Meltwater vs SmartNews
A comprehensive head-to-head comparison of two leading news & media solutions in 2026. Compare features, pricing, ratings, and more to find the right fit.
Quick Verdict
Choose Meltwater if you need Media monitoring and prefer comprehensive paid features. Choose SmartNews if you prioritize Machine learning curation and want a free tier to start. SmartNews has a higher user rating (4.6 vs 4.2).
Meltwater vs SmartNews: At a Glance
Feature Comparison: Meltwater vs SmartNews
| Feature | Meltwater | SmartNews |
|---|---|---|
| Media monitoring | ||
| Social listening | ||
| Influencer discovery | ||
| Sentiment analysis | ||
| Competitive intelligence | ||
| PR analytics | ||
| Report automation | ||
| Crisis monitoring | ||
| Salesforce | ||
| HubSpot | ||
| Slack | ||
| Microsoft Teams | ||
| Tableau | ||
| SOC2 | ||
| GDPR | ||
| Machine learning curation | ||
| Smart Mode | ||
| Local news | ||
| Breaking alerts | ||
| Offline reading | ||
| Social sharing | ||
| News publishers | ||
| Ios support | ||
| Android support |
Meltwater vs SmartNews: Pricing Breakdown
Meltwater Pricing
Model: subscription
- Media monitoring
- Social listening
- Influencer database
- Analytics dashboard
- Advanced analytics
- API access
- Custom integrations
- Dedicated support
SmartNews Pricing
Model: free
- Trending news
- Local news
- Smart Mode reading
- Category channels
Pros and Cons
Meltwater
Pros
- Highly rated by users (4.2/5)
- Available on 3 platforms (Web, Api, Mobile)
- Rich feature set with 15+ capabilities
- Strong Media monitoring functionality
- Strong Social listening functionality
Cons
- No free plan available
- May require time to learn advanced features
SmartNews
Pros
- Highly rated by users (4.6/5)
- Free plan available to get started
- Rich feature set with 9+ capabilities
- Strong Machine learning curation functionality
- Strong Smart Mode functionality
Cons
- May require time to learn advanced features
Who Should Use Meltwater vs SmartNews?
Choose Meltwater if you:
- Need Media monitoring
- Have a budget of Contact for pricing+
- Work primarily on Web and Api
- Value Social listening
Choose SmartNews if you:
- Need Machine learning curation
- Want to start for free
- Work primarily on Ios and Android
- Value Smart Mode
Frequently Asked Questions: Meltwater vs SmartNews
Is Meltwater better than SmartNews?
It depends on your needs. Meltwater has a 4.2/5 user rating while SmartNews has 4.6/5. Meltwater excels in Media monitoring and Social listening, while SmartNews stands out with Machine learning curation and Smart Mode. Consider your budget (Contact for pricing vs Free), platform needs, and specific feature requirements.
Which is cheaper, Meltwater or SmartNews?
Meltwater starts at Contact for pricing. SmartNews offers a free plan and starts at Free. SmartNews has a clear pricing advantage with its free tier.
Can I use Meltwater and SmartNews together?
While both are news & media tools, some teams use complementary software together. Check each product's API and integration capabilities for compatibility. However, most users find that one solution covers their core news & media needs.
What are the main differences between Meltwater and SmartNews?
The key differences include: pricing model (subscription vs free), platform support (Web, Api, Mobile vs Ios, Android), and feature focus. Meltwater emphasizes Media monitoring, Social listening, Influencer discovery while SmartNews focuses on Machine learning curation, Smart Mode, Local news. User ratings differ slightly: 4.2 vs 4.6 out of 5.
Ready to choose?
Explore detailed reviews, user ratings, and pricing for both Meltwater and SmartNews.