Meltwater vs Lumen by Talkwalker
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Meltwater starts at See pricing page and Lumen by Talkwalker starts at See pricing page. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
At a glance
Best for
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- News and social monitoring
- AI coverage summaries
- Journalist database
- Influencer marketing
- Sentiment tracking
- Social and news monitoring
- Image and logo recognition
- Sentiment analysis
- Crisis alerts
- Trend detection
| Feature | Meltwater | Lumen by Talkwalker |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Media monitoring, social listening and PR tools with AI | Social listening and consumer intelligence, now part of Hootsuite |
| Category | Marketing | Marketing |
| Pricing model | Paid | Paid |
| Starting price | See pricing page | See pricing page |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Made by | Meltwater | Hootsuite |
| Based in | – | – |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
Meltwater starts at See pricing page and Lumen by Talkwalker starts at See pricing page. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
4 plans
Starter
Contact sales
- Media, social and AI intelligence
- Mira AI, alerts and reporting
- Pre-built dashboards
Pro
Contact sales
- Mira AI Advanced
- Competitive benchmarking
- Custom dashboards and reporting
Enterprise
Contact sales
- Influencer marketing
- API and MCP integrations
- Governance, workflows and permissions
Agency
Contact sales
- Manage multiple brands and clients
Prices in USD, checked Oct 28, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
Meltwater
- Wide media coverage
- PR and social in one tool
- Good alerting
- Long annual contracts
- Pricing not transparent
Lumen by Talkwalker
- Strong visual recognition
- Wide source coverage
- Many languages
- Enterprise pricing
- Complex query setup
Which one should you choose?
Choose Meltwater if you want:
- Wide media coverage
- PR and social in one tool
- Good alerting
Watch out: long annual contracts.
Choose Lumen by Talkwalker if you want:
- Strong visual recognition
- Wide source coverage
- Many languages
Watch out: enterprise pricing.
Meltwater vs Lumen by Talkwalker FAQ
What is the difference between Meltwater and Lumen by Talkwalker?
Meltwater: Media monitoring, social listening and PR tools with AI. Lumen by Talkwalker: Social listening and consumer intelligence, now part of Hootsuite. Both are marketing tools.
Is Meltwater or Lumen by Talkwalker cheaper?
Meltwater starts at See pricing page and Lumen by Talkwalker starts at See pricing page. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Do Meltwater and Lumen by Talkwalker have free plans?
Meltwater: No. Lumen by Talkwalker: No.
Who makes Meltwater?
Meltwater is made by Meltwater.
Who makes Lumen by Talkwalker?
Lumen by Talkwalker is made by Hootsuite.
Which should I choose, Meltwater or Lumen by Talkwalker?
Choose Meltwater if you value wide media coverage and pr and social in one tool. Choose Lumen by Talkwalker if you value strong visual recognition and wide source coverage.