11 Best Social Media Analytics Software of 2023: A Comprehensive Buyers Guide

The rapidly evolving world of social media has made it increasingly crucial for businesses and marketers to monitor their online presence closely. 

Understanding the performance of your social media campaigns and analyzing user interactions is crucial for shaping your marketing strategy and making informed decisions. 

Social media analytics software provides the tools and insights necessary to achieve this.

With countless options, choosing the right social media analytics software can be daunting. 

To help you make an informed decision, we have compiled a list of the 11 best social media analytics software of 2023. 

Each platform offers unique features and benefits, so read on to find the best solution.

Sprout Social

Sprout Social is a comprehensive social media management platform with a strong focus on analytics. 

It’s designed for businesses of all sizes, and its intuitive interface makes it easy for users to navigate and understand their social data.

Key Features:

Unified dashboard for all social media profiles

In-depth analytics and reporting

Smart inbox for efficient message management

Social listening and keyword tracking

Social CRM features

Content planning and publishing tools

Advantages:

The comprehensive feature set for social media management

Intuitive interface

In-depth analytics and reporting

Good team collaboration features

Disadvantages:

It can be expensive for smaller businesses or those with multiple users.

Free Trial: 30-day free trial

Pricing: Standard ($99/user/month), Professional ($149/user/month), Advanced ($249/user/month)

Hootsuite

Hootsuite is another well-known social media management platform that provides various analytics tools. 

It is suitable for small businesses, enterprises, and agencies, with a scalable interface and customizable reporting options.

Key Features:

Centralized social media dashboard

Performance metrics for multiple platforms

Customizable reports and data export options

Social listening and sentiment analysis

Content scheduling and collaboration features

App integrations and extensions

Advantages:

Centralized social media dashboard

Wide range of analytics tools

Customizable reporting

A large number of app integrations and extensions

Disadvantages:

The interface can be overwhelming for new users

Limited reporting capabilities in lower-tier plans

Free Trial: 30-day free trial

Pricing: Professional ($49/month), Team ($129/month), Business ($599/month), Enterprise (custom pricing)

Buffer

Buffer is a user-friendly social media management tool primarily focusing on content planning and publishing. 

However, its analytics capabilities have grown significantly, making it a powerful contender in the social media analytics software market.

Key Features:

Content planning and scheduling

Analytics and reporting for major social platforms

Customizable reports and data visualization

Instagram Stories analytics

Engagement tracking and audience insights

Team collaboration and workflow management

Advantages:

User-friendly interface

Vital content planning and publishing tools

Customizable analytics reports

Disadvantages:

Limited social listening and engagement features

Free Trial: 14-day free trial

Pricing: Pro ($15/month), Premium ($65/month), Business ($99/month)

Socialbakers

Socialbakers is an AI-powered social media analytics platform designed for data-driven marketers. 

Its advanced analytics capabilities help you optimize your social media strategy, understand your audience, and make better decisions.

Key Features:

AI-driven audience analysis and segmentation

Content intelligence and performance tracking

Social media listening and sentiment analysis

Influencer identification and management

Competitive analysis and benchmarking

Integrated ad analytics

Advantages:

AI-driven audience analysis and segmentation

Advanced content intelligence

Integrated ad analytics

Disadvantages:

It can be expensive for smaller businesses

The learning curve for advanced features

Free Trial: 20-day free trial

Pricing: Essential (custom pricing), Smart (custom pricing), Scale (custom pricing)

Brandwatch

Brandwatch is an advanced social media listening and analytics platform that enables businesses to monitor their online presence, track brand sentiment, and gain deep insights into consumer behavior.

Key Features:

Social media listening and monitoring

Sentiment analysis and trend identification

Image recognition and logo detection

Advanced query capabilities for precise data filtering

Customizable dashboards and data visualization

Integrations with popular marketing tools

Advantages:

Advanced social listening and monitoring capabilities

Customizable dashboards and data visualization

Wide range of integrations

Disadvantages:

Steeper learning curve

Custom pricing may not be suitable for smaller budgets

Free Trial: Not available

Pricing: Custom pricing based on requirements

Agorapulse

Agorapulse is a comprehensive social media management tool that combines publishing, engagement, and analytics features in one platform. 

Its powerful analytics capabilities make it an excellent choice for businesses looking to track their social media performance.

Key Features:

Unified social media inbox for efficient message handling

Customizable analytics and reporting

Competitor analysis and benchmarking

Social listening and monitoring

Content scheduling and team collaboration features

CRM tools for audience management

Advantages:

Unified social media inbox

Customizable analytics and reporting

Comprehensive social media management features

Disadvantages:

Limited data export capabilities

The interface could be more streamlined

Free Trial: 28-day free trial

Pricing: Medium ($79/month), Large ($159/month), X-Large ($239/month), Enterprise ($399/month)

Quantity

Quintly is a dedicated social media analytics platform that provides in-depth insights, customizable dashboards, and data-driven recommendations. 

It is suitable for businesses of all sizes and offers a range of tools to measure and improve your social media strategy.

Key Features:

Customizable dashboards and reporting

Performance metrics for multiple social platforms

Competitor analysis and benchmarking

API access for data integration

Social listening and sentiment analysis

Automated reporting and data export options

Advantages:

Customizable dashboards and reporting

Competitor analysis and benchmarking

API access for data integration

Disadvantages:

Lacks built-in publishing and engagement features

Custom pricing may not suit all budgets

Free Trial: 14-day free trial

Pricing: Custom pricing based on the number of social profiles and users

Meltwater

Meltwater is a comprehensive media intelligence platform that combines social media monitoring, analytics, and engagement tools. 

It helps businesses understand their digital presence, track sentiment, and uncover insights to improve their marketing strategy.

Key Features:

Social media listening and monitoring

Sentiment analysis and natural language processing

Competitive analysis and benchmarking

Influencer identification and management

Customizable dashboards and data visualization

Integrated PR and communications tools

Advantages:

Comprehensive media intelligence platform

Advanced sentiment analysis and natural language processing

Integrated PR and communications tools

Disadvantages:

It can be expensive for smaller businesses

The interface can be overwhelming for new users

Free Trial: Not available

Pricing: Custom pricing based on requirements

Keyhole

Keyhole is a real-time social media analytics tool specializing in a hashtag and keyword tracking. 

It gives businesses valuable insights into their campaigns, brand performance, and audience engagement across various social platforms.

Key Features:

Hashtag and keyword tracking

Real-time analytics and performance metrics

Customizable dashboards and reporting

Influencer tracking and identification

Sentiment Analysis and audience insights

Social Listening and competitor analysis

Advantages:

Real-time analytics and performance metrics

Strong hashtag and keyword tracking capabilities

Influencer tracking and identification

Disadvantages:

Limited engagement and publishing features

Pricing may be prohibitive for smaller budgets

Free Trial: 7-day free trial

Pricing: Essential ($59/month), Professional ($159/month), Corporate ($259/month)

Awario

Awario is a social media listening and analytics platform that enables businesses to monitor their online presence, track brand sentiment, and discover valuable insights about their audience. 

Its powerful search capabilities make it an excellent choice for tracking mentions, keywords, and hashtags.

Key Features:

Social media listening and monitoring

Sentiment analysis and trend identification

Hashtag and keyword tracking

Influencer identification and management

Competitive analysis and benchmarking

Real-time alerts and notifications

Advantages:

Powerful search capabilities for tracking mentions, keywords, and hashtags

Influencer identification and management

Real-time alerts and notifications

Disadvantages:

Limited publishing and engagement features

Advanced analytics features may require a learning curve

Free Trial: 7-day free trial

Pricing: Starter ($24/month), Pro ($74/month), Enterprise ($249/month)

Rival IQ

Rival IQ is a social media analytics platform designed to help businesses analyze their social media performance, uncover actionable insights, and make data-driven decisions. 

Its competitive analysis features make it a popular choice among marketers looking to stay ahead.

Key Features:

Competitive analysis and benchmarking

Social media performance metrics

Customizable dashboards and data visualization

Influencer identification and tracking

Social listening and sentiment analysis

Scheduled reporting and data export options

Advantages:

Comprehensive competitive analysis and benchmarking

Customizable dashboards and data visualization

Scheduled reporting and data export options

Disadvantages:

Lacks built-in social media publishing features

Pricing may not suit all budgets

Free Trial: 14-day free trial

Pricing: Basic ($199/month), Professional ($349/month), Enterprise (custom pricing)

Choosing the right social media analytics software is essential for understanding your online presence, optimizing your marketing strategy, and making informed decisions.

Each of the 11 platforms above offers unique features and benefits, so consider your specific needs and goals before deciding.

Whether you’re looking for advanced analytics capabilities, social listening features, or comprehensive management tools, this list of the 11 best social media analytics software of 2023 is a great starting point for
finding the perfect solution for your business.

Please take advantage of these platforms’ free trials and demos to test their features and determine which software best aligns with your needs and budget.

In addition to selecting the right software, investing time in understanding the data and insights these tools provide is crucial.

Regularly monitoring your social media analytics will allow you to fine-tune your strategy, improve engagement, and, ultimately, achieve better results.

As the social media landscape evolves, staying up-to-date with the latest trends and tools is essential for maintaining a competitive edge.

Keep an eye on new social media analytics software developments, and be prepared to adapt your strategy as needed to ensure long-term success in the digital space.

By leveraging the power of social media analytics software, you can unlock valuable insights, drive engagement, and elevate your brand’s online presence.

With the right tool, you’ll be well-equipped to navigate the ever-changing world of social media and make data-driven decisions that propel your business forward.