What is Meltwater?
Meltwater is a media intelligence platform that helps PR, communications and marketing teams monitor news and social media, reach journalists and measure their impact. It collects coverage from online news, print, broadcast and social channels, then uses AI to filter, summarize and flag changes. The same platform includes a media database, press release distribution, influencer tools and consumer insights, so teams can plan, run and report on campaigns in one place.
Meltwater started in Oslo in 2001 and now operates offices around the world. It sells through tailored annual contracts rather than published price lists, with plans for small teams, larger multi-channel teams, global enterprises and agencies. A newer area tracks how generative AI platforms describe a company, which matters as more people get answers from chatbots instead of search results.
Meltwater at a glance
How does Meltwater work?
- Set up searches
Define the brands, executives, competitors and topics you want to follow, along with the regions and languages that matter.
- Monitor coverage and conversations
Meltwater gathers matching news and social content and sends alerts when volume or sentiment shifts.
- Reach media and creators
Use the media database to find journalists, personalize pitches, distribute press releases and manage influencer partnerships.
- Measure and report
Build dashboards and AI-generated summaries that show reach, sentiment and share of voice for leadership.
Meltwater key features
Media monitoring
Track global news, print, broadcast and online coverage in real time across more than 240 languages.
Social listening and analytics
Follow social conversations and sentiment changes, and analyze performance on social channels.
Media database and press distribution
Find journalist contacts, send targeted pitches and distribute press releases from the same platform.
Influencer management
Discover creators, manage relationships and track partnership results.
GenAI Lens
Monitor how AI assistants and chatbots portray your company and brand.
AI summaries and alerts
Meltwater AI condenses large volumes of coverage into briefings and flags narrative shifts early.
PR reporting
Automated dashboards measure coverage, reach and sentiment for stakeholders.
Why use Meltwater?
- Combines media monitoring, social listening and journalist outreach, which reduces the number of PR tools a team needs.
- Broad coverage across news, broadcast and social helps catch stories early.
- AI briefings make it faster to update executives on what changed.
- Agency plans support firms that manage several client accounts.
- Tracking AI-generated answers helps brands manage how they appear in chatbots.
Who is Meltwater best for?
A good fit for
- PR and corporate communications teams
- Marketing teams that need media and social monitoring together
- PR agencies managing multiple clients
- Global brands monitoring many regions and languages
Less suited to
- Freelancers or very small businesses with limited budgets
- Teams that want month-to-month billing, since most contracts are annual
- Users who only need basic keyword alerts
Meltwater pricing
| Pricing model | Contact sales |
|---|---|
| Free plan | No |
| Free trial | Not confirmed |
| Starting price | Custom pricing (contact sales) |
Meltwater offers Starter, Pro, Enterprise and Agency plans with tailored quotes based on sources, data volume, users and modules. Most contracts run for at least 12 months, and complex setups may carry an onboarding fee.
Prices checked October 2026. Vendors change plans often, so confirm on the official Meltwater pricing page before you buy.
Meltwater pros and cons
Pros
- Strong mix of PR tools: monitoring, media database and press distribution
- Wide language and channel coverage
- Plans for small teams through global agencies
Cons
- No published prices and no self-serve trial
- Annual contracts with a 12-month minimum in most cases
- Feature depth can take time for new users to learn
Meltwater integrations and platforms
Available on
Meltwater alternatives
See the full shortlist in Best Social Listening Tools.
Meltwater FAQ
How much does Meltwater cost?
Meltwater does not publish prices. It quotes each customer based on the sources and regions monitored, data volume, number of users, modules and support needs. Plans include Starter, Pro, Enterprise and Agency options. Most contracts are annual with a 12-month minimum, and larger setups may include a one-time onboarding fee.
Does Meltwater have a free trial?
Meltwater does not offer a self-serve free trial. Instead, you can book a free demo with a product expert who walks through the platform using your own use case. After the demo, the sales team prepares a tailored proposal and price based on the modules and coverage you need.
What is Meltwater used for?
Meltwater is used mainly by PR and communications teams to monitor news and social media coverage, find and contact journalists, distribute press releases and measure the results. Marketing teams also use it for social listening, competitor tracking and influencer campaigns, and some use it to see how AI chatbots describe their brand.
Meltwater vs Cision: what's the difference?
Both are media intelligence platforms for PR teams that combine media monitoring, journalist databases and press release distribution. Meltwater puts strong emphasis on social listening, influencer tools and AI summaries inside one platform. Cision also owns the Brandwatch listening suite, so buyers often compare the two on media database depth, distribution reach, listening needs and contract terms.
Where was Meltwater founded?
Meltwater was founded in 2001 in Oslo, Norway. The company says it began with two people and a small amount of starting capital, and it has since grown to around 50 offices worldwide through product development and acquisitions.
Sources
This overview is based on Meltwater's official website and documentation, checked October 2026.