Are you still guessing what works on your social media? Imagine if you could see exactly which posts drive engagement, what your audience loves, and how your brand stacks up against competitors all in real time. The right social media analytics tools turn confusion into clarity, helping you grow faster and smarter. Whether you’re a freelancer, small business owner, or a growing brand, these tools will help you unlock the full potential of your social media strategy.

I’m Riten, founder of Fueler a platform that helps freelancers and professionals get hired by showcasing their work samples. In this article, I’ll walk you through the most powerful social media analytics tools you should try right now. But remember, tracking your results is only part of the journey. The real magic happens when you present your social media wins in a portfolio that proves your skills and builds trust. Your analytics aren’t just numbers—they’re your credibility and your shortcut to new opportunities.

1. Sprout Social

Sprout Social is a top-rated analytics and management platform trusted by brands worldwide. It combines powerful analytics, scheduling, and social listening in one easy-to-use dashboard. With Sprout Social, you can track engagement, monitor your brand reputation, and collaborate with your team—all from one place.

• Visualizes data with customizable, easy-to-read reports
• Monitors keywords, hashtags, and brand mentions
• Schedules posts and manages multiple social profiles
• Offers team collaboration and workflow tools

Pricing:

• Standard: $199 per user/month (5 social profiles)
• Professional: $299 per user/month (unlimited profiles, advanced analytics)
• Advanced: $399 per user/month (all features, automation, premium support)
• Enterprise: Custom pricing (tailored for large organizations)

Why it matters: Sprout Social helps you make smarter, data-driven decisions. With its detailed analytics and reporting, you’ll know exactly what’s working and where to improve, making it essential for anyone serious about social media growth.

2. Hootsuite Analytics

Hootsuite Analytics is a favorite among marketers for its all-in-one approach. It lets you schedule content, monitor mentions, and analyze performance across multiple social networks. The platform’s detailed reports help you understand your audience and optimize your strategy.

• Tracks engagement, clicks, and reach for every post
• Provides customizable, exportable reports
• Integrates with over 20 social networks
• Supports team management and assignments

Pricing:

• Professional: $99/month (1 user, 10 social accounts)
• Team: $249/month (3 users, 20 social accounts)
• Business: $739/month (5 users, 35 social accounts)
• Enterprise: Custom pricing

Why it matters: Hootsuite Analytics gives you a clear picture of your social media ROI. By tracking every metric, you can focus on what’s working, improve your campaigns, and drive better results.

3. Buffer Analyze

Buffer Analyze, part of the Buffer suite, is designed for simplicity and clarity. It’s perfect for small businesses and individuals who want actionable insights without overwhelming data. Its clean dashboards make it easy to spot trends and optimize your content strategy.

• Clean, intuitive dashboards for quick insights
• Tracks engagement, reach, and follower growth
• Suggests best times to post
• Allows comparison between posts and platforms

Pricing:

• Essentials: $6/month per social channel
• Team: $12/month per social channel (includes team collaboration)
• Agency: $120/month for 10 channels

Why it matters: Buffer Analyze helps you understand what content resonates with your audience. By focusing on actionable insights, you can refine your strategy and grow your social presence efficiently.

4. Brandwatch

Brandwatch is an advanced social listening and analytics tool. It not only tracks mentions of your brand but also analyzes sentiment and trends across the web. If you want to know what people really think about your brand, Brandwatch is the go-to tool.

• Monitors brand mentions across social media, news, blogs, and forums
• Analyzes sentiment, emotions, and trends
• Tracks competitors and industry benchmarks
• Provides deep audience and influencer insights

Pricing:

• Consumer Intelligence: Starting at $1,000/month (custom plans based on needs)

Why it matters: Brandwatch gives you a competitive edge by revealing how people feel about your brand and what’s trending in your industry. This helps you stay ahead, manage your reputation, and adjust your strategy in real time.

5. Socialbakers (now Emplifi)

Socialbakers, now part of Emplifi, is an AI-powered analytics platform. It helps you understand your audience, benchmark against competitors, and automate content recommendations for better engagement.

• AI-driven content and audience insights
• Competitor benchmarking and industry analysis
• Automated, shareable reports
• Social listening and influencer discovery

Pricing:

• Essential: $200/month (up to 10 profiles)
• Complete: Custom pricing (based on features and scale)

Why it matters: Emplifi helps you work smarter with automated insights and recommendations. This means you can focus on creating content that truly connects with your audience and drives measurable growth.

6. Google Analytics (with Social Reports)

Google Analytics isn’t just for websites—it tracks how social media drives traffic and conversions on your site. By connecting your social accounts, you can see which platforms deliver the best results and optimize your campaigns accordingly.

• Tracks social media traffic, conversions, and user behavior
• Integrates with all major social networks
• Offers customizable dashboards and reports
• Free to use with advanced features for businesses

Pricing:

• Free (Standard)
• Google Analytics 360: $12,500/month (for enterprise features)

Why it matters: Google Analytics helps you connect your social media efforts to real business outcomes. By tracking conversions and user journeys, you can prove the value of your social campaigns and make smarter marketing decisions.

7. Zoho Social

Zoho Social is a budget-friendly analytics and management tool for growing businesses and agencies. It offers real-time monitoring, scheduling, and detailed analytics for all major social networks.

• Real-time monitoring of brand mentions and keywords
• Detailed analytics for engagement, reach, and growth
• Post scheduling and content calendar
• Team collaboration and client management features

Pricing:

• Standard: $15/month (1 brand, 7 channels)
• Professional: $40/month (1 brand, 8 channels, advanced analytics)
• Agency: $320/month (10 brands, 80 channels)

Why it matters: Zoho Social makes it easy for small businesses to track and improve their social media performance without breaking the bank. Its affordable plans and robust features are perfect for those just starting out.

8. Iconosquare

Iconosquare is a specialist analytics tool for Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. It’s known for its in-depth visual reports and content optimization features, making it ideal for brands focused on visual platforms.

• Detailed analytics for engagement, reach, and follower growth
• Content optimization tips and hashtag tracking
• Competitor benchmarking and industry insights
• Custom, exportable reports

Pricing (as of July 2025):

• Single: $49/month (3 social profiles)
• Teams: $79/month (5 social profiles)
• Advanced: $139/month (10 social profiles)

Why it matters: Iconosquare helps you master visual storytelling by showing exactly what works on Instagram and other platforms. Its deep analytics and optimization tips help you grow your brand’s presence and engagement.

Fueler: Showcase Your Analytics Wins

As you start using these analytics tools, remember that the real power lies in how you present your results. At Fueler, we help you turn your social media insights into a compelling portfolio that gets you noticed by clients and companies. With Fueler, you can showcase your best campaigns, highlight your analytics-driven growth, and prove your skills through real assignments. This is how top freelancers and professionals get hired in 2025—by showing, not just telling.

Final Thoughts

Social media analytics tools are more than just dashboards—they’re your secret weapon for growth. By understanding what works, tracking your progress, and presenting your wins in a strong portfolio, you set yourself up for success in today’s digital world. Whether you’re a freelancer, small business, or growing brand, these tools will help you unlock new opportunities and reach your goals faster.

FAQs

1. What is the best social media analytics tool for small businesses?

For small businesses, Buffer Analyze and Zoho Social are popular choices due to their affordability, ease of use, and powerful analytics features.

2. Are there any free social media analytics tools?

Yes, Google Analytics offers free social reports, and most platforms like Facebook and Instagram provide basic analytics for free. However, advanced features usually require a paid plan.

3. How can social media analytics improve my marketing strategy?

Analytics help you understand which content performs best, track audience growth, and measure ROI. This allows you to focus on what works and improve your overall marketing strategy.

4. Can I track my competitors with these tools?

Yes, tools like Brandwatch, Socialbakers (Emplifi), and Iconosquare offer competitor tracking and benchmarking features to help you stay ahead in your industry.

5. How do I showcase my social media analytics skills to employers or clients?

Use a platform like Fueler to create a portfolio of your best campaigns, highlight your analytics-driven wins, and demonstrate your expertise through real assignments and case studies.

What is Fueler Portfolio?

Fueler is a career portfolio platform that helps companies find the best talents for their organization based on their proof of work.

You can create your portfolio on Fueler, thousands of freelancers around the world use Fueler to create their professional-looking portfolios and become financially independent. Discover inspiration for your portfolio

Sign up for free on Fueler or get in touch to learn more.