Best Social Media Management Tools for Midsize Businesses

Fratzke is here to compare social media marketing tools your marketing leaders are interested in. Read on to compare a few of our favorites.

Published: 
May 17, 2025
5 min read
Best Social Media Management Tools| Fratzke
Expert Contributors
Partner & Executive Strategist
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    When it comes to selecting the right social media marketing for your midsize business, there are a multitude of factors to consider: How do available features factor into monthly cost? What are the limitations of the platform? Can we schedule posts ahead of time?

    Fratzke is here to compare any social media management platform your marketing leaders are interested in. We’ve compared three of our favorites below.

    If your midsize business is searching for a partner in selecting or optimizing your social media management tool, schedule a free 1-on-1 consultation with a Fratzke expert today.


    What is Sprout Social?

    Thanks to its intuitive interface, publishing options across all social media platforms, and detailed analytics, our top contender for the best social media management tool is Sprout Social. Combined with their top-notch mobile app, Sprout Social is a social media management platform we recommend every midsize business consider investing in.

    At Fratzke, we love that every Sprout Social plan comes with an included 30-day free trial, allowing users to truly test the software prior to purchase. From excellent customer engagement tools to personalized recommendations for each platform, Sprout Social is an easy addition to any marketing team.

    Sprout Social Pros and Cons


    Sprout Social Pricing

    With some of the most exclusive pricing in the social media management platform game, Sprout Social is certainly an investment. That said, its range of features is no short of exceptional. We recommend comparing the free trial to other social media marketing tools to see if the value outweighs the cost for your midsize business.

    Standard: $99 per month | 5 social profiles | Includes social content calendar
    Professional: $169 per month |10 social profiles | Competitive reports for IG, FB and TW
    Advanced: $279 per month |10 social profiles | Includes Digital Asset Library

    What is Hootsuite?

    Hootsuite is another Fratzke favorite due to its top-of-the-line analytical reports and real-time engagement tools. With customizable reports available for social posts and social media ads, your midsize business can track every element within your social strategy.

    Additionally, there are additional reports available for a premium that review competitive benchmarking, social listening, and paid/organic ROI reporting. These optional reports are great add-ons for any midsize business focused on growing their social media marketing efforts.

    Hootsuite Pros and Cons


    Hootsuite Pricing

    With five different plans available, Hootsuite is a great option for midsize businesses looking to test out a free social media marketing tool or upgrade their existing management platform.

    The best part of any of the plans is the unlimited messages, auto-scheduling, publishing calendar, and engagement inbox. Additionally, each plan includes a 30-day free trial to ensure you select the best plan for your midsize business.

    Free: $0 per month | 2 social profiles | Five schedule messages
    Professional: $49 per month | 10 social profiles | Unlimited social posts per month
    Team: $129 per month |20 social profiles | Assign posts/comments to team members
    Business: $599 per month |35 social profiles | Integrate third-party extensions like Zendesk
    Enterprise: Custom Pricing | 50 social profiles| Includes quarterly business review

    What is Buffer?

    Buffer is the pick if you want to get the best bang for your buck. With multiple plans ranging from free to $120 a month, Buffer has an option available for any social media marketing budget.

    Whichever plan you pick, you can try it out for 14 days before committing. Check out available features like a scheduling tool, hashtag optimizations, and even a link shortener. Buffer also provides a great mobile app for social media marketing on-the-go.

    Buffer Pros and Cons


    Buffer Pricing

    By far, Buffer is the best social media management tool for midsize businesses on a budget. If you’re only focusing on select platforms, they’re affordability can’t be beat.

    Free: $0 per month | Up to 3 social profiles | Includes social content calendar
    Essentials: $6 to $60 per month | 1 to 10 social profiles | Includes hashtag manager
    Essentials + Team: $12 to $120 per month | 1 to 10 social profiles | Unlimited users

    As always, if you’re looking for a digital marketing partner to elevate your midsize business strategy, schedule a free consultation with one of our experts today!

    About The Contributors

    Ryan Fratzke is a Partner and Executive Strategist at Fratzke with more than a decade of experience helping mid-market and enterprise organizations build stronger brands, improve customer experiences, and turn business goals into actionable strategies. His work spans brand strategy, customer insights, AI consulting, digital strategy, and growth planning for Fortune 500 brands including Walmart, Whole Foods Market, and The Walt Disney Company. Ryan has been featured in the Orange County Business Journal and Orange County Register and serves on advisory boards for the CSUF School of Business Marketing Department and Center for Family Business. View Full Profile.

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    Fratzke is a top-rated strategic agency that helps mid-market and enterprise brands spark growth through customer insights, brand strategy, marketing, and creating digital experiences. Since our founding in 2017, we've worked with leading brands across industries including Razer, TopBuild, REI, DTS, and TiVo, partnering from research and strategy through implementation. We combine data, technology, and human-centered storytelling to help brands better understand their customers, strengthen their market position, and create consistent growth over time. Learn More.

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