Hootsuite is one of the best free web client I have used so far but seems like in coming week I have to say good bye to Hootsuite and start with some alternative to it. If you are not aware of Hootsuite, read my review of hootsuite.
Hootsuite is one of the best twitter web client which let you manage multiple Twitter account from Web interface and allow team member to be a part of it. Hootsuite used to be one of the best free feature rich twitter web client but from now onwards it can’t be considered as free twitter client.
In a blog announcement Hootsuite CEO Ryan Holmes announced that Hootsuite is now Freemium ( a business model that works by offering basic Web services, or a basic downloadable digital product, for free, while charging a premium for advanced or special features). All the users who will sign up with hootsuite need to select a plan.
Starting today (Wednesday, Aug. 11th), all new customers will be required to select a plan upon signing-up — including choosing the free option if desired.
The following week, current Hoot Suite users will be asked to choose a package with the help of a migration wizard to help you choose the best plan.
I’m already using Hoootsuite to manage my multiple Twitter ID’s like @callingallgeeks @shoutmeloud @wphostingdiscount @denharsh. And also I feed all my feeds via Hootsuite but if I decide to continue using Hootsuite in future use, I might need to select their Bronze plan which is almost 4.99$/month and is not bad.
Here is a chart of hootsuite plan:
Basic plan is still useful for those who have one blog and one or two Twitter handle. I would love to know your reaction on Hootsuite going Freemium? As an alternative you might like to try your hands on Social oomph.
Are you a Hoot Suite user? Are you going to buy any premium plan from Hootsuite or will be using some hootsuite alternative?
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Article by Harsh Agrawal
Harsh has written 1206 articles.
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{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks God the free has still limit of 5. Platinum package is very costly.
True but one downside of free account is it let you feed only one blog feed.
Harsh, I’m surprised by this move. I don’t think anyone wants to pay for a twitter app but many users who manage multiple social networks will need to bite the bullet. If things go well for HootSuite, Tweetdeck will follow suit shortly, don’t you agree?
It’s is really kind of sad to see this happening to my favorite Twitter App.
Ileane I know many people who pay for Twitter apps..specially one which automate your twitter profile.
I can;t deny your fact on Tweetdeck following the path of hootsuite but it will not be so cool for loyal fan of Tweetdeck like me.. As it is, Hootsuite going freemium is a shocking news for me.
hootsuite was definitely a class apart and the best part ws that it was free..will have to make-do with social oomph which is not as cool..
I agree with your Mohit. Socialoomph is not as cool as Hootsuite but when it comes to free alternative Social-oomph might get an advantage here.
I am using TweetDeck. So I won’t be effected by this change. Any chance of TweetDeck also going freemium?
Kindest,
Nabeel
P.S.Isn’t Hootsuite going Freemium from being totally free (instead of going premium from freemium as you say)? As Freemium means “a business model that works by offering basic Web services, or a basic downloadable digital product, for free, while charging a premium for advanced or special features.”
I think the statements “Hootsuite Twitter Web Client Goes Premium from Freemium” and “I would love to know your reaction on Hootsuite going premium?” are misleading, as Mashable also said that “HootSuite has just joined the ranks of websites like Flickr, Vimeo and Pandora: It’s unveiled a freemium business model that’s tiered and tailored for all kinds of users.”
Hey Nabeel
Thanks for explanation. My bad and my poor understanding of Freemium here. Let me correct the article title.
more over I hope Tweetdeck remains free else people have to move to some other twitter client like Seesmic and as per my knowledge and reaction from readers: tweetdeck is more popular than sessmic. With a close competition from Seesmic, I doubt tweetdeck becoming Freemium.
Great Harsh!
Thanks for correcting!
Kindest,
Nabeel
A bit stingy for free individual accounts with only 1 RSS feed allowed and 5 social networks. I think this is a step to far for free users. I have 5 social accounts already and at least 8 RSS feeds, so i would have to use their bronze account to stay active. I can easily transfer RSS feeds to another service i suppose and keep my present allocation of social accounts. I think overall this will lose them subscribers especially with groups, bigger organisations may take on the premium plans, time will tell. As for Social Oomph, well i haven’t been in there for ages but it doesn’t have a patch on HootSuite. Will defo be looking at TweetDeck and People Browser for better free alternatives.
It was fun while it lasted as free. I had switched over to Hootsuite from Tweetdeck as I wanted to use a browser based program.
How good is ping.fm? Can some reviews be posted.
Thanks!
I never knew about Hootsuite. From the time I joined Twitter I am using socialoomph for managing my twitter accounts and rss feeds. They are free (at least till now – don’t know about the future) and I have never faced any problem with them.
Might be a good alternative for those who want to switch.
I have been using HootSuite for a while, and it’s the best twitter client by far (that I have tested). Now, I don’t enjoy the new business model, but I understand that HootSuite need to make money… but I’m not sure if I’m ready to pay a monthly fee for a twitter client.
On the other hand, I’m not sure I need to upgrade from free. I have one twitter account and three blogs (and I don’t use the rss feature).
We have been using hootsuite to manage our accounts within our small non-profit. The team function is crucial, as is multiple networks. It is so frustrating when companies take free features and start to charge for them. It is one thing to offer enhance features and charge, but to get me hooked on something and then charge is just stupid. Especially for non-profits and small businesses with limited budgets.
As free member, allow add up to 2 RSS, but i can’t save RSS every i enter save button showing pop up hootsuite pro, try to learn more or cancel, still can’t save my rss.