The BuzzSumo Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about BuzzSumo in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
BuzzSumo
The Insider’s Guide
Content research, media monitoring and journalist outreach
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among SEO content tools, read from BuzzSumo’s own pages.
Made by BuzzSumo Ltd · checked Oct 23, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from BuzzSumo’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on BuzzSumo’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.2
GPA, above 35 of the 87 other SEO content tools we grade
BuzzSumo is a web-based content research tool that shows which articles, videos and posts earn the most social engagement and links on any topic or site, from an archive it puts at 8 billion articles. Higher plans add a journalist database for PR outreach, coverage reports, influencer search and brand monitoring alerts.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about BuzzSumo, taken from its own pages and our grades.
No rating on record, but there's nothing to set up to start: type a topic, URL or domain and it lists the most shared content.
- 1
Best for finding content that already earns shares and links
BuzzSumo shows the most shared and linked content for any topic or domain, with idea and brief tools, alerts and, from PR & Comms up, a journalist database.
- 2
Paid plans start at $159 a month
As its pricing page puts it: $159 per month, billed annually ($199 billed monthly).
- 3
You can try it first
Free trial of the Suite plan, limited to 50 searches
- 4
It runs on Web
Web, with a browser extension too.
- 5
Content Analyzer
Search any topic, URL or domain to see its most shared and linked content, with up to five years of engagement history depending on plan.
- 6
Content ideas and briefs
The Content Ideas Generator, Topic Explorer and Question Analyzer surface topics, headlines and forum questions, and the Brief Generator turns them into briefs.
- 7
Keyword and backlink tools
A keyword tool with search volume and cost per click, and a Backlink Analyzer that follows new links to a domain or URL over time.
- 8
A 2.2 GPA, above 35 of 87
That is against the other SEO content tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace BuzzSumo you would be making a library of papers and sources to search. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
BuzzSumo at a glance
- Pricing
- Free trial, from $159 per month, billed annually ($199 billed monthly)
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- Free trial of the Suite plan, limited to 50 searches
- Runs on
- Web, Browser extension
- Made by
- BuzzSumo Ltd, since 2014
- Category
- SEO Content Optimizers
- Our grade
- 2.2 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for finding content that already earns shares and links
BuzzSumo shows the most shared and linked content for any topic or domain, with idea and brief tools, alerts and, from PR & Comms up, a journalist database. It doesn't write, score or publish anything, and it starts at $159 a month on yearly billing for one user, with no free plan since 2023.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | D | Content Creation is $159 a month on yearly billing, $199 monthly, for one user, well past where this category's dearest tenth starts ($99). The journalist database needs PR & Comms at $239, and the API is priced on request. |
| Free plan and trial | C | No free plan since February 2023. New users get a trial of Suite limited to 50 searches, and nothing on record says it needs a card. |
| Features | C | The Content Analyzer, idea, topic and question tools, a brief generator, keyword and backlink tools, alerts and a Chrome extension. It does content research, but that's only part of this category's job: it writes, scores and publishes nothing. |
| Ease of use | B | No rating on record, but there's nothing to set up to start: type a topic, URL or domain and it lists the most shared content. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Web plus a Chrome extension, with no desktop or phone app. It sends alerts to Slack, has an RSS feed for Zapier or IFTTT on Enterprise, and offers Account and Search APIs priced separately. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who BuzzSumo is for
- Fits if you look for topics and formats that already earn shares and links
- Works for digital PR teams finding journalists and tracking their coverage
Who it is not for
- Pricey if you're one person, at $159 a month on yearly billing for one user
- Skip it if you want articles written or scored, as it does research only
- Tight if you need the journalist database or the API: one starts at PR & Comms for $239, the other is priced on request
- Watch out: cancelling isn't refunded, and plans run to the end of the paid term
- Not for you if you want a free plan, gone since February 2023; the trial is 50 searches
Good to know
Good for
- Content marketers looking for topics and formats that already earn shares and links
- Digital PR teams finding active journalists and tracking their coverage
- Agencies monitoring brand and competitor mentions for clients
Worth knowing
- There has been no free plan since February 2023; new users get a trial of Suite limited to 50 searches.
- Cancelling stops renewal but is not refunded: annual and monthly plans run to the end of the paid term.
- The journalist database starts at PR & Comms, and the API is priced on request.
- Invoicing is only for Enterprise plans paid yearly; all other plans are paid by card.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$159
A month to start
BuzzSumo is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $159 per month, billed annually ($199 billed monthly).
Content Creation
$159
per month, billed annually ($199 billed monthly)
1 user, unlimited searches, 2 alerts, Content Analyzer, trending feeds, Question Analyzer and 2 years of history.
PR & Comms
$239
per month, billed annually ($299 billed monthly)
5 users and 5 alerts, plus the journalist database and outreach, coverage reports, Slack alerts and 3 years of history.
Suite
$399
per month, billed annually ($499 billed monthly)
10 users and 10 alerts, plus the YouTube Analyzer, the advanced Chrome extension, article uploads and 5 years of history.
Enterprise
$999
per month, billed annually only
30 users, 50 alerts, an RSS feed for Zapier or IFTTT, journalist search by state and early access to new features.
Trying it first
Free trial of the Suite plan, limited to 50 searches
Read from buzzsumo.com on Oct 23, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Annual discount
Save 20% with annual billing
BuzzSumo's pricing page lists a 20% saving for paying annually: Content Creation is $159 a month billed yearly against $199 billed monthly.
Stated on buzzsumo.comNonprofit
Discounts for NGOs and charities
BuzzSumo's pricing FAQ says it offers discounts to NGOs and registered charitable non-profits; buyers are asked to contact the team.
Stated on buzzsumo.comEducation
Discounts for classroom use
The same FAQ offers discounts to educational institutions that use BuzzSumo in the classroom, arranged by contacting BuzzSumo.
Stated on buzzsumo.com
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
2
Places it runs: Web and Browser extension
Content research, media monitoring and journalist outreach. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: public API, research, reports, keyword research, backlink analysis, link outreach.
The Content Analyzer, idea, topic and question tools, a brief generator, keyword and backlink tools, alerts and a Chrome extension.
- Content Analyzer
- Search any topic, URL or domain to see its most shared and linked content, with up to five years of engagement history depending on plan.
- Content ideas and briefs
- The Content Ideas Generator, Topic Explorer and Question Analyzer surface topics, headlines and forum questions, and the Brief Generator turns them into briefs.
- Keyword and backlink tools
- A keyword tool with search volume and cost per click, and a Backlink Analyzer that follows new links to a domain or URL over time.
- Journalist database
- From PR & Comms up, find journalists writing on a topic, build media lists of 20 to 600 journalists by plan, and draft pitches with an AI tool.
- Monitoring alerts
- Alerts for brand, keyword, content, backlink, competitor and journalist mentions by email, and into Slack from PR & Comms up.
- Chrome extension and API
- A Chrome extension shows engagement and backlinks for any article while you browse, and Account and Search APIs are priced separately.
Where it runs
- Web
- Browser extension
What it works with
- Slack
- Zapier
- IFTTT
- Chrome
BuzzSumo is made by BuzzSumo Ltd, and has been around since 2014.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
35/87
Other SEO content tools it is graded above
BuzzSumo's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 35 of the 87 other SEO content tools we grade, and level with 23.
It stands best on ease of use (B, above 83 of 87) and worst on value for money (D, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $159 a month, against a middle price of $45 for the category: 77 of the 80 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.7 out of 4. 1 tool scores higher and costs less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 88 SEO content tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. BuzzSumo’s own letter is outlined.
- DValue for moneyAbove 0 of 87
- CFree plan and trialAbove 37 of 87
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 87
- BEase of useAbove 83 of 87
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 24 of 87
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 81 SEO content tools. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. BuzzSumo is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace BuzzSumo you would be making a library of papers and sources to search. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
It costs $1,908 a year.
What you could make
- Link outreach and reports: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- A library of papers and sources to search.
- Search volumes for millions of keywords, gathered and kept up to date.
- An index of the links between billions of web pages.
- It plugs into other products, Slack, Zapier and IFTTT among them, and has an API.
What this rests on. BuzzSumo’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Semrush, Brand24, Exploding Topics, Semrush AI PR Toolkit and Ahrefs
The 5 tools BuzzSumo is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.2GPA
Semrush
Free plan · from $117.33/mo
SEO suite for keyword research, rank tracking and AI search visibility.
- Semrush has a free plan. BuzzSumo does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only BuzzSumo lists a browser extension.
- BuzzSumo also covers research and link outreach.
- 2.2GPA
Brand24
Free trial · from $199/mo
Social listening across social networks, news, blogs and podcasts.
- Only BuzzSumo lists a browser extension.
- Only Brand24 lists iOS and Android apps.
- BuzzSumo also covers research, keyword research, backlink analysis and link outreach.
- 2.2GPA
Exploding Topics
Free plan · from $39/mo
Database of rising topics, products and startups, by search growth.
- Exploding Topics has a free plan. BuzzSumo does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only BuzzSumo lists a browser extension.
- BuzzSumo also covers research, reports, backlink analysis and link outreach.
- 1.8GPA
Semrush AI PR Toolkit
Free trial · from $149/mo
Media database, pitching and monitoring, formerly Prowly.
- Only BuzzSumo lists a browser extension.
- BuzzSumo also covers research, keyword research and backlink analysis.
- 2.0GPA
Ahrefs
Free plan · from $29/mo
SEO toolset for backlinks, keyword research, audits and rank tracking.
- Ahrefs has a free plan. BuzzSumo does not, though it has a free trial.
- BuzzSumo also covers research, reports and link outreach.
- Ahrefs also covers rank tracking and site audit.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
15
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is BuzzSumo free?
No, BuzzSumo is a paid product, but you can try it first. Free trial of the Suite plan, limited to 50 searches.
How much does BuzzSumo cost?
BuzzSumo lists 4 plans. Content Creation: $159 per month, billed annually ($199 billed monthly).
What platforms does BuzzSumo work on?
BuzzSumo is available on Web. It also has a browser extension.
Does BuzzSumo offer any discounts?
BuzzSumo publicly lists the following: Save 20% with annual billing; Discounts for NGOs and charities; Discounts for classroom use.
Does BuzzSumo have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 23, 2026. BuzzSumo is listed for Web.
Does BuzzSumo have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 23, 2026. BuzzSumo is listed for Web.
Is BuzzSumo open source?
BuzzSumo is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 23, 2026.
Does BuzzSumo have an API?
Yes. BuzzSumo offers a public API, according to its own site.
What does BuzzSumo integrate with?
BuzzSumo's listing names Slack, Zapier, IFTTT and Chrome. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Does BuzzSumo have a student discount?
Discounts for classroom use. The same FAQ offers discounts to educational institutions that use BuzzSumo in the classroom, arranged by contacting BuzzSumo.
Who makes BuzzSumo?
BuzzSumo is made by BuzzSumo Ltd. It dates from 2014.
What are the alternatives to BuzzSumo?
The closest alternatives to BuzzSumo in our directory are Semrush, Brand24, Exploding Topics, Semrush AI PR Toolkit and Ahrefs.
How does BuzzSumo compare with other SEO content tools?
BuzzSumo's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 35 of the 87 other SEO content tools we grade, and level with 23.
Is BuzzSumo good value for money?
ToolGPA grades BuzzSumo D for value for money. Its paid plans start at $159 a month, against a middle price of $45 for the category: 77 of the 80 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of BuzzSumo?
To replace BuzzSumo you would be making a library of papers and sources to search.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from BuzzSumo’s own pages on Oct 23, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 23, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from BuzzSumo's own pages on 23 October 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by BuzzSumo Ltd. Prices change, so check buzzsumo.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- BuzzSumo, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/buzzsumo
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "BuzzSumo: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 23, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/buzzsumo
Know someone choosing between SEO content tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/buzzsumo/guide
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See our other guides
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- SEO Content Optimizers Insider's GuideEvery one of the 88 SEO content tools we grade, compared
- GetGenie Insider's GuideWordPress plugin for AI writing, keyword research and SERP analysis3.0 GPA
- Publish Owl Insider's GuideMulti-step AI content workflows that research, write and publish2.8 GPA
- Autoblogging.ai Insider's GuideCredit-based AI article writer for bulk SEO posts and WordPress2.6 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what BuzzSumo’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. BuzzSumo is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by BuzzSumo Ltd. Prices and plans change: check buzzsumo.com before you buy.