The 9 Best Muck Rack Alternatives in 2026
Muck Rack starts at $5,000/year and locks you into an annual contract. Here are the best alternatives for every budget and use case.
The short answer
The best Muck Rack alternative is JournoFinder. It's an affordable, accurate media database starting from $189/month with human-verified journalist emails, flexible monthly or annual contracts, and a free 7-day trial.
For all-in-one enterprise PR suites, Cision and Meltwater are established players. For broadcast monitoring, Critical Mention is the specialist. For podcast PR, Rephonic covers 3M+ shows. Read on for the full breakdown of all 9 alternatives with real pricing, honest pros and cons, and which is right for your team.
How much does Muck Rack cost?
Muck Rack does not publish its pricing publicly. You have to contact their sales team for a custom quote, which many PR professionals find frustrating. However, based on user reports from Reddit and verified review platforms, here's what teams are actually paying:
| Team Size | Reported Annual Cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1 user (basic) | ~$5,000/year | Reddit, TrustRadius |
| 2 seats | ~$10,000/year | |
| 5 users | ~$25,000/year | |
| 7-9 users | ~$53,000/year |
Pricing based on user reports from r/PublicRelations and review platforms. Actual costs vary by negotiation and features selected.
All Muck Rack plans require annual contracts. There is no monthly billing option. And per their terms of service, if you cancel mid-cycle, you can use the platform through the end of the term but receive no refund.
As one TrustRadius reviewer noted: "There's no way to purchase one tool or the other from Muck Rack. It's sold as an all-or-nothing solution." This means you're paying for monitoring, analytics, and distribution tools even if you only need the media database.
Muck Rack alternatives comparison table
Every alternative at a glance: pricing, features, and who each tool is best for.
| Platform | Pricing | Contract | Free Trial | Type | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JournoFinder | From $189/mo | Monthly or annual | Yes (7 days) | Media database | Affordable, accurate database |
| Muck Rack | From ~$5,000/yr | Annual only | No | All-in-one PR | Enterprise PR teams |
| Cision | Median ~$12,500/yr | Annual only | No | All-in-one PR | Full-suite enterprise PR |
| Meltwater | Median ~$25,000/yr | Annual only | No | Media intelligence | Analytics & social listening |
| Agility PR | From ~$7,800/yr | Annual (flexible) | Yes | All-in-one PR | Flexible PR suite |
| Roxhill | From ~£6,450/yr | Annual only | Yes (2 weeks) | Media database | UK-focused PR |
| Semrush PR Toolkit | From $149/mo (add-on) | Monthly or annual | Yes (7 days) | PR toolkit | SEO + PR combo |
| Prezly | From €80/mo | Monthly or annual | Yes (14 days) | Newsroom + CRM | Newsrooms & contact mgmt |
| Critical Mention | $2,500-$10,000/yr | Annual only | No | Media monitoring | Broadcast monitoring |
| Rephonic | From $99/mo | Monthly or annual | Yes (7 days) | Podcast PR | Podcast outreach & discovery |
Pricing as of February 2026 based on publicly available data and user reports. Check each platform for current rates.
All 9 Muck Rack alternatives reviewed
JournoFinder
Media database · Human-verified contacts · Monthly or annual
JournoFinder is an easy-to-use media database that delivers accurate results without overcomplicating things. The platform focuses on up-to-date data and a smooth user experience. The contact database is constantly being updated, and any emails you add to your media lists are verified as valid.
Users often mention how straightforward the interface is - even for people new to media databases - and the intuitive search streamlines the process of finding the right journalists. Plus, the support team is responsive and always ready to help.
Another useful feature is their Journalist Request page, where you can set up alerts to get emails about relevant journalist requests from around the web. If you're unfamiliar with journalist request platforms, check out our guide to the best journalist request platforms in 2026.
Strengths
- Accurate, human-verified media database
- Easy to use - even for beginners
- Free 7-day trial with no commitment
- Monthly contracts available (no annual lock-in)
- Journalist request alerts included
- Responsive customer support
Limitations
- No media monitoring or analytics
- No press release distribution
- Integrated outreach coming soon (not yet available)
Cision
All-in-one PR platform · Enterprise · Annual contracts
Cision is one of the oldest PR software companies out there. They have a massive media database (850,000+ contacts), press release distribution via PR Newswire, media monitoring, social listening, and analytics. The fact they've been around for so long means they have a solid reputation and more features than Muck Rack and most newer PR platforms.
However, many reviewers feel that the sheer number of features clutters the interface and makes the platform feel complicated to use. If you're new to PR, Cision will be a steep learning curve. Customer support is a consistent pain point.
One Reddit user said of Cision's support: "It's so sloooooooow. Response time forever."
On pricing, Cision doesn't publish rates publicly either. According to Vendr data based on 80+ purchases, the median subscription is around $12,500/year, with typical ranges from $7,200 to $45,000+ depending on team size and features.
Strengths
- Full suite of features for every PR need
- Largest media database (850K+ contacts)
- Includes PR Newswire distribution
- Strong reputation
Limitations
- Expensive with no pricing transparency
- Slow, unresponsive customer support
- Cluttered, complicated interface
- Enterprise focused - overkill for small teams
Meltwater
Media intelligence platform · Enterprise · Annual contracts
Meltwater is another well-established name in the PR software industry, initially focused on media monitoring and gradually evolving into a comprehensive platform offering social listening, influencer tracking, analytics, and a media database. They offer three tiers: Essentials, Suite, and Enterprise.
Its core strengths remain in monitoring and analytics. However, the media database is widely regarded as the weakest part of the platform. As one Reddit user put it:
"Meltwater has the best interface but the worst database. I worked at an agency that used them and I often found myself having to enter contacts."
Meltwater is also the most expensive option on this list. Based on user reports, the median is around $25,000/year, with enterprise plans reaching $100,000+. They also have a press release distribution tool for basic outreach.
Strengths
- Very strong analytics and reporting
- Comprehensive social media listening tools
- Good influencer tracking
Limitations
- Most expensive option (median ~$25K/year)
- Media database is weak - users report manually entering contacts
- Annual-only contracts
- Enterprise focused
Agility PR
All-in-one PR software · Flexible plans · Free trial available
Agility PR offers a variety of plans to suit different needs. There are packages for media outreach and database access, media monitoring, and social listening. They also offer one-time services such as specific campaign tracking, targeted email outreach, and press release distribution.
One noteworthy feature that you won't find in Muck Rack is third-party PR tracking, which allows you to monitor potential issues involving external partners (such as suppliers) - giving you extra time to prepare a response before a situation escalates. Unlike most competitors, Agility PR does offer a free trial so you can test the platform before committing.
Strengths
- Flexible contract options
- Reliable customer support
- Free trial available
- Third-party PR tracking
Limitations
- Interface feels somewhat outdated
- Reporting and analytics lack depth
- No transparent public pricing
Roxhill
Media database · UK-focused · 190,000+ journalist profiles
Roxhill is a UK-focused PR platform with a strong emphasis on helping you build journalist relationships. The journalist profiles are detailed, with recent coverage, contact information, and pitching preferences. The database covers 190,000+ journalist profiles.
Roxhill also offers real-time alerts, which notify users when selected journalists publish new stories or post on social media. They're expanding globally with offices in London, Dubai, New York, and Singapore - but user reviews suggest the international database is still developing. The UK database remains the strongest.
On pricing, Roxhill lists packages from £6,450 to £25,000/year on the UK Government Digital Marketplace. The analytics and media monitoring features are basic compared to Muck Rack, and the annual-only pricing makes it a tough sell for smaller teams.
Strengths
- Detailed journalist profiles with pitching preferences
- Responsive customer support
- Real-time alerts
- Strong UK media coverage
Limitations
- International database still developing
- Annual-only pricing
- Basic analytics and monitoring
Prowly (now Semrush AI PR Toolkit)
PR toolkit · Part of Semrush · Flexible contracts
Prowly has been shut down
As of December 2025, Prowly is no longer available as a standalone product. The Prowly website now redirects to Semrush. Some of Prowly's features have been integrated into the Semrush AI PR Toolkit, but with lower limits and reduced functionality compared to the original Prowly platform.
The Semrush AI PR Toolkit offers access to a media database, tools to create press releases, build online newsrooms, send email pitches, and track media mentions - similar to what Prowly offered before. Pricing starts from $149/month (Base tier) or $279/month (Pro tier) as an add-on to a Semrush subscription. A 7-day free trial is available through Semrush.
Some users have previously reported inconsistencies in the media database. A reviewer on Reddit said: "I recently tested out Prowly but didn't enjoy the experience / it was missing some of the journalists I needed."
Strengths
- More affordable than old Prowly pricing ($149/mo vs $369/mo)
- Integrates with Semrush SEO tools
- Flexible monthly or annual contracts
- 7-day free trial via Semrush
Limitations
- Prowly shut down - only available via Semrush now
- Reduced functionality and lower limits vs original Prowly
- Requires a Semrush subscription
- Media database accuracy can be inconsistent
Prezly
Newsroom + CRM · Contact management · Flexible pricing
Prezly is a PR software platform focused on contact management and newsrooms - a public-facing hub where journalists can access news, media assets, and contact information for your brand.
You get a customizable newsroom builder, tools for creating and publishing press releases, email campaigns, and basic media coverage tracking. Plans start at €80/month (Essential, 1 user, 5,000 contacts), with a Standard plan at €250/month (2 users, 10,000 contacts) and custom Enterprise pricing.
However, unlike Muck Rack, Prezly does not come with a built-in media database - you'll need to bring and manage your own contacts. It's best suited for PR teams who already have their media lists and want a streamlined way to manage relationships and share content.
Strengths
- Customizable newsrooms
- 14-day free trial
- Flexible monthly or annual billing
- Agency plans available (up to 10 sites)
Limitations
- No integrated media database (BYO contacts)
- No media monitoring
- Limited if you need journalist discovery
Critical Mention
Media monitoring · Broadcast specialist · Now part of Onclusive
If you're looking primarily for media monitoring, Critical Mention (now an Onclusive company) is a strong alternative to Muck Rack. They specialize in real-time monitoring across TV, radio, online news, print, and social media. The platform includes clipping tools, alerting, and reporting.
In addition to monitoring, Critical Mention offers a media contact database - but reviews consistently suggest the database is an afterthought rather than a core strength.
One Reddit user commented: "Great for media coverage reporting, but hit or miss for contacts. Not their strong point."
Strengths
- Strong broadcast monitoring (TV/radio)
- Good clipping and reporting tools
- Real-time alerting
Limitations
- Weak media database
- Interface is somewhat dated
- No free trial
Rephonic
Podcast PR · 3M+ podcasts · All-in-one podcast outreach
If podcast coverage is a core part of your PR strategy, Rephonic is the specialist tool for the job. It's an all-in-one podcast PR platform with a database of over 3 million podcasts, including audience demographics, listener numbers, contact details, and similar show recommendations.
Rephonic lets you search and filter podcasts by topic, audience size, and other criteria, build pitch lists, and track your outreach - all in one place. They also offer "Listener Graphs" that show how podcast audiences overlap, helping you identify the best shows to pitch.
Pricing is tiered: Light at $99/month, Standard at $149/month, and Business at $299/month, with annual billing offering a roughly 17% discount. A 7-day free trial is available on all plans. While it doesn't replace a traditional media database for journalist outreach, it's unmatched for podcast-specific PR.
Strengths
- 3M+ podcast database - largest available
- Audience demographics and listener overlap data
- Built-in outreach and pitch tracking
- 7-day free trial
Limitations
- Podcast-only - no journalist or media database
- Not a replacement for traditional PR tools
- Smaller team and newer platform
Which Muck Rack alternative is best for me?
Need an affordable, accurate media database? JournoFinder is the top-rated option. Verified emails, intuitive interface, monthly contracts from $189/month with a free trial.
Need an all-in-one enterprise PR suite? Cision and Meltwater are the main players. Cision has the larger database; Meltwater has stronger analytics and social listening. Both require five-figure annual commitments.
Need media monitoring specifically? Critical Mention specializes in broadcast monitoring across TV and radio. If you need monitoring more than a media database, it's worth evaluating.
Need a newsroom and CRM? Prezly is the strongest option for managing press releases, media assets, and journalist relationships through a branded newsroom. Just bring your own contact list.
UK-focused PR? Roxhill has the strongest UK journalist database with 190,000+ detailed profiles including pitching preferences.
Podcast PR? Rephonic is the go-to platform with 3M+ podcasts, audience data, and built-in outreach tools. No other tool on this list comes close for podcast-specific PR.
About Muck Rack and common complaints
Muck Rack is a well-known PR platform that provides access to a media database of 600,000+ journalist contacts, media monitoring across online, print, broadcast, podcasts, and social media, AI-powered journalist recommendations, and - as of May 2025 - press release distribution via a GlobeNewswire partnership.
It's a capable platform, but there are good reasons PR professionals look for alternatives. Here are the most common complaints:
Expensive with no pricing transparency
Pricing starts around $5,000/year for a single seat and scales quickly with team size. With no public pricing page, you're forced through a sales process before you even know if it fits your budget.
A Capterra reviewer put it simply: "It's expensive for we small biz owners."
Annual contracts only, no refunds
Muck Rack only offers 12-month contracts with no monthly billing option. If you cancel mid-term, you still owe the full amount. One reviewer warned: "Don't fall for" special pricing offers that lock you into long-term commitments.
Database accuracy issues
Despite the large database, users report problems with outdated contacts. Reddit users in r/PublicRelations have noted "high bounce-back rates on emails" from Muck Rack's database.
A TrustRadius reviewer (VP at a PR firm) added: "We found that Muck Rack was missing huge swaths of industries and reporters within those industries."
Built for enterprise teams
Muck Rack competes with the likes of Cision and Meltwater - enterprise-aimed platforms offering a wide variety of features. For smaller teams, many of these features go unused. As one reviewer noted, it's an "all-or-nothing" model: you can't just buy the database without the monitoring, analytics, and distribution tools bundled in.
Monitoring and reporting limitations
Reddit users report that while Muck Rack's pitching is strong, "reporting capabilities and media monitoring leave a lot to be desired." Another common complaint is that social media monitoring centres heavily on Twitter/X while overlooking platforms like LinkedIn and Reddit.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best alternative to Muck Rack?
The best alternative depends on your needs. For an affordable media database, JournoFinder is the top-rated option starting from $189/month with human-verified emails. For enterprise PR suites, Cision and Meltwater are the established players. For UK-focused PR, Roxhill leads. For podcast PR, Rephonic is the specialist tool.
How much does Muck Rack cost?
Muck Rack doesn't publish pricing publicly. Based on user reports, a single seat starts around $5,000/year. Two seats cost roughly $10,000/year. Larger teams (5+ users) report paying $25,000 to $53,000+ per year. Only annual contracts are available, with no monthly billing and no refunds on early cancellation.
Does Muck Rack offer a free trial?
No. Muck Rack does not offer a free trial. They provide a 30-45 minute sales demo, but you cannot test the platform yourself before committing to an annual contract. Several alternatives do offer free trials, including JournoFinder (7 days), Prezly (14 days), and Rephonic (7 days).
Is there a free alternative to Muck Rack?
There is no fully free alternative that matches Muck Rack's feature set. However, several platforms offer free trials that let you test before committing: JournoFinder (7 days), Prezly (14 days), Agility PR, and Rephonic (7 days). These are significantly more accessible than Muck Rack's sales-demo-only approach.
What is Muck Rack used for?
Muck Rack is a PR platform that provides access to a media database of 600,000+ journalist contacts, media monitoring tools for tracking coverage across online, print, broadcast, and social media, press release distribution (via GlobeNewswire, launched May 2025), and analytics for measuring PR impact. It's primarily aimed at enterprise PR teams and large agencies.
Which Muck Rack alternative is best for small teams?
For small teams, JournoFinder and the Semrush AI PR Toolkit (formerly Prowly) are the most accessible options. JournoFinder starts from $189/month with monthly contracts and no annual lock-in. The Semrush AI PR Toolkit starts from $149/month as an add-on to a Semrush subscription.
Sources
- [1] Reddit r/PublicRelations, "Anyone like Muck Rack?" (2023) reddit.com/r/PublicRelations/comments/143mgm7/anyone_like_muck_rack/
- [2] Reddit r/PublicRelations, "Thoughts on Muck Rack vs Cision" (2022) reddit.com/r/PublicRelations/comments/vnhru8/thoughts_on_muck_rack_vs_cision/
- [3] Reddit r/PublicRelations, "How much do you pay for Cision etc?" (2025) reddit.com/r/PublicRelations/comments/1jkfvz9/how_much_do_you_pay_for_cision_etc/
- [4] Reddit r/PublicRelations, "Has anyone used Prowly?" (2022) reddit.com/r/PublicRelations/comments/z2si4j/has_anyone_used_prowly_care_to_share_your/
- [5] Reddit r/PublicRelations, "Critical Mention Sucks" (2023) reddit.com/r/PublicRelations/comments/11kkrvg/critical_mention_sucks/
- [6] TrustRadius, "Muck Rack Reviews - Pros and Cons" trustradius.com/products/muck-rack/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons
- [7] Vendr, "Muck Rack Pricing" vendr.com/marketplace/muck-rack
- [8] Vendr, "Cision Pricing" vendr.com/marketplace/cision
- [9] Prezly, "Pricing" prezly.com/pricing
- [10] Semrush, "AI PR Toolkit Pricing" semrush.com/kb/1575-pricing-and-plans
- [11] UK Government Digital Marketplace, "Roxhill Media" gov.uk/digital-marketplace (Roxhill pricing)
- [12] Muck Rack Blog, "Press Release Distribution" (May 2025) muckrack.com/blog/2025/05/07/press-release-distribution/
- [13] BIG FISH PR, "Cision vs Muck Rack vs MyMediaInfo" bigfishpr.com/cision-vs-muck-rack-vs-mymediainfo-which-is-the-media-database-to-rule-them-all/
- [14] Rephonic, "Pricing" rephonic.com/pricing