Start by deciding whether you need competitor benchmarking or only reporting on your own channels. Analytics specialists go deepest on comparisons, analytics-first management suites add scheduling around the numbers, and enterprise social platforms bundle analytics into much bigger systems. Check network coverage and how much history each tool holds before you pick.
Do you need to see your competitors' numbers, or only your own? That one question splits the nine tools below into very different shortlists, and it's worth answering before you open a single trial. They're listed A to Z, in no particular order, with a table and a breakdown by type further down.
Every option, alphabetically
Each line below reflects how the vendor describes its own product, so read every claim as the vendor's claim, not a finding.
Agorapulse
Best for: Business teams wanting inbox, publishing, reporting, monitoring and collaboration together; the vendor calls it an AI social media platform built for business results.
Dash Social
Best for: Larger brands connecting social channels and automating workflows with what the vendor calls brand-intelligent AI that drives growth.
Emplifi
Best for: Big brands joining social marketing to commerce and customer care; the vendor pitches autonomous customer experience across all three.
Fan Page Karma
Best for: Analysts who want to study many profiles, customise reports and publish from one tool; the vendor says you can analyse unlimited profiles.
Iconosquare
Best for: Social managers running several profiles who want scheduling, reporting and listening built around what the vendor calls an analytics-first approach.
Metricool
Best for: Small businesses and freelancers managing social and ad content in one place; the vendor says its Free plan lets you use it free, forever.
Quintly
Best for: Social teams wanting competitive benchmarking built on what the vendor describes as network-native data and insights.
Socialinsider
Best for: Heads of social who need to prove impact; the vendor claims it shows exactly how you stack up against competitors on every major platform.
Sprout Social
Best for: Marketing teams covering publishing, engagement, analytics and influencer marketing, with the vendor's pitch being to own every social touchpoint from one platform.
How they compare at a glance
| Tool | Type | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Agorapulse | Social media management | Teams sharing an inbox, publishing and reports |
| Dash Social | Enterprise social platform | Larger brands automating social workflows |
| Emplifi | Enterprise social suite | Brands linking social with commerce and care |
| Fan Page Karma | Analytics and publishing | Custom reports across lots of profiles |
| Iconosquare | Analytics-first management | Managers running several brand profiles |
| Metricool | Scheduling and analytics | Organic posts and ad content side by side |
| Quintly | Analytics and benchmarking | Comparisons built on network-native data |
| Socialinsider | Competitor analytics | Proving impact against named competitors |
| Sprout Social | All-in-one social suite | Publishing, engagement and influencer work in one |
Whose numbers are you after?
Rival IQ's own page sells competitive social analytics plus SEO and reporting for digital marketers. A lot of teams leaving it discover they only ever opened the reports on their own channels. If that's you, you've got far more choice, because nearly every social tool now reports on your connected accounts.
The real split is in whose data a tool shows. Some only report on the accounts you connect. Some pull public data on competitors. Some do both. Benchmarking against named rivals is the harder job, and it's where analytics tools differ most: which networks they cover and how far back the history goes. Check both on a trial with your actual competitors, not the demo brands.
One more thing older lists get wrong. Keyhole's own page now says its social listening is available on Muck Rack, so it's a different product from the analytics tool many older shortlists describe. If you see it recommended as a like-for-like swap, check what it does today before you book a call.
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Specialists, suites and enterprise platforms
Analytics and benchmarking specialists
Socialinsider, Quintly and Fan Page Karma are the closest to what you're leaving. They're built around data and comparison first, with publishing either light or absent. If competitor benchmarking is the reason you bought Rival IQ in the first place, start your trials here.
Analytics-first management suites
Iconosquare and Metricool put scheduling and reporting together, with analytics at the centre rather than tacked on. They suit small teams and freelancers who want one login for posting and reporting. Ignore the scheduler if you don't need it, but it's handy if you're paying for two tools today.
Enterprise social platforms
Sprout Social, Agorapulse, Dash Social and Emplifi are full social suites with inboxes, publishing, collaboration and, in some cases, commerce and customer care. Their reporting can be deep, but you're buying a whole platform. They make sense for in-house teams that want everything under one roof, and less sense if all you wanted was a benchmark report.
My advice on benchmarking tools
Don't buy a full management suite to replace an analytics tool unless you also want to move your scheduling. Teams that do that often end up with two schedulers and nobody sure which one's live. If benchmarking matters, shortlist two specialists and test them on the same competitors.
If you're mostly reporting on your own accounts, a lighter tool will do, and my list of free social media analytics tools is a good place to start. Agencies juggling lots of clients should also look at my guide to social media management tools for agencies.
A fortnight's benchmarking trial
- Pick three real competitors and the networks where you compete with them hardest.
- Add the same competitors to each tool you're trialling on the same day.
- Check how far back the history goes for each network, competitor by competitor.
- Build the monthly report you send today and see how long it takes in each tool.
- Show both reports to whoever reads them and keep the one they understood fastest.
Do you make social media analytics or benchmarking software? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
Want your tool on this list? Featured spots and reviews here are paid partnerships. Here's how to partner with me.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between social analytics and social listening?
Analytics reports on the performance of accounts, yours or a competitor's. Listening tracks mentions and conversations about a brand or topic, wherever they happen.
Can I benchmark competitors without connecting their accounts?
Some tools pull public data on competitor profiles, others only report on accounts you connect. Check which kind you're trialling before you rely on it.
Do I need a scheduler in my analytics tool?
Only if you want to replace your current scheduler too. Otherwise a reporting-only tool is simpler and avoids running two posting calendars.
How much history should a benchmarking tool hold?
Enough to compare like with like, such as the same month a year earlier. Check this per network, because coverage often varies.
Are enterprise social suites overkill for a small team?
Often, yes. They shine when lots of people share inboxes, approvals and reports, and they're heavier to set up than a specialist tool.
