A CrowdTangle alternative in five short points

Need a CrowdTangle alternative? Here is the whole story in five short points: what happened, what replaced it, and the tool most people can start using today. Each point takes under a minute to read.

1. CrowdTangle is gone

CrowdTangle was Meta's tool for tracking public content, used by journalists and researchers to see what was spreading on Facebook and Instagram. Meta shut it down. Its transparency page says plainly that CrowdTangle has not been available since August 14, 2024.

If you still have the bookmark, it will not help. There is no way to log in, export old data or sign up again.

2. Meta's replacement is not for everyone

Meta now offers Meta Content Library and an API. It is free and covers public posts from Facebook Pages, groups and events, Instagram business and creator accounts, and Threads profiles with at least 100 followers.

The catch is who can use it. You must be a researcher tied to a university or a nonprofit focused on research, and your application is reviewed by an independent body. Most reporters, creators, brand teams and curious people are left out.

3. AyeWatch is the one most people can use

AyeWatch is an AI monitor that anyone can sign up for. Instead of building lists, you write one sentence about what you want to follow:

• "Videos claiming the new bridge is unsafe, on TikTok and Instagram"
• "Statements from the transport ministry about rail strikes"
• "Reddit threads about our product's latest update"

AyeWatch checks new posts and articles and alerts you only when one matches what you meant, not just the words you typed. Each alert comes with a short summary and links.

It covers news and the open web, specific web pages, and accounts or searches on X, Reddit, YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok. Alerts show up in the app on web, iOS and Android, and paid plans can also send them by email, Slack or Discord, or as one daily digest.

4. It is cheap, but it is not a copy

The prices are simple:

What you do not get: Facebook coverage, like and share counts, or anything from CrowdTangle's old archive. AyeWatch tells you when something new happens. It does not measure how popular a post became.

5. Bigger tools cost more and ask more

Other CrowdTangle alternatives exist, and some are strong:

• NewsWhip tracks engagement across web and social and tries to predict what will trend.
• Lumen by Talkwalker, the new name for Talkwalker, offers enterprise listening.
• Brandwatch focuses on deep consumer research.
• Awario is a cheaper keyword tool, from $29 a month on annual billing.

The first three start with a sales demo and do not publish prices. They suit large teams with budgets and time for a contract. For one person or a small desk, the setup alone can take longer than the problem you wanted to solve.

A quick test before you commit

Pick the one thing you checked most often in CrowdTangle. Write it as a sentence, add a line about what to skip, and let it run for a few days. If the alerts catch what you would have found by scrolling, you have your replacement. If they miss something important, you have learned that without paying.

The takeaway

For a quick, self-serve way to keep up with public conversation after CrowdTangle, start with AyeWatch. If your work truly needs Facebook engagement data, look at Meta Content Library if you qualify, or an enterprise tool if you can pay. The free preview is the fastest way to find out if AyeWatch covers what you need: try it with one topic.