Meltwater vs Steno
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 Steno if you prioritize AI transcription and want plans starting at Contact for pricing. Steno has a higher user rating (4.4 vs 4.2).
Meltwater vs Steno: At a Glance
Feature Comparison: Meltwater vs Steno
| Feature | Meltwater | Steno |
|---|---|---|
| Media monitoring | ||
| Social listening | ||
| Influencer discovery | ||
| Sentiment analysis | ||
| Competitive intelligence | ||
| PR analytics | ||
| Report automation | ||
| Crisis monitoring | ||
| Salesforce | ||
| HubSpot | ||
| Slack | ||
| Microsoft Teams | ||
| Tableau | ||
| SOC2 | ||
| GDPR | ||
| AI transcription | ||
| Broadcast search | ||
| Real-time monitoring | ||
| Clip creation | ||
| Media analysis | ||
| API | ||
| Web support |
Meltwater vs Steno: Pricing Breakdown
Meltwater Pricing
Model: subscription
- Media monitoring
- Social listening
- Influencer database
- Analytics dashboard
- Advanced analytics
- API access
- Custom integrations
- Dedicated support
Steno Pricing
Model: subscription
- Search transcripts
- Clip creation
- Email alerts
- Basic analytics
- All Starter features
- API access
- Team collaboration
- Advanced analytics
- Custom integrations
- Dedicated support
- SLA
- Custom retention
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
Steno
Pros
- Highly rated by users (4.4/5)
- Rich feature set with 9+ capabilities
- Strong AI transcription functionality
- Strong Broadcast search functionality
Cons
- No free plan available
- Limited platform support (Web only)
- May require time to learn advanced features
Who Should Use Meltwater vs Steno?
Choose Meltwater if you:
- Need Media monitoring
- Have a budget of Contact for pricing+
- Work primarily on Web and Api
- Value Social listening
Choose Steno if you:
- Need AI transcription
- Have a budget of Contact for pricing+
- Work primarily on Web
- Value Broadcast search
Frequently Asked Questions: Meltwater vs Steno
Is Meltwater better than Steno?
It depends on your needs. Meltwater has a 4.2/5 user rating while Steno has 4.4/5. Meltwater excels in Media monitoring and Social listening, while Steno stands out with AI transcription and Broadcast search. Consider your budget (Contact for pricing vs Contact for pricing), platform needs, and specific feature requirements.
Which is cheaper, Meltwater or Steno?
Meltwater starts at Contact for pricing. Steno starts at Contact for pricing. Compare the specific plan features to determine the best value for your use case.
Can I use Meltwater and Steno 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 Steno?
The key differences include: pricing model (subscription vs subscription), platform support (Web, Api, Mobile vs Web), and feature focus. Meltwater emphasizes Media monitoring, Social listening, Influencer discovery while Steno focuses on AI transcription, Broadcast search, Real-time monitoring. User ratings differ slightly: 4.2 vs 4.4 out of 5.
Ready to choose?
Explore detailed reviews, user ratings, and pricing for both Meltwater and Steno.