Sprout Social review
Updated September 29, 2026 · ForgeCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 29, 2026
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Our verdict
Sprout Social suits small-business and enterprise teams seeking a social management option with clear profile limits and guided support. Entry pricing is listed at $99 for the entry plan, with trial access available before commitment for evaluation across connected accounts.
Key facts
- Best for
- Small-business and enterprise teams managing social profiles with guided support
- Price from
- $99 (Source, checked September 29, 2026)
- Free plan
- No (Source, checked September 29, 2026)
- Usage limits
- 5 social profiles (Source, checked September 29, 2026)
- Free trial length
- 30 days (Source, checked September 29, 2026)
- Tool type
- Social (Source, checked September 29, 2026)
- Compliance certifications
- SOC 2 Type 2, ISO 27001, ISO 27701, GDPR, CCPA, PCI DSS, CSA STAR (Source, checked September 29, 2026)
- Legal entity
- Sprout Social, Inc. (Source, checked September 29, 2026)
- Headquarters
- United States (Source, checked September 29, 2026)
- Founded
- 2010 (Source, checked September 29, 2026)
- Support channels
- Email, Chat, Phone, Help-centre, Community (Source, checked September 29, 2026)
- Audience
- Small business, Enterprise
- Pricing model
- Free trial
- Official website
- sproutsocial.com
Apps and profiles
- Get the app
- Google Play
Pros and cons
Pros
- Trial access for 30 gives time to assess fit before paying $99 for the entry plan.
- Entry allowance of 5 social profiles sets clear expectations for teams managing a defined set of profiles.
- Support through email, chat and phone gives assisted and self guided options across email, chat, phone, help centre and community.
- Listed credentials of SOC 2 Type 2, ISO 27001 and ISO 27701 support trust review, unlike options without stated credentials.
- Stated audience of small business and enterprise fits growing teams, while Buffer at $5 may appeal at lower entry pricing.
Cons
- No free plan, so ongoing access requires paid entry at $99 for the entry plan.
- Entry scope is bounded at 5 social profiles, which can constrain teams with broad channel needs.
- Entry pricing at $99 for the entry plan is higher than Buffer at $5 for price sensitive teams.
Who it suits
- Small-business teams that want defined profile allowances and trial access for 30 before paying.
- Enterprise teams that value stated credentials of SOC 2 Type 2, ISO 27001 and ISO 27701 and support through email, chat and phone.
Who should look elsewhere
- Teams seeking unpaid ongoing use may prefer HubSpot, which offers Free plan availability.
- Teams seeking lower entry pricing may prefer Buffer, which lists entry pricing at $5.
- Teams seeking lower entry pricing in EUR may prefer KambaChat, which lists entry pricing at €14.99.
Free plan and trial
Sprout Social does not provide an unpaid tier for continued use, which is a clear split from options that include a free plan. Evaluation is handled through trial access rather than permanent free access. The trial length is stated as 30, giving teams a defined window to review publishing flows, profile handling and internal review before deciding on paid access. Since there is no free plan, readers comparing on entry cost should focus on paid entry terms and on whether trial coverage matches their review needs. Teams that require extended unpaid use will need to look at alternatives, while teams comfortable with a trial led decision can use the stated period to confirm fit.
Plans and pricing
Paid access starts with the entry plan priced at $99. The entry plan is the reference point for price comparison in this review, and it should be read alongside trial terms rather than confused with a separate renewal figure. There is no free plan, so the choice is between trial evaluation and paid commitment. Trial access is available for 30, which allows teams to confirm workflow fit before committing to the entry plan. Readers weighing price at entry and at renewal should note that only entry pricing is stated here, with no separate renewal amount shown. Comparison on value therefore rests on what the entry plan includes, on trial length and on limits that shape how many profiles can be managed.
Who runs it
Sprout Social is operated by Sprout Social, Inc., with home base in the United States. The business was founded in 2010, providing context on operating history for readers who weigh stability alongside plan terms. Day to day help is available through email, chat and phone, which spans direct assistance and self guided resources. That mix allows teams to seek answers through email, chat, phone, help centre materials and community discussion. For small business and enterprise readers, the combination of stated operator, home country, founding year and support breadth helps frame accountability and service access. Availability of multiple support paths can matter where social publishing is time sensitive and where internal teams need prompt guidance.
How Sprout Social compares
- 9.4 vs 9.3
- 9.4 vs 9.1
9.4 vs 8.7- 9.4 vs 9.2
- 9.4 vs 9.3
9.4 vs 9.4
9.4 vs 8.5- 9.4 vs 9.2
- 9.4 vs 8.7
- 9.4 vs 8.0
- 9.4 vs 9.5
9.4 vs 9.4
9.4 vs 9.4- 9.4 vs 9.3
9.4 vs 9.1
9.4 vs 9.1
9.4 vs 9.1- 9.4 vs 9.0
9.4 vs 9.0- 9.4 vs 8.9
9.4 vs 8.9
9.4 vs 8.8- 9.4 vs 8.7
9.4 vs 8.5
9.4 vs 8.5
9.4 vs 8.5
9.4 vs 8.5
9.4 vs 8.5
9.4 vs 8.0
9.4 vs 8.0
9.4 vs 8.0
Frequently asked questions
Does Sprout Social offer a free plan?+
Sprout Social does not offer a free plan, so there is no unpaid tier for continued use. Access for evaluation is through trial access for 30, after which a paid plan is required to continue.
How long is the Sprout Social trial?+
Trial access is available for 30. The trial period allows review of fit for social workflows before moving to the entry plan priced at $99.
What does Sprout Social cost at entry?+
Entry pricing is listed at $99 for the entry plan. There is no separate introductory price and renewal price stated in the available facts, so readers should compare entry pricing against alternatives.
What usage limit applies at entry?+
Entry use covers 5 social profiles. Teams that manage additional profiles beyond that allowance should check plan terms or consider alternatives with different allowance structures.
What compliance credentials does Sprout Social list?+
Listed assurance signals include SOC 2 Type 2, ISO 27001 and ISO 27701. These credentials are relevant for teams that weigh data handling and security review during software comparison.
Who operates Sprout Social and how is support provided?+
Sprout Social is operated by Sprout Social, Inc. and based in the United States. Support is available through email, chat and phone, covering assisted and self guided help paths.
Who is Sprout Social suited for?+
The stated audience includes small business and enterprise. It suits coordinated teams rather than casual users seeking unpaid access, since there is no free plan.
Sources
- sproutsocial.com checked September 29, 2026
Backs: Legal entity, Tool type
“Sprout Social, Inc. All Rights Reserved”
- sproutsocial.com/about checked September 29, 2026
Backs: Founded, Headquarters
“When Sprout launched in 2010”
- sproutsocial.com/pricing checked September 29, 2026
Backs: Audience, Free plan, Price from, Usage limits
“Perfect for small teams managing a few profiles”
- sproutsocial.com/trial checked September 29, 2026
Backs: Free trial length, Pricing model, Support channels
“Sign up for your free 30-day trial”
- sproutsocial.com/trust-center checked September 29, 2026
Backs: Compliance certifications
“SOC 2 Type 2 audit by a qualified third-party auditor”
Compiled from 5 source pages, checked September 29, 2026. We did not open an account.
Sprout Social
Small-business and enterprise teams managing social profiles with guided support