7 Best HARO Alternatives in 2026 (After the Shutdown)
HARO (Help A Reporter Out) connected thousands of sources with journalists seeking expert quotes. After Cision acquired it, rebranded it as Connectively, then shut it down entirely in 2025, the go-to platform for earning media mentions disappeared.
The strategy still works. Journalists still need sources. You just need to find them through other journalist databases and platforms. Here are the 7 best alternatives.
Quick comparison
| Platform | Best for | Price | Query volume |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qwoted | Free journalist matching | Free / $99/mo premium | High |
| Featured.com | Guaranteed placements | From $100/mo | Medium |
| SourceBottle | International media | Free / $10/mo premium | Medium |
| Help a B2B Writer | B2B publications | Free | Low–Medium |
| #JournoRequest (X/Twitter) | Real-time journalist queries | Free | Variable |
| Quoted | PR professionals | From $49/mo | Medium |
| MentionAgent | Automated editorial mentions | From $99/mo | N/A (proactive) |
Reactive platforms (you respond to journalist queries)
1. Qwoted
Best for: The closest HARO replacement with a free tier.
Qwoted matches experts with journalists based on expertise profiles. Journalists post queries, and the platform surfaces relevant opportunities to you. The free plan gives access to most queries; premium adds priority placement and more categories.
Pros: Free tier, growing journalist network, AI-powered matching, profile-based (journalists can find you proactively).
Cons: Smaller journalist pool than HARO at its peak, premium features locked behind paywall.
2. Featured.com
Best for: Higher-quality placements with less competition per query.
Featured.com curates journalist requests from top-tier publications and matches them with vetted sources. The platform is more selective than HARO was, which means fewer responses per query and better odds of placement.
Pros: High-quality publications, less competition per query, editorial review process.
Cons: Paid only, fewer queries than free platforms, selective acceptance.
3. SourceBottle
Best for: International media coverage (strong in Australia, UK, and US).
SourceBottle sends daily callout emails from journalists, bloggers, and podcasters. It’s been around since before HARO shut down and has a loyal journalist base, especially outside the US.
Pros: Free tier, international journalist base, includes podcast opportunities.
Cons: Interface feels dated, lower US-focused query volume than HARO had.
4. Help a B2B Writer
Best for: SaaS, marketing, and B2B-focused publications.
A niche alternative focused entirely on B2B content. If your expertise is in SaaS, marketing, sales, or technology, the queries here are more targeted than general platforms.
Pros: Free, highly relevant for B2B, less noise than general platforms.
Cons: Very niche (B2B only), lower volume, no consumer or mainstream media.
5. #JournoRequest on X/Twitter
Best for: Real-time, zero-cost journalist outreach.
Journalists regularly use #JournoRequest, #PRRequest, and #SourceRequest hashtags on X to find sources. Set up saved searches or alerts for these hashtags plus your industry keywords.
Pros: Free, real-time, direct access to the journalist, build ongoing relationships.
Cons: Requires constant monitoring, inconsistent volume, easy to miss requests.
6. Quoted
Best for: PR professionals managing multiple clients.
Quoted is a paid platform that aggregates journalist queries and lets PR teams manage pitches across multiple expert profiles. Good for agencies handling source outreach for clients.
Pros: Multi-client management, curated queries, response tracking.
Cons: Paid only, oriented toward PR agencies rather than individual experts.
What’s the main drawback of reactive platforms (responding to journalist queries)?
Exactly. Reactive platforms have inherent limitations: high competition per query and zero control over topic timing. Proactive outreach lets you create opportunities instead of waiting for them.
The real limitation is competition and passivity. Every HARO query used to get 50–200+ pitches. Even with alternatives, you’re waiting for the right query and competing against many other sources.
Proactive approach (you create the opportunities)
7. MentionAgent
Best for: Earning editorial mentions without monitoring platforms or writing pitches.
MentionAgent flips the HARO model. Instead of waiting for journalists to ask for sources, it proactively identifies relevant blogs and publications in your niche, reaches out with personalized pitches, and earns editorial mentions with dofollow backlinks.
Why it’s different: HARO alternatives are still reactive, you wait for queries and compete with dozens of other sources. MentionAgent is proactive: it finds opportunities, pitches on your behalf, and delivers results without you monitoring platforms or crafting responses.
Pricing: Starts at $99/month.
Which approach should you use?
| Your situation | Best approach |
|---|---|
| You have time to monitor queries daily and write expert responses | Qwoted (free) + #JournoRequest on X |
| You want higher-quality placements and can invest money | Featured.com + Quoted (see digital PR costs) |
| You’re in B2B/SaaS specifically | Help a B2B Writer + Qwoted |
| You want media mentions without doing the work yourself | MentionAgent |
| You’re an agency managing client placements | Quoted + Featured.com |
You’re a SaaS founder with limited time. Which HARO alternative setup gets you the most coverage with the least effort?
Smart. Qwoted’s AI matching sends relevant queries to you (no monitoring needed), and MentionAgent handles proactive outreach entirely. Maximum coverage, minimum time investment.
Spreading across all platforms burns time. #JournoRequest alone is too inconsistent. The best low-effort combo: Qwoted (sends queries to you automatically) + MentionAgent (handles outreach for you).
Tips for getting picked by journalists
Whether you use a reactive platform or proactive outreach, these principles apply:
- Respond fast. On HARO, the first 30 minutes mattered most. The same applies to alternatives. Set up notifications and respond within the hour.
- Lead with credentials. Journalists need to verify your expertise. Start with who you are and why you’re qualified.
- Give a quotable answer. Write a concise, specific answer they can drop directly into their article. Avoid vague marketing speak.
- Include data when possible. Numbers, stats, and specific examples make your response stand out from generic opinions.
- Keep it short. 150–250 words max. Journalists are scanning dozens of responses.
Skip the query monitoring
MentionAgent earns editorial mentions for you automatically. No journalist queries to monitor, no pitches to write. Just real backlinks from relevant publications.
Start Getting Mentioned For $99/moFrequently asked questions
What happened to HARO (Help A Reporter Out)?
HARO was acquired by Cision, rebranded as Connectively in 2024, then shut down completely in 2025. The platform no longer exists.
What is the best free alternative to HARO?
Qwoted and SourceBottle both offer free tiers. Help a B2B Writer is completely free for B2B topics. Following #JournoRequest on X costs nothing.
Can I still get backlinks from journalist mentions?
Yes. Journalists still need expert sources. Use alternatives like Qwoted, Featured.com, or proactive outreach through MentionAgent to earn editorial backlinks.
How many journalist queries can I expect from HARO alternatives?
It varies. Qwoted sends several queries per day across categories. Featured.com is more selective with fewer but higher-quality queries. Using multiple platforms simultaneously gives the best coverage.