Quick Overview
- 1#1: Planable - Collaborative platform designed for social media content creation, review, and approval workflows.
- 2#2: Agorapulse - Social media management tool with intuitive approval queues and team collaboration features.
- 3#3: Loomly - Visual social media calendar that streamlines content planning and multi-step approvals.
- 4#4: Sprout Social - Enterprise-grade social platform with robust approval workflows and compliance tools.
- 5#5: Hootsuite - Comprehensive social media dashboard offering customizable approval processes for teams.
- 6#6: Sendible - Agency-focused tool with white-label approval workflows for client content management.
- 7#7: ContentStudio - AI-driven social media suite featuring content discovery and streamlined approval cycles.
- 8#8: CoSchedule - Marketing calendar with integrated social media scheduling and approval automation.
- 9#9: SocialPilot - Cost-effective social media scheduler with team-based approval and collaboration.
- 10#10: Publer - All-in-one social media tool supporting post queuing and simple approval features.
We prioritized tools based on the strength of their approval capabilities, ease of use, collaboration features, and overall value, ensuring they address the needs of both small teams and enterprise operations.
Comparison Table
This comparison table evaluates top Social Media Approval Software tools, including Planable, Agorapulse, Loomly, Sprout Social, Hootsuite, and more, to help users navigate options effectively. It outlines key features, usability, and practical fit to guide informed decisions for streamlining social media workflows.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Planable Collaborative platform designed for social media content creation, review, and approval workflows. | specialized | 9.5/10 | 9.7/10 | 9.3/10 | 8.9/10 |
| 2 | Agorapulse Social media management tool with intuitive approval queues and team collaboration features. | specialized | 9.1/10 | 9.4/10 | 8.8/10 | 8.6/10 |
| 3 | Loomly Visual social media calendar that streamlines content planning and multi-step approvals. | specialized | 8.7/10 | 9.0/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.1/10 |
| 4 | Sprout Social Enterprise-grade social platform with robust approval workflows and compliance tools. | enterprise | 8.7/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.5/10 | 7.8/10 |
| 5 | Hootsuite Comprehensive social media dashboard offering customizable approval processes for teams. | enterprise | 8.4/10 | 8.7/10 | 7.9/10 | 8.1/10 |
| 6 | Sendible Agency-focused tool with white-label approval workflows for client content management. | specialized | 8.2/10 | 8.5/10 | 8.3/10 | 7.8/10 |
| 7 | ContentStudio AI-driven social media suite featuring content discovery and streamlined approval cycles. | general_ai | 8.1/10 | 8.4/10 | 7.9/10 | 7.7/10 |
| 8 | CoSchedule Marketing calendar with integrated social media scheduling and approval automation. | creative_suite | 8.4/10 | 9.0/10 | 8.0/10 | 7.8/10 |
| 9 | SocialPilot Cost-effective social media scheduler with team-based approval and collaboration. | specialized | 7.9/10 | 7.5/10 | 8.2/10 | 8.5/10 |
| 10 | Publer All-in-one social media tool supporting post queuing and simple approval features. | other | 7.6/10 | 7.4/10 | 8.5/10 | 8.8/10 |
Collaborative platform designed for social media content creation, review, and approval workflows.
Social media management tool with intuitive approval queues and team collaboration features.
Visual social media calendar that streamlines content planning and multi-step approvals.
Enterprise-grade social platform with robust approval workflows and compliance tools.
Comprehensive social media dashboard offering customizable approval processes for teams.
Agency-focused tool with white-label approval workflows for client content management.
AI-driven social media suite featuring content discovery and streamlined approval cycles.
Marketing calendar with integrated social media scheduling and approval automation.
Cost-effective social media scheduler with team-based approval and collaboration.
All-in-one social media tool supporting post queuing and simple approval features.
Planable
specializedCollaborative platform designed for social media content creation, review, and approval workflows.
Pixel-perfect, interactive previews that replicate each social platform's interface for precise content visualization and edits
Planable is a leading social media collaboration and approval platform designed to streamline content creation, review, and publishing workflows for teams. It features a visual planning board resembling social media interfaces, enabling real-time collaboration, feedback via comments and @mentions, and pixel-perfect previews across major platforms like Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTok. With built-in scheduling and approval processes, it ensures brand consistency and efficiency in social media management.
Pros
- Intuitive visual calendar and previews that mimic actual social platforms for accurate planning
- Robust approval workflows with comments, revisions, and role-based permissions
- Seamless collaboration tools including @mentions, task assignments, and version history
Cons
- Higher pricing tiers may be costly for very small teams or solopreneurs
- Limited native analytics compared to full-fledged social media suites
- Occasional glitches in integrations with lesser-used platforms
Best For
Marketing agencies and enterprise teams requiring structured content approval and collaborative planning for multi-platform social media campaigns.
Pricing
Free plan for basics; Starter at $11/user/month, Pro at $33/user/month, Business at $99/user/month (billed annually), Enterprise custom.
Agorapulse
specializedSocial media management tool with intuitive approval queues and team collaboration features.
Customizable approval queues with comment threads and notifications, enabling seamless team reviews directly in the composer
Agorapulse is a robust social media management platform with strong emphasis on team collaboration and content approval workflows, allowing users to create, review, and approve posts before scheduling or publishing across multiple platforms. It features a centralized inbox for monitoring mentions, a visual calendar for planning, and customizable approval processes that support multi-level reviews and comments. The tool also includes reporting, listening, and CRM features to enhance overall social media efficiency.
Pros
- Powerful multi-step approval workflows for team collaboration
- Visual content calendar and unified inbox for streamlined planning
- Comprehensive reporting and analytics tailored for agencies
Cons
- Pricing scales quickly with more users and profiles
- Limited customization in free tier
- Steeper learning curve for advanced approval automations
Best For
Agencies and mid-sized teams handling multiple social accounts that require structured content review and approval processes.
Pricing
Free plan for 3 profiles; Pro starts at $79/mo (10 profiles, 1 user, annual billing); Premium at $139/mo (20 profiles, up to 5 users); Enterprise custom.
Loomly
specializedVisual social media calendar that streamlines content planning and multi-step approvals.
Exact social media post previews in the approval interface, showing pixel-perfect renditions before publishing
Loomly is a social media management platform designed for content planning, scheduling, publishing, and team collaboration, with robust approval workflows at its core. It enables users to create posts, assign reviewers, collect feedback through comments and labels, and track approvals via a visual calendar. Ideal for teams needing streamlined content governance across platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, it also offers analytics and auto-scheduling features.
Pros
- Intuitive visual calendar for easy workflow oversight
- Multi-step approval process with comments and notifications
- Seamless integration with major social platforms
Cons
- Advanced approval customizations locked behind higher plans
- Pricing scales quickly for larger teams
- Analytics depth lags behind enterprise competitors
Best For
Mid-sized marketing teams and agencies seeking user-friendly approval workflows without excessive complexity.
Pricing
Starts at $42/user/month (billed annually) for Base plan; scales to $146+/user/month for Enterprise with custom features.
Sprout Social
enterpriseEnterprise-grade social platform with robust approval workflows and compliance tools.
Customizable approval queues in the Visual Calendar for efficient team reviews and brand-safe publishing
Sprout Social is a full-featured social media management platform with built-in approval workflows designed to streamline content review and collaboration across teams. It enables users to create posts, route them through customizable approval queues with comments and revisions, and schedule them only after necessary sign-offs, ensuring brand compliance. The tool integrates approvals seamlessly with publishing, analytics, listening, and reporting for a unified experience.
Pros
- Robust, customizable multi-level approval workflows with real-time collaboration
- Seamless integration with publishing calendar and analytics
- Granular permissions and audit trails for compliance
Cons
- High pricing may not suit small teams or approval-only needs
- Full platform can feel overwhelming for users focused solely on approvals
- Advanced features require time to master
Best For
Mid-sized to enterprise marketing teams seeking integrated social media management with strong approval processes.
Pricing
Professional: $249/user/month; Advanced: $399/user/month; Enterprise: Custom (annual billing).
Hootsuite
enterpriseComprehensive social media dashboard offering customizable approval processes for teams.
Customizable approval workflows that integrate directly with post scheduling and team permissions
Hootsuite is a leading social media management platform that incorporates approval workflows to streamline content review and collaboration across teams before publishing. It enables assigning posts to approvers, collecting feedback, and enforcing multi-level approvals while integrating scheduling, monitoring, and analytics for multiple social channels. This makes it suitable for organizations needing coordinated social media operations with built-in governance.
Pros
- Robust approval workflows with assignment, feedback, and multi-step reviews
- Seamless integration across 20+ social platforms and tools
- Advanced analytics and reporting tied to approved content performance
Cons
- Interface can feel overwhelming for beginners due to extensive features
- Advanced approval and team features require higher-tier plans
- Less specialized in approval compared to dedicated workflow tools
Best For
Mid-to-large marketing teams seeking an all-in-one social media platform with reliable approval processes.
Pricing
Starts at $99/month (Professional, 10 accounts); Team plan at $249/month includes approvals and collaboration for up to 20 accounts.
Sendible
specializedAgency-focused tool with white-label approval workflows for client content management.
Customizable multi-level approval chains with in-draft commenting and task assignments
Sendible is a comprehensive social media management platform that streamlines content creation, scheduling, and approval workflows for teams. Its approval system allows users to set up multi-level review processes, assign tasks to team members, and collaborate via comments directly on drafts before publishing. Beyond approvals, it offers analytics, reporting, and integrations with major social networks like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Pros
- Robust multi-level approval workflows with task assignment and comments
- Integrated analytics and reporting tied to approved content
- Supports collaboration across multiple social platforms seamlessly
Cons
- Pricing scales per user, which can get expensive for large teams
- Steeper learning curve for customizing advanced workflows
- Limited customization in approval notifications compared to dedicated tools
Best For
Mid-sized marketing teams seeking an all-in-one social media tool with solid approval features for content review.
Pricing
Plans start at $29/user/month (Creator), up to $199/user/month (Scale), billed annually; free trial available.
ContentStudio
general_aiAI-driven social media suite featuring content discovery and streamlined approval cycles.
AI-powered content curation and suggestion integrated directly into the approval workflow
ContentStudio is an all-in-one social media management platform with built-in approval workflows that enable teams to collaborate on content creation, review, and scheduling across multiple platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. It features a visual content calendar for easy oversight, real-time notifications for approvals, and integration with content discovery tools to streamline the entire process. While not exclusively an approval tool, its workflow system ensures compliance and quality control before posts go live.
Pros
- Robust approval workflows with comments and revisions
- Supports 10+ social platforms and content discovery
- Integrated analytics for post-performance tracking
Cons
- Pricing scales quickly for multiple accounts
- Steeper learning curve for advanced workflows
- Limited native integrations with some CRMs
Best For
Marketing teams and agencies needing collaborative approval alongside scheduling and analytics.
Pricing
Starts at $49/month (Pro, billed annually) for 10 social accounts; Agency at $98/month; custom Enterprise pricing.
CoSchedule
creative_suiteMarketing calendar with integrated social media scheduling and approval automation.
Drag-and-drop Marketing Calendar with built-in approval gates and team permissions
CoSchedule is a comprehensive marketing calendar platform designed for content planning, social media management, and team collaboration. It features robust approval workflows that enable creators, reviewers, and approvers to collaborate seamlessly on social posts before scheduling across platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Integrated with tools like WordPress and Google Analytics, it provides a centralized hub for streamlining social media approval processes while offering scheduling and analytics capabilities.
Pros
- Visual marketing calendar for easy content oversight and approvals
- Customizable multi-step approval workflows with notifications
- ReQueue feature for automated best-time reposting of high-performers
Cons
- Pricing scales quickly for larger teams
- Interface can feel cluttered for social-only users
- Limited native video editing or advanced social listening
Best For
Marketing teams and agencies seeking an all-in-one calendar for collaborative social media planning and approvals.
Pricing
Starts at $29/user/month (Pro, billed annually); Team plan $89/month (up to 3 users); Enterprise custom pricing.
SocialPilot
specializedCost-effective social media scheduler with team-based approval and collaboration.
Role-based approval workflows with client portals for external feedback and seamless publishing integration
SocialPilot is a social media management platform with built-in approval workflows designed for teams and agencies to collaborate on content creation and scheduling. It offers role-based permissions, multi-level reviews, comments, and approvals directly within a visual content calendar across platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. This streamlines the process from drafting to publishing, reducing errors and ensuring brand compliance before posts go live.
Pros
- Affordable pricing with generous team features
- Integrated approval calendar for easy collaboration
- Bulk scheduling and approval for efficiency
Cons
- Limited advanced workflow customization
- Occasional interface glitches during heavy use
- Fewer enterprise-level security options
Best For
Small to mid-sized marketing teams and agencies needing cost-effective approval tied to scheduling.
Pricing
Plans start at $30/month (Small Team, annually), up to $170/month (Agency plan) with custom enterprise options.
Publer
otherAll-in-one social media tool supporting post queuing and simple approval features.
Role-based approval queues that send real-time notifications and allow quick in-app approvals directly from the post calendar
Publer is a versatile social media management tool that incorporates approval workflows, allowing teams to collaborate on content creation, review drafts, and approve posts before scheduling across platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and more. It features a visual calendar for planning, role-based permissions (e.g., editor, reviewer, approver), and notifications for streamlined approvals. While primarily a scheduler, its approval system suits small teams needing efficient content sign-off without complex enterprise setups.
Pros
- Intuitive approval workflow with role assignments and notifications
- Supports scheduling and approvals across 10+ social platforms
- Affordable pricing with a free tier for basic use
Cons
- Approval features lack advanced customization or multi-stage routing
- Limited scalability for large teams or enterprise compliance needs
- Analytics are basic, not deeply integrated with approval insights
Best For
Small businesses and marketing teams seeking simple, cost-effective social media approval integrated with scheduling.
Pricing
Free plan for 3 social accounts; Pro starts at $12/month (10 accounts), $20/month (unlimited); Team plans from $25/user/month.
Conclusion
The top three social media approval software tools each bring distinct strengths to the table, with Planable leading as the standout choice, celebrated for its intuitive collaborative content creation and seamless approval workflows. Agorapulse follows closely, impressing with its user-friendly approval queues and robust team collaboration features, while Loomly rounds out the top trio, excelling with its visual calendar and streamlined multi-step approval processes, catering to diverse workflow needs.
Ready to elevate your social media management? Start with Planable to unlock its powerful approval tools, or explore Agorapulse or Loomly if their unique features better fit your team’s priorities—either way, investing in the right software can transform your content approval process.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison