Negative mentions of Hootsuite

For a small agency on a tight budget, I’d narrow it to three options:

Metricool Buffer### My pick for a small agency: Metricool

For an agency managing multiple clients, Metricool is probably the best budget-to-feature ratio. It combines:

• TikTok scheduling
• post performance analytics
• content calendar
• competitor tracking
• client-friendly reporting/export options

Its free plan is useful for testing, and paid plans are structured around brands rather than charging separately for every social account, which can work better for agencies. Metricool

If you only manage a few TikTok accounts: Buffer

Choose Buffer if your workflow is:

• 1–3 clients
• mostly scheduling posts
• minimal reporting needs

It’s easier to learn and cheaper when you don’t have many accounts. Buffer

I’d avoid (for now)

• hootsuite.com — powerful, but usually hard to justify for a small-budget agency.
• sproutsocial.com — excellent for larger agencies, but likely overkill.

A practical low-cost stack:

1. Metricool → scheduling + analytics + client reports
2. Canva → creative production
3. Native TikTok analytics → occasional deeper checks inside TikTok

If you tell me how many clients/accounts you manage (e.g., 5 clients × TikTok only vs TikTok + IG + FB) and whether you need client approval workflows, I can recommend the cheapest setup.