Quick Overview
- 1#1: Brandwatch - AI-powered social listening platform that tracks brand mentions, sentiment, and trends across social media and the web.
- 2#2: Talkwalker - Comprehensive social intelligence tool for real-time monitoring, analytics, and visual insights from 150+ million data sources.
- 3#3: Meltwater - Media and social monitoring solution that captures conversations, analyzes sentiment, and provides actionable insights.
- 4#4: Hootsuite - Social media management platform with robust monitoring streams for tracking mentions and engagements across multiple networks.
- 5#5: Sprout Social - All-in-one social media tool featuring advanced listening to monitor brand health, trends, and customer conversations.
- 6#6: Mention - Real-time brand monitoring across social networks, forums, and the web with instant alerts and sentiment analysis.
- 7#7: Brand24 - Online monitoring tool that detects mentions on social media, news, blogs, and forums with influence scoring.
- 8#8: Awario - Social listening software for tracking brand mentions, competitors, and influencers with boolean search and alerts.
- 9#9: Keyhole - Hashtag and keyword tracking tool for real-time analytics on Twitter, Instagram, and other social platforms.
- 10#10: Agorapulse - Social media management suite with inbox monitoring for conversations, mentions, and performance metrics.
We ranked these tools based on core features (real-time monitoring, sentiment analysis, cross-platform coverage), user experience, and overall value, ensuring they meet the diverse needs of businesses seeking effective social intelligence solutions.
Comparison Table
Social monitoring software helps users track, analyze, and engage with online conversations across channels; this comparison table features top tools like Brandwatch, Talkwalker, Meltwater, Hootsuite, Sprout Social, and more, breaking down their unique strengths, key features, and ideal use cases to guide readers toward the right fit.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brandwatch AI-powered social listening platform that tracks brand mentions, sentiment, and trends across social media and the web. | enterprise | 9.4/10 | 9.7/10 | 8.2/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 2 | Talkwalker Comprehensive social intelligence tool for real-time monitoring, analytics, and visual insights from 150+ million data sources. | enterprise | 9.2/10 | 9.6/10 | 8.4/10 | 8.1/10 |
| 3 | Meltwater Media and social monitoring solution that captures conversations, analyzes sentiment, and provides actionable insights. | enterprise | 9.1/10 | 9.5/10 | 8.3/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 4 | Hootsuite Social media management platform with robust monitoring streams for tracking mentions and engagements across multiple networks. | enterprise | 8.6/10 | 9.1/10 | 7.8/10 | 8.2/10 |
| 5 | Sprout Social All-in-one social media tool featuring advanced listening to monitor brand health, trends, and customer conversations. | enterprise | 8.7/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.8/10 | 7.8/10 |
| 6 | Mention Real-time brand monitoring across social networks, forums, and the web with instant alerts and sentiment analysis. | specialized | 8.7/10 | 8.9/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.3/10 |
| 7 | Brand24 Online monitoring tool that detects mentions on social media, news, blogs, and forums with influence scoring. | specialized | 8.2/10 | 8.4/10 | 9.1/10 | 7.7/10 |
| 8 | Awario Social listening software for tracking brand mentions, competitors, and influencers with boolean search and alerts. | specialized | 8.1/10 | 8.5/10 | 8.0/10 | 7.6/10 |
| 9 | Keyhole Hashtag and keyword tracking tool for real-time analytics on Twitter, Instagram, and other social platforms. | specialized | 8.2/10 | 8.5/10 | 8.8/10 | 7.8/10 |
| 10 | Agorapulse Social media management suite with inbox monitoring for conversations, mentions, and performance metrics. | specialized | 8.2/10 | 8.0/10 | 9.1/10 | 8.3/10 |
AI-powered social listening platform that tracks brand mentions, sentiment, and trends across social media and the web.
Comprehensive social intelligence tool for real-time monitoring, analytics, and visual insights from 150+ million data sources.
Media and social monitoring solution that captures conversations, analyzes sentiment, and provides actionable insights.
Social media management platform with robust monitoring streams for tracking mentions and engagements across multiple networks.
All-in-one social media tool featuring advanced listening to monitor brand health, trends, and customer conversations.
Real-time brand monitoring across social networks, forums, and the web with instant alerts and sentiment analysis.
Online monitoring tool that detects mentions on social media, news, blogs, and forums with influence scoring.
Social listening software for tracking brand mentions, competitors, and influencers with boolean search and alerts.
Hashtag and keyword tracking tool for real-time analytics on Twitter, Instagram, and other social platforms.
Social media management suite with inbox monitoring for conversations, mentions, and performance metrics.
Brandwatch
enterpriseAI-powered social listening platform that tracks brand mentions, sentiment, and trends across social media and the web.
Iris AI for automated, query-based consumer research and insights from massive datasets
Brandwatch is a leading social listening and analytics platform that monitors billions of conversations across social media, news, blogs, forums, podcasts, and review sites in real-time. It leverages advanced AI for sentiment analysis, trend detection, influencer identification, image and video recognition, and predictive insights to help brands understand consumer behavior and market dynamics. The platform also includes tools for crisis management, campaign tracking, and custom consumer research via its Iris AI module.
Pros
- Extensive data coverage from 100+ million sources worldwide
- Powerful AI-driven analytics including image recognition and predictive modeling
- Highly customizable dashboards and API integrations for advanced users
Cons
- High cost suitable mainly for enterprises
- Steep learning curve for non-expert users
- Complex setup and customization process
Best For
Large enterprises and marketing agencies requiring enterprise-grade social intelligence and deep consumer research.
Pricing
Custom quote-based pricing, typically starting at $1,000+ per month for basic plans, scaling to tens of thousands for full enterprise features.
Talkwalker
enterpriseComprehensive social intelligence tool for real-time monitoring, analytics, and visual insights from 150+ million data sources.
Blue Silk™ GPT-powered generative AI for instant, contextual insights from vast datasets
Talkwalker is an enterprise-grade social monitoring platform that tracks brand mentions, trends, and conversations across 150+ million sources including social media, news, blogs, forums, and review sites in 187 languages. It leverages AI for sentiment analysis, visual recognition of logos in images/videos, influencer identification, and predictive insights to help businesses manage reputation and drive strategy. The platform offers customizable dashboards, real-time alerts, and crisis detection tools for comprehensive social intelligence.
Pros
- Exceptional global coverage with 187 languages and 150M+ sources
- Advanced AI-driven visual listening for images and videos
- Powerful analytics including sentiment, trends, and crisis management
Cons
- High enterprise-level pricing not suitable for small businesses
- Steep learning curve for full feature utilization
- Customization options can feel overwhelming for new users
Best For
Large enterprises and agencies requiring deep, real-time social intelligence across global markets.
Pricing
Custom enterprise pricing starting at around $10,000+/year; contact sales for quotes based on volume and features.
Meltwater
enterpriseMedia and social monitoring solution that captures conversations, analyzes sentiment, and provides actionable insights.
AI-powered Explore module for discovering emerging topics, audience segments, and influencers across vast unstructured data sources
Meltwater is a comprehensive media intelligence platform specializing in social monitoring, tracking brand mentions, conversations, and trends across social media, news outlets, blogs, forums, and over 400,000 global sources. It leverages AI for sentiment analysis, topic clustering, real-time alerts, and influencer identification to deliver actionable insights. The tool excels in helping enterprises manage reputation, identify opportunities, and measure campaign impact through customizable dashboards and reports.
Pros
- Extensive global data coverage from 400,000+ sources including hard-to-reach channels
- Advanced AI-driven analytics for sentiment, audience insights, and predictive trends
- Highly customizable reporting and seamless integrations with CRM and BI tools
Cons
- Premium pricing makes it inaccessible for SMBs
- Steep learning curve due to feature depth and complex interface
- Custom setup and onboarding can take weeks
Best For
Large enterprises, PR agencies, and marketing teams needing enterprise-grade global social listening and media monitoring.
Pricing
Custom enterprise pricing via quote; typically starts at $5,000-$20,000/month depending on data volume and features.
Hootsuite
enterpriseSocial media management platform with robust monitoring streams for tracking mentions and engagements across multiple networks.
Customizable Streams dashboard for tailored real-time social monitoring across channels
Hootsuite is a robust social media management platform that provides comprehensive monitoring capabilities across major networks like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and more. It features customizable streams for real-time tracking of keywords, hashtags, mentions, and competitor activity, alongside sentiment analysis and unified inbox for engagement. Users can schedule posts, generate reports, and collaborate in teams, making it a central hub for social monitoring and management.
Pros
- Broad social platform integrations for unified monitoring
- Customizable streams and real-time alerts for conversations
- Strong team collaboration and analytics tools
Cons
- Dashboard can feel overwhelming for beginners
- Advanced monitoring features locked behind higher tiers
- Pricing escalates quickly for small teams
Best For
Mid-sized businesses and marketing teams handling multiple social accounts that require centralized monitoring and engagement.
Pricing
Professional plan at $99/user/month (10 accounts); Team at $249/month (20 accounts); Enterprise custom; 30-day free trial.
Sprout Social
enterpriseAll-in-one social media tool featuring advanced listening to monitor brand health, trends, and customer conversations.
AI-powered Social Listening with sentiment analysis and cross-platform competitive intelligence
Sprout Social is a robust social media management platform with advanced social monitoring capabilities, enabling users to track brand mentions, keywords, competitors, and trends across major social networks like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and more, including Reddit and review sites. It offers AI-powered sentiment analysis, real-time alerts, and customizable reports to provide actionable insights for reputation management and audience engagement. The platform integrates monitoring seamlessly with publishing, engagement, and analytics tools for a unified workflow.
Pros
- Comprehensive monitoring across 30+ platforms with AI sentiment analysis
- Intuitive Smart Inbox for streamlined message management
- Strong reporting and competitive benchmarking tools
Cons
- High pricing may not suit small businesses
- Advanced features have a learning curve
- Limited support for niche or emerging platforms
Best For
Mid-sized businesses, agencies, and marketing teams needing integrated social monitoring with publishing and analytics.
Pricing
Plans start at $249/user/month (Standard, billed annually), up to $499/user/month (Advanced), with Enterprise custom pricing.
Mention
specializedReal-time brand monitoring across social networks, forums, and the web with instant alerts and sentiment analysis.
Real-time alerts with shareable snapshots for instant team notifications and responses
Mention is a real-time social monitoring platform that tracks brand mentions, keywords, competitors, and hashtags across over 1 billion sources including social media, news, blogs, forums, and review sites. It provides sentiment analysis, customizable alerts, influencer identification, and interactive reporting dashboards to help users respond quickly and measure social performance. With seamless integrations like Slack, Zapier, and Google Analytics, it empowers marketing teams to stay proactive in digital conversations.
Pros
- Tracks mentions across 1B+ web and social sources in real-time
- Intuitive interface with easy setup for alerts and dashboards
- Robust sentiment analysis and Boolean search capabilities
Cons
- Advanced reporting and historical data limited to higher plans
- Team collaboration features require Pro or Enterprise tiers
- Customer support response times can vary for non-enterprise users
Best For
Small to mid-sized marketing teams needing affordable, user-friendly social listening without complex enterprise setups.
Pricing
Free plan available; Solo starts at $49/month (billed annually), Pro at $199/month, Enterprise custom.
Brand24
specializedOnline monitoring tool that detects mentions on social media, news, blogs, and forums with influence scoring.
Critical mentions with instant push notifications for high-impact alerts
Brand24 is a social media monitoring tool that tracks brand mentions, keywords, and competitors across social platforms, blogs, news sites, forums, and podcasts in real-time. It offers sentiment analysis, influencer identification, reach estimation, and customizable alerts to help users respond promptly to online conversations. The platform provides visual dashboards, automated reports, and project-based monitoring for targeted insights.
Pros
- Real-time alerts for critical mentions
- Intuitive dashboard and easy setup
- Accurate sentiment analysis and influencer discovery
Cons
- Limited integrations with other tools
- Reporting lacks advanced customization
- Pricing scales quickly for high-volume needs
Best For
Small to medium-sized businesses and solo marketers seeking simple, fast social listening without steep learning curves.
Pricing
Individual plan at $59/mo (1 keyword, 1,000 mentions/month); Team at $119/mo (3 keywords, 25,000 mentions); Pro at $199/mo (10 keywords, 100,000 mentions); Enterprise custom.
Awario
specializedSocial listening software for tracking brand mentions, competitors, and influencers with boolean search and alerts.
Advanced Boolean search operators for hyper-precise mention tracking across the web
Awario is a social listening and brand monitoring tool that tracks mentions of keywords, brands, and competitors across social media platforms, blogs, forums, news sites, and review sites in real-time. It offers sentiment analysis, historical data access, influencer discovery, and customizable alerts to help businesses manage their online reputation effectively. The platform also provides analytics dashboards and white-label reports for sharing insights with teams or clients.
Pros
- Real-time alerts and comprehensive web-wide monitoring beyond just social media
- Powerful Boolean search for precise keyword tracking
- Built-in sentiment analysis and influencer finder tools
Cons
- Keyword limits on lower-tier plans restrict scalability
- Lacks native social media posting or scheduling features
- Historical data depth is plan-dependent and can get pricey
Best For
Small to mid-sized businesses and marketers needing affordable, targeted social listening without enterprise-level complexity.
Pricing
Starter at $29/mo (1 keyword), Pro at $89/mo (15 keywords), Enterprise at $199/mo (1,000 keywords); annual billing offers 20% discount.
Keyhole
specializedHashtag and keyword tracking tool for real-time analytics on Twitter, Instagram, and other social platforms.
Interactive Heatmap that visualizes hashtag engagement geographically and over time
Keyhole (keyhole.co) is a social media monitoring and analytics platform focused on tracking hashtags, keywords, and mentions across platforms like Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. It delivers real-time insights into reach, impressions, engagement, sentiment analysis, and audience demographics through intuitive dashboards. Users can monitor brand mentions, identify influencers, analyze competitors, and export detailed reports to inform social strategies.
Pros
- Real-time tracking of hashtags and keywords with live feeds
- Strong influencer discovery and competitive analysis tools
- User-friendly dashboards and customizable reporting
Cons
- Limited depth in advanced sentiment analysis compared to enterprise tools
- Fewer platform integrations than top competitors
- Pricing escalates quickly for higher usage limits
Best For
Marketers and agencies focused on hashtag campaigns, event tracking, and real-time social listening on Twitter and Instagram.
Pricing
Starts at $79/month (Solo plan) for basic tracking; Pro ($179/month), Corporate ($399/month), and custom Enterprise plans available.
Agorapulse
specializedSocial media management suite with inbox monitoring for conversations, mentions, and performance metrics.
Smart Social Inbox that intelligently categorizes and prioritizes conversations, mentions, and DMs in one unified view
Agorapulse is an all-in-one social media management platform with strong social monitoring capabilities, featuring a unified inbox that aggregates mentions, comments, direct messages, and keywords across platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and TikTok. It enables real-time listening, quick team responses, and basic sentiment tracking to stay on top of conversations. Users can set up custom streams for monitoring specific keywords or competitors, complemented by reporting tools for engagement insights.
Pros
- Intuitive unified inbox for streamlined monitoring of all interactions
- Real-time alerts and keyword listening across major platforms
- User-friendly interface with excellent mobile app support
Cons
- Lacks advanced sentiment analysis and AI-driven insights found in dedicated tools
- Monitoring limited to connected profiles and basic keywords, no broad web listening
- Higher pricing tiers needed for extensive profile monitoring
Best For
Small to mid-sized teams and agencies needing an easy-to-use all-in-one tool for social monitoring alongside publishing and reporting.
Pricing
Starts at $79/month (Pro plan, 10 social profiles), $119/month (Advanced, 15 profiles), $179/month (Enterprise+), with a free trial; billed annually for discounts.
Conclusion
The top 10 social monitoring tools provide diverse ways to track conversations, gauge sentiment, and identify trends, with Brandwatch leading as the clear standout for its powerful AI-driven platform that monitors mentions, sentiment, and trends across social media and the web. Talkwalker and Meltwater follow strong, offering comprehensive real-time data and actionable insights for varied needs, whether focusing on extensive sources or media analysis.
To stay ahead in the conversation, start with Brandwatch—its advanced capabilities make it the ideal choice to monitor, analyze, and leverage social insights effectively.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison