsuite only supports TikTok video scheduling. Viraly supports both TikTok videos and Photo Mode (image carousels up to 35 images).
Can Hootsuite schedule X/Twitter threads?
Not natively. Hootsuite requires a third-party plugin for Twitter thread scheduling. Viraly supports threads up to 25 posts natively.
Which tool has better AI features?
Comparable, with different strengths. Both have AI caption generators. Viraly offers unlimited AI on all plans including free. Hootsuite’s OwlyWriter AI is available on all paid plans, but AI reply suggestions require Enterprise.
Is Hootsuite worth the price?
It depends on your needs. Hootsuite’s social listening, compliance certifications, and CRM integrations provide genuine value for enterprises, regulated industries, and large teams. For smaller teams focused primarily on scheduling and publishing, a simpler tool like Viraly may cover your needs at lower cost—but you’d be trading away Hootsuite’s broader feature set.
Which tool has better analytics?
Hootsuite wins on depth. Competitor benchmarking (5-20 competitors), custom report builder, scheduled PDF delivery, and ROI tracking (Enterprise) give Hootsuite the edge. Viraly wins on accessibility—analytics included on all plans including free.
Does Viraly have social listening?
No. Viraly focuses on publishing, scheduling, and analytics. For brand monitoring, you’d need Hootsuite (Enterprise tier for full Talkwalker access) or standalone tools like Mention or Brand24.
Which tool has better team collaboration features?
Hootsuite wins on features; Viraly wins on cost. Hootsuite offers granular permissions, 3-step approval chains, SSO (Enterprise), and activity logs. But a 5-person team costs $415+/month. Viraly Business ($49/month) includes 5 team members with approval workflows—adequate for most teams at 12% of the cost.
I’m a freelancer managing 5 clients—which should I use?
Viraly. Influencer plan ($19/month) covers 5 profiles with 200 posts/month and unlimited AI. Hootsuite’s minimum is $99/month. You save $960/year with Viraly while gaining content recycling and first comment features that Hootsuite lacks.
Does either tool offer Link in Bio?
Both, but Viraly is more feature-rich. Hootsuite’s Hootbio offers 1 customizable page with unlimited links. Viraly includes 1-50 bio pages with e-commerce products, email collection forms, donation buttons, and custom domains on higher plans.
Final Verdict
For most teams, Viraly delivers more value. It’s not a stripped-down budget alternative—it’s a feature-rich platform with capabilities Hootsuite lacks (content recycling, first comments, TikTok Photo Mode, native Twitter threads), robust team management with social sets and granular permissions, and pricing that doesn’t punish you for growing your team.
Hootsuite makes sense for organizations that specifically need social listening, employee advocacy, or compliance certifications. If you don’t need those enterprise features, you’re paying a significant premium for capabilities you won’t use.
| Your Priority | Better Fit |
|---|---|
| Lower cost | Viraly |
| Content recycling/evergreen | Viraly |
| First comment automation | Viraly |
| Mastodon/Bluesky publishing | Viraly |
| TikTok Photo Mode | Viraly |
| X/Twitter threads | Viraly |
| Social listening | Hootsuite |
| Enterprise compliance | Hootsuite |
| Employee advocacy | Hootsuite |
| CRM integrations | Hootsuite |
| Extensive app ecosystem | Hootsuite |
Pricing and features verified against official documentation, February 2026.