Best Social Media Tools for Agencies (2026)
We compared 10 leading social media management tools for agencies. Compare scheduling, analytics, client approval, multi-platform support, and content calendars.
Social media agencies need tools for scheduling, analytics, client approval, and content planning across platforms. This guide compares the leading social media management tools across these capabilities to help you choose the right platform.
Quick Comparison
| Tool | Best For | Starting Price | Key Feature | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Hootsuite Editor's Pick | Enterprise social management | $99/month | All-in-one social command center | 4.5/5 |
2Buffer | Simple scheduling | $6/channel/month | Easy multi-platform posting | 4.6/5 |
3Sprout Social | Premium analytics & CRM | $249/month | Deep analytics & listening | 4.7/5 |
4Later | Visual planning | Free | Instagram-first visual calendar | 4.6/5 |
5SocialBee | Content categories | $29/month | Evergreen content recycling | 4.5/5 |
6Sendible | Agency workflows | $29/month | White-label client dashboards | 4.5/5 |
7Agorapulse | Mid-size agencies | $69/month | Unified inbox & reporting | 4.6/5 |
8Loomly | Brand success | $32/month | Calendar & collaboration | 4.4/5 |
9Publer | Affordable scheduling | $10/month | Bulk scheduling & analytics | 4.5/5 |
10Planable | Content collaboration | Free | Visual approval workflows | 4.5/5 |
Feature Comparison
| Tool | Scheduling | Analytics | Client Approval | Multi-Platform | Content Calendar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hootsuite | |||||
| Buffer | |||||
| Sprout Social | |||||
| Later | |||||
| SocialBee | |||||
| Sendible | |||||
| Agorapulse | |||||
| Loomly | |||||
| Publer | |||||
| Planable |
Detailed Reviews
HootsuiteVisit website →
Best for enterprise social media management
Hootsuite is one of the longest-standing social media management platforms, offering a comprehensive command center for scheduling, monitoring, and reporting across major platforms. It supports Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Pinterest, YouTube, and TikTok. The interface consolidates multiple streams and campaigns in one view.
Hootsuite includes approval workflows, team collaboration, content calendar, and analytics. Agency plans support multiple clients with role-based access. Pricing starts at $99/month. Some find the interface dense compared to newer tools like Buffer or Later, but Hootsuite remains a solid choice for agencies needing full-featured, enterprise-ready social management.
Best for agencies managing many clients or complex multi-brand social strategies. Consider Sprout Social if you need deeper analytics and listening; consider Buffer or Agorapulse for simpler workflows at lower cost.
Pros
- • Broad platform support
- • Approval workflows and team features
- • Content calendar and analytics
- • Established, reliable platform
Cons
- • Heavier interface than newer tools
- • Premium pricing
BufferVisit website →
Best for Simple scheduling
Buffer prioritizes simplicity and ease of use. Clean interface for scheduling across platforms. Good analytics and content calendar. Lacks client approval workflows—better for creators and small teams than full-service agencies. Affordable.
Sprout SocialVisit website →
Best for Premium analytics & CRM
Sprout Social offers the deepest analytics, social listening, and CRM integration. Excellent for agencies serving clients who need sophisticated reporting. Premium pricing but justifies it with data quality and presentation. Best for higher-budget clients.
LaterVisit website →
Best for Visual planning
Later is Instagram-first with a strong visual content calendar. Drag-and-drop planning, best time to post suggestions, and Linkin.bio for Instagram. Free tier available. Good for agencies focused on visual platforms. Client approval on paid plans.
SocialBeeVisit website →
Best for Content categories
SocialBee specializes in evergreen content recycling—create content once and reshare on a schedule. Content categories keep the calendar organized. Good for agencies with content libraries. Affordable; lacks deep client approval features.
SendibleVisit website →
Best for Agency workflows
Sendible is built for agencies with white-label client dashboards, approval workflows, and client reporting. Manage multiple clients from one interface. Good balance of features and cost. Solid choice for social media agencies.
AgorapulseVisit website →
Best for Mid-size agencies
Agorapulse offers unified inbox, scheduling, analytics, and client approval. Strong reporting and team collaboration. White-label options. Good mid-tier option for agencies—more features than Buffer, lower cost than Sprout.
LoomlyVisit website →
Best for Brand success
Loomly provides content calendar, collaboration, and approval workflows. Good for brand teams and agencies. Integrates with major platforms. Solid mid-range option with clear calendar view and client collaboration.
PublerVisit website →
Best for Affordable scheduling
Publer offers bulk scheduling, analytics, and multi-platform support at low cost. Good for small agencies or those with many budget clients. Less polished than Sprout or Hootsuite but capable. No client approval workflows.
PlanableVisit website →
Best for Content collaboration
Planable focuses on visual content collaboration and approval. Create and review content in a collaborative, board-style interface. Free tier available. Strong for approval workflows. Analytics are limited compared to full suites.
How We Evaluated These Tools
Our evaluation process considered multiple factors critical to social media tools for agencies:
- Scheduling Reliability: We tested post scheduling accuracy across platforms, queue management, optimal timing features, and bulk upload capabilities. Failed or delayed posts were flagged.
- Analytics Depth: We evaluated engagement metrics, audience insights, competitor benchmarking, and trend analysis. Tools with exportable, white-label reports scored higher for agency use.
- Multi-Platform Support: We verified coverage for Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, TikTok, Pinterest, and YouTube. API limitations and platform-specific restrictions were documented.
- Collaboration Features: We assessed team roles, task assignment, internal commenting, and workflow management. Agencies need clear ownership and accountability across team members.
- Content Calendar: We evaluated visual planning, drag-and-drop scheduling, campaign tagging, and cross-channel calendar views. Calendar clarity directly impacts content consistency.
- Approval Workflows: We tested client-facing approval processes, revision tracking, and notification systems. Agencies need streamlined review cycles that don't bottleneck publishing.
- Reporting Customization: We assessed report templates, branding options, automated delivery, and data granularity. Client-ready reports reduce manual work and build trust.
- Pricing Per Profile: We compared cost structures—per-channel, per-user, and flat-rate—to determine true cost at agency scale with multiple clients and social profiles.
We also considered real user reviews, case studies, and industry reputation. Our rankings prioritize solutions that offer the best combination of scheduling, analytics, agency-specific workflows, and value. Note that the "best" tool depends on your specific needs—an Instagram-heavy agency will prioritize different capabilities than one managing enterprise LinkedIn campaigns.
How to Choose Social Media Tools for Your Agency
- Scheduling: Core capability. Ensure it covers all platforms you use. Bulk scheduling and queue management matter for efficiency.
- Analytics: Engagement, reach, growth. White-label reports for clients. Sprout and Hootsuite lead; Buffer and Agorapulse are solid.
- Client Approval: Essential for agencies. Sendible, Agorapulse, Hootsuite, and Planable support approval workflows.
- Multi-Platform: Verify support for Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter/X, TikTok, Pinterest as needed. API changes affect capabilities.
- Content Calendar: Visual planning across channels and time. Later and Agorapulse excel. Ensures consistent publishing and campaign planning.
Integrate social reports with your project management for client visibility. Tools like AgencyPro let you attach reports and track client feedback within projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best social media tools for agencies?
The best social media tools for agencies depend on scale and needs. Hootsuite and Sprout Social lead for enterprise features. Buffer excels at simplicity. Sendible and Agorapulse offer strong agency workflows and white-label options. Later is ideal for Instagram-heavy agencies. SocialBee enables content recycling. Planable focuses on visual collaboration. Consider scheduling, analytics, client approval, multi-platform support, and content calendar when choosing.
How much do social media tools cost for agencies?
Costs vary: Buffer starts at $6/channel/month. Later and Planable offer free tiers. Publer is $10/month. SocialBee and Sendible start around $29-32/month. Agorapulse is $69/month. Hootsuite is $99/month. Sprout Social is $249/month for premium analytics and CRM. Agency plans with multiple clients and white-label add cost. Many agencies spend $50-300/month depending on client count and feature needs.
Do social media tools support client approval workflows?
Yes. Hootsuite, Sprout Social, Sendible, Agorapulse, Loomly, Later, and Planable support approval workflows. Clients can review and approve content before publishing. Planable is particularly strong for visual approval. Buffer and SocialBee are more creator-focused and lack built-in client approval. For agencies, approval workflows are essential—prioritize tools that support them.
What platforms do social media tools support?
Most tools support Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Pinterest, YouTube, and TikTok—with variation. Instagram has API limitations (some tools can schedule feed posts but not Stories from desktop). TikTok integration varies. Verify the specific platforms you need before committing. Enterprise tools (Hootsuite, Sprout) typically have the broadest platform coverage.
Can social media tools integrate with agency project management?
Integration varies. Most tools export reports (PDF, CSV) for client delivery. Some integrate with Slack, Trello, or Zapier. AgencyPro and similar platforms accept report uploads and links. Workflow often involves: creating content in the social tool, exporting reports to project management, and tracking client approval. Native integration with agency management platforms is limited; manual handoff is common.
What is the difference between scheduling and content calendar tools?
Scheduling tools let you queue posts for future publishing. Content calendars add a visual, calendar-style view for planning content across channels and time. Most tools (Hootsuite, Buffer, Later, Agorapulse) include both. Calendar view helps with planning themes, campaigns, and consistency. Later is particularly strong for visual calendar planning, especially for Instagram.
Do agencies need white-label social media tools?
White-label matters when clients see the tool. Sendible and Agorapulse offer white-label client dashboards—clients log into your branded interface. Hootsuite and Sprout have team/client features but may show vendor branding. For white-label reporting and dashboards, confirm before purchasing. Some agencies use white-label tools; others export reports to their client portal (e.g., AgencyPro) for a fully branded experience.
Is Sprout Social worth the premium price?
Sprout Social justifies its price ($249+/month) with deep analytics, social listening, CRM features, and excellent reporting. Best for agencies managing larger budgets and clients who need sophisticated insights. Smaller agencies may find Buffer, Sendible, or Agorapulse sufficient at lower cost. Evaluate whether you need listening, competitor analysis, and advanced sentiment—if not, a mid-tier tool may suffice.
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