| SocialHandoff | SocialPilot | |
|---|---|---|
| MCP server for AI agents | Yes | Yes |
| Human approval before publish | Yes | yes (Standard and above) |
| Per-agent API keys and scopes | Yes | no (API on Enterprise) |
| Open source / self-host | yes (AGPL-3.0) | No |
| Instagram & TikTok | yes (Instagram professional accounts; TikTok private until audited) | Yes |
| X, LinkedIn, Bluesky, Mastodon | yes (plus Threads) | X, LinkedIn, Bluesky; no Mastodon |
| Analytics depth | partial (per-post metrics) | Yes |
| Team collaboration | partial (multi-reviewer on Pro) | Yes |
| Free plan | Self-host free; 14-day hosted trial | No |
| Lowest paid price | $19/mo | $30/month, or $25.50/month billed annually (Essentials) |
Source: www.socialpilot.co · Checked 2026-09-28
At a glance
| Area | SocialPilot | SocialHandoff |
|---|---|---|
| Approval | Standard and above; client approval on Premium | Every plan; multi-reviewer on Pro |
| MCP | Every plan | Every plan |
| REST API | Enterprise | Every plan |
| Agent keys | Not published | One per agent, scoped |
| Networks | Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, LinkedIn, Threads, YouTube, Pinterest, Google Business, Bluesky | X, LinkedIn, Bluesky, Mastodon, Threads, Instagram, Facebook Pages, TikTok |
| White label | Yes | No |
| Self-host | No | Yes |
Approvals
SocialPilot's manager and client approval flows are built for agency hierarchies. SocialHandoff's approval is built for software authors: the agent that drafts cannot approve, the approval card shows a per-network preview, and each decision is written to a hash-chained audit log.
Developer access
If you want to wire publishing into your own code, SocialHandoff's REST API, OpenAPI spec, and SDK are on every plan, and /llms.txt helps agents discover them. Automation tools such as Zapier and Make connect over REST or MCP.
Where SocialPilot is ahead
Network breadth, bulk scheduling, white-label client reports, and AI credits. For a social agency, these are daily needs, and SocialHandoff does not cover them.
Pricing arithmetic
SocialPilot lists Essentials at $30 a month ($25.50 billed annually), Standard at $50 ($42.50), Premium at $100 ($85), and Ultimate at $200 ($170), per its plans page on 2026-09-28. Approval starts on Standard.
SocialHandoff Starter is $19 a month for 5 channels and 2 agents with approvals included; Agency is $149 for 60 channels. If you need approvals, compare SocialPilot Standard at $50 with SocialHandoff Starter or Pro. The plans count accounts and users differently, so map your own numbers first. Prices change.
Migration notes
There is no SocialPilot importer. Reconnect your accounts in SocialHandoff, replace the MCP server entry in your agent's config, and issue scoped keys. Keep SocialPilot for YouTube, Pinterest, and white-label clients if needed.
Who each suits
A social media agency with many clients who expect white-label reports is better served by SocialPilot. A product team, open source project, or small agency posting updates drafted by agents is better served by SocialHandoff. Both offer trials, so you can compare them on your own accounts before you commit. Test the approval flow with a real draft, not a sample, because that is where the two tools feel most different.