Zestly vs Hootsuite: Which is Right for You?
Hootsuite has been around since 2008 and is one of the most recognised names in social media management. But recognition doesn't always mean value. Zestly supports 31 platforms to Hootsuite's 9 — and starts at $29/month instead of $99. This comparison looks honestly at both tools so you can decide what's right for your business.
Quick Verdict
Hootsuite is a powerful enterprise tool — but you'll pay enterprise prices for it. Their cheapest plan starts at $99/month for features that Zestly includes from $29/month. Zestly also supports 21 more platforms than Hootsuite, including Instagram Personal, Discord, Telegram, Bluesky, Mastodon, and more. If you're an Australian SMB, agency, or freelancer, Zestly gives you more platforms, built-in AI caption writing, and a modern interface at roughly 30% of Hootsuite's entry cost.
Platform support
Zestly connects to 31 platforms. Hootsuite supports 9.
31
Zestly platforms
9
Hootsuite platforms
| Platform | Zestly | Hootsuite |
|---|---|---|
| Instagram Business | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instagram Personal | ✓ | ✗ |
| ✓ | ✓ | |
| X (Twitter) | ✓ | ✓ |
| TikTok | ✓ | ✓ |
| LinkedIn Personal | ✓ | ✓ |
| LinkedIn Page | ✓ | ✓ |
| ✓ | ✓ | |
| YouTube | ✓ | ✓ |
| Threads | ✓ | ✓ |
| ✓ | ✓ | |
| Google My Business | ✓ | ✗ |
| Bluesky | ✓ | ✗ |
| Mastodon | ✓ | ✗ |
| Discord | ✓ | ✗ |
| Slack | ✓ | ✗ |
| Telegram | ✓ | ✗ |
| WordPress | ✓ | ✗ |
| Nostr | ✓ | ✗ |
| Farcaster | ✓ | ✗ |
Zestly also supports Kick, Twitch, Lemmy, VK, Dev.to, Hashnode, Medium, ListMonk, Skool, Whop, MeWe, and more — 31 platforms in total.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Zestly Best Value | Hootsuite |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $29/mo | $99/mo |
| Social accounts (entry) | 10 | 10 |
| Team members (entry) | 3 (Starter) / Unlimited (Pro) | 1 (Starter) |
| AI caption writing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Claude/LLM integration | ✓ | ✗ |
| Australian support | ✓ | ✗ |
| Free trial | 7-day free trial (no card) | 30-day trial (card required) |
| Content calendar | ✓ | ✓ |
| Analytics | Basic + Advanced (Pro) | Basic (advanced on higher plans) |
🏆 Where Hootsuite wins
Longer track record and enterprise integrations
Hootsuite has 15+ years of integrations with enterprise platforms like Salesforce, Adobe, and Microsoft Teams.
More mature social listening
Hootsuite's social listening tools are more advanced, especially for brand monitoring at scale.
Larger feature set for enterprise use cases
If you need paid social ad management, advanced employee advocacy tools, or complex governance rules, Hootsuite has more boxes ticked.
⚡ Where Zestly wins
31 platforms vs Hootsuite's 9
Zestly supports 21 more platforms than Hootsuite. Instagram Personal, Discord, Telegram, Bluesky, Mastodon, Google My Business, WordPress, Nostr, and more — all missing from Hootsuite.
Starting price is 70% cheaper
Hootsuite's cheapest plan is $99/month. Zestly starts at $29/month — with more platforms and social accounts included.
Built-in AI caption writing
Zestly uses Claude AI to write platform-perfect captions. Hootsuite has no comparable built-in AI writing tool.
No credit card required to trial
Zestly's 7-day trial requires no card. Hootsuite requires payment details upfront for their 30-day trial.
Genuinely Australian support
Our support team is based in Adelaide and works Australian hours. No overnight wait to get an answer.
Who should choose which?
Choose Hootsuite if...
You're a large enterprise with a dedicated social media team, need deep integrations with Salesforce or Adobe, require advanced social listening at scale, or have a budget over $500/month for social tools.
Choose Zestly if...
You're an Australian SMB, agency, or freelancer who wants professional social media scheduling across 31 platforms without enterprise-level pricing. You want AI caption writing built in, a clean modern interface, and local support.
“Switched from Hootsuite and saved $200/month. The AI captions alone are worth it. My clients cannot tell the difference between the AI drafts and what I would write myself.”
Sarah M.
Social Media Manager · Melbourne
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