Software · head to head
Parse.ly vs Cision
The short version
- They diverge on capability: Parse.ly covers Content analytics, Cision covers Media monitoring.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Parse.ly and Cision actually diverge.
Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Parse.ly
- Content analytics
- Audience tracking
- Real-time metrics
- Recommendations
- GDPR
- Cloud deployment
- English language support
Only in Cision
- Media monitoring
- PR Newswire distribution
- Media database
- Analytics & reporting
- Influencer identification
- Salesforce
- Slack
- Microsoft 365
Both cover
- Google Analytics
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Parse.ly
- Real time analytics on article and page performance for publishersnot Cision
- Attributing conversions and subscriptions to contentnot Cision
- Comparing audience engagement across authors, sections and channelsnot Cision
Cision
- Press release distributionnot Parse.ly
- Media monitoringnot Parse.ly
- PR measurementnot Parse.ly
- Media outreachnot Parse.ly
- Crisis communicationsnot Parse.ly
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Parse.ly
- Pricing is by quote only: the pricing page names three tiers but publishes no rate, no minimum and no cost driver, and routes buyers to a demo booking
- Conversions and attribution reporting require the Content Value tier rather than the entry tier
- Geographic segmentation and video tracking require the top Content Advocacy tier
Cision
Nothing recorded yet. See the Cision review.
Pricing, plan by plan
Parse.ly
$500/month- Standard$500/month
- Content analytics
- Audience insights
Cision
On request- Cision Communications CloudFree
- Media monitoring
- Media database
- PR analytics
- EnterpriseFree
- Full platform access
- PR Newswire distribution
- Custom integrations
Which should you pick?
Choose Cision if
- You need media monitoring.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want pr newswire distribution.
Questions people ask
- Is Parse.ly or Cision better?
- Neither clearly leads. Parse.ly starts at $500/month and Cision at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Parse.ly or Cision?
- Parse.ly starts at $500/month and Cision at On request.
- Does Parse.ly or Cision run on more platforms?
- Parse.ly runs on Web. Cision runs on Web, Ios, Android.
- What is Parse.ly best used for?
- Parse.ly is most often used for real time analytics on article and page performance for publishers, attributing conversions and subscriptions to content, comparing audience engagement across authors, sections and channels. Of those, real time analytics on article and page performance for publishers and attributing conversions and subscriptions to content are not what Cision is typically brought in for.
- What can Parse.ly do that Cision cannot?
- Parse.ly covers Content analytics, Audience tracking, Real-time metrics, Recommendations. Cision covers Media monitoring, PR Newswire distribution, Media database, Analytics & reporting. Both handle Google Analytics, Web support.