Comparisons

Emplifi vs Hootsuite 2026: Which One Should You Pick?

Matt
Matt
8 min read

TL;DR - Quick Answer

10 min read

See which tool is better for you. We compare pricing, features, and ease of use.

Quick answer: Hootsuite is more affordable ($99/month) and accessible. Emplifi is enterprise-focused (~$1,000+/month) with unlimited users included.

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Quick Comparison

FeatureEmplifiHootsuite
Starting price~$1,000/month$99/month
Best forEnterpriseSMBs to Mid-market
Transparent pricingNoYes
UsersUnlimited (typically)Limited per plan
Social listeningAdvancedIncluded
AI contentAI ComposerOwlyWriter

Pricing Side-by-Side

Emplifi Pricing

AspectDetails
ModelCustom quotes
Estimated cost$1,000-$3,000+/month
UsersUnlimited (typically)
ContractsAnnual

Hootsuite Pricing

PlanCostUsersAccounts
Professional$99/month110
Team$249/month320
EnterpriseCustomUnlimited50+

Quick Quiz
Easy

You're a 3-person marketing team with $300/month budget. Which tool fits?

💡 Tip: Think carefully before selecting your answer!


Cost Comparison by Team Size

Solo/Small Team (1-3 users)

ToolMonthly Cost
Hootsuite Professional$99
Hootsuite Team$249
Emplifi~$1,000+
WinnerHootsuite

Medium Team (5-10 users)

ToolMonthly Cost
Hootsuite EnterpriseCustom (~$500-1,000)
Emplifi~$1,500-2,000
WinnerHootsuite

Large Team (20+ users)

ToolMonthly Cost
Hootsuite EnterpriseCustom (~$1,500+)
Emplifi~$2,000+ (unlimited users)
WinnerDepends on user count

Pattern: Hootsuite wins on pure cost. Emplifi's unlimited users becomes valuable at 30+ users.


Features That Matter

Social Listening

Emplifi:

  • Advanced sentiment analysis
  • Competitive benchmarking
  • Trend identification
  • Consumer insights

Hootsuite:

  • Brand monitoring
  • Keyword tracking
  • Sentiment analysis
  • Social streams

Winner: Emplifi for depth. Hootsuite for accessibility.


AI Content

Emplifi:

  • AI Composer (GPT-3 powered)
  • Content recommendations
  • Performance predictions
  • Optimal timing

Hootsuite:

  • OwlyWriter AI
  • Caption generation
  • Hashtag suggestions
  • Post ideas

Winner: Tie. Both have solid AI capabilities.


Quick Quiz
Medium

You need advanced competitive benchmarking and consumer insights. Which tool is stronger?

💡 Tip: Think carefully before selecting your answer!


Analytics & Reporting

Emplifi:

  • Enterprise dashboards
  • Custom reports
  • Cross-platform insights
  • Predictive analytics
  • White-label options

Hootsuite:

  • Standard dashboards
  • Custom reports
  • Performance tracking
  • Competitive comparison
  • Export capabilities

Winner: Emplifi for enterprise depth.


Team Collaboration

Emplifi:

  • Unlimited users (typically)
  • Advanced permissions
  • Approval workflows
  • Content library
  • Activity tracking

Hootsuite:

  • Plan-limited users
  • Role permissions
  • Approval workflows
  • Content calendar
  • Assignment features

Winner: Emplifi for unlimited users. Hootsuite for SMB needs.


Platform Support

PlatformEmplifiHootsuite
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter/X
LinkedIn
TikTok
YouTube
Pinterest
WhatsAppService Cloud

Winner: Tie. Both cover all major platforms.


Pros and Cons

Emplifi Pros

  • ✅ Unlimited users included
  • ✅ Enterprise-grade analytics
  • ✅ Advanced AI features
  • ✅ Unified platform (social + service + commerce)

Emplifi Cons

  • ❌ No transparent pricing
  • ❌ High cost (~$1,000+/month)
  • ❌ Steep learning curve
  • ❌ Long sales process

Hootsuite Pros

  • ✅ Transparent pricing
  • ✅ Accessible for SMBs
  • ✅ 150+ integrations
  • ✅ Faster onboarding

Hootsuite Cons

  • ❌ Per-user pricing adds up
  • ❌ Less advanced analytics
  • ❌ User limits per plan
  • ❌ No free plan anymore

Quick Quiz
Medium

Your company has 40 marketing people. Which pricing model benefits you more?

💡 Tip: Think carefully before selecting your answer!


Who Should Use Which?

Pick Emplifi if you:

  • Have 30+ team members
  • Need unlimited users
  • Want enterprise analytics
  • Can budget $1,000+/month
  • Have time for lengthy onboarding

Pick Hootsuite if you:

  • Have 1-20 team members
  • Want transparent pricing
  • Need quick setup
  • Budget $99-500/month
  • Value integrations

Neither Has Affordable AI Content

Both tools have AI, but neither matches the value of dedicated AI-first tools.

If you need AI content at lower cost:

ToolAI FeaturesPrice
SocialRailsUnlimited AI content + 350 video templates$29-99/month
HootsuiteOwlyWriter AI$99+/month
EmplifiAI Composer~$1,000+/month

Best Alternative: SocialRails

If neither Emplifi nor Hootsuite fits perfectly:

FeatureEmplifiHootsuiteSocialRails
Starting price~$1,000/mo$99/mo$29/mo
AI contentAI ComposerOwlyWriterUnlimited
Video templatesLimitedNone350+
Setup timeWeeksHours15 minutes
Learning curveSteepModerateEasy
Try SocialRails free →

Quick Answers

Is Emplifi or Hootsuite cheaper? Hootsuite is cheaper for teams under 30 users. Emplifi's unlimited users can be cheaper for very large teams.

Which has better analytics? Emplifi for enterprise depth. Hootsuite for SMB needs.

Which is easier to use? Hootsuite. Faster onboarding and simpler interface.

Does either have a free plan? Neither. Hootsuite removed its free plan. Emplifi never had one.

Which has better social listening? Emplifi for advanced consumer insights. Hootsuite for brand monitoring basics.


Summary

Emplifi: Best for large enterprise (30+ users) needing unlimited seats and advanced analytics.

Hootsuite: Best for SMBs to mid-market wanting transparent pricing and faster setup.

Neither: Offers affordable AI-first content generation.

Best alternative: SocialRails at $29-99/month with unlimited AI content.

Create content, post everywhere

Create posts, images, and carousels with AI. Schedule to 9 platforms in seconds.

Start your free trial

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