Brandwatch vs Meltwater: Which Is Better? (2026 Comparison)

Comparing the costs of Brandwatch and Meltwater is difficult because both use custom pricing models, but industry data provides a clear picture of the investment required.

Brandwatch Pricing: Brandwatch starts at roughly $800/month for its basic tier, scaling up to $3,000+/month for enterprise access. However, the hidden costs are significant. Implementation fees range from $5,000 to $20,000, and user scaling can quickly push costs to $10,000/month for large teams. It typically requires a 12-month contract, making it a major financial commitment for any Brandwatch alternative searcher.

Meltwater Pricing: Meltwater’s entry-level Essentials package is roughly $500/month, but this is billed annually at $6,000 minimum. For full suite access, the cost jumps to $2,000/month, and the median actual cost for enterprise customers is approximately $25,000 per year according to Vendr data. Like Brandwatch, Meltwater requires an annual commitment with no monthly billing option.

Total Cost of Ownership (5-Person Team):

• Brandwatch: ~$30,000 - $40,000 per year (including implementation and basic historical data access).
• Meltwater: ~$25,000 - $35,000 per year (including setup and media contact database access).

For teams that find these prices prohibitive, browsing our Brandwatch alternatives list may reveal more flexible, monthly options that don't require five-figure upfront payments.

Choose Brandwatch if...

You are an enterprise brand or agency that needs deep consumer intelligence. Brandwatch is the gold standard for analyzing sentiment trends and historical data dating back to 2010. If your team includes dedicated analysts who can navigate its steep learning curve to find needle-in-the-haystack insights from Reddit or X, Brandwatch is your best bet. You can see how it compares to other research tools in our Critical Mention vs Brandwatch guide.

Choose Meltwater if...

You are a PR or Communications professional who needs to track a brand across the entire media spectrum—not just social. Meltwater’s ability to monitor TV, radio, podcasts, and print alongside digital news is unmatched. With a database of 700,000+ media contacts, it is the superior choice for global organizations managing media relations across multiple continents.

Neither might be right if...

You are a B2C or DTC brand focused specifically on short-form video (TikTok/Reels) and UGC. Both platforms are often described as 'overly complex' for teams that just want to track creator content. If you need a tool that is easy to set up and doesn't require a $20k annual commitment, you should explore an Hypefy vs Brandwatch comparison or look for a more specialized tracking solution.