Best Social Media Monitoring Tools: Features, Pricing & How to Choose the Right One

Whether you're a small business, a growing startup, or an enterprise, monitoring social media conversations is essential for understanding audience sentiment, tracking brand mentions, and staying ahead of industry trends.

But with so many social media monitoring tools available, how do you choose the right one for your needs? Some platforms offer AI-powered insights and sentiment analysis, while others focus on real-time engagement, competitor tracking, or content scheduling.

In this article, we compare the top social media monitoring tools, breaking down their features, pricing, and best use cases. Whether you need an all-in-one solution for social media management or a tool focused on analytics and listening, this guide will help you make an informed decision. Let’s dive in!

Choosing the Right Social Media Monitoring Tool: Define Your Needs First

When it comes to social media monitoring, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. The best tool for your business depends on your specific goals, industry, and how you plan to leverage social data. Some companies prioritize real-time brand monitoring to track customer sentiment, while others focus on competitor analysis, influencer tracking, or content scheduling and engagement.

Before choosing a tool, it’s essential to define what matters most to your company. Here are some key questions to consider:

• Are you looking for AI-powered insights to analyze audience sentiment and trends?
• Do you need a tool that integrates with your existing SEO and marketing platforms?
• Is social media engagement and scheduling a top priority for your team?
• How important is competitor tracking and benchmarking in your industry?
• Do you need budget-friendly monitoring, or are you willing to invest in enterprise-level analytics?

By being clear on your goals, you can choose a social media monitoring tool that aligns with your strategy. Some businesses might benefit from a comprehensive all-in-one solution like Sprout Social, while others may need a specialized tool like Brandwatch for deep audience insights or SEMrush Social Media Toolkit for seamless integration with SEO and paid marketing efforts.

The key takeaway? Social media monitoring isn’t just about tracking mentions—it’s about using data to drive smarter marketing decisions. The right tool will help you understand your audience, refine your content strategy, and stay ahead of the competition.

‍Top Social Media Monitoring Tools: A Breakdown of Features and Pricing

‍With so many social media monitoring tools available, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one. Some platforms specialize in real-time brand monitoring, while others focus on competitor analysis, influencer tracking, or content scheduling. To help you find the best fit for your needs, we’ve compiled a list of the top tools, breaking down their key features, pricing, and best use cases.

Whether you’re a small business looking for an affordable solution, a marketing team needing AI-driven insights, or a brand focused on engagement and analytics, this comparison will help you make an informed decision. Explore the list below to find the tool that aligns best with your goals!

‍1. Brandwatch

• What It Does: Brandwatch is a powerful AI-driven social media monitoring tool that provides insights into brand perception, audience behavior, and market trends.
• How It Works: It collects data from millions of online sources, including social media, forums, and news sites, and applies AI for sentiment analysis and audience segmentation.
• Pricing: Brandwatch offers customized pricing based on specific business needs. For detailed pricing information, it's best to contact Brandwatch directly.

2. Sprout Social

• What It Does: Sprout Social combines social media monitoring, scheduling, and analytics into a single platform.
• How It Works: Users can track brand mentions, keywords, and hashtags across social media platforms, analyze engagement metrics, and generate automated reports.
• Pricing: Sprout Social offers several plans:
  
  • Standard: $199 per user/month (Billed Annually)
  • Professional: $299 per user/month (Billed Annually)
  • Advanced: $399 per user/month (Billed Annually)
  • Enterprise: Custom pricing For more details, visit their pricing page.

3. Hootsuite Insights (Powered by Brandwatch)

• What It Does: Hootsuite Insights is an advanced social listening tool integrated into Hootsuite’s social media management platform.
• How It Works: It uses AI to track brand mentions, analyze customer sentiment, and provide competitive analysis.
• Pricing: Hootsuite offers various plans starting at $99 per month. Hootsuite Insights is available as an add-on with custom pricing. For detailed information, it's recommended to contact Hootsuite directly.

4. Meltwater

• What It Does: Meltwater is a media intelligence platform that tracks social media, online news, and blogs.
• How It Works: It aggregates data from millions of sources, using AI-driven insights for audience analysis and trend detection.
• Pricing: Meltwater operates on a bespoke pricing model tailored to specific business needs. For detailed pricing, it's best to contact Meltwater directly.

5. Mention

• What It Does: Mention monitors social media, forums, and news websites for brand mentions, keywords, and competitors.
• How It Works: It provides real-time alerts and allows users to engage with social media conversations directly from the platform.
• Pricing: Mention offers several plans:
  
  • Solo: $49 per month
  • Pro: $99 per month
  • Pro Plus: $179 per month
  • Company: Custom pricing For more details, visit their pricing page.

6. Brand24

• What It Does: Brand24 is a budget-friendly social media monitoring tool with real-time tracking.
• How It Works: It tracks brand mentions, analyzes sentiment, and allows users to engage with audiences directly.
• Pricing: Brand24 offers several plans:
  
  • Individual: $49 per month
  • Team: $99 per month
  • Pro: $149 per month
  • Enterprise: $249 per month For more details, visit their pricing page.

7. Talkwalker

• What It Does: Talkwalker provides AI-powered social listening, trend analysis, and consumer insights.
• How It Works: It monitors social media, blogs, and news sites and offers predictive analytics for emerging trends.
• Pricing: Talkwalker offers customized pricing based on specific business needs. For detailed pricing information, it's best to contact Talkwalker directly.

8. Awario

• What It Does: Awario is an affordable social media monitoring tool that tracks mentions across platforms.
• How It Works: It provides sentiment analysis, influencer tracking, and real-time notifications.
• Pricing: Awario offers several plans:
  
  • Starter: $39 per month
  • Pro: $119 per month
  • Enterprise: $399 per month For more details, visit their pricing page.

9. Agorapulse

• What It Does: Agorapulse combines social media monitoring, engagement, and analytics in a single platform.
• How It Works: It tracks mentions, manages comments, and provides in-depth reports on engagement.
• Pricing: Agorapulse offers several plans:
  
  • Free: $0 per month
  • Pro: $79 per user/month
  • Premium: $199 per user/month
  • Enterprise: Custom pricing

10. SEMrush Social Media Toolkit

• What It Does: SEMrush's Social Media Toolkit is a comprehensive solution for managing and analyzing social media activities. It offers features for post scheduling, performance analytics, and competitive analysis.
• How It Works: Users can schedule and publish posts across multiple platforms, monitor engagement metrics, and analyze competitors' social media strategies. The toolkit also provides insights into audience growth and content performance.
• Pricing: SEMrush offers a 7-day free trial. After the trial, the Social Media Toolkit is available for $19.99 per month with the Social Starter plan and $39.99 per month with the Social Plus plan.

11. SEMrush Media Monitoring App

• What It Does: The Media Monitoring app by SEMrush allows users to track online mentions of their brand, products, or industry across various platforms, providing insights into customer feedback and sentiment.
• How It Works: Users can set up projects to monitor specific keywords, and the app aggregates mentions from news websites, blogs, forums, and video platforms. It categorizes mentions by sentiment and provides a Presence Score to measure online visibility.
• Pricing: The Media Monitoring app subscription starts at $39 per month, which includes tracking for up to 2 keywords. Additional keyword tracking can be purchased for an extra fee. 

Final Recommendation: Best Social Media Monitoring Tool

• Best for Large Enterprises & AI-Driven Insights: Brandwatch or Talkwalker
• Best for Small-to-Medium Businesses: Sprout Social or SEMrush Social Media Toolkit
• Best Budget-Friendly Option: Awario or Brand24
• Best All-in-One Social Media Management & Monitoring: Hootsuite Insights or Agorapulse
• Best for Competitor Monitoring & SEO Integration: SEMrush Media Monitoring App

If you’re already using SEMrush for SEO and PPC, the SEMrush Social Media Toolkit is a great choice as it integrates well with other marketing efforts. For those prioritizing AI-powered insights, Brandwatch and Talkwalker are the strongest contenders.

Tool Comparison

At the end of the day, the best social media monitoring tool is the one that aligns with your company’s specific goals and needs. Whether you need real-time engagement tracking, in-depth audience analytics, competitor insights, or AI-powered trend analysis, there’s a tool designed to help you make smarter marketing decisions.

Take the time to define your priorities, compare the features that matter most, and choose a platform that integrates well with your existing workflow. The right tool will not only save you time but also provide actionable insights that can help your brand grow and stay ahead of the competition.