Introduction
As influencer marketing continues to mature as a marketing channel, brands are increasingly reliant on robust software platforms to help manage growing programs. Manual and spreadsheets are no longer cutting it for evaluating influencers, launching campaigns, and demonstrating ROI at scale. This guide evaluates the top 15 influencer marketing software options on the market based on features, pricing, and reviews to help brands select the right partner.
Methods of Evaluation
The software options were evaluated based on the following criteria: features for influencer discovery, campaign management capabilities, reporting and analytics, integration capabilities, ease of use, pricing and plans, customer reviews. Additional weight was given to tools leveraging artificial intelligence/machine learning for areas like influencer matching, automated campaign management, and predictive analytics. Backlink profiles, traffic sources, and keyword trends of each company website were also analyzed to evaluate overall market presence and authority.
1. Meltwater
Meltwater is a global leader in media intelligence and social media monitoring. Founded in 2001, Meltwater provides tools to help companies unlock insights from online conversations. With over 25 years of experience in the influencer marketing space, Meltwater has built a powerful suite of solutions to maximize the effectiveness of influencer campaigns.
Pros: Key advantages of Meltwater’s influencer marketing software include:
– Wide range of capabilities for discovering influencers, outreach, and measurement of campaign results
– Advanced analytics and reporting to optimize future campaigns
– Global database of influencers across all major social platforms
– Integrates seamlessly with other marketing tools for a unified workflow
Cons: One potential downside is the cost – Meltwater offers a range of pricing tiers but premium plans with advanced features can be expensive for small to medium-sized businesses.
Pricing: Meltwater pricing starts at $800/month for a basic plan with limited functionality. Premium plans with expanded capabilities like global influencer search and advanced analytics start at $2,000/month.
Some key stats about Meltwater include:
– Over 30,000 customers worldwide
– Processes over 500 million online articles and posts per day
– Global database of over 1 billion influencers and bloggers
– Integrations available with over 150 marketing tools like Google Ads, Hubspot, and Microsoft Dynamics
2. Influence.co
Influence.co is an influencer marketing platform that connects businesses with social media influencers. Founded in 2017 and headquartered in San Francisco, Influence.co has built one of the largest influencer databases globally with over 1 million influencers across multiple social platforms. The platform helps brands and agencies find and connect with the right influencers for their campaigns.
Pros: Some key advantages of using Influence.co:
– Large database of micro-influencers perfectly suited for niche campaigns
– Real-time tracking of campaign performance including budget spent, impressions, and engagements
– Affordable solution starting from $99/month making it ideal for SMBs and enterprise brands on tighter budgets
Cons: One potential downside is that the platform is best suited for smaller influencer campaigns and may not scale as well for very large global campaigns involving hundreds of influencers.
Pricing: Influence.co offers three pricing tiers:
– Basic Plan: $99/month – For smaller campaigns with access to basic features
– Pro Plan: $299/month – For medium-sized campaigns with more advanced analytics
– Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing – For large brands with custom configurations and dedicated support
Some key stats about Influence.co:
– Over 1 million influencers profiled on the platform across Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and more
– Profiles include influencer data like followers, engagement rates, relevant hashtags and interests
– More than 10,000 businesses have used Influence.co for influencer marketing campaigns
3. ICONOSQUARE
Iconosquare is an influencer marketing software focused on Instagram optimization. Founded in 2013, Iconosquare provides analytics and management tools to help brands and agencies grow their presence on Instagram and other social networks like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and TikTok. With over 12,000 customers worldwide, Iconosquare enables social media managers to effectively run campaigns and see results across multiple platforms.
Pros: Some of the main advantages of Iconosquare include:
– Powerful Instagram focused analytics with insights into hashtags, locations, demographics and more
– Influencer database and tools to find and engage influencers
– Content planning and scheduling features to organize campaigns
– Integrations with other tools like Photoshop and Canva for asset management
– White label solutions allowing agencies to offer the platform to their clients
Cons: One potential disadvantage is that Iconosquare is primarily focused on Instagram optimization. For brands that need a more holistic social media management solution across multiple networks, it may not offer all the features needed.
Pricing: Iconosquare offers various paid plans starting from $49/month for individual accounts up to enterprise plans for agencies and large brands. All plans include basic analytics and management features while higher tiers provide advanced functionality and support.
Some key stats about Iconosquare include:
– Over 12,000 customers globally including large brands like Starbucks, Adidas, Netflix
– Tracks over 1 billion Instagram posts and profiles annually
– Available in over 10 languages
– Offers white label solutions for agencies to manage multiple brand accounts
4. IZEA
IZEA is an influencer marketing platform that connects brands and agencies with influencers. Founded in 2006, IZEA today helps thousands of brands and marketers work with influencers through its full-service end-to-end platform. IZEA operates a network of over 4 million social media influencers and content creators.
Pros: Some of the key advantages of using IZEA include:
– Wide network of influencers across different social platforms to choose from
– Full service platform including campaign setup, influencer outreach, content delivery, and reporting
– Experienced team to help with influencer research, negotiations and campaign management
Cons: One potential disadvantage is that IZEA’s self-service options are more limited compared to platforms like Influence. Their platform may be better suited for larger brands and agencies who can utilize their full-service options.
Pricing: IZEA offers various pricing plans depending on campaign budget and needs. Basic plans start from $400 per month while custom enterprise plans with additional services are also available. They also offer pay per performance models where brands only pay IZEA a commission on actual sponsor deals closed.
Some key stats about IZEA:
– Over 4 million influencers in their network
– Works with Fortune 500 brands like Coca-Cola, Verizon, Pepsico
– Facilitated over $1B in transactions between brands and influencers
5. NinjaOutreach
NinjaOutreach is an influencer marketing software that helps brands streamline their influencer outreach. The software allows marketers to automate influencer outreach campaigns, track responses, and manage budget and performance reporting.
Pros: Key advantages of using NinjaOutreach include:
– Powerful outreach campaign automation that saves time on repetitive outreach tasks
– Streamlined workflow for brief approvals between teams
– Robust contact tracking features to monitor campaign performance
Cons: One potential disadvantage is that the pricing can be higher than some simpler DIY tools for smaller campaigns.
Pricing: NinjaOutreach offers monthly and annual pricing plans starting from $99 per month for up to 5 users.
Some key stats about NinjaOutreach include:
– Over 500,000 influencers and bloggers in their database
– Used by over 1000 brands globally
– Campaign response rate of over 30% on average
6. Klear
Klear is an influencer marketing platform that helps brands and agencies find, manage, and track influencer marketing campaigns. Founded in 2014, Klear has since grown to serve over 1,000 brands and agencies around the world. Klear aims to make influencer marketing accessible for all sizes of brands through its full-service and self-service options.
Pros: Some key advantages of using Klear include:
– Robust influencer discovery features that allow filtering influencers based on various demographics, metrics, interests and more
– Powerful tools for managing sponsored posts including briefings, approvals, reporting
– Great integrations with social platforms that streamline workflow like automating tasks
Cons: One potential disadvantage is that Klear has tiered pricing plans so the full features may not be accessible for smaller brands on tighter budgets.
Pricing: Klear offers three pricing tiers – Basic, Professional and Enterprise. Pricing starts from $249/month for the Basic plan tailored for smaller brands and agencies.
Some key stats about Klear:
– Over 1,000 brands and agencies use Klear’s platform globally
– Manage influencer campaigns across 15+ social networks including Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and more
– Discover influencers from a database of over 50 million influencers
7. PromoRepublic
PromoRepublic is an influencer marketing platform that helps brands and agencies run highly effective influencer campaigns. Founded in 2013, PromoRepublic has its headquarters in San Francisco and works with over 10,000 influencers and brands across the globe. The platform provides a one-stop solution to discover influencers, manage campaigns, and measure results.
Pros: Some of the key advantages of using PromoRepublic include:
– One-stop shop with an expansive influencer database for discovery and outreach
– Strong collaboration tools for marketing teams to work together on campaigns
– Robust reporting and analytics to measure campaign performance across all key metrics
– Global reach to run multi-country influencer programs and campaigns
Cons: One potential disadvantage is that the platform is better suited for mid-sized to large brands/agencies with dedicated marketing teams, rather than solopreneurs or very small businesses on tight budgets.
Pricing: PromoRepublic offers flexible pricing plans starting from $499 per month for smaller teams up to enterprise plans for large global brands. Pricing is based on the number of users, campaigns, and integrations required. They also offer a free 15-day trial to test out the platform’s full capabilities.
Some key stats about PromoRepublic include:
– Over $500M in media value driven for brands
– Works with over 10,000 influencers and influencer networks globally
– Used by over 2,000 brands including Samsung, Amazon and L’Oreal
– Processes millions of social media posts and stories every month
8. TapInfluence
TapInfluence is an all-in-one influencer marketing platform that helps brands and agencies find, collaborate with and manage influencers. Founded in 2006, TapInfluence has worked with over 10,000 brands and 1 million influencers globally to run influencer campaigns.
Pros: Key advantages of TapInfluence include: powerful influencer discovery and matching tools, intuitive campaign design and performance tracking dashboards, integrations with major marketing automation and CRM platforms like Hubspot, and dedicated white glove account support teams.
Cons: One potential downside is that the most basic plan is limited and higher tier plans can be expensive for smaller brands and agencies.
Pricing: TapInfluence offers several pricing tiers starting from a Freemium plan that is limited to 3 campaigns and $5000 in campaign budgets up to Enterprise plans with unlimited campaigns, budgets and dedicated success managers starting at $10,000 per month.
Some key stats about TapInfluence include: – Over 10,000 brands have used the platform – 1 million influencers are part of the network – Campaigns have generated over $1 billion in sales
9. GRIN
GRIN is an all-in-one influencer marketing platform that helps brands find, engage and track influencers across major social networks. Founded in 2016, GRIN has grown to serve over 2,000 customers including Fortune 500 brands. Some notable customers include Starbucks, Samsung, Nestle and Disney.
Pros: Some key advantages of GRIN:
– Easy to use interface for managing all aspects of influencer campaigns.
– Powerful search and filtering to find right influencers.
– Built-in tools for monitoring and reporting on campaign performance.
– Integrates with major social media platforms and CMS.
Cons: The only disadvantage is that GRIN is primarily focused on influencer marketing while some competitors offer a more well-rounded social media marketing platform.
Pricing: GRIN offers three main pricing tiers:
– Basic: $99/month for up to 3 campaigns and 10 influencers
– Pro: $299/month for unlimited campaigns and 100 influencers
– Enterprise: Custom pricing for large teams and advanced capabilities
Some key stats about GRIN:
– Over 10,000 influencers in their network
– Manages campaigns for over 2,000 brands
– Processes millions of dollars in influencer payments annually
– Integrates with major social platforms like Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and others
10. Launchmetrics
Launchmetrics is an influencer marketing software that caters specifically to luxury and fashion brands. Founded in 2009 and headquartered in New York City, Launchmetrics works with over 300 brands including Burberry, Balenciaga and Salvatore Ferragamo. The platform aims to help brands maximize the effectiveness of their influencer relationships through powerful analytics and robust reporting capabilities.
Pros: Some key advantages of using Launchmetrics include:
– Powerful tools for evaluating influencer ROI through detailed engagement and analytics reports
– Caters specifically to the needs of luxury and fashion brands for influencer marketing
– Detailed analytics and reporting features to track brand exposure and the impact of influencer campaigns
– Ability to monitor all offline and digital brand activations in one centralized place
Cons: A potential disadvantage of Launchmetrics could be the pricing, as it is aimed at large luxury and fashion brands therefore may not suit some smaller businesses on a budget.
Pricing: Launchmetrics pricing is not publicly listed but is tailored specifically for each customer. Being aimed at large global brands, its software and services are likely costlier than some more generalized influencer marketing platforms.
Some key stats about Launchmetrics include:
– Over 300 luxury and fashion brand customers globally
– Tracks over 1 million influencers and their social media engagements
– Monitors over 50,000 runway shows, ad campaigns and other brand activations annually
– Provides access to a global network of over 6 million fashion and luxury journalists, bloggers and influencers
11. Rakuten Marketing
Rakuten Marketing provides an end-to-end influencer marketing platform to help brands and advertisers connect with influencers and achieve marketing goals. As the influencer marketing arm of Rakuten Advertising, they leverage their global scale and expertise in digital performance advertising.
Pros: Some key advantages of Rakuten Marketing’s influencer platform include:
– End-to-end influencer marketing capabilities from discovery and outreach to campaign management and reporting
– Expertise in scaling large influencer programs globally across regions
– Deeper integrations with other Rakuten properties like affiliate marketing for a unified customer experience
– Strong focus on analytics and tools to demonstrate campaign ROI and return on ad spend
Cons: As an enterprise-level platform, the self-service features and pricing may be out of reach for smaller brands or agencies on tighter budgets. Extensive customizations or integrations may require working closely with their professional services team.
Pricing: Pricing for Rakuten Marketing’s influencer platform is not publicly disclosed and is custom-quoted based on campaign size, integration requirements, and other factors. As an enterprise SaaS solution, customers can expect an annual or monthly subscription with additional usage-based costs.
Some key stats about Rakuten Marketing’s influencer platform include:
– Works with over 500,000 influencers globally
– Manages influencer campaigns in over 20 countries
– Oversees billions of dollars in annual media spend
– Provides analytics tools to measure campaign performance and ROI
12. Upfluence
Upfluence is an influencer marketing platform that aims to simplify the process of identifying, partnering with, and measuring the impact of influencers for brands. Founded in 2012, Upfluence has grown to support over 3,000 brands and currently has a global influencer network of over 10 million influencers. Upfluence streamlines the entire influencer marketing process from start to finish on one centralized platform.
Pros: Some key advantages of Upfluence include:
– Global influencer network that saves time finding relevant influencers
– Great tools for brief creation and setting approvals for campaigns
– Advanced analytics capabilities to measure campaign performance
– Centralized platform that streamlines the entire influencer marketing process
Cons: A potential disadvantage is that as the platform requires managing relationships with a large number of influencers, customer support response times may be slower than smaller platforms.
Pricing: Upfluence offers a variety of pricing plans starting from their Basic plan at $149/month up to their Enterprise plan with custom quotes. Pricing includes the core platform functionality as well as network size and support levels.
Some key stats about Upfluence include:
– Global influencer network of over 10 million influencers
– Supports over 3,000 brands
– Founded in 2012
– Tools for brief creation, approvals, and influencer outreach
13. Traackr
Traackr is an influencer marketing platform that helps brands discover, connect with, and measure the impact of influencers. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Montreal, Traackr aims to be the industry standard for data-driven influencer marketing. With customers like Samsung, Ford, and General Mills, Traackr has significant experience in helping large brands execute successful influencer programs.
Pros: Key advantages of Traackr include:
– Robust platform for managing influencer campaigns from start to finish
– Ability to discover and track influencers across a wide range of digital channels
– Powerful reporting and analytics to measure campaign performance and ROI
– Strong reputation for being a leader in influencer relationship management
Cons: A potential disadvantage is that Traackr is a more full-featured platform geared towards large brands with complex influencer programs, so it may be overkill for some smaller businesses or those just getting started with influencer marketing.
Pricing: Traackr offers pricing tailored for different business needs. Basic plans start at $999/month for up to 3 users and include basic features. Premium plans range from $2,499-9,999/month depending on team size and include more advanced analytics and capabilities for bigger influencer programs.
Some key stats about Traackr include:
– Over 500 customers worldwide including 1/3 of Fortune 100 companies
– Relationship data for over 10 million influencers globally
– Over 500 integrated data sources for influencer discovery
– Tracks influencer impact across 25 social media platforms and websites
14. RewardStyle
RewardStyle, formerly known as LTK, is an influencer marketing platform that enables brands and retailers to partner with social media influencers. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Dallas, Texas, RewardStyle has built a large network of over one million influencers across fashion, beauty, lifestyle and more verticals. The platform offers tools for brands and influencers to collaborate on content creation and makes it easy for followers to shop directly from posts.
Pros: Some key advantages of using RewardStyle:
– Large base of fashion and lifestyle influencers to partner with
– Streamlined affiliate marketing features to onboard and track influencer campaigns
– Strong shopping integrations allowing followers to directly checkout and purchase products from influencer posts
– Data analytics and reporting tools to measure campaign performance
Cons: A potential downside is that the platform is more suited for fashion, beauty and lifestyle influencer marketing. It may not be the best fit for some niche verticals with smaller followings.
Pricing: RewardStyle offers different pricing tiers based on campaign budgets and needs. Basic plans start from $250/month and go up to $2500/month for premium tiers with additional features and support.
Some key stats about RewardStyle:
– Over 1 million influencers on the platform
– Works with over 4,500 brands including Nordstrom, Sephora, Nike
– Processes over $1 billion in transactions annually
– Available in 9 countries including the US, UK, Canada, Australia and more
15. Dynamic Signal
Dynamic Signal is an influencer marketing platform that helps brands find and connect with the right influencers. Founded in 2013, Dynamic Signal works with top brands like L’Oréal, Nestle, and Puma to power their influencer campaigns. Their software allows marketers to streamline influencer outreach, activation, campaign management and reporting in one centralized system.
Pros: Some key advantages of Dynamic Signal include:
– Robust influencer research and discovery tools to find the right influencers for any campaign goal
– Strong attribution modeling capabilities to measure influencer marketing ROI
– Customizable reporting dashboards included to track campaign performance
Cons: A potential disadvantage is that the platform is primarily geared towards larger brands and agencies with significant influencer marketing budgets to manage. DIY bloggers and smaller businesses may find the platform overly complex for their needs.
Pricing: Dynamic Signal offers different pricing tiers depending on business size and needs. Starting tiers range from $2,500/month for smaller teams up to custom enterprise pricing for the largest global brands managing millions in influencer budgets.
Some key stats about Dynamic Signal include:
– Over 3,000 brands use their platform including 20% of Fortune 500 brands
– Manage over $3 billion in influencer marketing spend annually
– Database of over 5 million influencers globally across all categories
– Campaign management and reporting for over 100,000 influencer campaigns to date
Conclusion
When it comes to selecting the right influencer marketing software, brands must evaluate their unique needs and budget but also consider potential for future growth. The top platforms highlighted in this post have strong track records of supporting clients both large and small with flexible, feature-rich solutions. Taking the time to thoroughly review functionality and feedback can help brands feel confident in selecting a long-term partner to scale their influencer results.