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# Meltwater vs Sprout Social Comparison - What are their main differences?

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MeltwaterSprout Social[+ Add Product](#)

Pricing

**Meltwater**
No pricing available

**Sprout Social**
Free Trial

**Starting at $79.00** 1 user/per month (billed annually) · Essentials

**Pricing Insights**
from reviews

Time to Implement

**Meltwater**
1 month

Based on 319 responses

**Sprout Social**
1 month

Based on 1170 responses

Return on Investment

**Meltwater**
14 months

Based on 254 responses

**Sprout Social**
9 months5 months sooner

Based on 1067 responses

Perceived Cost

**Meltwater**
$$$$$

**Sprout Social**
$$$$$

Average Discount

**Meltwater**
13%3% more

**Sprout Social**
10%

 ![Meltwater](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/1520621978/meltwater.svg "Meltwater")

 ![Sprout Social](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/23c97f84483973fc952fc0ce526a9227/sprout-social.svg "Sprout Social")

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**Pros & Cons**
from reviews

**Meltwater**
[
Ease of Use (190)
](https://www.g2.com/products/meltwater/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1876445&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Features (156)
](https://www.g2.com/products/meltwater/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1875928&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Improvement Needed (90)
](https://www.g2.com/products/meltwater/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1872226&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Learning Curve (63)
](https://www.g2.com/products/meltwater/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1873163&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)

**Sprout Social**
[
Ease of Use (1875)
](https://www.g2.com/products/sprout-social/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1910831&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Post Scheduling (1233)
](https://www.g2.com/products/sprout-social/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1909664&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Missing Features (749)
](https://www.g2.com/products/sprout-social/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1914770&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Limited Features (548)
](https://www.g2.com/products/sprout-social/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1906780&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)

Integrations

**Meltwater**
[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_d7a6867b2a633fbb5cb36165ac39a3ea/audiense-discover.png "Product Avatar Image")

Audiense Discover

](https://www.g2.com/products/audiense-discover/reviews)[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_e369fa2434bfed6434dea757dc661c25/chatgpt.jpg "Product Avatar Image")

ChatGPT

](https://www.g2.com/products/chatgpt/reviews)[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_c234b0ee74b541afa9ab8821ce182db8/facebook-for-business.png "Product Avatar Image")

Facebook

](https://www.g2.com/products/facebook-for-business/reviews)[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_4a9a6d57cdd833bf0381d21fd9246641/google-workspace.png "Product Avatar Image")

Google Workspace

](https://www.g2.com/products/google-workspace/reviews)[
View all
](https://www.g2.com/products/meltwater/integrations)

**Sprout Social**
[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_5a7938ffd6497884772dc39786f9e1e2/adobe-experience-manager.png "Product Avatar Image")

Adobe

](https://www.g2.com/products/adobe-experience-manager/reviews)[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_8eea525746279035b2a227975d6ad509/adobe-express.jpg "Product Avatar Image")

Adobe Express

](https://www.g2.com/products/adobe-express/reviews)[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_d6b6650425eafc5c72f230cad744ad29/adobe-marketo-engage.png "Product Avatar Image")

Adobe Marketo Engage

](https://www.g2.com/products/adobe-marketo-engage/reviews)[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_114405f4f2fbda83a0d553e1a3beeb2d/agencyanalytics.jpg "Product Avatar Image")

AgencyAnalytics

](https://www.g2.com/products/agencyanalytics/reviews)[
View all
](https://www.g2.com/products/sprout-social/integrations)

Screenshots

**Meltwater**
 ![Meltwater screenshot](https://images.g2crowd.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=600,height=600,fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,/https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/attachment/file/154792/01-Explore.png)

**Sprout Social**
 ![Sprout Social screenshot](https://images.g2crowd.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=600,height=600,fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,/https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/attachment/file/24359/Smart-Inbox.png)

**Ratings**
from reviews

Meets Requirements

**Meltwater**

7.9

7.92,191

**Sprout Social**

8.6

8.66,304

Ease of Use

**Meltwater**

7.9

7.92,297

**Sprout Social**

8.8

8.86,387

Ease of Setup

**Meltwater**

7.9

7.91,265

**Sprout Social**

8.7

8.74,671

Ease of Admin

**Meltwater**

8.1

8.1940

**Sprout Social**

8.8

8.82,648

Quality of Support

**Meltwater**

8.5

8.52,114

**Sprout Social**

8.6

8.65,609

Has the product been a good partner in doing business?

**Meltwater**

8.4

8.4946

**Sprout Social**

8.7

8.72,606

Product Direction (% positive)

**Meltwater**

8.0

8.02,163

**Sprout Social**

8.8

8.86,070

**Features**
ratings from reviews

Social Media Listening Tools

7.7

995

8.6

2,423

Social Media Management

7.3

312

8.0

5,424

Social Media Analytics

7.6

660

8.2

4,107

Audience Intelligence Platforms

7.7

53

Not enough data

PR Analytics

6.7

159

Not enough data

Social Customer Service

Not enough data

7.8

1,695

Influencer Marketing Platforms

7.2

222

Not enough data

Media Monitoring

7.3

823

Not enough data

Media and Influencer Targeting

7.4

530

Not enough data

User Insights

**Reviewers' Company Size**

Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
41.4%

Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
38.0%

Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.)
20.6%

Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
41.4%

Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
38.0%

Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.)
20.6%

Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
45.0%

Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
37.4%

Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.)
17.7%

Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
45.0%

Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
37.4%

Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.)
17.7%

**Reviewers' Industry**

[![Meltwater](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/1520621978/meltwater.svg "Meltwater")](https://www.g2.com/products/meltwater/reviews)
Meltwater

Marketing and Advertising
15.2%

Public Relations and Communications
14.7%

Non-Profit Organization Management
6.8%

Higher Education
5.4%

Information Technology and Services
3.2%

Other
54.6%

[![Sprout Social](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/23c97f84483973fc952fc0ce526a9227/sprout-social.svg "Sprout Social")](https://www.g2.com/products/sprout-social/reviews)
Sprout Social

Marketing and Advertising
20.3%

Non-Profit Organization Management
6.4%

Higher Education
5.6%

Information Technology and Services
3.6%

Financial Services
3.1%

Other
61.0%

Alternatives

**Meltwater Alternatives**

 ![Onclusive](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/d52cd01950ff1a43eaf4f9e4605a994b/onclusive.svg "Onclusive")

[
Onclusive
](/products/onclusive/reviews)

 ![Semrush](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/e6c872117633137a9a91ffa14ee3ce41/semrush%282%29.svg "Semrush")

[
Semrush
](/products/semrush/reviews)

 ![CisionOne](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/b4ca5ad21171e3bb86489ac76b227c9b/cisionone.svg "CisionOne")

[
CisionOne
](/products/cisionone/reviews)

 ![Muck Rack](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/d8da081f32df98b70340b5607b684c17/muck-rack.svg "Muck Rack")

[
Muck Rack
](/products/muck-rack/reviews)

**Sprout Social Alternatives**

 ![Reputation](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/e42e14e54e8cc8a09b1c962154fce161/reputation.svg "Reputation")

[
Reputation
](/products/reputation/reviews)

 ![Sprinklr Social](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/0099b7cbf99315f40d2bf51fc145dd7c/sprinklr-social.svg "Sprinklr Social")

[
Sprinklr Social
](/products/sprinklr-social/reviews)

 ![Eclincher](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/afabf38b94ce5f6ce83fb739d7c7b3c9/eclincher.svg "Eclincher")

[
Eclincher
](/products/eclincher/reviews)

 ![Statusbrew](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/36057036c058a36864daaeeec05ca448/statusbrew-inc.svg "Statusbrew")

[
Statusbrew
](/products/statusbrew-inc/reviews)

## Meltwater vs Sprout Social FAQs

Generated using AI

Last updated: August 14, 2026

### What is the difference between Sprout Social vs Meltwater?

Sprout Social stands out for its higher user satisfaction, especially in ease of use and setup, while Meltwater is favored for its analytics and media monitoring capabilities.

| [Sprout Social](https://www.g2.com/products/sprout-social/reviews) | [Meltwater](https://www.g2.com/products/meltwater/reviews) |
| --- | --- |
| 4.4/5 (6,873 reviews) | 4.1/5 (2,669 reviews) |
| Small-Business | Mid-Market |
| 8.7 | 7.9 |
| 8.6 | 8.6 |
| Ease of Use (1,874 mentions) | Analytics (87 mentions) |

### How do the pricing models of Sprout Social and Meltwater compare?

Sprout Social is rated higher for price satisfaction, with reviewers more often citing Meltwater as expensive or add-on heavy.

- **Sprout Social:** In recent reviews, many cite high costs and expensive add-ons, but also note the platform's advanced features justify the price for larger teams.
- **Meltwater:** Reviewers frequently mention Meltwater as expensive, especially for smaller businesses, and note that many features require additional subscriptions.
- **Switching reasons:** Several reviewers mention switching from Meltwater due to cost concerns and the need for more intuitive social media management.

### What are the best alternatives to Sprout Social and Meltwater?

The top three alternatives to Sprout Social and Meltwater are Onclusive, Reputation, and Sprinklr Social.

| Product | G2 Rating (reviews) | Largest Segment | Pricing Insight | Top Reviewer-Cited Strength |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Sprout Social](https://www.g2.com/products/sprout-social/reviews) | 4.4/5 (6,873 reviews) | Small-Business | High cost, advanced features | Ease of Use (1,874 mentions) |
| [Meltwater](https://www.g2.com/products/meltwater/reviews) | 4.1/5 (2,669 reviews) | Mid-Market | Expensive, add-ons required | Analytics (87 mentions) |
| [Onclusive](https://www.g2.com/products/onclusive/reviews) | 4.3/5 (207 reviews) | Mid-Market | — | Media monitoring and analytics |
| [Reputation](https://www.g2.com/products/reputation/reviews) | 4.5/5 (2,469 reviews) | Mid-Market | — | Reputation management |
| [Sprinklr Social](https://www.g2.com/products/sprinklr-social/reviews) | 4.1/5 (1,217 reviews) | Enterprise | — | Enterprise social media management |

### Which Social Media Suites features should I prioritize when comparing Sprout Social and Meltwater?

Buyers comparing Sprout Social and Meltwater should prioritize analytics and reporting, ease of use, integrations, and feature coverage for social media management and listening.

- **Analytics and Reporting:** Sprout Social: Analytics (1,046 mentions), Reporting (881 mentions); Meltwater: Analytics (87 mentions), Analytics Focus (31 mentions).
- **Ease of Use:** Sprout Social: Ease of Use (1,874 mentions), Intuitive (753 mentions); Meltwater: Ease of Use (190 mentions), Intuitive (70 mentions).
- **Integrations:** Sprout Social: Social Media Integration (575 mentions); Meltwater: KLEAR integration (193 mentions), Slack integration (11 mentions).
- **Social Media Management & Listening:** Sprout Social: Social Media Management (855 mentions), Centralized Management (953 mentions); Meltwater: Social Listening and Campaign Management (34 mentions).
- **Feature Coverage:** Meltwater offers Content Creation and Social Ads; Sprout Social offers Attribution.

### What are the pros and cons of Sprout Social vs Meltwater?

Sprout Social's headline strength is ease of use and centralized management, while Meltwater excels in analytics and media monitoring.

- **Sprout Social strengths:** Ease of Use (1,874 mentions), Post Scheduling (1,232 mentions), Centralized Management (953 mentions), Analytics (1,046 mentions), Reporting (881 mentions), Social Media Management (855 mentions), Multi-platform support (782 mentions).
- **Sprout Social trade-offs:** Missing Features (749 mentions), Limited Features (548 mentions), high cost and expensive add-ons cited in recent reviews.
- **Meltwater strengths:** Analytics (87 mentions), Features (156 mentions), Detailed Information (89 mentions), Campaign Management (34 mentions), Database Quality (34 mentions), User-Friendly (26 mentions).
- **Meltwater trade-offs:** Improvement Needed (90 mentions), Limited Features (55 mentions), Filtering Issues (30 mentions), Information Overload (21 mentions), Social Media Limitations (20 mentions), higher cost and add-on requirements noted in recent reviews.

### Is Sprout Social or Meltwater better for small businesses?

Sprout Social is the better fit for small businesses, with a larger small-business segment and more positive sentiment from small-business reviewers.

- **Sprout Social:** Largest reviewer segment is Small-Business, with reviewers highlighting ease of use, intuitive setup, and time-saving features as especially valuable for small teams.
- **Meltwater:** Largest reviewer segment is Mid-Market, with small-business reviewers more frequently citing high cost and complexity as barriers.

### Which Social Media Suites platform has better integrations?

Sprout Social and Meltwater both offer integrations, but Meltwater is more frequently cited for its KLEAR integration.

- **Sprout Social:** Bitly integration is mentioned in recent reviews, with 13 all-time mentions.
- **Meltwater:** KLEAR integration is cited in 193 reviews, and Slack integration is mentioned in 11 reviews.

### How do Sprout Social and Meltwater compare on customer support?

Sprout Social and Meltwater are rated equally on Quality of Support, both scoring 8.6, indicating parity in reviewer satisfaction.

- **Sprout Social:** Reviewers frequently describe support as helpful, responsive, and resourceful, with many citing positive onboarding and troubleshooting experiences.
- **Meltwater:** Reviewers highlight knowledgeable and quick support, with several noting exceptional customer service and effective onboarding assistance.

### Which is easier to implement, Sprout Social or Meltwater?

Sprout Social is rated higher for Ease of Setup, scoring 8.7 versus Meltwater's 7.9, indicating a smoother implementation experience.

- **Sprout Social:** Reviewers consistently describe setup as intuitive, quick, and well-supported, with many noting minimal training required.
- **Meltwater:** Reviewers mention a steeper learning curve and more complex onboarding, though several note that onboarding support is strong and setup is manageable with guidance.

### Which product has better Social?

Sprout Social is the stronger performer on Social, with higher reviewer satisfaction and more frequent positive mentions.

- **Sprout Social:** Social Media Management (855 mentions), Social Media Integration (575 mentions), Multi-platform (782 mentions), and a Meets Requirements score of 8.5.
- **Meltwater:** Social Media Limitations (20 mentions), Campaign Management (34 mentions), and a Meets Requirements score of 7.9.