Social Listening · true cost · Updated September 2026
The true cost of social listening
What you'll actually pay. Of the 8 social listening tools we track, 1 publish no self-serve price (quote-only), 2 price on a basis this column cannot carry, 1 charge usage overages. Here's every tool's entry price and its hidden-cost flags — each linked to its sourced record.
The hidden-cost picture
- No public price: 1 of 8 are quote-only (contact sales).
- Not priced monthly: 2 publish a figure on another basis — usage rates, non-USD, or annual-only.
- Usage overages: 1 charge for going over plan limits.
- Cheapest published: Awario from $49/mo.
- No overage or setup fee: Awario, Sprout Social, Brand24, Mention.
As of · re-verified with each catalog refresh
Social Listening — entry price & hidden-cost flags
| Tool | Entry price | Usage overages | Setup fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Awario | $49/mo | — | — |
| Sprout Social | $99/mo | — | — |
| BuzzSumo | $199/mo | Yes | — |
| Brand24 | $249/mo | — | — |
| Mention | $599/mo | — | — |
| Brandwatch | quote-only | — | — |
| Meltwater | not priced monthly | — | — |
| Talkwalker | not priced monthly | — | — |
Prices and fee terms re-verified with each catalog refresh. Last catalog update 2026-09-03. "Quote-only" means the vendor publishes no self-serve price.
Frequently asked questions
Does social listening have hidden fees?
Across the 8 social listening tools we track: 1 publish no self-serve price (quote-only), 2 price on a basis this column cannot carry, 1 charge usage overages. As of 2026-09-03.
What is the cheapest social listening with published pricing?
Awario, from $49/mo. Verified 2026-09-03.
More on social listening
Compare all social listening · SOC 2-certified social listening · GDPR-compliant social listening · Open data · MCP