In a world where conversations are currency, monitoring social media isn’t just smart—it’s essential. Whether you’re a small business, an influencer, or a brand strategist, keeping tabs on what people are saying about you online helps you protect your reputation, understand your audience, and drive engagement.
The best part? You don’t need to spend a dime to get started.
In this article, we’ll break down the best free social media monitoring tools in 2025, complete with pros, features, and what makes each tool stand out. If you’re looking for cost-effective ways to listen, analyze, and respond to your audience, this list is for you.
🔍 What Is Social Media Monitoring?
Social media monitoring is the process of tracking mentions, keywords, hashtags, and sentiment across platforms like Twitter/X, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, Reddit, and even news sources or blogs. It helps businesses:
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Stay ahead of PR crises
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Understand customer sentiment
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Spy (ethically) on competitors
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Identify trending topics
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Find influencers and brand advocates
🏆 The Best Free Social Media Monitoring Tools in 2025
1. Google Alerts (Still Going Strong)
Platforms monitored: Blogs, news sites, forums
Best for: Beginners and those focused on web mentions
Why it’s great: Google Alerts is the OG of free monitoring tools. It’s simple, effective, and delivers results straight to your inbox. While it doesn’t cover social networks directly, it’s excellent for catching blog posts, reviews, and media mentions.
✅ Totally free
✅ Set up in minutes
✅ Great for SEO and PR monitoring
2. Websays (Free Tier) 🚀
Platforms monitored: Twitter/X, Facebook, Instagram, blogs, forums, online news, YouTube, TikTok, Reddit, and more
Best for: Users who want powerful monitoring dashboards with zero budget
Why it’s great: Websays brings pro-level social listening to everyone with a free tier that includes multi-channel monitoring, sentiment analysis, and customizable dashboards. It’s perfect for startups, NGOs, freelancers, and anyone looking to go beyond simple alerts.
✅ Real-time monitoring across channels
✅ Sentiment analysis in multiple languages
✅ Beautiful, shareable dashboards
✅ Alerts for spikes in mentions or sentiment shifts
✅ Free forever for limited usage
3. Brand24 (Free Plan)
Platforms monitored: Twitter/X, Facebook, Instagram (limited), YouTube, web
Best for: Solopreneurs, small businesses
Why it’s great: While Brand24 is a paid tool, its free plan gives you limited access to real-time mentions and sentiment analysis. The UI is intuitive, and it’s great for dipping your toes into brand monitoring.
✅ Real-time alerts
✅ Sentiment tracking
✅ Free for up to 5 mentions per day
4. Hootsuite Free Plan
Platforms monitored: Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram
Best for: Social media managers who want scheduling + monitoring
Why it’s great: Hootsuite is best known as a scheduling tool, but its free plan also offers basic monitoring features. You can track keywords and hashtags via streams—great for staying organized.
✅ All-in-one tool
✅ Monitor keywords + schedule content
✅ Free plan includes 2 social accounts
5. Talkwalker Alerts
Platforms monitored: News, blogs, Twitter/X
Best for: Quick alert setup with keyword monitoring
Why it’s great: Think of Talkwalker Alerts as Google Alerts on steroids. It offers better filtering and more frequent updates, especially for Twitter/X. It’s also 100% free, with no usage limits.
✅ Twitter-focused
✅ Daily or real-time alerts
✅ Excellent for brand + competitor monitoring
6. Mention (Free Tier)
Platforms monitored: Web, Twitter/X, Facebook, Instagram, blogs, forums
Best for: Agencies and teams that need collaborative tools
Why it’s great: Mention has a slick interface and lets you monitor brand mentions across multiple channels. The free plan is limited, but perfect for tracking one brand or topic.
✅ Real-time tracking
✅ Easy to share reports
✅ Free plan includes 1 alert and 250 mentions/month
7. Social Searcher
Platforms monitored: Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Reddit
Best for: Quick manual searches
Why it’s great: Social Searcher doesn’t require an account to use and offers real-time search across multiple social networks. Perfect for quick audits or finding UGC (user-generated content).
✅ No sign-up needed
✅ Advanced filters
✅ Sentiment + engagement analytics
📈 Why Social Listening Matters More in 2025
With AI-generated content flooding the web, human connection is more valuable than ever. Brands that listen first and respond fast will win the trust of their audience.
Whether you’re managing a startup, personal brand, or global business, free social media monitoring tools are the gateway to smarter marketing and deeper customer relationships.