Critical Mention vs Tubular Labs: Which Is Better? (2026 Comparison)

Comparing the total cost of ownership for Critical Mention and Tubular Labs is challenging because both rely heavily on custom, non-transparent pricing. However, based on market data and user reports, we can estimate the investment required for a 5-person team.

Tubular Labs Pricing

Tubular Labs is firmly an enterprise solution. Their entry-level 'Plus' tier starts at $1,500 per month ($18,000/year), while the 'Premium' tier jumps to $3,500 per month ($42,000/year). Crucially, Tubular often uses seat-based pricing. For a 5-person team, the cost could easily exceed the base price as additional seats or 'Direct Connect' API access are added. Furthermore, specialized consulting services or the 'Viewpoint' add-on for broader team access can drive annual costs toward the $50,000+ range. If this is out of reach, you may want to look at a Tubular Labs alternative with more transparent tiers.

Critical Mention Pricing

Critical Mention also utilizes custom pricing, but it is generally perceived as more flexible than Tubular Labs, depending on the modules required (e.g., if you only need broadcast vs. full social listening). User reports have cited costs ranging from $2,500/year for specific NGO packages to $6,000/year for standard broadcast monitoring. For a 5-person enterprise team requiring full global coverage and multi-user access, a realistic estimate would be between $10,000 and $15,000 per year. While potentially more affordable than Tubular Labs, it remains a significant investment. For more cost-effective options, explore our list of Critical Mention alternatives.

Value Comparison

For a 5-person team, Critical Mention likely offers a lower entry price but lacks the deep social video data Tubular provides. Tubular Labs offers higher value for media publishers who can monetize its audience insights, whereas Critical Mention offers better value for PR agencies needing to prove ROI on earned media. If neither fits your budget, consider a Brandwatch vs Tubular Labs analysis to see other enterprise price points.

Choose Critical Mention if...

You are a PR professional, communications lead, or agency account manager who prioritizes broadcast media. If your primary goal is to track TV and radio mentions in real-time and provide clients with shareable news clips and sentiment reports, Critical Mention is the superior choice. It is also ideal for those who value 24/7 human support and a platform that is easy for a whole team to pick up quickly. For more options in this category, check our Archive vs Critical Mention page.

Choose Tubular Labs if...

You are a large-scale media company, broadcaster, or global brand where video is the primary content vehicle. Tubular Labs is built for strategists who need to understand video trends across the entire social ecosystem, benchmark against competitors like the BBC or ESPN, and use audience behavior models to inform high-stakes ad sales or content production. If you're comparing enterprise video tools, you might also look at Collabstr vs Tubular Labs for a different perspective on creator data.

Neither might be right if...

You are a B2C or DTC brand focused specifically on the explosion of short-form video (TikTok, Reels, Shorts) and User-Generated Content (UGC). Neither tool is purpose-built for the unique challenges of tracking untagged UGC or managing the rights to use that content in your own ads. If you are a smaller team or a brand that finds enterprise pricing prohibitive, you should browse all alternatives to find a tool that matches your specific scale. To build your own comparison, use our compare any two tools feature.