Sprout Social
AI-powered social media management and analytics
Head to head, verified 2026-09-03
Sprout Social vs Zoho Social
Price, free plans, the 16 networks we track, API and MCP support, and pros and cons, side by side. All numbers come from the vendors' own pages.
The short version
Generated from the data, not from opinion. Each line is a fact you can check on the profile pages.
- Zoho Social is the cheaper entry point at $10 per month, against $79 for Sprout Social.
- Zoho Social has a free plan. Sprout Social does not.
- Sprout Social supports 9 of the 16 networks tracked here. Zoho Social supports 11.
- Only Zoho Social supports Mastodon and Google Business.
- Both offer a documented public API.
- Both target agencies and teams.
- Sprout Social also leans toward enterprise.
- Zoho Social also leans toward small business.
Side by side
| Sprout Social | Zoho Social | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $79/mo | $10/mo |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Free trial | 30 days | 15 days |
| Networks | 9 of 16 | 11 of 16 |
| Public API | Yes | Yes |
| MCP server | Not documented | Not documented |
| Open source | No | No |
| Self hosted | No | No |
| Best for | Agencies, Enterprise, Teams | Agencies, Small business, Teams |
| G2 rating | 4.4 (3928) | Not listed |
| Founded | 2010 | 2016 |
| Headquarters | Chicago, United States | Chennai, India |
Network support
| Network | Sprout Social | Zoho Social |
|---|---|---|
| X (Twitter) | Yes | Yes |
| Yes | Yes | |
| Yes | Yes | |
| Yes | Yes | |
| Threads | Yes | Yes |
| Bluesky | Yes | Yes |
| Mastodon | No | Yes |
| TikTok | Yes | Yes |
| YouTube | Yes | Yes |
| Yes | Yes | |
| Google Business Profile | No | Yes |
| No | No | |
| Telegram | No | No |
| Discord | No | No |
| Snapchat | No | No |
| Tumblr | No | No |
Features
| Feature | Sprout Social | Zoho Social |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduling | Yes | Yes |
| Visual calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Analytics | Yes | Yes |
| Unified inbox | Yes | Yes |
| AI writing | Yes | Yes |
| Approval workflow | Yes | Yes |
| Bulk upload | Yes | Yes |
| RSS automation | Not advertised | Yes |
| Link in bio | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Mobile app | Yes | Yes |
| White label | Not advertised | Yes |
| Team collaboration | Yes | Yes |
Plans
Sprout Social
| Essentials | $79/mo | Publishing across five profiles and collaborative calendar |
| Standard | $199/mo | Smart Inbox, monitoring, and review management |
| Professional | $299/mo | Unlimited profiles, competitor insights, and approvals |
| Advanced | $399/mo | API access, sentiment analysis, and advanced reporting |
Zoho Social
| Standard | $10/mo | 1 brand and 1 team member |
| Professional | $30/mo | Advanced features |
| Premium | $40/mo | 1 brand and 3 team members |
Strengths and limits
Sprout Social strengths
- Deep analytics
- Smart Inbox
- Enterprise capabilities
Sprout Social limits
- High per-user cost
- Advanced features are expensive
Zoho Social strengths
- Zoho CRM ecosystem integration
- Affordable entry tier
- Analytics and reporting
Zoho Social limits
- Free plan is limited
- Interface may feel complex
- Some mobile functionality differs from desktop
Sprout Social vs Zoho Social questions
Is Sprout Social cheaper than Zoho Social?
Sprout Social has no free plan. Paid plans start at $79 per month. Zoho Social has a free plan. Paid plans start at $10 per month.
Which supports more social networks, Sprout Social or Zoho Social?
Sprout Social supports X, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Bluesky, TikTok, YouTube and Pinterest. Zoho Social supports X, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Bluesky, Mastodon, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest and Google Business.
Does Sprout Social or Zoho Social have an API?
Both publish API documentation. Sprout Social: https://sproutsocial.com/pricing/. Zoho Social: https://www.zoho.com/social/api/.
Can an AI agent use Sprout Social or Zoho Social?
Neither documents an MCP server. Hey Tasky is built for agent-operated scheduling with a human review step, and is in early access.
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