[Last updated: April 29, 2016]
With so many social platforms and tools to manage them, the crew at Authority found it necessary to find the best. After our long hours of searching, we’ve come up with our top 10. The number one this year goes to the most effective and versatile option on the market, buffer.
Best Overall: buffer
Overview: One of the best solutions to manage social profiles and scheduling across the board. Their name says it all, they provide a buffer from the onslaught of posting to multiple platforms. Buffer is used in small (0-50 employees), medium (51-1,000 employees) and enterprise companies (1,000+ employees).
Summary: Setting up buffer is easy, good-looking, and allows you to integrate all of the top social platforms under a single account. These qualities push it all the way to the top of our list. Five plans to choose from (from free to $399/mo) means almost any business from solo acts to large enterprises will see their needs met. Figuring out how to link up your accounts and send your first post is made incredibly easy. Depending on your plan, you’ll have the option to set up RSS feeds which makes curating content for your profiles quick and easy. Staffers can easily collaborate on the team plans and permission options mean that the right people have only what they need to get the job done. The functionality and features are excellent with a sleek interface and higher-level functions like adding audio and video to your social accounts. Buffer is worth a look no matter where you are in your business.
Read our full buffer review here.
Best for Enterprise: HootSuite
Overview: A perfect option for companies who rely on social for business, or have multiple products/personas to manage. HootSuite is used in small (0-50 employees) and enterprise companies (1,000+ employees).
Summary: Aside from buffer, HootSuite is one of the most popular choices for individuals who want to simplify their social media. However, the group that may get the most use out of this service are large businesses. A special feature is available that allows you to have multiple accounts on the same platform (e.g. 3 Instagram’s for your products), unlike most other managing tools. In addition, an extremely large app market can help you pick and choose the tools that are most valuable for your marketing needs. Small businesses should give them a good once over as well, their smallest plan is only $9.99/mo and packs a ton of value. Setting up tabs and streams will allow you to see all of your accounts across all platforms from one easy to find place. Cost can be an issue, especially if you use several third party apps that usually charge an additional monthly fee.
Read our full HootSuite review here.
Number 3: Viralheat
Overview: This tool is not just to manage your social presence, but can be used to monitor and track what’s being said about your brand. Viralheat is used in medium (51-1,000 employees) and primarily in enterprise companies (1,000+ employees).
Summary: One of the biggest problems with bigger businesses is reputation management, and Viralheat helps you keep track of what’s being said across the web. The power that comes with this tool can help you maintain a great image and can even identify leads and pull them (in real time) right from their social feed. Even if you have a hundred products and 1000+ employees, you can deliver the communication and service of a mom and pop. These features are available in real time like you have a full-time person refreshing all of your social feeds. The data can then be exported to evaluate and implement better social marketing campaigns. If you want your team to track your reputation, ROI, and engagement as it happens; Viralheat is your best option. If you’re a small business owner, looking for an easy way to manage your social accounts, there are better options available.
Read our full Viralheat review here.
Number 4: Nimble
Overview: Great for stats and tracking, nimble allows you to monitor more than the average managing tool and have some powerful integrations (including email services). Nimble is used in small (0-50 employees), and medium companies (51-1,000 employees).
Summary: Nimble helps businesses communicate flawlessly with their audience. Social media is part of many business funnels and with this tool, you can seamlessly integrate your social information along with email into one customer relationship managing system. Once you finish the easy setup process, you can sync contact info, calendars, and social profiles up into one intuitive dashboard. A great tool for bootstrapped entrepreneurs and small/medium businesses where one person wears a few hats. All of the data can be used in more than one way and interactions with your fans and followers are flawless. If you already have a CRM or are part of a large organization it’s probably not for you. Pulling leads straight from social to your list is powerful and if you need that in your business, Nimble is worth the price.
Read our full nimble review here.
Number 5: Agorapulse
Overview: Useable across multiple social platforms, but focused on Facebook. If you’re one of the many businesses who primarily use FB, but have a few other profiles, this service may be perfect. Agorapulse is used in small (0-50 employees), medium (51-1,000 employees) and enterprise companies (1,000+ employees).
Summary: Anyone using social to drive engagement or heavily communicate with your audience needs to take a look at Agorapulse. All of the comments, shares, likes, and messages can pile up and make the best social management tools seem overwhelming. With a simple dashboard, you’ll be able to communicate quickly and handle all interactions. This tool takes it a step further by making it easy to find user-generated content. Scheduling posts is easy and can be done from inside the app. Agorapulse is set up to be used by a single person, or an entire team of social managers. It’s great for Facebook, but not bad for the other platforms it offers. If you’re looking for an inexpensive way to manage your accounts, there are other options. Enterprises will appreciate the team features that are built in and the ability to target specific countries with their FB posts (great for international business).
Read our full Agorapulse review here.
Number 6: TweetDeck
Overview: Twitter is a great tool for influencers and certain business models. If it’s your main social platform, TweetDeck makes it that much more powerful. TweetDeck is used in small (0-50 employees), medium (51-1,000 employees) and enterprise companies (1,000+ employees).
Summary: Businesses who have multiple twitter accounts that belong to “executives” that don’t have time to upkeep their profiles will enjoy TweetDeck. Multiple accounts in the same place can be managed by one savvy person in a few minutes a day. All of the data, lists, and groups for everyone in a lightning-fast, easy to use dashboard. It’s useful for even a couple of accounts, and an argument can be made for even a single profile. Signup is immediate and the UX is honestly a bit better than Twitter itself. If Twitter isn’t a focus platform, you won’t find much need. Larger businesses who want to consolidate your message across the board will enjoy how easy it can be. Small/mid-sized ventures shouldn’t pass it by, you can find leads, curate useful content in a second, and view multiple timelines as they happen.
Read our full TweetDeck review here.
Number 7: Mavsocial
Overview: Whatever Mavsocial does is done well, but marketers looking for Pinterest and higher-level features may need something different. Mavsocial is used in small (0-50 employees), and medium companies (51-1,000 employees).
Summary: Make sure to take a detailed look at Mavsocial, especially if you have a limited budget. There are only two plans and one is free. As far as features, you won’t be disappointed. After integrating your social accounts, it’s easy to create and schedule posts (including video). 5 RSS feeds on the free plan can be used to help you curate the best info for your audience. Scheduling Instagram posts will be available “soon”, and there are paid add-ons to make the free account even more valuable. The downside is limited, but a potential deal-breaker is not being able to upload posts in bulk. If you have a bunch of content created, it may be time-consuming to get it into the schedule. If you don’t have the budget, Mavsocial could be the best choice for a free plan.
Read our full Mavsocial review here.
Number 8: Sendible
Overview: Powerful management tools and tracking software best suited and handled by a social media team. Companies looking to take their social game to the next level will want to take notice. Sendible is used in medium (51-1,000 employees) and enterprise companies (1,000+ employees).
Summary: One of the higher priced options on the market, Sendible’s plans (from $59 to $499/mo) aren’t the most bootstrap friendly. The features are there and the UI is incredibly easy to wrap your head around. An SMS system allows you to stay in contact with customers at the mobile level, which is handy and not something you see with other tools. Data can be turned into easy-to-read and attractive charts/graphs to send to clients, a great benefit if you’re a freelance social manager with multiple accounts. Be conscious about the price, a lot of the add-ons come with an additional fee. For the right manager or team Sendible can be a great option, but smaller companies will need something different.
Read our full Sendible review here.
Number 9: Sprout Social
Overview: A great choice if your team is growing and you need a social management option that is easy for multiple people to utilize. Sprout Social is used in medium (51-1,000 employees) and enterprise companies (1000+ employees).
Summary: Sprout has a growing advantage that can be very useful if your business handles support issues coming from social media. This tool allows you to connect your support desk (e.g. ZenDesk) straight to the popular platforms and address issues before they turn into bad press. All of your profiles and interactions can be easily monitored from one of the best-looking interfaces in the industry. Scheduling posts is easier than most of the competitors and allows you to utilize insights about when your audience wants content. The “tasks” feature sets Sprout Social in the mid to large business category and makes it easy to delegate lead capture and other socially relevant issues to members of your team.
Read our full sprout social review here.
Number 10: Klear
Overview: An excellent way to find and reach out to influencers, and a super simple way to keep your social profiles up to date. Klear is used in small (0-50 employees), and medium companies (51-1,000 employees).
Summary: Definitely better suited as a starter option. The free plan is a great way for single person ventures to get a handle on their social life while keeping the budget tight. Basically, Klear is a stripped down, easy to figure out tool. Their pricing seems to be on the rise since their investment round. The least expensive paid plan starts at $249/mo and doesn’t include most of the “advanced” features you may see from the other names on our list. If you’re looking for enterprise options, they are available, but you’ll have to get in touch with Klear to figure pricing. All in all, an easy starter tool that will help you wrap your head around social management. If you’re looking for something robust, it’s best to keep looking.
Read our full klear review here.
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