The HARO Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about HARO 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.
HARO
The Insider’s Guide
Free email digest of journalist requests for expert sources
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among link building tools, read from HARO’s own pages.
Made by Featured.com · 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 HARO’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on HARO’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
2.8
GPA, above 45 of the 50 other link building tools we grade
HARO (Help a Reporter Out) is a free service that emails journalist requests for expert sources three times each weekday. Sources answer the ones that fit by email, and the journalist picks whom to quote, often with a credit or link back. It has run since 2008 and was bought by Featured.com in 2025, which pays for it with ads in the newsletter.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about HARO, taken from its own pages and our grades.
No rating on record, but there's nothing to set up: sign up, the requests land in your inbox and you reply by email.
- 1
Best for free journalist requests in your inbox
HARO emails journalist requests for expert sources three times every weekday, and answering them costs nothing.
- 2
It is free
HARO has no paid plan at all. Free for sources and journalists: three weekday editions of journalist requests and pitching by email, with no charge to receive the newsletter or pitch.
- 3
It runs on Web
Web.
- 4
Three editions every weekday
Requests arrive in a Morning (5:35 a.m. ET), Afternoon (12:35 p.m. ET) and Evening (5:35 p.m. ET) email, Monday to Friday.
- 5
Pitching by email
Sources reply to a request by email. Journalists' real addresses are hidden behind masked ones so they cannot be scraped into pitch lists.
- 6
Reviewed requests
Staff check each request: outlets need a Domain Authority of 20 or 10,000 monthly visitors, and HARO says it turns down about 32% of requests.
- 7
A 2.8 GPA, above 45 of 50
That is against the other link building tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
HARO is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
HARO at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- Featured.com, since 2008
- Category
- Backlinks & Link Building
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
The report card
Best for free journalist requests in your inbox
HARO emails journalist requests for expert sources three times every weekday, and answering them costs nothing. But it's an email and nothing more: search, filters and reply tracking live in Connectively, a separate platform, every edition carries ads, and whether you get quoted or linked is the journalist's call.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free for sources and journalists, with no paid plan at all. The ads in each edition pay for it, so the cost lands on advertisers rather than on you. |
| Free plan and trial | A | Everything is free: all three weekday editions and every request, with no paid tier holding anything back. |
| Features | D | One narrow function: an email of staff-checked requests three times a weekday, answered by email, plus podcast guest requests and journalist profiles. Search, filters and response tracking sit in Connectively, a separate platform from the same owner. |
| Ease of use | B | No rating on record, but there's nothing to set up: sign up, the requests land in your inbox and you reply by email. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Email only, with no app, integrations or API on record. |
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 HARO is for
- Fits if you're a founder or expert who wants to pitch reporters without paying anything
- Works for journalists and podcast hosts who need an expert source on deadline
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you want to search or filter requests, as that's in Connectively, a separate platform
- Too light for PR teams that need to track pitches and replies, as HARO is only an email digest
- Watch out: one spam strike gets an account banned, and requests can't offer guest posts, link swaps or payment
- Watch out: every edition carries paid ads, and there are no weekend editions
- Not for you if you're counting on links, as the journalist picks whom to quote and whether to credit or link back
Good to know
Good for
- Founders and experts who want to pitch reporters at no cost
- Journalists and podcast hosts looking for expert sources on deadline
- SEO teams after press mentions that may credit or link to a site
Worth knowing
- HARO is an email digest; filtering, search and response tracking are in Connectively, a separate platform from the same owner.
- Each edition carries paid ads, which is how the free service is funded.
- Requests may not ask for guest posts, link swaps or payment, and HARO bans accounts for spam under a one-strike policy.
- Staff review and schedule requests 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. MST on weekdays, and there are no weekend editions.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
HARO is free to use.
Free for sources and journalists, with no paid plan at all.
Free
$0
Every edition and every request, for both sources and journalists. The service is paid for by ads placed in the newsletter.
The free plan
Free for sources and journalists: three weekday editions of journalist requests and pitching by email, with no charge to receive the newsletter or pitch.
Read from blog.helpareporter.com on Oct 23, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Web
Free email digest of journalist requests for expert sources. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: link outreach, journalist requests.
Search, filters and response tracking sit in Connectively, a separate platform from the same owner.
- Three editions every weekday
- Requests arrive in a Morning (5:35 a.m. ET), Afternoon (12:35 p.m. ET) and Evening (5:35 p.m. ET) email, Monday to Friday.
- Pitching by email
- Sources reply to a request by email. Journalists' real addresses are hidden behind masked ones so they cannot be scraped into pitch lists.
- Reviewed requests
- Staff check each request: outlets need a Domain Authority of 20 or 10,000 monthly visitors, and HARO says it turns down about 32% of requests.
- AI detection on pitches
- Every pitch gets a score from Pangram for how likely it is to be AI-written, and journalists can filter out the ones flagged.
- Journalist profiles
- Reporters can claim a free profile; each request links to it so sources can check who is asking, and verified reporters' requests are listed first.
- Podcast guest requests
- A Podcasts category lets hosts and producers ask for guests, so sources can pitch shows as well as articles.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
HARO is made by Featured.com, and has been around since 2008.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
45/50
Other link building tools it is graded above
HARO's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 45 of the 50 other link building tools we grade, and level with 4.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 47 of 50) and worst on features (D, above 0).
HARO has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 51 link building tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. HARO’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 40 of 50
- AFree plan and trialAbove 47 of 50
- DFeaturesAbove 0 of 50
- BEase of useAbove 44 of 50
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 50
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 45 link building tools. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. HARO 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
HARO is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces. It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 2.8 is higher than 45 of the 50 other link building tools we grade.
What you could make
- Link outreach: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- A network of journalists who post requests for sources.
What this rests on. HARO’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
Featured, Qwoted, SourceBottle, Source of Sources and ResponseSource
The 5 tools HARO is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.4GPA
Featured
Free plan · from $29/mo
AI assistant for PR that finds journalist requests and drafts pitches.
- HARO also covers link outreach.
- Featured also covers chat assistant, workflow automation and AI search visibility.
- 1.8GPA
Qwoted
Free plan · from $149/mo
Marketplace where reporters request expert sources and PRs pitch.
- HARO also covers link outreach.
- Qwoted also covers reports.
- 2.4GPA
SourceBottle
Free plan · from $65/mo
- 2.8GPA
Source of Sources
Free
Free email list of journalist queries looking for expert sources.
- 2.4GPA
ResponseSource
Free trial · from £625/yr
UK journalist request service with a press release wire.
- HARO has a free plan. ResponseSource does not, though it has a free trial.
- HARO also covers link outreach.
- ResponseSource also covers reports.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
11
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 HARO free?
Yes. HARO is free to use.
How much does HARO cost?
HARO lists one plan. Free: $0.
What platforms does HARO work on?
HARO is available on Web.
Does HARO have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 23, 2026. HARO is listed for Web.
Does HARO have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 23, 2026. HARO is listed for Web.
Is HARO open source?
HARO is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 23, 2026.
Who makes HARO?
HARO is made by Featured.com. It dates from 2008.
What are the alternatives to HARO?
The closest alternatives to HARO in our directory are Featured, Qwoted, SourceBottle, Source of Sources and ResponseSource.
How does HARO compare with other link building tools?
HARO's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 45 of the 50 other link building tools we grade, and level with 4.
Is HARO good value for money?
ToolGPA grades HARO A for value for money. HARO has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of HARO?
HARO is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from HARO’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 HARO'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 Featured.com. Prices change, so check helpareporter.com before you buy.
- blog.helpareporter.com/how-to-advertise-on-haro-a-step-by-step-guide-to-haro-ads/
- blog.helpareporter.com/
- blog.helpareporter.com/help-a-reporter-out-haro-is-back/
- blog.helpareporter.com/connectively-is-back-and-haro-isnt-going-anywhere/
- blog.helpareporter.com/submission-guidelines-requirements/
- blog.helpareporter.com/haro-journalist-profiles/
- blog.helpareporter.com/haro-now-detects-ai-generated-responses/
- blog.helpareporter.com/masked-emails-for-journalists/
- blog.helpareporter.com/find-podcast-guests-for-your-podcast-with-haro/
- blog.helpareporter.com/what-100m-haro-emails-tell-us-about-getting-featured-in-the-media/
- blog.helpareporter.com/journalist-request-platforms-and-seo/
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
- HARO, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/haro
- 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, "HARO: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 23, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/haro
Know someone choosing between link building tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/haro/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded link building tools after HARO, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Backlinks & Link Building Insider's GuideEvery one of the 51 link building tools we grade, compared
- LinkCheck Insider's GuideFree backlink monitor for up to 5,000 links you import3.0 GPA
- Internal Link Juicer Insider's GuideWordPress plugin that builds internal links from your keywords2.8 GPA
- Link Whisper Insider's GuideWordPress plugin that suggests and adds internal links with AI2.8 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 HARO’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. HARO is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Featured.com. Prices and plans change: check helpareporter.com before you buy.