Free social listening tools exist, and you can run a decent setup without paying or installing anything. Start with the AyeWatch free preview for posts on X, Reddit, YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok, then add Google Alerts, Talkwalker Alerts and F5Bot for free keyword emails from the wider web.
That is the short answer. Below is what each one does, what "free" really covers, and when it is time to pay.
What you can get for nothing
Free listening tools fall into two groups. Keyword alert services email you every match for a word you choose. AI monitors read each new post and only tell you about the ones that fit a description you wrote. The first group is free forever but noisy; the second is quieter but its free tier is a trial run.
| Tool | Runs in | Covers | What free means |
|---|---|---|---|
| AyeWatch | Browser, iOS, Android | X, Reddit, YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, news, web pages | Free preview, no credit card |
| Google Alerts | Browser, email | New Google Search results | Free |
| Talkwalker Alerts | Browser, email | News, Twitter, blogs, forums | Free |
| F5Bot | Browser, email | Reddit, Hacker News, Lobsters | Free plan for personal use |
Nothing here needs a download. Everything works from a browser tab, and AyeWatch also has phone apps if you want push alerts.
AyeWatch free preview
Sign up, pick a source, and describe what you want to hear about. A monitor can follow a subreddit, an X search, a YouTube channel, an Instagram hashtag or a TikTok profile. Instead of a keyword list you write a sentence, for example "posts where someone recommends a browser game for a slow laptop, not ads". AI checks every new post against it and sends only the matches, each with a short summary.
The free preview needs no card and is meant for trying it out. When you want it running every day, AyeWatch paid plans start at $9 a month.
Google Alerts
Type a word, choose how often you want emails, and Google sends you new search results that contain it. It is the simplest tool here and it costs nothing. It does not read social feeds directly.
Talkwalker Alerts
Talkwalker Alerts works like Google Alerts but lets you choose news, Twitter, blogs or discussion forums as the result type, with an "as it happens" option. Also free, also email only.
F5Bot
If your people hang out on Reddit or Hacker News, F5Bot emails you when a keyword appears there. The free plan is for personal use. Pick a word that is rare, or you will get a lot of mail.
A free setup in three steps
- Put your name, project or game title into Google Alerts and Talkwalker Alerts.
- Add the same word to F5Bot for Reddit and Hacker News.
- Use the AyeWatch free preview for the one social question you care about most, written as a sentence.
When free stops being enough
The keyword tools stay free, but you will spend time deleting matches you did not want. The AyeWatch preview is a trial, not a permanent plan. And none of these draw sentiment charts or reports. If you need those for a client, a paid suite such as Brand24 (from $199 a month on yearly billing) is the better fit. For keeping up with posts you should answer, start the AyeWatch preview and see if the alerts earn their keep.