1. Google Alerts (Always the best)
Best for: Beginners and simple web monitoring
Google Alerts lets you track specific keywords across the open web (including news sites and blogs), delivered via email.
✅ Easy to use
✅ Fast setup
✅ No login required
Limitations: No sentiment, analytics, or source filtering.
2. Websays (Free Tier) 💥
Best for: Holistic media + social monitoring with dashboards
Websays’ free tier offers a unique blend of media monitoring and social listening—perfect for communications teams that want deeper insights beyond just alerts.
What you get for free:
✅ Multi-source monitoring (news, blogs, forums, podcasts, and social)
✅ Sentiment analysis in multiple languages
✅ Real-time alerts and spike detection
✅ Custom dashboards to visualize mentions and share reports
✅ Free forever (with usage limits)
Ideal for: PR agencies, NGOs, government, and growing brands who want more than just headlines.
3. Talkwalker Alerts
Best for: Tracking brand mentions across news + Twitter
Talkwalker Alerts is a solid upgrade from Google Alerts. It’s faster, includes Twitter, and offers more customization.
✅ Real-time delivery
✅ Source and language filtering
✅ Great for simple media monitoring on a budget
4. Meltwater (Free Insights Newsletter)
Best for: Passive media trend tracking
While Meltwater is an enterprise solution, their free newsletter and occasional insights provide media trend snapshots across industries.
✅ Curated insights
✅ Media industry benchmarking
✅ No login required
5. Mediatoolkit (Free Trial)
Best for: Testing real-time monitoring with alerting
Mediatoolkit offers a free trial of their platform, including tracking across online media and social. While not a forever-free tool, it’s valuable for short-term projects.
✅ Real-time media mentions
✅ Alerts for crisis or keyword spikes
✅ Sentiment analysis
6. Mention (Free Tier)
Best for: Media + blog monitoring with some social included
Mention tracks mentions across online news, forums, blogs, and social media. The free version is limited to one alert and a set number of mentions per month.
✅ Simple dashboard
✅ Cross-channel alerts
✅ Decent intro to full monitoring
⚖️ Comparing Free Media Monitoring Tools
| Feature | Websays (Free) | Google Alerts | Talkwalker | Mention | Mediatoolkit Trial | Meltwater Insights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| News Media Coverage | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Blog + Forum Monitoring | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Real-Time Alerts | ✅ | ⚠️ (delayed) | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Social Media Integration | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ (Twitter) | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Sentiment Analysis | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Visual Dashboards & Reports | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ⚠️ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Free Forever | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ (trial only) | ✅ (limited) |
🧠 Why Websays Free Tier Is a Standout in 2025
What sets Websays apart isn’t just the number of sources—it’s the depth of insight and usability. You get:
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A customizable monitoring experience
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Clean, shareable dashboards
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A combination of media + social listening
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Alerts based on volume spikes or sentiment shifts
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An upgrade path that scales when you’re ready
And yes—you can get started today, for free.
🧩 Pro Tip: Combine Tools for Best Coverage
Maximize your media monitoring by stacking tools like this:
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Use Google Alerts and Talkwalker for basic mention tracking
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Try Mediatoolkit for a one-time campaign or crisis
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Let Websays unify everything in a real-time, visual dashboard
Final Thoughts
Media monitoring is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity. Whether you’re a solopreneur trying to track press mentions or a global comms team managing brand reputation, the right tools make all the difference.
In 2025, there’s no better time to start free—with tools like Websays, you can monitor what matters and act fast.