Last Updated: November 19th, 2024

What Is Hoozu?

Hoozu is a top influencer marketing agency based in Sydney, Australia, known for connecting brands with creators through innovative strategies. Over the years, it has collaborated with well-known Australian brands such as Bunnings, Super Cheap Auto, and Ryobi, solidifying its reputation in the industry.  This Hoozu review dives into its features, pros & cons, and Hoozu alternatives for brands exploring influencer marketing solutions.

Hoozu established a talent management division called Huume, which focuses on nurturing Australian influencers to further support the influencer community. This dedication to both brands and creators has earned Hoozu recognition for its impactful campaigns and creative partnerships, including being named the best boutique influencer agency at the Australian Influencer Marketing Council (AiMCO) Awards in 2024.  

Recently, Hoozu was acquired by IZEA Worldwide, Inc., a global leader in influencer marketing technology and services. Despite its success, some brands might wonder whether Hoozu aligns with their needs or if exploring Hoozu alternatives would be a better fit.  

This review will help you evaluate if Hoozu delivers on these promises or if you should seek for Hoozu alternatives. 

Hoozu Review: Pricing & Features + Best Alternative


In this Hoozu review, we will explain what Hoozu is, and check its features, pricing, customer reviews, and pros and cons. For brands looking beyond Hoozu, we’ll also discuss top Hoozu alternatives in the influencer marketing space.

Hoozu homepage

Hoozu Features

Let’s look at its features to find how true it is.

1. Influencer Recruitment & Creator Quality

Hoozu provides a wide selection of creators eager to work with brands regularly. HooZu selects influencers who are an ideal match for your campaign’s strategy. They claim that it helps the brand reach a relevant audience at the right time, maximizing engagement and impact. Moreover, they create a content schedule that aligns with your marketing plans, making it easier to integrate content.

Hoozu focuses on expert-led influencer recruitment and campaign management without giving marketers direct control over finding influencers, which is not satisfying for some brands. It’s always a better option to be able to check each influencer’s profile and past collaborations to ensure it will be effective for your business. That’s not something that Hoozu offers. 

Ainfluencer has solved this problem by providing self-service tools that let brands search for influencers independently, making it more flexible for marketers who want hands-on control over influencer selection.

2. Briefing & Contracting

They create customized, clear briefs for influencers to encourage the creation of unique content that aligns with your brand’s niche. All cost agreements and contracts are managed with full transparency.

3. Campaign Management

HooZu oversees the campaign’s content quality and offers support to optimize content ideas. This feature ensures that the campaign consistently performs well.

4. Reporting & Insights

Campaign results are detailed and tracked, and clear reports measure how well objectives were met. Insights include feedback and advice to guide your brand’s future influencer marketing activities.

Hoozu Pricing

Hoozu doesn’t have a clear pricing plan listed on its website. To learn about their tools and costs, you’ll need to click the “Work with Us” button at the top right of the homepage. After clicking, you’ll see options like brand marketer, influencer, or UGC creator to pick what best describes you. 

Then, you’ll fill out a form with your name, email, budget (if you’re a marketer), and what you’re looking for. Hoozu will then follow up with you to discuss options and pricing.

Hoozu’s lack of transparent pricing can make budgeting difficult for brands, as it requires brands to submit a request for custom quotes. On the other hand,  Ainfluencer offers its entire platform for free. This no-cost access allows brands to explore its extensive features without financial commitments. 

Hoozu Reviews: What Do Customers Say

Hoozu is a relatively new influencer marketing platform. Accordingly, no review is available at the moment. However, it’s not a good sign because it may show that not many users have checked it or were satisfied with its features. 

Hoozu Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Clear, customized briefs help influencers create content that aligns with your brand’s goals,
  • Hoozu oversees the campaign’s execution,

Cons

  • The lack of transparent pricing on the website,
  • No control over influencer search 
  • No control over campaign management 

Ainfluencer: The Best Hoozu Alternative

While Hoozu is known for expert-driven campaigns, it limits brand control in key areas. Marketers don’t have direct access to its influencer database, relying instead on Hoozu experts to choose influencers on their behalf. 

This structure can restrict marketers who prefer hands-on management and customization, especially with no options for filtering by location, interests, or audience size. Additionally, Hoozu’s pricing is opaque, requiring custom quotes without upfront cost transparency.

Ainfluencer, on the other hand, offers brands full, free access to a comprehensive influencer platform. With a vast database of over 2 million influencers and 10,000 new additions each month, Ainfluencer lets marketers search, filter, and directly contact influencers based on criteria like interests, gender, and location, putting control back in the hands of the brand. 

Ainfluencer’s user-friendly interface supports seamless campaign setup, real-time negotiation through built-in chat, and secure, straightforward transactions. Its accessible, no-cost model also ensures that brands of any size can launch influencer campaigns with transparency and ease, making it the ideal choice for marketers who want both flexibility and control.

Hoozu vs. Ainfluencer

Features Hoozu Ainfluencer
Database of Influencers N/A +2M
Filtering Keyword filtering AI-powered search engine/
More than 20 filters
Pricing Options N/A Free
Influencer Search N/A
Platforms Instagram, TikTok, YouTube Instagram & TikTok
Number of Campaigns N/A Unlimited
Campaign Management
Detailed Insights

Other Hoozu Alternatives

Here’s a list of other Hoozu competitors:

1. Upfluence

Upfluence is an influencer marketing tool that helps brands connect with creators using advanced AI technology, including ChatGPT. This AI-driven approach makes communication with influencers and campaign management faster and smoother. Its strong analytics features make it a top choice compared to other platforms.

Read Upfluence Reviews

Pros: 

  • Automated Workflow
  • Detailed Analytics

Cons:

  • Hidden Pricing
  • Complex Setup
  • No Short-Term Commitments (One Year Registration)

2. GRIN 

GRIN is a platform for brands to find and work with influencers, affiliates, and creators. It allows brands to handle content, make payments, and measure campaign success, making it easier to grow brand awareness through partnerships with the right people.

Read Grin Reviews

Pros: 

  • Influencer Discovery Tools
  • Large Database of Influencers

Cons:

  • High Pricing
  • Learning Curve

3. Captiv8

Captiv8 uses AI to link brands with influencers and content creators. It helps marketers discover influencers, create engaging content, manage their campaigns, and track performance to see how their efforts are paying off.

 

Read Captiv8 Review

Pros: 

  • Comprehensive Features
  • Detailed Analytics
  • Chrome Extension

Cons:

  • Hidden Pricing 
  • Requires a Six-Month Commitment
  • High Cost

Conclusion

According to this Hoozu review, it stands out as an influencer marketing agency for brands seeking expertly managed campaigns with creative, impactful partnerships. However, its approach limits direct brand control and lacks transparent pricing, which may not suit all marketers. 

For those who want a more hands-on, flexible solution, Ainfluencer offers a powerful, no-cost platform with an extensive influencer database, customizable filters, and full access to campaign tools, making it an ideal Hoozu alternative.

FAQs

Yes, Hoozu is a legitimate influencer marketing agency based in Sydney, Australia. It has partnered with well-known brands and was recognized for its effective campaigns. However, since IZEA acquired it, it’s now part of a larger company in influencer marketing technology.

The best alternative to Hoozu is Ainfluencer. Unlike Hoozu, Ainfluencer offers free access to its platform, allowing brands to directly search and contact influencers. It has a large database of over 2 million influencers and offers more flexibility in campaign management, giving marketers full control without the need for expert intermediaries.