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BuzzSumo vs Brand24 for Agencies (2026): Which Is Better?
By Red Kite Search Agency Created Updated 7 min read
Summary
Choose BuzzSumo for content research and PR. Choose Brand24 for ongoing mention monitoring. Prices and ratings were checked in October 2026.
BuzzSumo vs Brand24: which is better for agencies in 2026?
BuzzSumo and Brand24 are often bought together but do different jobs. BuzzSumo researches content and finds journalists and influencers. Brand24 monitors mentions of keywords over time.
We compared price, scope, and fit.
| Tool | Editorial score | Review-site ratings | Pricing | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BuzzSumo | 4.2 / 5 | G2 4.5 | Billed yearly: Content Creation $199, PR & Comms $299 and Suite $499 a month; Enterprise $999 a month on annual billing only. | Small teams to agencies |
| Brand24 | 4.3 / 5 | G2 4.6 | 14-day trial. Monthly billing: Individual $249, Team $349, Pro $499 and Business $699 a month; annual billing is lower ($199, $299, $399 and $599 a month). Enterprise starts from $1,499 a month billed annually. | Small teams to agencies |
How do BuzzSumo and Brand24 compare on price?
BuzzSumo bills yearly and costs $199, $299, or $499 a month. Brand24 has a 14-day trial and costs $199, $299, or $399 a month billed yearly.
| Tool | Plan | Price | What stands out |
|---|---|---|---|
| BuzzSumo | Content Creation | $199 per month (annual billing) | 1 user, unlimited searches, 2 alerts, 2 years of history |
| BuzzSumo | PR & Comms | $299 per month (annual billing) | 5 users, 5 alerts, Slack integration, coverage reports, 3 years of history |
| BuzzSumo | Suite | $499 per month (annual billing) | 10 users, 10 alerts, advanced Chrome extension, article uploads, 5 years of history |
| BuzzSumo | Enterprise | $999 per month (annual billing) | 30 users, 50 alerts, RSS sync, 5 years of history, annual billing only |
| Brand24 | Individual | $199 per month (annual billing); $249 monthly | 3 keywords, 2K mentions a month, 1 user |
| Brand24 | Team | $299 per month (annual billing); $349 monthly | 7 keywords, 10K mentions a month, unlimited users |
| Brand24 | Pro | $399 per month (annual billing); $499 monthly | 12 keywords, 40K mentions a month, unlimited users, white-label reports |
| Brand24 | Business | $599 per month (annual billing); $699 monthly | 25 keywords, 100K mentions a month, unlimited users, QuickShare reports |
| Brand24 | Enterprise | From $1,499 | Custom keywords and mentions, unlimited users, API included, dedicated consulting |
Which costs less?
The entry plans cost about the same at $199 and $199 a month billed yearly. Brand24 shows monthly billing as well, while BuzzSumo showed yearly prices only.
BuzzSumo adds users faster: PR & Comms includes five users, while Brand24 Team includes unlimited users at a higher price.
Compare the number of alerts and keywords you need.
Run a short side-by-side test before you decide. Give both tools the same real task, time how long each takes, and ask a colleague who did not set them up to try them. The result is usually clearer than any feature table.
Also check how each vendor handles renewal. Yearly plans are often billed in advance, price rises are common at renewal, and cancelling late can lock you into another term. Put the renewal date in the team calendar the day you buy, and decide a month earlier whether the tool earned its place, based on how often the team actually opened it.
Ask for a written statement of plan limits when you buy, because caps on seats, mentions, videos, or storage change from time to time, and a record of what you were promised is useful if a limit moves.
Which is better for agencies?
It depends on the job. BuzzSumo suits content strategy and digital PR with its media database and archive. Brand24 suits client monitoring with alerts, sentiment, and white-label reports from Pro.
Many agencies use both, one for ideas and one for tracking.
Remember that you can start small. Most vendors offer a trial or a free tier, so begin with the cheapest plan that covers your real work, and upgrade only when a specific limit blocks you.
Which has stronger evidence and security?
Brand24 has a larger G2 base at 368 reviews against 107. Neither stated SOC 2, GDPR, SSO, or 2FA.
Brand24 lists a mobile app on all plans, while BuzzSumo did not state mobile apps.
Finally, think about exit costs. Check how easily you can export your data, and keep notes on how your setup is built, so a later switch does not mean starting from scratch.
How do BuzzSumo and Brand24 compare on integrations, security, and support?
Beyond price, agencies ask about connections to their other tools, what to tell clients about security, and how quickly they can get help. This is what each vendor states publicly, as checked in October 2026.
| Area | BuzzSumo | Brand24 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrations | Slack on PR & Comms and above, RSS sync through Zapier or IFTTT on Enterprise, a Chrome extension, and Account and Search APIs | Slack and Microsoft Teams named; an integrations directory was not found (the page returned a 404) |
| Security | SOC 2, GDPR, SSO, 2FA and encryption were not stated | SOC 2, GDPR, SSO, 2FA and encryption were not stated |
| Support | A self-serve help center on all plans and priority support; plan mapping was not stated | Chat, email, webinars and a help center on all plans; Pro adds priority and video support; Business adds a success lead and quarterly reviews |
| Apps | Mobile apps were not stated | Mobile app on all plans; platforms were not stated |
What are the pros and cons of BuzzSumo and Brand24?
Here is where each tool helps agencies and where it can get in the way, based on plan details and public feedback.
BuzzSumo pros
- Content Creation costs $199 a month billed yearly, with unlimited searches and 2 alerts.
- PR & Comms costs $299 with 5 users, a Slack integration and coverage reports.
- Suite costs $499 with 10 users and a longer archive, and Enterprise costs $999 with 30 users.
- Historical data runs from 2 years on the entry plan to 5 years on Suite and Enterprise.
BuzzSumo cons
- Entry pricing is high for a single seat, and monthly prices were not displayed.
- Alert counts are low (2, 5, 10 and 50).
- Security, integrations count, mobile apps and trial length were not stated, and the features page returned a 404.
- Client sharing was not stated beyond article uploads for reporting.
Brand24 pros
- Individual costs $199 a month billed yearly and Team $299, with 3 to 7 keywords.
- Pro costs $399 a month with 12 keywords and 40K mentions a month.
- White-label and PDF, Excel and PowerPoint reports from Pro, with unlimited users from Team.
- A mobile app and push notifications on all plans.
Brand24 cons
- Mention caps start at 2,000 a month on Individual.
- API access is an extra $149 fee on Pro and Business.
- Security, SOC 2, GDPR, 2FA and an integrations directory were not stated (the integrations page returned a 404).
- Entry pricing is high compared with Awario.
What do reviewers say about BuzzSumo and Brand24?
G2 shows BuzzSumo at 4.5 from 107 reviews and Brand24 at 4.6 from 368 reviews. Brand24 scores higher with more reviews.
| Tool | Source | Rating | Number of reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| BuzzSumo | G2 | 4.5 / 5 | 107 |
| Brand24 | G2 | 4.6 / 5 | 368 |
Reviewer themes for BuzzSumo
- G2 shows BuzzSumo at 4.5 from 107 reviews.
- Reviewers say it excels at content research.
- It scores higher than some larger media monitoring tools on G2.
Reviewer themes for Brand24
- G2 shows Brand24 at 4.6 from 368 reviews.
- Reviewers praise ease of use and an intuitive design.
- Reviewers also value responsive support.
How does setup differ between BuzzSumo and Brand24?
Getting value from either tool depends on how you set it up, and the first steps differ. Here is the practical starting point for each.
BuzzSumo: Use the trial to research one client topic.
Brand24: Use the 14-day trial to track one client brand.
What should agencies check before choosing between BuzzSumo and Brand24?
Small details in plans and limits decide whether a tool works in practice. Check these points for each tool during a trial on a real client account.
Before you buy BuzzSumo
- Count topics and alerts.
- Check history length.
- Plan outreach lists.
- Use the trial.
Before you buy Brand24
- Count keywords.
- Estimate mentions.
- Check white-label needs.
- Use the trial.
How should you test BuzzSumo and Brand24 before deciding?
The fairest test is to run both tools on the same real client account for two weeks, with the same people, and compare the results rather than first impressions.
What to measure
- How long it takes a new team member to be productive in BuzzSumo versus Brand24.
- How often people open each tool without being reminded.
- Whether the plan you need includes the features you tested, not just the entry price.
- How a client reacts if you invite them to either tool.
- How much time the team spends on notifications, setup, and cleanup each week.
Which should you choose: BuzzSumo or Brand24?
Choose BuzzSumo for content research and PR. Choose Brand24 for ongoing mention monitoring.
Use both if the budget allows.
Choose BuzzSumo if
- You research content and run digital PR.
- You want unlimited searches.
- You want long content history.
Skip BuzzSumo if
- You need ongoing mention tracking.
- You need monthly prices shown.
- You need security detail stated.
Choose Brand24 if
- You report on brand mentions for clients.
- You want a mobile app and alerts.
- You want white-label reports.
Skip Brand24 if
- You need a low entry price.
- You need security detail stated.
- You need many keywords on a low plan.
Frequently asked questions
- Is BuzzSumo or Brand24 better?
- BuzzSumo for content research, Brand24 for monitoring.
- Which is cheaper?
- About the same at entry level.
- Which has a mobile app?
- Brand24.
- Which scores higher on G2?
- Brand24.
- Can I use both?
- Yes.
Sources
Prices, plan limits, and ratings were gathered in October 2026 from:
- BuzzSumo pricing page
- Brand24 pricing page
- G2