HeyOrca Alternatives: How They Compare
6 min readheyorca alternativessocial media schedulingsocial media toolssocial media management
We make iHatePosting. Competitor details come from their official sites, checked November 2026. How we compare tools →
The main HeyOrca alternatives are iHatePosting, Buffer, Publer and Sprout Social. HeyOrca prices per workspace, Buffer per channel, Publer by social account and Sprout Social per seat. iHatePosting, an AI social media scheduler for 15 networks with unlimited accounts for $15/month (billed annually), charges one flat price. Every figure here was checked on 6 November 2026.
Key takeaways
- HeyOrca Basic costs $59 per workspace per month and Pro costs $149, with up to 10 social profiles per workspace, per HeyOrca's pricing page (checked November 2026).
- HeyOrca Free covers 1 user, 15 scheduled posts a month and 2 social profiles, and starts with a 14-day Pro trial, per the same page.
- Buffer's free plan connects up to 3 channels, and its paid plans cost $5 (Essentials) or $10 (Team) per channel per month billed yearly, per Buffer's pricing page (checked November 2026).
- Publer's free plan covers 3 social accounts, and its paid plans start at $4 a month billed yearly, per Publer's pricing page (checked November 2026).
- Sprout Social Essentials is $79 per seat per month, with a 30-day free trial, per Sprout Social's pricing page (checked November 2026).
The right choice depends on how you are charged as much as on features. A tool that charges per workspace, per channel or per seat gets more expensive as you add brands, accounts or teammates. A flat price stays the same. The table below puts the five side by side, and the notes after it say where each one is stronger.
The five tools side by side
| Tool | Best for | Networks | Free plan | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HeyOrca (for reference) | Small teams and agencies that work in client workspaces with approvals | Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Threads, TikTok, YouTube, Google Business Profile | Yes: 1 user, 15 scheduled posts a month, 2 profiles | Basic $59 per workspace per month; Pro $149 |
| iHatePosting | People and teams with many accounts or brands who want one flat price | 15 networks, from Instagram and Facebook to Bluesky, Mastodon, Telegram, Discord, Slack and Tumblr | No permanent free plan. Free for 90 days, no credit card needed | $15/month billed annually, or $19 month-to-month, with unlimited accounts |
| Buffer | Individuals and small teams that want a simple queue priced per channel | Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads, TikTok, Pinterest, YouTube, X, Bluesky, Mastodon, Google Business Profile and Substack | Yes: up to 3 channels, 10 scheduled posts per channel, 1 user | Essentials $5 per channel per month billed yearly; Team $10 |
| Publer | Solo creators, small businesses and agencies that want a low price per account | Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X (paid plans only), Threads, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Mastodon, Google Business Profile, YouTube, Telegram, Bluesky and WordPress | Yes: 3 social accounts, 10 scheduled posts per account, 1 user | Professional from $4 a month billed yearly; Business from $8 |
| Sprout Social | Teams that want an inbox, monitoring and reporting alongside publishing | Not listed on its pricing page | No free plan. 30-day free trial, no credit card needed | Essentials $79 per seat per month (up to 5 profiles); Standard $199 |
Source: each tool's own pricing or features page, checked 6 November 2026. Prices and limits change, so confirm them on the page before you buy.
Where each tool is stronger
HeyOrca
HeyOrca is built around client workspaces. Its pricing page lists custom approval workflows, a Canva integration, link in bio with click tracking and Instagram automated DMs. Its paid plans include unlimited users and scheduled posts. The social inbox is an add-on on Basic and included on Pro. It also lists a 5-minute support response time on Basic and Pro. If approvals and a human support team are what you need, those are real strengths.
iHatePosting
iHatePosting is stronger when the number of accounts is the problem. It covers 15 networks, including Bluesky, Mastodon, Telegram, Discord, Slack and Tumblr. It keeps each brand or client in its own customer group, with no limit on brands or team members. It also includes a public API, a hosted MCP server, a CLI and webhooks on the same plan. Its limit is the trial. It is free for 90 days, and if you do not subscribe, scheduling pauses and your scheduled posts move back to drafts.
Buffer
Buffer is stronger when you have only a few channels. Its free plan connects up to 3, and paid plans start at $5 per channel per month billed yearly. Its Team plan lists unlimited team members and content approval workflows. Because it charges per channel, the cost rises with every channel you add.
Publer
Publer has the lowest listed paid price in this comparison, from $4 a month billed yearly. Its paid plans include X, which it says it can only support on paid subscriptions, and it supports WordPress and Telegram. Its Business plan adds analytics, best times to post, competitor analysis and API access. Its price depends on how many social accounts you connect.
Sprout Social
Sprout Social is stronger on engagement and reporting. Its Standard plan lists a consolidated inbox, keyword and location monitoring and review management, and its higher plans add more reporting. It is priced per seat, and its plans cost more than the others here. It also offers a 30-day free trial.
Which HeyOrca alternative fits you?
Match the tool to the problem you are trying to solve. If you manage many accounts and want a bill that does not grow with them, start with iHatePosting. If you have two or three channels and want a simple queue, look at Buffer. If price per account matters most, look at Publer. If your team needs an inbox and deeper reporting, look at Sprout Social. If client approvals are the core of your work, HeyOrca may already be the right fit.
Whichever you try, test it with your real content for the length of its trial. Connect the accounts you actually use, schedule a week of posts, and see whether the workflow holds up.
HeyOrca alternatives FAQ
What is the best HeyOrca alternative?
It depends on what you need. For a flat price across many accounts, try iHatePosting. For a simple per-channel queue, try Buffer. For a low price per account, try Publer. For an inbox and reporting, try Sprout Social. Each has a free plan or trial, so test the one that fits.
Does HeyOrca have a free plan?
Yes. HeyOrca Free covers 1 user, 15 scheduled posts a month and 2 social profiles, and it starts with a 14-day Pro trial. After the trial the account returns to the free plan's features. This comes from HeyOrca's pricing page, checked on 6 November 2026.
How is HeyOrca priced compared with the alternatives?
HeyOrca charges per workspace, $59 a month for Basic and $149 for Pro, with up to 10 profiles each. Buffer charges per channel, Publer by the number of social accounts, and Sprout Social per seat. iHatePosting charges one flat price, $15/month billed annually or $19 month-to-month, with unlimited accounts.
Which tool is best for agencies?
That depends on how your agency works. HeyOrca is built around client workspaces and approvals. Buffer's Team plan lists approval workflows and unlimited team members. iHatePosting keeps each client in its own customer group with no limit on brands or team members. Compare how each one charges as you add clients.
