Craft vs Hootsuite (2026): pricing and features compared
Hootsuite Standard is $99 per user a month, billed annually, for up to 10 accounts. Craft Pro is $39 for 5 accounts ($19 annual), funnels included.
Hootsuite is an enterprise-grade social media management platform: many networks, analytics, team workflows. Craft is a smaller tool that schedules posts to Instagram, TikTok and YouTube and, on the same plan, runs Instagram comment auto-replies and DM and Telegram funnels. If you're a creator or a small business, the price gap is large.
Prices checked on September 21, 2026. If a price changed, message us and we'll fix the page.
Short answer#
- Pick Craft if you run 1–5 accounts: $12–$39 a month vs $99 per user a month on Hootsuite (billed annually).
- Pick Craft if you want comment auto-replies and DM or Telegram funnels in the same subscription.
- Pick Craft if you want monthly billing or a free plan: Hootsuite doesn't publish a monthly price for Standard, and we didn't find a free plan.
- Pick Hootsuite if you manage many networks (Facebook, LinkedIn, X, Pinterest, Threads) with a team, need approvals and deep analytics.
- Pick Hootsuite if you need 6–10 accounts in one plan: Standard covers up to 10; Craft's next step after 5 accounts is Agency at $249.
What it costs#
| Scenario | Craft, monthly | Craft, annual | Hootsuite, monthly | Hootsuite, annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (A) 5 Instagram accounts | $39 — Pro | $19 | not published | $99 — Standard |
| (B) 2 Instagram + TikTok + YouTube | $39 — Pro | $19 | not published | $99 — Standard |
| (C) 1 Instagram account | $12 — Solo | $6 | not published | $99 — Standard |
| (D) posting to 5 Instagram + funnels on one | $39 — Pro | $19 | not published | $128 — Standard + ManyChat Pro |
💡 How we counted. Annual prices are per month, billed yearly. Craft: Solo $12 (1 account), Pro $39 (5 accounts, ~$7.80 each; ~$3.80 on annual billing), Agency $249 (unlimited); annual prices are half: $6 / $19 / $125. Hootsuite Standard: $99 per user per month, billed annually, up to 10 social accounts; the pricing page doesn't publish a monthly price. We counted one user. Scenario D adds ManyChat Pro at $29 a month billed annually ($39 monthly) for one Instagram account with up to 2,500 active contacts; ChatPlace would be $32 annually ($40 monthly) for Instagram + a Telegram bot. On Craft the funnel runs on one of the same 5 accounts.
For 1–5 accounts Craft is cheaper even for posting alone: $19 vs $99 a month on annual billing, or $39 on monthly billing, which Hootsuite doesn't publish at all.
See the Craft pricing.
How accounts are counted#
- Hootsuite: Standard includes up to 10 social accounts, priced per user. An account is a connected profile on any network, so 5 Instagram accounts fit. See Hootsuite plans.
- Craft: one shared account limit per plan, any networks, no per-user price. Pro holds 5 Instagram accounts, or 5 different networks — for example 2 Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and a Telegram bot. The same accounts serve posting and funnels.
Features side by side#
| Feature | Craft | Hootsuite |
|---|---|---|
| Instagram carousels and Reels | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instagram Stories | — | not verified |
| TikTok | ✓ video | ✓ |
| YouTube Shorts | ✓ | ✓ |
| Telegram channel posting | — | — |
| Facebook, Threads, LinkedIn, Pinterest, X | — | ✓ |
| Scheduler (post now, schedule, reschedule, cancel) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Analytics | funnel stats only | ✓ deep |
| Team approvals | — | ✓ (plan level not verified) |
| Public API | — | not verified |
| MCP (Claude, ChatGPT) | ✓ any plan | not listed |
| Instagram comment auto-reply | ✓ | not verified |
| Instagram DM + Telegram funnels | ✓ | not listed |
| Payments inside the funnel | ✓ via your Lava account | — |
| Free plan | ✓ 1 account, 3 posts a month | not listed |
"Not listed" and "not verified" mean we didn't confirm it on the pages we checked — Hootsuite has many add-ons, so check with Hootsuite.
Where Hootsuite is stronger#
- Networks. Facebook, LinkedIn, X, Pinterest and Threads in addition to Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
- Analytics and reporting built for marketing teams.
- Team workflows: multiple users, roles and approvals.
- Up to 10 accounts on Standard.
- Mature ecosystem of integrations and a long track record with large companies.
Where Craft is stronger#
- Price for small setups. 1 account for $12 ($6 annually), 5 accounts for $39 ($19 annually), no per-user fee.
- Monthly billing and a free plan forever.
- Funnels included. Instagram comment auto-replies by keyword, DM funnels with buttons and delays, Telegram bot funnels, subscription checks and unlimited Telegram broadcasts, on the same accounts.
- Payments inside the funnel through your own Lava account (card, SBP, international cards, PayPal). The money goes straight to you; Craft takes no commission.
- One inbox for Telegram bots and Instagram DMs, with a pause button to answer by hand.
Honest limits of Craft posting#
Craft publishes to Instagram (carousels of 2–10 photos, Reels and videos, single photos), TikTok (videos) and YouTube (Shorts and videos). It doesn't post to Facebook, Threads, LinkedIn, Pinterest, X or Telegram channels. There are no team approvals, no user roles and no deep reach analytics. If those are why you use Hootsuite, Craft is not a replacement.
Schedule posts and build funnels by chatting with Claude or ChatGPT#
Craft has an MCP connector on every plan. Connect Craft to Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor or Claude Code and ask in plain words: "schedule this carousel to Instagram for tomorrow at 10:00 and the video to YouTube for Friday", or "build a funnel that sends the price list to everyone who comments PRICE". Setup guide: Connect your Claude.
Moving from Hootsuite#
Message us on Telegram and we'll help you connect your accounts and set up funnels. Or start free at app.craftopen.space.
Also compare: Craft vs Sprout Social · Craft vs Later · Craft vs Buffer · Best social media schedulers
Frequently asked questions#
Can I connect 5 Instagram accounts to Hootsuite, and what does it cost?#
Yes. Standard includes up to 10 social accounts for $99 per user a month, billed annually. On Craft, 5 Instagram accounts cost $39 a month or $19 annually.
Is there a monthly Hootsuite plan?#
The pricing page we checked shows Standard billed annually and doesn't publish a monthly price. Craft offers both: $39 monthly or $19 a month billed annually for Pro.
Is Craft a Hootsuite replacement?#
For a creator or small business posting to Instagram, TikTok and YouTube — yes, at a fraction of the price, with funnels on top. For a marketing team on many networks with approvals and reports — no.
Does Hootsuite have Instagram comment-to-DM funnels?#
We didn't verify a comment-to-DM funnel builder on Standard. On Craft, auto-replies and funnels are part of every plan.
Can Craft post to LinkedIn or Facebook?#
No. Craft posts to Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
Sources#
- Craft pricing — https://craftopen.space/#pricing — checked September 21, 2026
- Hootsuite plans — https://www.hootsuite.com/plans — checked September 21, 2026
- ManyChat pricing — https://manychat.com/pricing — checked September 21, 2026
- ChatPlace pricing — https://help.chatplace.io/en/articles/6763310 — checked September 21, 2026