Best Heepsy Alternative in 2026

TL;DR

While Heepsy is a solid influencer discovery tool, ShortsIntel is the superior alternative for brands that need to track video content and automate usage rights. While Heepsy excels at database searches, ShortsIntel identifies 30% more content by detecting untagged mentions and using AI to analyze frame-by-frame video data. For a deep dive into the specifics, check out our ShortsIntel vs Heepsy breakdown or browse other Heepsy alternatives.

Why Look for Alternatives?

Many marketers begin their journey with Heepsy because of its affordable $89/month entry point and intuitive search filters. However, as campaigns scale, users often hit a 'feature wall.' One of the primary drivers toward Heepsy alternatives is the platform's pricing structure; critical data like audience demographics (age and gender) are locked behind higher tiers, and sales tracking requires an Advanced plan costing $369/mo.

Another common frustration is data hygiene. Heepsy boasts a massive database of 11M+ influencers, but users frequently report finding outdated profiles—some of which haven't posted in over three years. For brands running high-velocity TikTok or Reels campaigns, relying on stale data can lead to wasted outreach efforts. Furthermore, Heepsy’s strict 'no refunds' policy has become a point of contention for teams that find the tool isn't a fit after just a few hours of use.

Teams often compare Heepsy vs Brandwatch when looking for broader social listening, but they soon realize that general tools lack the specialized AI needed for short-form video. Heepsy also struggles to find 'nano' creators with fewer than 5,000 followers, which is a significant drawback for D2C brands focusing on micro-influencer authenticity. If you've found yourself frustrated by limited platform coverage (Heepsy excludes several emerging video formats) or the lack of automated outreach, you might also be considering a Collabstr alternative or similar specialized tools that bridge the gap between discovery and campaign execution.

Feature Comparison
Feature
ShortsIntel
Recommended
Heepsy
Content Discovery
UGC Discovery
5/5
3/5
Brand Mention Detection
5/5
2/5
Untagged Content Detection
5/5
2/5
Video Tracking
Short-Form Video Tracking
5/5
3/5
Creator Management
Creator Analytics
4/5
4/5
Rights Management
5/5
2/5
Intelligence & AI
Competitor Intelligence
4/5
2/5
AI Content Tagging
5/5
3/5
Platform & Integrations
Multi-Platform Support
4/5
3/5
Integrations
3/5
3/5
Reporting & Collaboration
Reporting Dashboards
4/5
3/5
Team Collaboration
3/5
3/5
API Access
3/5
2/5
Usability & Support
Ease of Use
4/5
5/5
Customer Support
4/5
3/5

Feature Deep Dive

When comparing Heepsy to ShortsIntel, the primary difference lies in the transition from discovery to intelligence. Heepsy is built as a search engine for influencers. It earns a 5/5 for Ease of Use because its filters—location, engagement, and authenticity—are incredibly straightforward. However, it earns a mere 2/5 for Rights Management and Brand Mention Detection.

In contrast, ShortsIntel is purpose-built for the UGC era. While Heepsy might help you find an influencer, ShortsIntel helps you find the content they (and your customers) are creating. ShortsIntel scores a 5/5 for UGC Discovery and Untagged Content Detection. Because many creators forget to tag brands in their Reels or Shorts, ShortsIntel uses AI to analyze audio and visual elements to catch mentions that Heepsy’s API-based search misses entirely. For teams moving away from manual tracking, seeing how ShortsIntel vs Archive compares can illuminate the value of automated content libraries.

Video Tracking and AI

Heepsy offers basic performance metrics, but ShortsIntel provides frame-by-frame AI content tagging. This allows you to see which visual formats or trends are driving the most engagement across TikTok, Reels, and YouTube Shorts. If you are comparing Heepsy vs Critical Mention for reporting, you'll find that ShortsIntel offers more granular video-first insights specifically for short-form content.

Creator Management

Heepsy’s strength is its 11M+ database, but it lacks a 'magic-link' consent system for usage rights. ShortsIntel solves this with an automated rights management workflow (5/5), providing a clear audit trail for legal protection. Brands that have previously used a Brandwatch alternative often find ShortsIntel’s focus on usage rights a breath of fresh air compared to manual DM-based permission seeking.

Platform Support

Heepsy covers Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Twitch. ShortsIntel focuses deeply on the 'Big Three' of short-form video (TikTok, Reels, Shorts). While Heepsy has a broader platform list on paper, ShortsIntel’s depth within those platforms—such as identifying competitors' campaigns and detecting audio trends—provides higher ROI for video-heavy marketing teams. You can explore how these capabilities stack up against other tools in our All ShortsIntel comparisons index.

Pricing Comparison
Plan Details
ShortsIntel
Recommended
Heepsy
Pricing Model
Flat Rate
Flat Rate
Free Tier
Free Trial7 days
Pricing Tiers
Entry Tier
Starter$99/mo
Free$0/moor $0/yr
Mid Tier
Pro$249/mo
Starter$89/moor $828/yr
Top Tier
Business & AgencyCustom
Plus$249/moor $2,388/yr
Annual Cost (5-Person Team)*$1,188$0
Hidden CostsNone listed
  • Advanced demographics (age, gender) not included in Starter plan
  • Sales tracking only on Advanced tier ($369+/mo)
  • No refunds policy

* Annual cost calculated using entry tier pricing. Per-seat pricing multiplied by 5 users. Actual costs may vary based on specific plan and usage.

Pricing Analysis

Heepsy uses a flat-rate model that appears budget-friendly at first glance ($89/mo for Starter), but the hidden costs add up. To get Shopify sales tracking and full demographics, you are forced into the $369/mo Advanced plan. For an annual commitment, this totals over $3,500 per year. For a team of five people, Heepsy’s costs can escalate quickly if multiple seats are required at the higher tiers.

ShortsIntel offers a more transparent value proposition. The Pro tier at $249/mo includes the specialized AI tracking and rights management that Heepsy lacks. When comparing Heepsy vs Hypefy or other automation-focused tools, ShortsIntel’s $99/mo Starter plan provides a more modern feature set for video-first brands than Heepsy’s equivalent.

Furthermore, ShortsIntel offers a 7-day trial, allowing you to verify the tool's 30% more coverage claim before committing. This stands in stark contrast to Heepsy’s lack of a trial and rigid refund policy. To see how these costs compare across the market, you can compare any two tools using our dynamic pricing calculator.

Who Is Each Product Best For?

ShortsIntel

Track and analyze UGC creator videos across TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts with AI-powered insights and automated rights management

Best For

  • DTC/B2C brands running UGC creator campaigns
  • Marketing teams drowning in content but starving for insights
  • Brands needing to track creators who forget hashtags or tags
  • Teams wanting to build a library of ad creatives from UGC
  • Companies needing automated usage rights management
  • Early-stage teams wanting affordable video social listening

Not Ideal For

  • Brands needing general social listening across all content types
  • Companies requiring Instagram Stories tracking
  • Enterprise teams needing extensive third-party integrations
  • Agencies needing long-form video analysis
  • Teams focused on platforms beyond TikTok, Instagram, YouTube
Heepsy

Influencer discovery and analytics platform for finding and vetting social media influencers

Best For

  • Small to mid-sized businesses and startups
  • Marketing agencies managing multiple campaigns
  • D2C/eCommerce brands (especially Shopify)
  • Entrepreneurs testing influencer marketing
  • Budget-conscious SMBs wanting basic influencer search

Not Ideal For

  • Enterprise teams needing advanced features
  • B2B brands
  • Brands needing micro-influencers (<5K followers)
  • Users requiring AI-powered automation
  • Teams needing deep analytics and reporting
Use Case Analysis

When to choose Heepsy

Heepsy remains an excellent choice for solo entrepreneurs or small marketing agencies that are purely in the 'discovery' phase. If your main goal is to build a massive list of potential partners across four different platforms and you have a limited budget (starting at $69/mo billed annually), Heepsy’s database is hard to beat. It is also ideal for Shopify brands that only need basic sales tracking and don't mind the manual work of rights management. For more options in this category, see our list of Heepsy alternatives.

When to choose ShortsIntel

Choose ShortsIntel if you are a B2C or D2C brand that is already running creator campaigns and feels 'drowned' in content. If you need to find untagged UGC, automate the process of getting legal permission to use that content in ads, and want AI-powered insights into why certain videos perform better than others, ShortsIntel is the clear winner. It’s for teams that value data accuracy over database size. You can see how we handle different workflows in our ShortsIntel vs Collabstr comparison.

Switching from Heepsy to ShortsIntel

Easy

Migration Difficulty

1 week for standard migration

Estimated Time

CSV/XLS export available on paid plans

Data Export Method

What Transfers
  • Influencer lists
  • Contact information
  • Campaign data
  • Analytics reports
What Doesn't Transfer
  • Shopify integration connections
  • Affiliate tracking configurations
  • Custom filters and saved searches
Migration Guide

Migrating from Heepsy to ShortsIntel is a straightforward process that typically takes about one week. Since Heepsy allows CSV/XLS exports on its paid plans, you can easily move your influencer lists, contact information, and historical campaign data.

What Transfers:

  • Influencer contact lists and social handles
  • Campaign performance history (via CSV)
  • Basic analytics reports

What Doesn't Transfer:

  • Custom filters and saved searches
  • Direct Shopify integration settings (these will need to be re-authenticated in ShortsIntel)
  • Historical affiliate tracking links

To ensure a smooth transition, we recommend exporting your Heepsy data at least 48 hours before your next billing cycle to avoid their strict cancellation/billing issues. For more help with the transition, you can compare any two tools to see exactly which data fields match up between the platforms.

What Our Customers Say

Switching to ShortsIntel was the best decision we made. We now find 30% more UGC content that we were completely missing before.

Sarah M.

Brand Marketing Manager

Switched from: Heepsy

Frequently Asked Questions

Ready to try ShortsIntel?

Track UGC, discover creators, and monitor brand mentions across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube Shorts.

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Last updated: January 28, 2026