Alternatives
Best Metricool Alternatives for Agencies (2026)
By Red Kite Search Agency Created Updated 7 min read
Summary
Metricool is a solid choice, but it does not fit every agency. Buffer: Simple social media scheduling with per-channel pricing. Sendible: Social media management built around agencies and client workspaces. Agorapulse: Social media management for growing teams, with a unified inbox. Prices and ratings below were checked in October 2026.
What are the best Metricool alternatives for agencies in 2026?
Metricool offers low-cost, brand-based pricing with strong analytics and shareable dashboards, but X costs extra, user management needs Advanced, and its review base and support details are thin.
The three alternatives below are the usual comparisons for agencies.
We compared each option with Metricool on price, client features, support, and public ratings, so you can see what you would gain and give up by switching. Count your brands first, because brand-based pricing changes the answer for agencies with many clients.
The shortlist is Buffer, Sendible, Agorapulse. The table puts them next to Metricool.
| Tool | Editorial score | Review-site ratings | Pricing | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metricool | 4.2 / 5 | G2 4.4 | Free plan. Starter from $20-$25 and Advanced from $53-$67 per month (annual vs monthly billing, depending on the number of brands); Custom is quoted. | Freelancers and small to mid-size agencies |
| Buffer | 4 / 5 | G2 4.3 | Free plan. Essentials $5 and Team $10 per channel per month on annual billing. | Freelancers and small agencies |
| Sendible | 4.3 / 5 | G2 4.5 | 14-day free trial. Core $35, Plus $99, Premium $199, Elite $299, and Enterprise $750 per month. Every plan has unlimited users. | Small to mid-size agencies |
| Agorapulse | 4.4 / 5 | G2 4.5 | 30-day free trial, no credit card required. Standard $79-$99, Professional $119-$149, and Advanced $149-$199 per user per month (annual vs monthly billing); Custom is quoted. | Small to mid-size agencies |
Why do agencies look for Metricool alternatives?
Agencies usually look beyond Metricool for published support hours, security evidence such as SOC 2 and SSO, and a larger public review base.
Others want a workspace per client or unlimited users rather than brand-based pricing.
A final group wants a different pricing model. Brand-based pricing is easy to forecast, but agencies that add many users or want a workspace per client sometimes find per-user or workspace pricing fits better as the team grows.
Common limitations of Metricool
- X (Twitter), advanced analytics and Canva are paid add-ons.
- User management and approvals require the Advanced plan.
- SOC 2 and SSO were not stated.
- General support hours and response times are not stated.
Is Buffer a good Metricool alternative for agencies?
Buffer is simpler, with a free plan and per-channel pricing. It has lighter analytics and client reporting.
Buffer schedules posts across channels including LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, X, Threads, Pinterest, Bluesky, Mastodon and Google Business Profile. It prices per connected channel, has a free plan, and a Team plan with unlimited members and approval workflows.
Who it suits: Small agencies, freelancers and teams that want a low-cost, simple scheduler.
Buffer pros
- A free plan for up to 3 channels, and low per-channel pricing.
- Unlimited team members on the Team plan.
- Approval workflows and access levels on Team.
- Public API, MCP and a wide set of automation connectors.
Buffer cons
- Per-channel pricing adds up for agencies with many client channels.
- No white-label reporting or client portal is stated.
- SOC 2 and SSO were not stated.
- Listening and deep inbox tools are lighter than Hootsuite or Sprout Social.
Is Sendible a good Metricool alternative for agencies?
Sendible gives unlimited users and a workspace per client, with client dashboards. It costs more.
Sendible gives each client, location or brand its own workspace, with unlimited users on every plan, client dashboards for previews and approvals, a Client Connect widget, and white-labeling as an add-on on higher plans.
Who it suits: Agencies that manage many client brands and want unlimited team seats.
Sendible pros
- Unlimited users on every plan, with no per-seat pricing.
- A workspace per client with a Client Connect widget for safe profile connection.
- Client dashboards for previews and approvals; custom branded reports from Premium.
- Published email and live-chat response information.
Sendible cons
- White-labeling is a paid add-on on Elite and Enterprise.
- Low profile limits on the entry plan: 6 profiles in one workspace.
- A native mobile app is not stated.
- Security certifications, two-factor authentication and its security page were not available.
Is Agorapulse a good Metricool alternative for agencies?
Agorapulse adds white-label reports, published support times, and a unified inbox. It prices per user.
Agorapulse offers scheduling, a social inbox, listening add-ons and reporting, with white-label report exports on every plan and a Profile Connector that lets clients connect their own profiles. Plans are priced per user with 10 social profiles each.
Who it suits: Agencies that want client-ready reporting, approvals and fast support at a mid-range per-user price.
Agorapulse pros
- White-label report exports on every plan.
- Profile Connector lets clients connect profiles safely on Advanced and Custom.
- Published first-response times from under 6 hours to under 30 minutes by plan.
- SOC 2 and ISO 27001:2022 badges, role-based access and two-factor authentication.
Agorapulse cons
- Per-user pricing, with 10 profiles on each of the first three plans.
- Multi-step approval workflows, custom roles and SSO are only on Custom.
- Some G2 reviewers find the mobile app less smooth than desktop.
- Advanced listening, advocacy and X access are paid add-ons.
What is the quick verdict on each Metricool alternative?
If you only have a minute, this table gives our verdict on each alternative to Metricool, based on the research above.
| Tool | Verdict | Editorial score |
|---|---|---|
| Buffer | The cheapest and simplest option here, with a free plan and per-channel pricing. It lacks the deep inbox, listening and white-label client features of the larger platforms. | 4 / 5 |
| Sendible | The most agency-shaped pricing in the group: workspaces, unlimited users and white-label options. Plans scale by profiles and workspaces instead of seats, and no mobile app is stated. | 4.3 / 5 |
| Agorapulse | One of the best-packaged tools for agencies in this group, with white-label reports, a client profile connector, 24/7 support hours and published first-response times. Per-user pricing still adds up for large teams. | 4.4 / 5 |
How much do Metricool and its alternatives cost?
Metricool Starter begins at $20 per month on annual billing. Buffer Essentials costs $5 per channel, Sendible Core costs $35 monthly, and Agorapulse Standard costs $79 per user annually.
| Tool | Pricing summary |
|---|---|
| Metricool | Free plan. Starter from $20-$25 and Advanced from $53-$67 per month (annual vs monthly billing, depending on the number of brands); Custom is quoted. |
| Buffer | Free plan. Essentials $5 and Team $10 per channel per month on annual billing. |
| Sendible | 14-day free trial. Core $35, Plus $99, Premium $199, Elite $299, and Enterprise $750 per month. Every plan has unlimited users. |
| Agorapulse | 30-day free trial, no credit card required. Standard $79-$99, Professional $119-$149, and Advanced $149-$199 per user per month (annual vs monthly billing); Custom is quoted. |
What do reviewers say about Metricool and its alternatives?
Review-site scores are a useful signal for how happy teams are after the first few months. They are snapshots from October 2026, and review counts differ widely between tools.
| Tool | Source | Rating | Number of reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metricool | G2 | 4.4 / 5 | 102 |
| Buffer | G2 | 4.3 / 5 | 1,086 |
| Sendible | G2 | 4.5 / 5 | 904 |
| Agorapulse | G2 | 4.5 / 5 | 974 |
Which Metricool alternative suits which kind of agency?
The right pick depends mostly on team size, how clients interact with the tool, and whether you need money data. This table maps common situations to a recommendation.
| Agency situation | Best pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Freelancers | Buffer | Simple and cheap. |
| Growing agencies | Sendible | Unlimited users and workspaces. |
| Client-heavy agencies | Agorapulse | White-label reports and support. |
How hard is it to switch away from Metricool?
Export reports and dashboards from Metricool before you leave. Analytics history may not carry over.
Reconnect brands in the new tool and recreate roles and approvals.
Move one brand first and keep the rest on Metricool until stable.
Before you leave Metricool
- Count your brands.
- Compare brand, user, and channel pricing.
- Check support and security needs.
- Export reports.
- Overlap for a billing cycle.
How do you choose the right Metricool alternative?
Decide whether support and security evidence matter more than cost.
Compare brand-based pricing with per-user and per-channel pricing for your client count.
Check which roles and approval steps your clients expect, and which plan includes them.
Ask about SOC 2, SSO, and support hours if a client runs a security review.
Run a two-week pilot on one brand before you move the rest of your portfolio.
A quick decision guide
- Choose Buffer for the simplest start.
- Choose Sendible for unlimited users and workspaces.
- Choose Agorapulse for white-label reports and support.
- Stay with Metricool for brand-based pricing and analytics.
- Test with one brand first.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best Metricool alternative?
- Buffer for simplicity, Sendible for workspaces, and Agorapulse for agency features and support.
- Why do agencies look beyond Metricool?
- Thin published support and security details, and a smaller review base.
- Which alternative is cheaper?
- Buffer has a free plan and low per-channel prices.
- Which has unlimited users?
- Sendible includes unlimited users on every plan.
- Which has white-label reports?
- Agorapulse lists them on every plan.
Sources
Prices, plan limits, and ratings were gathered in October 2026 from:
- Metricool pricing page
- Buffer pricing page
- Sendible pricing page
- Agorapulse pricing page