SOCi vs Hootsuite 2025: Which Enterprise Platform Wins?
TL;DR - Quick Answer
11 min readHootsuite 2025 offers better value with more features at a lower price. SOCi excels in simplicity but costs more for similar functionality.
Quick answer: SOCi is built for multi-location businesses with AI reviews and local SEO. Hootsuite offers broader platform coverage including TikTok and YouTube.
Choose SOCi for locations, Hootsuite for platforms.
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Pricing Side-by-Side
SOCi Pricing
Custom quotes required. No self-service.
Hootsuite Pricing
🤔 Quick Knowledge Check
Your franchise has 100 locations and needs both social scheduling AND review management. Which platform?
Core Difference: Specialization
SOCi: Multi-Location Specialist
Built specifically for:
- Franchises with 50+ locations
- Local pages management
- AI-powered review responses
- Location-level analytics
- Local SEO optimization
Approach: Deep multi-location features, limited platform coverage.
Hootsuite: General-Purpose Leader
Built for:
- Any business size
- Broad platform coverage
- Social listening
- Team collaboration
- Content management
Approach: Wide platform support, add-on multi-location features.
Features That Matter
Platform Support
Winner: Hootsuite. TikTok and YouTube are significant gaps for SOCi.
Review Management
SOCi:
- Genius Reviews (AI-powered)
- Auto-response generation
- Multi-platform (Google, Yelp, Facebook)
- Sentiment analysis
- 450% increase in response rates
Hootsuite:
- Basic review monitoring
- Manual responses
- Limited integration
- No AI generation
Winner: SOCi. AI review management is industry-leading.
🤔 Quick Knowledge Check
Your business receives 500 reviews per month across locations. You want AI to help respond consistently. Which tool?
Local SEO
SOCi:
- Genius Search (AI-powered)
- Listing optimization
- Citation management
- NAP consistency
- Local ranking factors
Hootsuite:
- No native local SEO
- Requires third-party tools
- No listing management
- No citation tracking
Winner: SOCi. Local SEO is included, not extra.
AI Features
SOCi Genius Suite:
- Genius Search (local SEO)
- Genius Social (content)
- Genius Reviews (responses)
- Genius Studio (Q1 2025)
Hootsuite AI:
- OwlyWriter AI (content)
- Basic suggestions
- No review AI
- No local SEO AI
Winner: SOCi for breadth. Hootsuite's AI is content-only.
Social Listening
SOCi:
- Limited listening
- Location-focused
- Review monitoring
- Basic sentiment
Hootsuite:
- Advanced listening
- Brand monitoring
- Competitive tracking
- Trend analysis
- Crisis detection
Winner: Hootsuite. Social listening is a core strength.
🤔 Quick Knowledge Check
You need to monitor what people say about your brand across social media, not just reviews. Which platform?
Cost Comparison: Enterprise Scenarios
50 Locations, 5 Users
SOCi costs more but includes review management and local SEO that Hootsuite lacks.
200 Locations, 10 Users
SOCi premium justified if you need AI reviews and local SEO.
Pros and Cons
SOCi Pros
- Multi-location excellence
- AI-powered review responses
- Local SEO included
- Location-level analytics
- Designed for franchises
SOCi Cons
- No TikTok or YouTube
- High price point
- No self-service option
- Video content limitations
- Overkill for small businesses
Hootsuite Pros
- Full platform coverage
- Advanced social listening
- OwlyWriter AI
- Flexible pricing tiers
- Free trial available
Hootsuite Cons
- No AI review management
- No local SEO features
- Multi-location is add-on
- Can get expensive at scale
- Complex for simple needs
Who Should Use Which?
Pick SOCi if you:
- Manage 50+ physical locations
- Need AI-powered review responses
- Require local SEO management
- Run a franchise operation
- Don't prioritize TikTok/YouTube
Pick Hootsuite if you:
- Need TikTok and YouTube support
- Want advanced social listening
- Have fewer than 50 locations
- Prefer flexible pricing
- Need a trial before buying
🤔 Quick Knowledge Check
Final decision: 150-location restaurant chain prioritizing Google reviews and local search visibility. TikTok is not a priority.
Best Alternative for Small Business
If neither SOCi nor Hootsuite fits your budget:
Try SocialRails free →Quick Answers
Is SOCi or Hootsuite cheaper? Hootsuite starts at $99/month. SOCi averages $23K+/year. Hootsuite is cheaper for small businesses.
Which has better AI? SOCi for reviews and local SEO. Hootsuite for content generation.
Which supports TikTok? Only Hootsuite. SOCi doesn't support TikTok or YouTube.
Which is better for franchises? SOCi. Built specifically for multi-location businesses.
Can either replace the other? Partially. SOCi lacks platforms Hootsuite has; Hootsuite lacks SOCi's review AI and local SEO.
Summary
SOCi: Best for multi-location businesses (50+) needing AI reviews and local SEO.
Hootsuite: Best for broader platform coverage and social listening.
Choose SOCi for: Franchises, review management, local search.
Choose Hootsuite for: TikTok/YouTube, social listening, flexible pricing.
Best SMB alternative: SocialRails at $29-99/month with unlimited AI content.
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