11 Brandwatch Alternatives for Social Listening in 2026

Brandwatch is one of the most recognized names in social listening and consumer intelligence, but that doesn’t mean it’s right for everyone. Many businesses love Brandwatch’s deep analytics and wide data coverage, yet a significant number also struggle with its high pricing, complex setup, and steep learning curve.

If you’re looking for Brandwatch Alternatives that offer strong social listening, sentiment analysis, and brand monitoring at more affordable pricing, you’re in the right place.

In this guide, we’ll walk through 11 top Brandwatch alternatives for 2026, suited for businesses of all sizes. So, you can confidently choose the best social listening platform for your needs.

Why Look for Brandwatch Alternatives?

Brandwatch is a premium social listening tool used by enterprises for brand reputation monitoring, consumer insights, sentiment analysis, and large-scale trend tracking. These are some of the best parts of Brandwatch.

However, not every business finds it the perfect fit. Many users, especially small businesses, agencies, and startups, feel that Brandwatch is too expensive and unnecessarily complex for what they actually need. That’s why thousands of marketers now actively look for affordable Brandwatch alternatives, competitors, and other social media intelligence tools.

Let’s explore some of the best Brandwatch alternatives to help you track mentions, monitor your brand, and understand your audience.

Brandwatch Alternative #1: SocialBu

SocialBu is a modern social media management tool that serves as a powerful Brandwatch alternative. Unlike Brandwatch, SocialBu combines analytics and scheduling in a single, easy-to-use platform. It supports major platforms like Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, TikTok, Pinterest, and more.

I was highly impressed by the versatility and all-encompassing approach of SocialBu towards social media management; it genuinely embodies the Swiss Army Knife of Social Media Marketing (SMM). The platform’s capacity to schedule and distribute content across numerous social media profiles in a unified location is a transformative boost to productivity. Jao O. (Verified G2 Review)

One tool that frequently comes up as a Brandwatch alternative is SocialBu, and here’s why:

• Simple, clean interface where everything is easy to find and navigate, with no steep learning curve.
• Smart scheduling to plan posts, recurring content, and bulk uploads across multiple platforms from one visual calendar.
• Live previews to see exactly how your posts will look on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, and more.
• Team-friendly workflows where you can easily assign roles, approve drafts, share calendars, and collaborate seamlessly.
• All-in-one inbox to track messages, comments, and mentions in one place for faster responses.
• Insightful analytics for measuring engagement, audience growth, top-performing content, and best posting times.
• Time-saving automation to auto-post, reply to comments, and streamline workflows to cut down repetitive tasks.
• AI content helps to generate captions, ideas, and post suggestions with built-in AI tools.
• Content recycling & bulk uploads so you can reuse evergreen posts and upload multiple items at once, keeping your content consistent.
• Supports every major platform, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, Reddit, and Google Business Profile, all from one place.

SocialBu vs Brandwatch

SocialBu is one of the most affordable Brandwatch alternatives for social media teams, agencies, and small businesses. If you’re looking for tools like Brandwatch, here’s how SocialBu compares across key areas that matter most:

1. Social Media Scheduling

SocialBu focuses on making social media planning fast, flexible, and beginner-friendly.

• Powerful and easy-to-use scheduling features.
• Drag-and-drop planning for weekly or monthly schedules.
• One-time posts, recurring posts, and evergreen content.
• Upload multiple posts at once to save time.
• Schedule across Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Pinterest, and more.
• Automatically generate captions and hashtags to boost engagement.

SocialBu vs Brandwatch Key Takeaway: SocialBu is simpler, faster, and more budget-friendly, making it a top choice among Brandwatch alternatives in 2026 for social media scheduling.

2. Team Collaboration

SocialBu is designed for teams and agencies that manage multiple accounts together.

• Built for teams, agencies, and multi-user collaboration.
• Add multiple users to manage accounts and plan content together.
• Role-based permissions keep accounts secure and organized.
• Drafts can be reviewed, edited, and approved directly within the platform.
• Shared visual calendars help teams coordinate posting schedules and avoid conflicts.
• Commenting, tagging, and workflow features keep everyone aligned and on track.

SocialBu vs Brandwatch Key Takeaway: SocialBu simplifies teamwork and is one of the best Brandwatch alternatives for agencies without the complexity of enterprise systems.

3. Social Media Automation

SocialBu offers advanced automation that saves time and streamlines social media management.

• Schedule single, recurring, or evergreen posts across multiple platforms without manual intervention.
• Post multiple updates at once with CSV support and media.
• Automatically respond to comments and messages, reducing response time.
• Set triggers for posting, engagement, or content distribution to improve efficiency.
• Generate captions, hashtags, and content suggestions automatically to help teams stay consistent and creative.

SocialBu vs Brandwatch Key Takeaway: SocialBu is a Brandwatch alternative for automation, offering a full suite of scheduling, posting, engagement, and AI-powered workflow automation. It’s perfect for small businesses, startups, and agencies that want to save time, boost efficiency, and maintain an active social media presence.

4. Ease of Use & Learning Curve

SocialBu is built for quick adoption and everyday social media management.

• Designed for simple, everyday social media management.
• Clean, intuitive dashboard that’s easy for beginners and small teams.
• Minimal setup required, start planning, posting, and monitoring content immediately.

SocialBu vs Brandwatch Key Takeaway: SocialBu is one of the best Brandwatch alternatives for small businesses and agencies that want fast adoption and simple workflows.

5. Integrations & Platform Support

SocialBu supports a wide range of social platforms with a quick setup.

Brandwatch: Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok, Messenger, X (Twitter), LinkedIn, and Reddit

SocialBu: Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, X (Twitter), Threads, LinkedIn, Reddit, Mastodon, Pinterest, Bluesky, and Google Business Profile.

SocialBu vs Brandwatch Key Takeaway: SocialBu is one of the best Brandwatch alternatives for social media monitoring and social listening tools for agencies, providing a fast setup and easy integration with key networks.

6. Pricing

Here are the detailed pricing plans for SocialBu, designed to fit businesses of all sizes, from freelancers and small teams to growing agencies. So, you can choose the plan that best matches your social media management needs.

Free Plan – $0/month

• Connect up to 3 social accounts
• Schedule a limited number of posts (e.g., 10 posts lifetime)
• Basic publishing & scheduling
• Great for personal use or testing the platform

Standard – $19/month

• Manage up to 12 social accounts
• Schedule up to 800 posts per month
• Automations (automatic posting, recurring posts)
• Up to 2 teams / 4 team members
• Supports major social networks: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X/Twitter, TikTok, YouTube, Reddit, Pinterest, Threads, Google Business Profile, Mastodon, Bluesky

Super – $59/month

• Manage up to 30 social accounts
• Unlimited monthly posts
• Advanced automations & integrations
• Up to 6 teams / 8 team members
• Priority support included

Supreme – $199/month

• Manage up to 150 social accounts
• Unlimited posts and full automation
• Up to 25 teams / 20 team members
• Ideal for agencies or large social teams

Brandwatch does not publicly disclose its pricing; instead, costs are provided through custom quotes based on your business size, needs, and selected features.

Pros & Cons

Here are the pros and cons of SocialBu:

SocialBu vs Brandwatch Final Takeaway

SocialBu offers the core tools most teams actually need: scheduling, a unified inbox, social media analytics, AI-generated content, and automation, all at an affordable price.

Brandwatch Alternative #2: YouScan 

YouScan vs Brandwatch

YouScan is an AI-powered social listening platform known for its visual listening capabilities, helping brands track not only text mentions but also logos, objects, and scenes in images shared online. It’s often used by consumer brands seeking deeper context on how their products appear across social media and the web.

1. Social Media Automation & Workflow Efficiency

YouScan focuses on automated insights rather than publishing workflows.

• Uses AI to detect trends, sentiment changes, and brand-related visuals
• Automated alerts reduce manual monitoring
• Helps teams focus on high-impact conversations

YouScan vs Brandwatch Key Takeaway: Both platforms support automation, but YouScan stands out with AI-driven visual and contextual insights.

2. Ease of Use & Learning Curve

YouScan balances advanced analytics with a modern interface.

• Modern, visually rich interface with AI-driven insights and dashboards.
• Easier to navigate than many enterprise tools, but still requires onboarding to understand
• Advanced features require onboarding to fully understand

YouScan vs Brandwatch Key Takeaway: YouScan is relatively user-friendly for an advanced listening tool, while Brandwatch can feel more complex at first.

3. Social Media Scheduling Issues

YouScan is:

• Built specifically for listening, monitoring, and analysis.
• Does not include post-scheduling or publishing features.

YouScan vs Brandwatch Key Takeaway: Brandwatch supports scheduling, but some users dislike its scheduling workflow/limitations. Neither YouScan nor Brandwatch is designed for social media scheduling; they are insight-first platforms.

4. Team Collaboration & Workflow Simplicity

YouScan supports insight-sharing across departments.

• Supports team collaboration through shared dashboards, reports, and alerts.
• Works well for cross-functional teams analyzing brand perception and consumer behavior.

YouScan vs Brandwatch Key Takeaway: Brandwatch offers more structured collaboration, while YouScan is ideal for insight-driven teams focused on brand and consumer analysis.

5. Integrations

YouScan connects social listening with business and support tools.

• YouScan: API, Creatio, Freshdesk, HubSpot Service Hub, Microsoft Teams, Slack, Zapier, Zendesk for Customer Service
• Brandwatch: Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok, Messenger, X (Twitter), LinkedIn, and Reddit

YouScan vs Brandwatch Key Takeaway: YouScan excels at connecting social listening to business tools, while Brandwatch covers more social platforms for analytics.

6. Pricing

Here’s how the pricing plan for YouScan goes:

• Starter 3: $299/month (billed annually)
• Insights Copilot: $499/month (billed annually)
• Unlimited Plans: $1,000+/month (customized pricing)

*YouScan prefers annual billing instead of monthly billing.

Brandwatch does not list prices on its website. Pricing is tailored to each customer and available only via a sales quote or demo request.

Pros & Cons

Here are the pros and cons to understand the limitations before choosing.

YouScan vs Brandwatch Final Takeaway

YouScan is a strong Brandwatch alternative for brands that want AI-powered social listening with visual recognition. At the same time, Brandwatch remains better suited for teams needing broad platform coverage and structured enterprise workflows.

Brandwatch Alternative #3: Rival IQ

Rival IQ vs Brandwatch

If you’re exploring Brandwatch alternatives or similar tools, Rival IQ is another commonly considered option. Below, we compare Rival IQ against Brandwatch based on key team pain points.

1. Automation & Workflow Efficiency

Rival IQ focuses on automating analytics and reporting rather than publishing.

• Automates regular reporting and performance tracking.
• Schedule automated weekly or monthly analytics reports.
• Send alerts when key metrics change.
• Does not offer post-scheduling or publishing automation, but helps teams automate tracking and reporting tasks.

Rival IQ vs Brandwatch Key Takeaway: For teams that want automated reporting and alerts as part of their social media analytics, Rival IQ adds value.

2. Team Collaboration & Workflow Simplicity

Rival IQ keeps collaboration focused on insights and reporting.

• Offers easy‑to‑use dashboards that teams can access at any time.
• Reports can be shared with stakeholders or exported for review.
• Keeps collaboration simple with clear visual metrics, making it easier for teams to discuss insights and plan action.

Rival IQ vs Brandwatch: Key Takeaway: Rival IQ is one of the Brandwatch competitors that make it easier for teams to share and discuss social media performance data without the heavy workflows of enterprise systems.

3. Ease of Use & Learning Curve

Rival IQ is built for clarity and fast adoption.

• Designed with simplicity in mind, cleaner and more intuitive than many enterprise systems like Brandwatch.
• Dashboards for metrics, competitor tracking, audience growth, and sentiment trends are easy to read and navigate.

Rival IQ vs Brandwatch Key Takeaway: Rival IQ is easier to get started with than Brandwatch and better suited for teams that want quick access to social media analytics without complexity.

4. Integrations

Rival IQ prioritizes analytics across core social networks.

Brandwatch: Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok, Messenger, X (Twitter), LinkedIn, and Reddit

RivalIQ: Supports channels, TikTok Analytics, Instagram Analytics, Facebook Analytics, Twitter Analytics, LinkedIn Analytics, and YouTube Analytics.

Rival IQ vs Brandwatch Key Takeaway: Brandwatch covers more social platforms and is better for broad social listening. At the same time, Rival IQ focuses on analytics and competitor insights across core social channels.

5. Pricing

Rival IQ offers transparent pricing with a free trial.

• Drive: $239/month
• Engage:  $349/month
• Engage Pro: $559/month
• Enterprise: Custom Pricing

Tailored plans for larger teams.

Free trial: 14 days.

Brandwatch doesn’t publicly display prices; you need to contact sales for a personalized quote.

Pros & Cons

Here are the main pros and cons of this tool.

Rival IQ vs Brandwatch Final Takeaway

Rival IQ is perfect for brands and agencies that need social media intelligence, strong brand mention tracking, and deep competitor insights without the heavy complexity of Brandwatch. It’s one of the best Brandwatch competitors for marketers who want simple, precise data.

Brandwatch Alternative #4: Brand24

Brand24 vs Brandwatch

This comparison highlights how Brand24 handles real-time alerts, sentiment insights, and basic monitoring, versus Brandwatch’s deeper, more complex features.

1. Automation & Workflow Efficiency

Brand24 focuses on automating brand monitoring and alerts.

• Offers automation features that help with brand mention tracking and monitoring.
• Automatically sends alerts when mentions spike or sentiment changes.
• Tracks competitor mentions and online trends without needing manual checks.
• Allows you to set up Teams alerts that notify them of important brand signals in real time.

Brandwatch vs Brand24 Key Takeaway: Brand24 helps teams save time on monitoring and alerting, making it a strong Brandwatch alternative for brand monitoring, even though it isn’t a complete publishing automation platform.

2. Team Collaboration & Workflow Simplicity

Brand24 is designed for small teams and agencies.

• Built to be easier for teams.
• Teams can easily share dashboards and reports.
• Team members can access alerts and insights without complicated setup.
• Simple reporting for brand monitoring, sentiment analysis, and trend tracking makes teamwork easier.

Brandwatch vs Brand24 Key Takeaway: Brand24 is one of the Brandwatch competitors that offers teams a simpler, more collaborative workflow, making it great for agencies, small businesses, or marketing teams that want social listening tools without enterprise complexity.

3. Ease of Use & Learning Curve

Brand24 emphasizes simplicity and speed.

• Designed to be much easier to use for everyday monitoring.
• A simple, clean dashboard that clearly shows mentions and trends.
• No long training is needed; teams can start tracking brand mentions, sentiment, and trends quickly.

Brandwatch vs Brand24 Key Takeaway: Brand24 is one of the easier Brandwatch alternatives for social listening, especially for teams that don’t want to spend time learning complicated systems.

4. Integrations

Brand24 supports a wider range of listening sources.

• Brandwatch: Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok, Messenger, X (Twitter), LinkedIn, and Reddit
• Brand24: X (Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Spotify, News, LinkedIn, Blogs, Reddit, Telegram, TripAdvisor, App Store, and TikTok.

Brandwatch vs Brand24 Key Takeaway: Brand24 offers more integrations than Brandwatch, including additional platforms such as blogs, Telegram, TripAdvisor, the App Store, and Spotify, making it a better choice for teams that need broader social listening and brand monitoring tools.

5. Pricing

Brand24 provides tiered pricing suitable for growing teams.

• Individual: $199/month
• Team: $299/month
• Pro: $399/month
• Business: $599/month
• Enterprise: From $999/month
• Free Trial: 14 days

Brandwatch provides pricing details only after requesting a demo or consultation.

Pros & Cons

Here are the pros and cons of Brand24 for an informed choice.

Brandwatch vs Brand24 Final Takeaway

Brand24 is a cost-effective Brandwatch alternative for startups and small businesses seeking brand monitoring tools and social media insights.

Brandwatch Alternative #5: BrandMentions

BrandMentions is a lightweight social media monitoring and brand monitoring tool that tracks mentions across social media, blogs, and news websites. It offers sentiment analysis, competitor tracking, and actionable social media insights, making it a great Brandwatch alternative for startups and agencies that need a simpler, cost-effective social listening tool.

BrandMentions vs Brandwatch

Here’s a detailed comparison between BrandMentions and Brandwatch to help you understand how they stack up against each other.

1. Social Media Automation & Alerts

BrandMentions focuses on real-time alerts and automated monitoring.

• Sends real-time notifications whenever your brand is mentioned.
• Automated reports keep your team updated without manual checking.

BrandMentions vs Brandwatch Key Takeaway: BrandMentions is better for small teams who need quick, actionable alerts as part of social listening tools and brand monitoring software.

2. Social Media Analytics & Reporting

BrandMentions keeps analytics simple and easy to understand.

• Shows clear and simple dashboards with sentiment trends and brand mentions.
• Perfect for small businesses or agencies that want social media analytics platforms without steep learning curves.

BrandMentions vs Brandwatch Key Takeaway: BrandMentions is easier to use and ideal for small businesses looking for brand monitoring and social listening tools.

3. Team Collaboration & Workflows

BrandMentions supports simple collaboration for small teams.

• Let’s enable multiple users to access dashboards and share insights easily.
• Ideal for small teams or agencies needing simple workflows.

BrandMentions vs Brandwatch Key Takeaway: BrandMentions makes teamwork easier without the complexity of big enterprise systems.

4. Integrations

BrandMentions focuses on core social platforms.

• BrandMentions: LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and YouTube.
• Brandwatch: Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok, Messenger, X (Twitter), LinkedIn, and Reddit

BrandMentions vs Brandwatch Key Takeaway: Brandwatch offers broader social media coverage and insights across more platforms, while BrandMentions focuses on fewer channels, making Brandwatch better for wider social listening.

5. Pricing

BrandMentions helps you monitor your brand and online mentions with plans for different needs:

• Starter: $99/month
• Pro: $299/month
• Expert: $499/month
• Enterprise: Custom pricing
• Free Trial: 7 days

Pricing is designed for businesses and agencies with varying needs, so it’s always customized.

Pros & Cons

BrandMentions vs Brandwatch Final Takeaway 

BrandMentions is a great Brandwatch alternative because it’s simple to use, affordable, and offers real-time alerts, sentiment tracking, and easy-to-share insights.

Brandwatch Alternative #6: Iconosquare

Iconosquare is a popular social media analytics platform known for its strong visual reports, deep performance tracking, and easy social media monitoring features. It’s an excellent choice for people searching for alternatives to Brandwatch, but who don’t need heavy enterprise tools.

Iconosquare vs Brandwatch

Here’s a detailed comparison between Iconosquare and Brandwatch to help you understand the differences:

1. Social Media Analytics & Reporting

Iconosquare emphasizes visual and actionable performance insights.

• Provides clear, visual dashboards that show follower growth, engagement rates, reach, and content performance.
• Makes it easy for teams to track social media insights without a steep learning curve.

Great for small teams, agencies, or social media managers who want simple yet effective social media analytics platforms.

Iconosquare vs Brandwatch Key Takeaway: Iconosquare is ideal for teams looking for easy, visual analytics and a simpler Brandwatch alternative.

2. Social Media Scheduling

Iconosquare includes built-in publishing and planning tools.

• Let’s you schedule posts across Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter/X, TikTok, and YouTube.
• Supports visual planning with drag-and-drop calendar views.
• Can schedule single posts, recurring posts, or plan campaigns in advance.
• Helps small teams or agencies manage multiple accounts efficiently.

Iconosquare vs Brandwatch Key Takeaway: Iconosquare is better for teams that need a Brandwatch alternative with social media scheduling.

3. Team Collaboration

Iconosquare simplifies teamwork for agencies and small teams.

• Multi-user access allows teams to manage accounts together.
• Role-based permissions ensure team members see only what they need.
• Teams can review posts, approve content, and track performance together.
• Helps small businesses and agencies streamline teamwork without complex enterprise workflows.

Iconosquare vs Brandwatch Key Takeaway: Iconosquare simplifies teamwork and is great for social listening tools for agencies and small businesses.

4. Integrations

Iconosquare focuses on major social networks.

• Iconosquare: Connects with leading social networks: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter/X, TikTok, and YouTube.
• Brandwatch: Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok, Messenger, X (Twitter), LinkedIn, and Reddit

Iconosquare vs Brandwatch Key Takeaway: Iconosquare connects to all major platforms needed for brand monitoring software and is easier to set up for small teams.

5. Pricing

Iconosquare offers tiered plans for social media analytics, scheduling, and insights, with a 14‑day free trial and the option to pay monthly or yearly.

• Launch: $39/month 
• Scale: $83/month 
• Excel: $139/month 
• Custom Plans: Flexible pricing for larger needs 
• Free Tier: Basic free access after trial available

Brandwatch adapts pricing to each client’s monitoring, analytics, and reporting requirements.

Pros & Cons

Iconosquare vs Brandwatch Final Takeaway

Iconosquare is a Brandwatch alternative that’s easy to use, visually intuitive, and ideal for small businesses, agencies, and social media managers. It combines analytics, scheduling, collaboration, and platform-specific insights into a single, simple tool.

Brandwatch Alternative #7: BuzzSumo 

BuzzSumo is a powerful tool for brand monitoring, content research, and competitor tracking. Many marketers choose BuzzSumo as a Brandwatch alternative because it helps them track brand mentions, discover trends, and see which content performs best online.

BuzzSumo vs Brandwatch

BuzzSumo works well as a Brandwatch alternative because it focuses on content performance, brand mention tracking, and social media insights, rather than on heavy sentiment analysis tools that are harder to use.

1. Social Media Scheduling

BuzzSumo supports smarter publishing through insights, not direct posting.

• Helps teams plan content using social media trend analysis
• Alerts show when topics and brand mentions spike
• Supports smarter publishing decisions

BuzzSumo vs Brandwatch Key Takeaway: BuzzSumo makes content timing easier, while Brandwatch requires additional tools.

2. Team Collaboration

BuzzSumo is designed for marketing and PR teams.

• Simple dashboards for quick sharing
• Easy collaboration for PR and marketing teams
• Works well as a social listening tool for agencies

BuzzSumo vs Brandwatch Key Takeaway: BuzzSumo is better for small teams and agencies that need simple collaboration.

3. Social Media Analytics

BuzzSumo focuses on content performance and engagement.

• Clear social media analytics platform features
• Shows top-performing content, backlinks, and shares
• Strong competitor tracking tools

BuzzSumo vs Brandwatch Key Takeaway: BuzzSumo offers clear, actionable insights without data overload.

4. Ease of Use

BuzzSumo prioritizes speed and simplicity.

• Easy-to-use social listening platform
• Clean interface with instant results
• Great for beginners and non-technical teams

BuzzSumo vs Brandwatch Key Takeaway: BuzzSumo is faster to learn and easier to use than Brandwatch.

5. Integrations

BuzzSumo keeps integrations simple.

• Brandwatch: Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok, Messenger, X (Twitter), LinkedIn, and Reddit.
• BuzzSumo: Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Reddit, Slack, and Zapier

BuzzSumo vs Brandwatch Key Takeaway: BuzzSumo integrations are simpler and easier to manage.

6. Pricing

BuzzSumo helps teams research content and track engagement with tiered plans and a free trial:

• Content Creation: $199/month
• PR & Comms: $299/month
• Suite: $499/month
• Enterprise: $999/month
• Free Trial: Available

Brandwatch pricing is available only upon request; contact sales for a tailored quote.

Pros & Cons

BuzzSumo vs Brandwatch Final Takeaway

BuzzSumo is best for finding trending content and top-performing articles. Brandwatch is stronger for deep social listening, audience insights, and analytics.

Brandwatch Alternative #8: EmbedSocial

EmbedSocial specializes in collecting, monitoring, and embedding social media reviews and feeds. While Brandwatch focuses on analytics and enterprise monitoring, EmbedSocial is a simple Brandwatch alternative for startups and small businesses wanting brand monitoring tools and social listening insights without complexity.

EmbedSocial vs Brandwatch

This overview compares EmbedSocial’s focus on reviews, social proof, and feed aggregation with Brandwatch’s analytics-driven platform.

1. Social Media Scheduling

EmbedSocial centers on collecting and displaying content, not publishing.

• Best for collecting posts and reviews in one place
• Works with publishing tools if needed

EmbedSocial vs Brandwatch Key Takeaway: EmbedSocial doesn’t replace posting tools, but makes it easy to collect social content.

2. Team Collaboration

EmbedSocial supports lightweight collaboration for small teams.

• Simple dashboards for teams to view content
• Easy to share collected posts and reviews
• Great for small teams and agencies

EmbedSocial vs Brandwatch Key Takeaway: EmbedSocial makes teamwork easier with clean, shared dashboards.

3. Social Media Analytics

EmbedSocial provides basic engagement and sentiment insights.

• Shows engagement from collected social posts
• Tracks reviews and brand mentions
• Gives basic insights into audience reactions

EmbedSocial vs Brandwatch Key Takeaway: Less complex than Brandwatch, clear, simple metrics you can use right away.

4. Ease of Use

EmbedSocial is built for quick adoption.

• Very easy to get started
• Dashboard is simple and clean
• No training needed for beginners

EmbedSocial vs Brandwatch Key Takeaway: Much easier to use than Brandwatch, perfect for small teams.

5. Integrations

• EmbedSocial: WordPress, Shopify, Zapier, Pagecloud, Squarespace, Webflow, Weebly, Duda, and Wix
• Brandwatch: Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok, Messenger, X (Twitter), LinkedIn, and Reddit.

EmbedSocial vs Brandwatch Key Takeaway: Easy integrations make it great for teams without technical help.

6. Pricing

EmbedSocial offers tools for social feeds, reviews, and analytics with a 7-day free trial:

• Reviews Management: $29/month
• Social Media Aggregator: $29/month
• GBP Management: $9/month
• Social Listening: $99/month
• Free Trial: 7 days

Brandwatch offers custom pricing based on your business needs.

Pros & Cons

EmbedSocial vs Brandwatch Final Takeaway

EmbedSocial is a solid Brandwatch alternative when you want: easy brand monitoring tools, simple social listening tools, basic social media insights, and clean dashboards for teamwork.

Brandwatch Alternative #9: Zoho Social

Zoho Social is an all-in-one social media management tool with features for scheduling, listening, analytics, and brand monitoring. It’s an affordable Brandwatch alternative for small businesses and startups, offering social listening tools, competitor tracking, and social media insights in a single platform.

Zoho Social vs Brandwatch

This comparison shows how Zoho Social blends scheduling, analytics, and listening, making it a more all-in-one solution than Brandwatch.

1. Social Media Scheduling

Zoho Social is built for planning and publishing content.

• Let’s you plan and schedule posts across social platforms
• Has a visual calendar so teams can see planned content
• Helps pick the best posting times based on data
• Good for managing multiple accounts

Zoho Social vs Brandwatch Key Takeaway: Zoho Social is far better for content scheduling and planning than Brandwatch, making it a strong Brandwatch alternative with social media scheduling tools that save time.

2. Team Collaboration

Zoho Social focuses on smooth team workflows.

• Easy to share calendars and scheduled posts with your team
• You can add notes, approvals, and mentions for teammates
• Works well for agencies and groups working together
• Keeps everyone on the same page

Zoho Social vs Brandwatch Key Takeaway: Zoho Social makes teamwork smoother than Brandwatch, especially for social listening tools for agencies and teams that need simple collaboration.

3. Social Media Analytics

Zoho Social offers clear performance insights.

• Shows key metrics for posts (likes, shares, reach)
• Tracks engagement trends over time
• Lets you compare performance across platforms
• Helps you find what content works best

Zoho Social vs Brandwatch Key Takeaway: Zoho Social provides precise social media analytics and brand mention tracking without the heavy data overload that some sentiment tools like Brandwatch can cause.

4. Ease of Use

Zoho Social is designed for non-technical teams.

• Very user-friendly dashboard
• Easy to learn and get started
• Simple menus and clear reporting
• Great for beginners and small teams

Zoho Social vs Brandwatch Key Takeaway: Zoho Social’s social listening platform is much easier to use than Brandwatch, making it a great option among Brandwatch alternatives for small businesses and teams without technical experts.

5. Integrations

• Zoho Social: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, Twitter, and Pinterest, and, most importantly, the entire Zoho ecosystem (CRM, Desk, Campaigns, etc).
• Brandwatch: Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok, Messenger, X (Twitter), LinkedIn, and Reddit.

Zoho Social vs Brandwatch Key Takeaway: Zoho Social’s integrations are simpler and more user-friendly than Brandwatch’s, especially for teams that want a connected toolkit without complexity.

6. Pricing

Zoho Social offers plans for individuals, teams, and agencies:

• Free: $0/month 
• Standard: $15/month 
• Professional: $40/month
• Premium: $65/month 
• Agency: $320/month 
• Agency Plus: $460/month
• Free Trial: Available on paid plans

Brandwatch provides pricing individually, depending on your team and features.

Pros & Cons

ZohoSocial vs Brandwatch Final Takeaway

Zoho Social is an excellent Brandwatch competitor for small businesses and agencies needing social listening, analytics, and content scheduling.

Brandwatch Alternative #10: Meltwater

Meltwater is one of the most well-known Brandwatch alternatives for businesses that need both media monitoring and social listening in one place. Unlike many tools like Brandwatch that focus mainly on social data, Meltwater tracks millions of news outlets, blogs, forums, podcasts, review sites, and social platforms.

Meltwater vs Brandwatch

Meltwater is a strong Brandwatch alternative because it addresses many of Brandwatch’s common pain points while still offering social media listening tools, brand monitoring software, and social media analytics.

1. Social Media Automation & Workflow Efficiency

Meltwater automates monitoring across media and social.

• Automates social media and news monitoring alerts
• Customizable reports save time
• Helps teams track multiple brands, competitors, and topics efficiently

Meltwater vs Brandwatch Key Takeaway: Meltwater improves workflow efficiency and reduces manual monitoring compared to Brandwatch.

2. Social Media Scheduling Issues

Meltwater focuses on insights, not publishing.

• While Meltwater focuses on monitoring, it integrates with social publishing tools
• Alerts and dashboards help plan timely content around trending topics

Meltwater vs Brandwatch Key Takeaway: Meltwater helps avoid scheduling headaches and integrates with a larger social media analytics platform.

3. Team Collaboration & Workflow Simplicity

Meltwater supports cross-team alignment.

• Shared dashboards for teams
• Easy reporting and alerts for multiple users
• Keeps PR, marketing, and social media teams on the same page

Meltwater vs Brandwatch Key Takeaway: Meltwater makes collaboration simpler, a key benefit for social listening tools for agencies and Brandwatch alternatives for startups.

4. Ease of Use & Learning Curve

Meltwater balances power with usability.

• User-friendly interface with clean dashboards
• Easy to see brand mentions, social trends, and PR coverage
• Quick onboarding for new team members

Meltwater vs Brandwatch Key Takeaway: Meltwater is easier to use than Brandwatch, making it a Brandwatch alternative for small businesses and teams who want simple social listening tools.

5. Pricing

Meltwater offers custom pricing based on team size, data sources, and features. Its pricing is “on request”; you need to contact sales for a custom quote based on your needs.

Brandwatch prices are customized for each customer; no standard rates are published.

Pros & Cons

Meltwater vs Brandwatch Final Takeaway

Meltwater is perfect if you want media monitoring + social listening together. It gives broader coverage, stronger PR insights, crisis alerts, and simpler reports. This makes it a great choice for teams that need brand reputation monitoring, trend analysis, and consumer intelligence tools without relying solely on social data.

Brandwatch Alternative #11: Awario

Awario is one of the most popular Brandwatch alternatives thanks to its affordability, simplicity, and strong set of social listening tools.

Awario is especially well-suited for small businesses, PR teams, agencies, and startups looking for cheaper alternatives to Brandwatch that still deliver accurate sentiment analysis, competitor tracking, and consumer intelligence tools.

Awario vs Brandwatch

This section compares Awario’s real-time monitoring, sentiment tracking, and simple dashboards with Brandwatch’s deeper analytical tools.

Awario is a popular Brandwatch alternative for small teams, startups, and agencies. It focuses on social listening, brand monitoring, sentiment analysis, and competitor tracking tools in a way that’s simple and affordable.

1. Social Media Automation & Workflow Efficiency

Awario focuses on real-time alerts and streamlined monitoring workflows.

• Sends instant alerts for brand mentions
• Easy to track, star, and organize mentions
• Teams can react quickly without a complex setup

Awario vs Brandwatch Key Takeaway: Awario saves time and improves workflow compared to Brandwatch.

2. Social Media Scheduling Issues

Awario supports content planning through insights rather than publishing.

• Focuses on monitoring mentions, not posting
• Insights help plan timely posts
• Can be used with other scheduling tools

Awario vs Brandwatch Key Takeaway: Awario indirectly supports scheduling by showing trends and spikes in mentions.

3. Team Collaboration & Workflow Simplicity

Awario is built for simple team collaboration.

• Shared dashboards and simple team roles
• Easy for team members to view and manage mentions
• Keeps the workflow simple and clear

Awario vs Brandwatch Key Takeaway: Awario makes collaboration easy for agencies and small teams.

4. Ease of Use & Learning Curve

Awario prioritizes ease of use and fast onboarding.

• Clean and simple dashboard
• Shows brand mentions in real-time clearly
• Easy to get started without training

Awario vs Brandwatch Key Takeaway: Awario is easier to use than Brandwatch, making it a good social listening tool for small businesses or beginners.

5. Integrations

Awario: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, YouTube, Vimeo, Blogs, Forums, News, and the web.

Brandwatch: Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok, Messenger, X (Twitter), LinkedIn, and Reddit.

Awario vs Brandwatch Key Takeaway: Awario pulls data from social networks plus blogs, forums, news, and the wider web for broad listening, while Brandwatch focuses more on major social platforms with deeper analytics and enterprise features.

6. Pricing

Awario offers social listening plans with a 7-day free trial:

• Starter: $49/month
• Pro: $149/month
• Enterprise: $399/month
• Free Trial: 7 days

Brandwatch pricing is available only upon request; contact sales for a tailored quote.

Pros & Cons

Here are the pros and cons of Awario:

Awario vs Brandwatch Final Takeaway 

Awario stands out as an affordable and powerful Brandwatch alternative for teams that need fast, reliable social listening, brand monitoring, competitor tracking, and sentiment analysis tools, without the steep enterprise cost. It’s ideal for startups, agencies, PR teams, and social media managers who want a simple yet accurate social listening platform that delivers results.

Conclusion

Choosing the best Brandwatch alternative comes down to your goals, budget, and the type of social listening tools your business needs.

In this guide, we covered the 11 best Brandwatch competitors. Each of these tools offers helpful features. With so many strong alternatives available today, you’re no longer limited to one solution. The right tool is out there; you just need to pick the one that fits your workflow, budget, and long-term growth goals.

 

FAQs

Q: What are the best social listening tools besides Brandwatch?

Some of the best Brandwatch alternatives include SocialBu, Brand24, Awario, BuzzSumo, EmbedSocial, Zoho Social, and more. These tools offer strong social listening, brand monitoring, sentiment tracking, and competitor analysis without the complexity or high price of Brandwatch.

Q: Which alternatives offer better sentiment analysis?

If you want more or less advanced sentiment analysis tools, great Brandwatch competitors include SocialBu and Awario. They provide real-time sentiment insights, emotion detection, and social media intelligence that’s easier to understand.

Q: Are there more affordable Brandwatch competitors?

Yes. If you want affordable Brandwatch alternatives, the best low-cost tools are SocialBu, Brand24, Awario, EmbedSocial, and Zoho Social. These platforms offer strong brand monitoring and social media listening tools without enterprise pricing.

Q: What are the top alternatives for brand monitoring?

Top brand monitoring software like Awario, Brand24, and BuzzSumo help track mentions, trends, sentiment, and online reputation in real time. They’re easier to use than Brandwatch and are loved by small businesses, agencies, and PR teams.

Q: Do any competitors offer better trend analysis?

Yes. SocialBu and BuzzSumo are excellent for social media trend analysis. They surface trending topics, hashtags, content formats, and audience behavior faster than most enterprise tools.

Q: What are the best Brandwatch alternatives for reputation management?

If you need online reputation monitoring tools, consider SocialBu, Awario, or Brand24. These tools help detect negative mentions quickly so teams can respond before issues grow.

Q: Which tools have better data visualization?

SocialBu offers some of the best data visualization among Brandwatch competitors. They turn insights into simple dashboards, visual trends, and audience maps that are easier to understand.

Q: Are there alternatives with better API access?

Awario and Brand24 offer strong API access for teams that need custom dashboards, integrations, or automations. They’re great choices for agencies and enterprise users.

Q: What competitors offer better real-time monitoring?

For faster real-time monitoring, tools like SocialBu, Awario, and Brand24 provide alerts and instant updates without delays. They’re ideal for PR teams, crisis management, and active brand reputation monitoring.