Google Alerts Alternatives

Top 15 Google Alerts Alternatives for Real-Time Tracking and Better Insights

Tool Name Key Features Advantages Disadvantages Pricing
Competitors App Tracks PPC ads, website updates, social media ads, SEO, email marketing In-depth competitor insights, real-time alerts Requires a paid plan for full features $19/month with 14-day free trial.
Awario Real-time social listening, sentiment analysis, analytics Strong social listening, detailed reporting Higher starting price $49/month.
Mention Tracks web, news, blogs, social media, sentiment analysis Real-time alerts, comprehensive platform Free plan has limited features $49/month, free plan available
Talkwalker Media monitoring, social listening, sentiment analysis Advanced analytics, custom reporting Paid version has custom pricing Free for basic alerts; Paid version – custom pricing
Brandwatch Social listening, trend monitoring, customizable dashboards Detailed analytics, historical data analysis Higher pricing for advanced features Custom pricing
Meltwater Media monitoring, social media tracking, sentiment analysis Comprehensive media intelligence Custom pricing can be costly Custom pricing
Sprout Social Social scheduling, real-time tracking, analytics All-in-one social media management Higher pricing, focus on social media only $249/month.
Social Searcher Real-time social media tracking, sentiment analysis Free plan available, engagement metrics Limited features in free plan Free; Premium from €8.49/month
Brand24 Real-time monitoring, sentiment analysis, influencer tracking Real-time alerts, detailed sentiment analysis High starting price $149/month.
Determ Real-time tracking, sentiment analysis, competitor monitoring Customizable reports, in-depth competitor insights Custom pricing Custom pricing
Keyhole Hashtag & keyword tracking, social media analytics Strong social media tracking, real-time insights Focused on social media $89/month.
Cision Media monitoring, PR outreach, audience insights Comprehensive PR tools Custom pricing, complex setup Custom pricing
Prowly Media monitoring, press release management, analytics Combines PR and monitoring in one platform Higher starting price $369/month.
Freshworks Social media tracking, CRM integration, real-time alerts Combines media tracking with customer management Limited media monitoring features $18/user/month
Uptrends Website performance monitoring, real-time alerts Focused on uptime and performance monitoring Limited to website-related alerts $18/month

Google Alerts has been a staple for tracking online mentions and staying updated on specific topics, but it’s not the only option out there. Whether you’re a business looking to monitor your brand, a content creator tracking trends, or someone just curious about specific keywords, you might find Google Alerts lacking in some areas. Fortunately, there are several Google Alerts alternatives that offer more robust features like real-time notifications, better customization, and detailed reporting. In this blog, we’ll dive into why you might want to consider these alternatives and explore the top tools available, both free and paid.

Why You Should Consider Google Alerts Alternatives

While Google Alerts offers a simple way to track mentions, there are several reasons why users are turning to alternatives:

  • More accurate tracking: Many alternatives provide more precise results, reducing irrelevant alerts.
  • Real-time updates: Unlike Google Alerts, which can be delayed, other tools offer instant notifications for more timely insights.
  • Advanced customization: Alternatives often allow you to fine-tune your alerts with filters and keyword variations, giving you more control over what you track.
  • Better reporting and analytics: Many alternatives come with built-in analytics, giving you detailed reports on trends, engagement, and sentiment.


Limitations of Google Alerts

As helpful as Google Alerts has been over the years, its limitations are becoming more apparent:

  • Fewer updates: Google Alerts has become less consistent with updates, often missing important mentions or delivering them late.
  • Lack of real-time tracking: Unlike some alternatives, Google Alerts doesn’t offer real-time notifications, which can be a disadvantage if you need immediate insights.
  • Limited customization: Users can’t refine their alerts beyond basic keywords, leading to irrelevant or overly broad results.


Top Free and Paid Google Alerts Alternatives

If you’re looking for more advanced features or simply want better tracking than Google Alerts offers, there are plenty of free and paid options available. Here’s a breakdown of some of the best Google Alerts alternatives that offer a range of features from basic monitoring to in-depth competitive analysis.

 

1. Competitors App (A Comprehensive Tool for Competitor Analysis)

Dashboard CA

Overview

Competitors App is an advanced tool designed for businesses to track competitor activities across various platforms. It offers far more than simple alerts, giving users detailed insights into competitors’ online strategies, including ad campaigns, social media, and website updates.

Features

  • Tracks PPC ads, Facebook ads, native ads, and Google ads
  • Monitors website changes in real-time, including new pages and SEO updates
  • Tracks social media ads and posts across Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and more
  • Monitors email marketing campaigns and newsletters from competitors

Pricing

Starts at $19/month, with a free trial available.


How Competitors App Complements Google Alerts

Competitors App offers real-time tracking of competitor ads, websites, and email campaigns, providing detailed insights far beyond Google Alerts’ capabilities.

How to Use Competitors App

Competitor Analysis - use competitors app
1. Sign Up and Set Up Your Account

First, create an account on Competitors.app. You'll need to provide some basic information about your business and your competitors. The setup process is straightforward and user-friendly.

competitors app add competitor
2. Add Your Competitors

Once your account is set up, add the competitors you want to analyze. You can usually do this by entering their website URLs. Competitors.app allows you to track multiple competitors, giving you a comprehensive view of your competitive landscape.

Activity-10-11-2024_03_09_PM
3. Navigate to the Activity Section

From the left sidebar, click on the "activity" section. This will take you to a page that shows all the data about your competitors, from paid ads, website changes, email marketing activities, social media activities to even their SEO performance.

4. Filter by the Data You Want

In the "Activity" page, you'll see all of what your competitors are doing across lots of channels such as email, SEO, paid ads, their social media, customer reviews, mentions online to even their website changes.
You can hover each channel in the top bar to filter by it only and the competitor you want as well.

5. Filter by Date Range

You can also filter by specific date range, such as a specific week, month or even a day. This feature allows you to see your competitors' activity overtime and how they have changed.

6. Export Your Competitors' Activity

Competitors.app allows you to export your competitors' activities into a CSV or PDF format so that you can share them with your colleagues or do further analysis on them.

2. Awario

awario

Overview

Awario is a powerful tool for real-time social listening and web monitoring, designed to help businesses track online mentions and brand reputation across various platforms. It’s particularly useful for marketers and businesses who need deeper insights into customer conversations happening across the web.

Features

  • Real-time monitoring of social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
  • Tracks blogs, news sites, and forums for mentions
  • Sentiment analysis to gauge positive or negative feedback
  • Provides detailed analytics and reporting

Pricing

Starts at $49/month, with a 14-day free trial.

Use Case

Awario is ideal for businesses that need real-time tracking of brand mentions across both social media and websites, with the added benefit of sentiment analysis. This makes it highly valuable for reputation management and market research.

3. Mention

mention

Overview

Mention is a versatile media monitoring tool that helps businesses track online conversations across the web and social platforms. It allows you to monitor your brand, competitors, and industry trends in real-time.

Features

  • Tracks mentions across blogs, news websites, forums, and social media platforms
  • Real-time alerts for brand mentions and keywords
  • Sentiment analysis for understanding audience perceptions
  • Detailed reports with customizable dashboards

Pricing

Mention starts at $49/month, with a free plan available for basic monitoring.

Use Case

Mention is perfect for tracking online mentions across multiple platforms, providing businesses with insights into brand awareness and reputation.

4. Talkwalker Alerts (Free and Paid)

Talkwalker

Overview

Talkwalker offers two solutions: Talkwalker Alerts, a free tool similar to Google Alerts, and the paid version of Talkwalker, a more advanced platform with enhanced features like social listening and deeper analytics. Both tools monitor mentions across websites, blogs, and social media.

Features

  • Talkwalker Alerts (Free): Tracks mentions across news, blogs, and forums in real-time, with email notifications.
  • Talkwalker (Paid): Offers advanced social media tracking, sentiment analysis, and in-depth reporting.

Pricing

  • Talkwalker Alerts: Free
  • Talkwalker (Paid): Custom pricing based on needs

Use Case

Talkwalker Alerts is ideal for basic web monitoring, while the paid version serves businesses needing comprehensive social listening and competitive analysis.

5. Brandwatch

Brandwatch

Overview

Brandwatch is an advanced social listening platform designed for businesses seeking to monitor online conversations, track brand mentions, and gain insights into consumer behavior. It offers powerful analytics and data visualization tools to help brands understand their audience and competitors.

Features

  • Social listening across platforms, including blogs and forums
  • Sentiment analysis and trend monitoring
  • Customizable dashboards and in-depth reporting
  • Historical data analysis for long-term trends

Pricing

Brandwatch offers custom pricing based on your specific needs and usage.

Use Case

Best suited for larger organizations requiring detailed social listening, audience insights, and competitive analysis.

6. Meltwater

Meltwater

Overview

Meltwater is a comprehensive media intelligence platform that offers social listening, media monitoring, and analytics. It’s widely used for brand management, competitive analysis, and gaining actionable insights into media coverage.

Features

  • Tracks social media and traditional media
  • Real-time media monitoring and reporting
  • Sentiment analysis and trend discovery
  • Customizable dashboards with analytics

Pricing

Meltwater operates with custom pricing based on business needs and volume of data tracked.

Use Case

Ideal for companies seeking a complete media monitoring solution that covers both digital and traditional media, along with in-depth analytics.

7. Sprout Social

Sprout-Social

Overview

Sprout Social is a social media management platform with built-in tools for monitoring mentions, managing engagement, and analyzing social media performance.

Features

  • Social media scheduling and management
  • Real-time mention tracking across social platforms
  • Analytics and performance reporting
  • Team collaboration tools

Pricing

Plans start at $249/month, with a 30-day free trial available.

Use Case

Sprout Social is perfect for businesses looking to streamline social media management while keeping track of brand mentions and engagement on major social networks.

8. Social Searcher

Overview

Social Searcher is a free tool for tracking mentions across social media platforms and websites. It allows you to monitor keywords and brand mentions in real time, offering insights into social media engagement.

Features

  • Tracks mentions on social media and websites
  • Real-time updates and sentiment analysis
  • Data export and analytics tools
  • Provides engagement metrics for social posts

Pricing

Offers a free plan, with premium options starting at €8.49/month.

Use Case

Social Searcher is great for individuals and small businesses seeking affordable social media tracking with basic analytics.

9. Brand24

Brand24

Overview

Brand24 is a popular media monitoring tool that tracks online mentions in real-time across various platforms, including social media, blogs, and forums.

Features

  • Real-time monitoring of brand mentions
  • Sentiment analysis and influencer tracking
  • Detailed reporting with customizable alerts
  • Social media and online news coverage

Pricing

Starts at $149/month, with a free 14-day trial.

Use Case

Brand24 is ideal for businesses that need in-depth brand monitoring, influencer tracking, and detailed sentiment analysis across the web and social media.

10. Determ

Overview

Determ is a media monitoring tool that tracks online mentions in real-time, providing businesses with insights into their brand reputation and industry trends across the web and social media platforms.

Features

  • Real-time mention tracking across social media, blogs, and news sites
  • Sentiment analysis for brand mentions
  • Customizable reports and alerts
  • Competitor monitoring and market research tools

Pricing

Offers custom pricing based on your needs and expected usage.

Use Case

Determ is ideal for businesses needing real-time monitoring of their brand’s online presence, along with detailed sentiment analysis and competitor tracking.

11. Keyhole

Overview

Keyhole is a social media analytics and tracking tool that helps brands monitor hashtags, keywords, and mentions across social platforms in real-time.

Features

  • Tracks mentions and hashtags across social media platforms
  • Provides real-time data and analytics
  • Sentiment analysis and influencer tracking
  • Customizable reports with visual data insights

Pricing

Starts at $89/month, with a free trial available.

Use Case

Keyhole is great for businesses focused on social media marketing, helping them track campaign performance, influencers, and customer sentiment efficiently.

12. Cision

Overview

Cision is a media monitoring and PR platform designed to help businesses track brand mentions, manage their public relations, and monitor news coverage. It offers a wide range of features to analyze media trends and connect with journalists and influencers.

Features

  • Tracks mentions across news, blogs, social media, and broadcast outlets
  • Provides media contact database for PR outreach
  • Sentiment analysis and audience insights
  • Advanced reporting and media analysis tools

Pricing

Cision offers custom pricing based on the size and needs of the business.

Use Case

Cision is ideal for companies focused on public relations and media monitoring, offering a robust platform for tracking brand reputation and engaging with media professionals.

13. Prowly

Prowly

Overview

Prowly is a PR and media relations platform that combines media monitoring with tools for managing press releases and media contacts. It’s perfect for businesses looking to streamline their PR efforts while also tracking brand mentions.

Features

  • Monitors mentions in online news, blogs, and social media
  • Integrated press release management tool
  • Access to a media contact database
  • Customizable reports and insights

Pricing

Prowly starts at $369/month

Use Case

Prowly is ideal for PR teams looking for a combined solution that offers media monitoring, contact management, and press release distribution all in one platform.

14. Freshworks

Freshworks

Overview

Freshworks is a customer engagement platform that offers a suite of tools for marketing, sales, and support, with added media monitoring capabilities. It allows businesses to track online mentions and gain insights into customer interactions.

Features

  • Tracks online brand mentions and customer interactions
  • Social media monitoring across major platforms
  • Provides CRM integration for better customer management
  • Real-time alerts and detailed analytics

Pricing

Freshworks pricing starts at $18/user/month for the basic plan, with more advanced options available depending on your needs.

Use Case

Freshworks is a good choice for businesses looking to integrate customer engagement with media monitoring. It’s particularly useful for teams that want to combine CRM functionalities with tracking mentions and customer interactions.

15. Uptrends

Uptrends

Overview

Freshworks is a customer engagement platform that offers a suite of tools for marketing, sales, and support, with added media monitoring capabilities. It allows businesses to track online mentions and gain insights into customer interactions.

Features

  • Tracks online brand mentions and customer interactions
  • Social media monitoring across major platforms
  • Provides CRM integration for better customer management
  • Real-time alerts and detailed analytics

Pricing

Freshworks pricing starts at $18/user/month for the basic plan, with more advanced options available depending on your needs.

Use Case

Freshworks is a good choice for businesses looking to integrate customer engagement with media monitoring. It’s particularly useful for teams that want to combine CRM functionalities with tracking mentions and customer interactions.

How to Choose the Right Google Alerts Alternative for Your Needs

Selecting the best Google Alerts alternative depends on your specific needs and goals. Different tools offer various features, pricing models, and capabilities that cater to different types of users. To make the right choice, it’s important to consider the following factors:

Key Factors to Consider

  1. Pricing: Some tools offer free plans with basic features, while others come with advanced functionalities at higher prices. Consider your budget and the level of detail you require in your monitoring.
  2. Features: Look for tools that offer the features most relevant to you, such as real-time alerts, sentiment analysis, or competitive intelligence tracking.
  3. Customization: Some alternatives allow for advanced filtering, customizable reports, or tracking of specific types of content (social media, news, blogs). Customization options are key if you want more control over your monitoring.
  4. Integration with other tools: Choose a platform that integrates smoothly with your existing tools (e.g., CRM, analytics tools) to streamline workflows and enhance functionality.

Industry-Specific Considerations

  1. E-commerce: If you run an online store, you may want an alternative that tracks product mentions, competitor pricing, and customer feedback in real time.
  2. Public Relations: For PR professionals, tools with robust media monitoring, press release management, and media outreach functionalities are crucial.
  3. Marketing Agencies: Social listening and influencer tracking are particularly valuable for marketing agencies that need to manage multiple clients and track campaign performance across platforms.

By evaluating these factors, you can narrow down the best Google Alerts alternative tailored to your needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do Google Alerts alternatives compare to Google Alerts?

Google Alerts alternatives often provide more advanced features compared to Google Alerts. Tools like Competitors App, Awario, and Mention offer real-time tracking, social media monitoring, and sentiment analysis, which Google Alerts lacks. Alternatives also allow for better customization and more detailed reports, covering not only websites but also social platforms, blogs, and forums. In contrast, Google Alerts is limited to simple web tracking with no in-depth analytics or social media coverage.

2. Can I receive Google Alerts alternatives via email?

Yes, most Google Alerts alternatives offer email notifications. Tools like Talkwalker Alerts and Mention provide real-time email alerts based on your chosen keywords, just like Google Alerts. Competitors App also allows you to receive detailed alerts via email, including competitor activity on social media, website updates, and SEO changes. Most alternatives let you customize the frequency of notifications to suit your needs, from instant alerts to daily or weekly summaries.

3. What are the best free Google Alerts alternatives?

One strong paid alternative with a free trial is Competitors App. This tool is ideal for businesses that need more comprehensive monitoring, offering a wide range of features including social media ads, website updates, SEO tracking, and email marketing analysis. It comes with a free trial that allows you to test its advanced capabilities before committing to its paid plans, which start at $19/month. Competitors App provides real-time competitor insights, making it a powerful upgrade over basic tools like Google Alerts.