Although TweetDeck and HootSuite are still known as “Twitter clients,” these applications can do so much more than update your Twitter. They can manage multiple social media profiles, allow you to schedule your updates, monitor your link analytics, do your homework, and listen to your wife while you watch the Super Bowl.

The only issue with these “Everything Social Media Clients” is that there are two major clients to choose from: TweetDeck and HootSuite. Which should you use? Well lucky for you, I’m about to tell you.

Let’s get on with this showdown!

Round 1: User Interface

In the beginning, TweetDeck’s dark, sleek interface was more appealing than HootSuite’s browser-based application. Now, if you’re lucky enough to own a Mac, Smartphone, or iPad, you can download a HootSuite application of your very own.

TweetDeck App:

• Standalone application for PC, Mac, Smartphones, iPad.
• Column-based system: All of the social media profiles are viewed in one window, but in separate columns.

HootSuite App:

• Standalone application for Mac, Smartphones, iPad.
• Desktop applications via Chrome, Prism.
• Hootlet Firefox Add On.
• Tab-based system: Each social media profile has its own tab.

Summary: It is easier to keep track of multiple profiles in one window using TweetDeck, whereas you have to click to different tabs in HootSuite.  Also, adding an update with a URL is much easier in TweetDeck, which automatically shortens any URLs you type in the box. When doing the same thing in HootSuite, you have to input your URL into a separate field in order to shorten them.

Round 1 Winner: TweetDeck

Round 2: Scheduled Updates

Both TweetDeck and HootSuite provide the ability to schedule your updates. However, in order to use TweeDeck’s scheduler, you must create a TweetDeck account.

HootSuite’s update scheduling tool is slightly more sophisticated than the competitor’s tool. You can schedule your updates in bulk, receive updates once the update is sent, and you can schedule an update for more social media profiles (Twitter, Facebook, Facebook Pages, LinkedIn, MySpace, PingFm, WordPress, Foursquare, and Mixi).

Round 2 Winner: HootSuite

Round 3: Speed

This round has a clear winner – HootSuite is by far the faster client to use.  TweetDeck uses Adobe Air to function, therefore it is a massive resource hog.  HootSuite’s interface (both in the browser and the actual application) is very snappy and clean.

Round 3 Winner: HootSuite

Round 4: URL Shorteners

TweetDeck allows you to choose between 4 different shorteners – and whichever shortener you choose will be automatically applied for any URL that you paste into the TweetDeck update field. HootSuite uses its own shortener. Although ow.ly does provide a robust set of analytics, it isn’t nearly as convenient for quick updates that you won’t be closely monitoring.

Round 4 Winner: TweetDeck

Round 5: Photos

Both social media clients will allow you to upload photos, but TweetDeck will automatically integrate with your choice of 3 different Twitter photo services.  HootSuite, on the other, clunkier hand, just lets you upload a picture file.  TweetDeck lets you keep your picture uploads uniform – so if you use TwitPic when you update from your mobile decide, you can use TwitPic on TweetDeck. I think we have a winner for this round!

Round 5 Winner: TweetDeck

Round 6: Statistics

Holy analytics, Batman! With HootSuite’s interface, you can completely integrate Google Analytics. From the dashboard, you can use Google Analytics to analyze site traffic and performance. Using “OAuth secure login functionality, you can track conversion to sales, lead generation, or other metrics from your Google Analytics, using advanced URL functions.”

With TweetDeck, the only analytics you will be able to use is the statistics that bit.ly will automatically provide for your links. Ouch.

Round 6 Winner: HootSuite

Round 7: Additional Social Networks

HootSuite and TweetDeck will allow you to update from multiple Twitter accounts, Facebook accounts, and LinkedIn accounts.  However, HootSuite also lets you to update your Facebook fan pages, any Ping.fm account, WordPress, FourSquare, Mixi, and MySpace.

If you have a relevant social media profile (i.e., not Friendster) – you can update it easily with HootSuite.

Round 7 Winner: HootSuite

The Final Round: Multiple Accounts & Multiple Users

HootSuite easily lets you add multiple users and control which accounts they can update. Each user can have a specific timezone, initials with each update, and other user-specific preferences. With TweetDeck, you will be able to add multiple accounts but since it’s a desktop application, there isn’t really any ability to have multiple users per account.

Final Round Winner: HootSuite

And the WINNER IS: HOOTSUITE!

TweetDeck has plenty of options that makes it a snazzy, younger brother to HootSuite that wears better clothes and doesn’t make good life choices. But HootSuite should still be your preferred method of social media updating.

Scheduled updates are easier to create, the analytics are more robust, and using multiple accounts with multiple users is a breeze.

It comes down to personal preference regarding which you decide to use – but we suggest backing HootSuite. It might not seem like much since you might not be able to download a standalone PC application – but it’s a ringer!