Hootsuite has long been a go-to social media management platform for businesses looking to streamline their social media presence across multiple channels.
As most of you would know, the tool allows users to schedule posts, monitor social conversations, analyze performance metrics, and manage multiple social accounts from a single dashboard.
However, one of Hootsuite’s most valuable features for larger organizations and agencies is its approval workflow system.
Social media approval workflows are essential for maintaining brand consistency, ensuring content quality, and meeting compliance requirements.
These systems allow team members to create and submit content for review before publication, enabling managers, legal teams, or clients to approve or request changes to posts before they go live.
This helps prevent costly mistakes, maintains brand voice consistency, and provides accountability in social media marketing efforts.
While Hootsuite offers robust approval features, many businesses are seeking alternatives due to pricing concerns, feature limitations, or the need for more specialized functionality.
If you’re looking for a more affordable option, better integration capabilities, and enhanced approval workflows, consider one of the alternatives listed below.
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1. Sprout Social
Sprout Social stands out as one of the most comprehensive Hootsuite alternatives, offering powerful approval workflows that rival industry leaders.
The platform’s approval system allows teams to set up custom approval processes with multiple reviewers, deadline notifications, and detailed feedback mechanisms.
Key approval features include the ability to assign specific approvers to different content types, automatic routing based on content categories, and comprehensive audit trails.
Teams can create approval queues, set up escalation procedures, and receive real-time notifications when content requires attention.
The platform also offers robust collaboration tools, allowing approvers to leave detailed comments and suggested edits directly on content.
Check out Sprout Social pricing here.
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2. Buffer
Buffer has evolved from a simple scheduling tool into a comprehensive social media management platform with solid approval capabilities.
The platform offers a streamlined approval workflow that’s particularly user-friendly for small to medium-sized teams.
Buffer’s approval system allows team members to submit content for review, with designated approvers receiving notifications via email or within the platform.
Approvers can easily accept, reject, or request changes to proposed content. The platform also provides a clear overview of all pending approvals, making it easy for managers to stay on top of content review processes.
What sets Buffer apart is its intuitive interface and affordable pricing structure.
This makes it an accessible option for smaller businesses that need approval workflows without the complexity of enterprise-level platforms.
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3. Agorapulse
Agorapulse offers a robust approval system that’s particularly well-suited for agencies and larger organizations managing multiple client accounts.
The platform’s approval workflow includes features like content categorization, custom approval chains, and detailed commenting systems.
The approval process in Agorapulse is highly customizable, allowing teams to set up different approval requirements based on content type, social network, or client needs.
Approvers can review content in context, seeing exactly how posts will appear on each social platform. The system also includes automatic reminders and escalation procedures to ensure nothing falls through the cracks.
Agorapulse’s pricing is competitive, with plans starting at $79 per month for up to 10 social profiles, making it a cost-effective option for agencies and growing businesses.
4. CoSchedule
CoSchedule takes a unique approach to social media management by integrating approval workflows into a broader content marketing calendar.
The platform is ideal for organizations that need to coordinate social media content with other marketing initiatives.
The approval system in CoSchedule allows teams to create detailed approval workflows that can include multiple stakeholders and stages.
Content can be routed through different approval levels, with each approver able to leave feedback, request changes, or approve content for publication.
The platform also provides excellent visibility into the approval process, with clear status indicators and progress tracking.
CoSchedule’s calendar-centric approach makes it particularly valuable for teams that need to coordinate social media content with blog posts, email campaigns, and other marketing activities.
The tool offers a free plan as well as paid plans that start from $19 per month.
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5. Sendible
Sendible offers comprehensive approval workflows that are particularly well-designed for agencies managing multiple client accounts.
The platform’s approval system includes features like client-specific approval processes, detailed feedback mechanisms, and comprehensive reporting on approval metrics.
One of Sendible’s standout features is its ability to create custom approval workflows for different clients or content types.
Teams can set up approval chains that include internal reviewers, client approvers, and final sign-offs. The platform also provides excellent visibility into approval bottlenecks and helps teams identify areas for process improvement.
Sendible’s pricing is competitive for agencies, with plans starting at $29 per month, making it an attractive option for growing agencies.
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6. Later
Later has expanded beyond its Instagram-focused origins to become a comprehensive social media management platform with solid approval capabilities.
The platform’s approval system is particularly visual, making it ideal for brands that rely heavily on visual content.
Later’s approval workflow allows team members to submit content for review, with approvers able to see exactly how posts will appear on each social platform.
The visual approval process is particularly valuable for Instagram, Pinterest, and other image-heavy platforms.
Approvers can leave comments, suggest changes, or approve content with simple clicks.
The plans start from $16.67 per month, making it an affordable option for small businesses and content creators.
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7. Zoho Social
Zoho Social provides robust approval workflows as part of the broader Zoho ecosystem, making it an excellent choice for businesses already using other Zoho products.
The platform’s approval system includes custom approval chains, detailed feedback mechanisms, and comprehensive audit trails.
The approval process in Zoho Social can be customized based on content type, social network, or team structure.
Approvers receive notifications and can review content within the platform or via email. The system also includes automatic reminders and escalation procedures to ensure timely reviews.
Check out Zoho Social pricing plans here.
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8. Loomly
Loomly puts approval workflows at the center of its social media management approach.
The platform offers highly customizable approval processes that can accommodate complex organizational structures and client requirements.
Loomly’s approval system includes features like multi-level approval chains, detailed feedback collection, and comprehensive approval analytics.
Teams can set up different approval requirements based on content sensitivity, social platform, or client needs.
The platform also provides excellent visibility into approval performance, helping teams optimize their review processes.
Loomly includes a free, as well as a paid plan. Check out the pricing page for latest.
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9. SocialPilot
SocialPilot offers a comprehensive approval workflow system that’s particularly attractive for agencies and small to medium-sized businesses looking for cost-effective solutions.
The platform’s approval process is designed to streamline content review while maintaining flexibility for different organizational structures.
The approval system in SocialPilot allows team members to create content and submit it for review through customizable approval chains.
Managers and clients can review proposed content, leave detailed feedback, and approve or reject posts with clear reasoning.
The platform also provides real-time notifications and email alerts to ensure approvers are promptly informed of pending reviews.
What makes SocialPilot particularly appealing is its white-label capabilities, allowing agencies to customize the platform with their own branding when presenting content for client approval.
The platform also includes bulk approval features, making it easy to review and approve multiple pieces of content simultaneously.
SocialPilot’s pricing is highly competitive, starting at just $25.50 per month.
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10. Planable
Planable concludes our list as a visual-first social media management platform that excels in collaborative content creation and approval processes.
The platform is designed around the concept of making content approval as visual and intuitive as possible, resembling the actual social media feeds where content will appear.
Planable’s unique approach to approvals centers on its feed-like interface, where content appears exactly as it will on each social platform.
This makes it easier for approvers to understand context and make informed decisions about content quality and brand alignment.
The platform supports multi-level approval workflows with different permission levels for team members, reviewers, and final approvers.
The approval process in Planable includes features like inline commenting, revision tracking, and automatic notifications.
Teams can set up custom approval workflows that route content through different stakeholders based on content type, social platform, or campaign requirements.
The platform also provides excellent collaboration tools, allowing multiple team members to work on content simultaneously while maintaining clear approval hierarchies.
Planable offers a free plan for small teams, with paid plans starting at $33 per month.
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Conclusion
While Hootsuite remains a solid choice for social media management, these ten alternatives offer compelling approval workflow features that may better suit your organization’s specific needs.
When choosing a Hootsuite alternative, consider factors like team size, budget constraints, integration requirements, and the complexity of your approval processes.
If you like multiple tools, go for their free trials. This will help you narrow down the list.
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