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

Understanding the Total Cost of Ownership

Influencity follows a transparent, flat-rate SaaS billing model, though it is often criticized for currency confusion (USD vs. EUR) and its strict no-refund policy. Their entry-level Basic tier starts at $168/mo, moving up to $698/mo for the Business tier. For a standard team of 5 users requiring advanced features, the Business plan at $8,376 per year is the likely landing spot. However, teams should be aware of the 7-day trial and the lack of flexibility once a contract is signed. For teams on a budget, comparing any two tools side-by-side often reveals Influencity as the more accessible entry point.

Meltwater operates on a strictly custom-pricing, annual-contract-only model. While their 'Essentials' tier is marketed around $500/mo ($6,000/yr), data from platforms like Vendr suggests the median actual cost for a Meltwater contract is closer to $25,000 per year. This usually includes implementation and onboarding fees, which are mandatory given the platform's complexity.

For a 5-person team, Meltwater could easily exceed $30,000 annually when adding premium managed services or advanced API access. While this is a significant investment, it provides a level of global scale and media contact access (700k+ journalists) that Influencity cannot match. If these prices seem prohibitive, exploring a Meltwater alternative for small-to-mid-sized businesses is a wise financial move.

Choose Influencity if...

You are a mid-sized brand or agency that needs a dedicated tool for influencer discovery and campaign automation. It is best for teams that prioritize a large database of profiles and need a platform that handles global creator payments and Shopify integrations. If you are comfortable with a strict billing model and don't require traditional media monitoring, Influencity is a solid choice. You can find more details in our Influencity alternative guide if you're still on the fence.

Choose Meltwater if...

You are an enterprise organization that requires a 'single pane of glass' for all media intelligence. Meltwater is the gold standard for PR teams who need to track brand mentions across TV, radio, print, and podcasts alongside social media. It is ideal for global brands with large budgets who value data security (ISO certifications) and need a massive database of media contacts for outreach.

Neither might be right if...

You are primarily focused on short-form video content (TikTok, Reels, Shorts) and are finding that your creators often forget to tag your brand. Both Influencity and Meltwater can miss up to 30% of your UGC because they rely heavily on tags and hashtags. Furthermore, if you need a library of high-resolution video assets for ad creative or automated rights management, these generalist platforms may leave you doing significant manual 'grunt work'. In these cases, browsing all Meltwater alternatives or specialized social listening tools is the better path.