Brandwave

Hootsuite vs Sprout Social:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Hootsuite had more branded searches than Sprout Social among AI social media tools worldwide. Hootsuite had about 113,000 branded searches, while Sprout Social had 92,400. Hootsuite made up 12.9% of all AI social media tool searches we track, and Sprout Social accounted for 10.5%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about AI social media tools, Hootsuite appeared in four of the five answers and Sprout Social in three. Hootsuite was mentioned before Sprout Social in every answer that named either.

Among AI social media tools worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Hootsuite, about 22% more searches than Sprout Social

Hootsuite 113K searchesSprout Social 92.4K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Hootsuite, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, Sprout Social in 3

Hootsuite in 4 of 5Sprout Social in 3 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Hootsuite, named ahead of Sprout Social in 4 of 4 answers

Hootsuite first in 4Sprout Social never first

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Top AI social media tools in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Hootsuite was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Sprout Social was mentioned in three out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Hootsuite was listed before Sprout Social in every answer that named either.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Buffer1st
  2. Later2nd
  3. Hootsuite3rd
  4. Predis.ai4th
  5. Metricool5th
  6. Sprout Social6th
  7. Ocoya–
  8. Postwise–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Buffer5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Hootsuite4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Later4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Metricool3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Sprout Social3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Predis.ai3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Ocoya0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Postwise0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about AI social media tools

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 20, 2026.

Is Hootsuite or Sprout Social more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Hootsuite and Sprout Social by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all eight AI social media tools we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Hootsuite and Sprout Social among AI social media tools worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Hootsuite, Sprout Social. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthMetricoolBufferHootsuiteSprout SocialPredis.aiLaterOcoyaPostwise
Oct 202541.9%3.8%28.7%19%3.8%1.8%0.92%0.14%
Nov 202543.9%3.2%30%16.3%3.9%1.7%0.79%0.15%
Dec 202548.2%3.9%27.1%14.7%3.6%1.6%0.7%0.14%
Jan 202640%4.8%33.4%14.9%4.4%1.7%0.72%0.13%
Feb 202643%7.1%29.5%13.2%4.7%1.7%0.63%0.13%
Mar 202646.3%6.9%26%14.1%4.2%1.7%0.68%0.13%
Apr 202648.8%9.3%22.7%12.2%4.4%1.6%0.87%0.12%
May 202651.2%9.5%20.4%12.8%3.8%1.6%0.61%0.08%
Jun 202651.1%9.1%21.7%12.8%3.1%1.7%0.5%0.08%
Jul 202649.3%18.7%15.2%12.3%2.4%1.5%0.59%0.06%
Aug 202652.3%14.2%16%13%2.6%1.4%0.51%0.07%
Sep 202651.4%21.4%12.9%10.5%2.1%1.1%0.5%0.11%

How has the Hootsuite and Sprout Social comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

How did search popularity change for AI social media tools worldwide in September 2026?

3 changes

  1. In September 2026, Buffer overtook Hootsuite to rank 2nd among AI social media tools worldwide, with 21.4% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, Hootsuite lost share of searches among AI social media tools worldwide, from 16% to 12.9%.

  3. In September 2026, Sprout Social lost share of searches among AI social media tools worldwide, from 13% to 10.5%.

How are branded searches counted?

33 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Hootsuite’s and Sprout Social’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Hootsuite

20 branded search terms

  • hootsuite
  • hootsuite ads
  • hootsuite analytics
  • hootsuite app
  • hootsuite application
  • hootsuite enterprise
  • hootsuite for nonprofits
  • hootsuite insights
  • hootsuite media
  • hootsuite reports
  • hootsuite sentiment analysis
  • hootsuite social
  • hootsuite social listening
  • hootsuite social marketing
  • hootsuite social media
  • hootsuite social media listening
  • hootsuite social media marketing
  • hootsuite social media monitoring
  • hootsuite social monitoring
  • social listening on hootsuite

Sprout Social

13 branded search terms

  • social listening sprout social
  • social media sprout social
  • sprout social
  • sprout social analytics
  • sprout social app
  • sprout social influencers
  • sprout social listening
  • sprout social management
  • sprout social media
  • sprout social platform
  • sprout social reporting
  • sprout social social media
  • sprout social tiktok

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among AI social media tools

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