Social9 vs Sprout Social
The Sprout Social alternative that writes your posts too
Short answer: Sprout Social starts at $79 per seat per month billed yearly ($99 monthly) and leads on analytics and customer care. Social9 costs less for small teams, has a free plan, and its AI Autopilot plans, drafts, schedules and publishes posts on 11 networks.
Prices checked October 2026.
At a glance
Social9 vs Sprout Social: comparison
Social9Free; from $12/mo
Sprout SocialFrom $79/seat/mo| Social9 | Sprout Social | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free; Individual $12/mo ($120/yr); Team $39/mo ($390/yr); Agency $99/mo ($990/yr); Enterprise custom | Essentials $79/seat/mo yearly ($99 monthly), 5 profiles; Standard $199; Professional $299; Advanced $399 (per seat, yearly) |
| Free plan | Yes: 1 brand, 3 accounts (LinkedIn, Instagram, Mastodon, Bluesky), 20 AI credits/mo, 10 queued posts per account | No; 30-day free trial |
| Networks | 11: Facebook, Instagram, Threads, LinkedIn, X, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, Google Business Profile, Bluesky, Mastodon (Free: LinkedIn, Instagram, Mastodon, Bluesky; X from Individual, 50 to 300 X posts/mo by plan) | Facebook, Instagram, Threads, LinkedIn, X, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, Bluesky, Reddit, Snapchat (no Google Business Profile listed) |
| AI features | Autopilot plans, drafts, schedules and publishes posts; drafts only on Free, you approve first on Individual (AI credits/mo: 20 Free, 150 Individual, 500 Team, 1,500 Agency) | Trellis AI agent and AI Assist; 100 AI agent credits per seat per month |
| Approvals | Approvals for teammates and clients from Team ($39/mo: 3 brands, 9 accounts, 5 members) | Not listed on the pricing page |
| Analytics | Stats history: 30 days Free, 90 days Individual, 1 year Team and Agency, 2 years Enterprise | Profile and post reports from Essentials; competitor and paid insights from Professional; Premium Analytics add-on |
Prices in USD, checked October 2026 on each vendor's own site: Sprout Social pricing, Sprout Social integrations and Social9 pricing. Plans change; check the vendor's page before you buy.
Quick verdict
Choose Sprout Social if… choose Social9 if…
Pick Sprout Social if
- Analytics depth, competitor reports and customer care are your priority
- You need Reddit or Snapchat, or Messenger and WhatsApp inboxes
- You want a 30-day trial before deciding
Pick Social9 if
- You want AI Autopilot to plan, draft, schedule and publish posts, not just a calendar you fill by hand
- You want to start on a free plan before paying (1 brand, 3 accounts on LinkedIn, Instagram, Mastodon or Bluesky, 20 AI credits a month; Autopilot makes drafts on Free)
- You want plan pricing, not per seat: Team is $39/mo for 5 members, with approvals
- You post to Google Business Profile or Mastodon
Cost
What you pay at 3, 10 and 25 social accounts
Monthly prices in USD. Social9 prices are flat per plan, with team members included and no per-seat fees.
| Social accounts | Social9 |
|---|---|
| 3 | $0 on Free (LinkedIn, Instagram, Mastodon or Bluesky), or $12/mo on Individual for any network |
| 10 | $99/mo on Agency (Team at $39/mo covers 9) |
| 25 | $99/mo on Agency |
Social9 counts accounts per brand: 3 per brand on Team, 5 per brand on Agency, and support can raise a limit on any plan. For Sprout Social, see its price row in the table above.
Switching
Switch from Sprout Social to Social9 in four steps
- 1
Check your networks
List the profiles you manage in Sprout Social. Social9 publishes to 11 networks: Facebook, Instagram, Threads, LinkedIn, X, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, Google Business Profile, Bluesky, Mastodon.
- 2
Start free and connect
Create a free Social9 account (1 brand, 3 social accounts on LinkedIn, Instagram, Mastodon or Bluesky), or pick a paid plan for other networks, then connect your accounts.
- 3
Move your queue
Copy the posts already scheduled in Sprout Social into Social9, or let Autopilot plan and draft the next batch for you to review.
- 4
Switch over cleanly
Run both tools for a few days, then pause the Sprout Social queue so nothing posts twice. Add your team on Team or Agency to use approvals.
FAQ
Sprout Social alternatives: FAQ
What is a cheaper alternative to Sprout Social?
Social9 has a free plan, Individual at $12/mo, Team at $39/mo and Agency at $99/mo. Sprout Social starts at $79 per seat per month billed yearly.
Does Sprout Social have a free plan?
No. Sprout Social offers a 30-day free trial.
Where is Sprout Social stronger?
Sprout Social has deeper analytics, competitor reporting and customer care tools. Social9 focuses on AI Autopilot for planning, drafting, scheduling and publishing.
Does Social9 support Google Business Profile?
Yes, on paid plans. Social9 publishes to Google Business Profile along with 10 other networks, including Bluesky and Mastodon. The free plan covers LinkedIn, Instagram, Mastodon and Bluesky.
Try Social9 as your Sprout Social alternative
Autopilot plans, drafts, schedules and publishes your posts on 11 networks. Start on the free plan.