5 Best HARO Alternatives
(Expert Review)

Since 2017, journalist outreach platforms have helped my team at Jolly SEO land 25,000+ placements for clients.

All without paying for a single backlink.

Most of those wins came from HARO and Featured.

But niche newsletters like Help a B2B Writer also delivered authority-boosting links.

Then, HARO shut down in 2024.

A year later, it was back. New ownership. New rules. Tougher filters.

The lesson?

The best media outreach strategies don’t rely on a single platform.

Below, we break down the top five HARO alternatives — complete with pros, cons, and pricing — so you know exactly where to focus your outreach efforts this year.

Plus, we’ll explain how the “new” HARO stacks up to see if it’s worth your time.

HARO Alternatives at a Glance

1. Source of Sources (SoS): Most Familiar to HARO Users

There’s a good reason Source of Sources (SOS) seems strangely similar to HARO — it was founded by the same person (Peter Shankman).

With simple email digests, no paywall, and a direct line between journalists and sources, it feels like a direct throwback to HARO’s early days.

But is this platform worth your time?

I reached out to Peter Shankman to learn more about his vision for Source of Sources:

How Source of Sources Compares to HARO

SoS is basically HARO 2.0:

It uses the exact same email newsletter format. Plus, it’s completely free (just like HARO is).

Pros

• Familiar format: If you loved HARO, you’ll feel right at home with SoS
• Budget-friendly: No subscription fees or per-pitch costs. You can’t beat free, especially when you’re just starting out.
• Founder’s touch: Benefit from Peter Shankman’s years of experience and industry connections.

Cons

• No SEO data: Just like HARO, you’ll need to do your own research on domain ratings and backlink policies
• Lower conversion rates: Currently, SoS requires more pitches for a successful placement compared to some alternatives
• Growing pains: As a new platform, it might take time to attract top-tier publications

Pricing

Source of Sources is completely free.

Is Source of Sources Right for You?

If you’re just getting started with outreach, SOS is the perfect HARO alternative.

However, it’s also helpful even if you’re an old pro — as long as you don’t mind putting in a little extra elbow grease for free opportunities.

This platform is still growing, but with the original HARO founder at the helm, it could become a major player in media outreach.

2. Featured: Best Conversion Rate and Fastest Turnaround

Meet Featured (formerly known as Terkel). This platform is like HARO but supercharged.

I spoke with Featured’s founder, Brett Farmiloe, about the platform’s core mission:

Is it worth the subscription fee?

Let’s break it down.

How Featured Compares to HARO

Featured takes a different approach than HARO. For one, it’s a paid platform with a sleek, modern interface.

It also provides basic SEO metrics for each opportunity. And delivers a better conversion rate, in my experience.

Pros

• SEO insights: All paid plans come with monthly performance reports, including placements, link value, and featured rank. Higher tiers come with Domain Rating (DR) and link type (dofollow or nofollow) info. You can also set keyword alerts on the free and paid plans.
• High conversion rate: Our data shows Featured has the best conversion ratio of all platforms. And you don’t need to write more than four to five sentences to grab a win.
• Stellar support: Brett is a true user’s founder. He’ll personally reply, and his support team is also lightning-fast.
• Guaranteed inclusions: Featured’s model ensures your pitches get included more often, even with minimal input

Cons

• Subscription model: Lower tiers limit the number of answers you can send. Want to pitch more or add teammates? You’ll need a higher plan — and the costs add up quickly.
• Potential PBN concerns: Keep an eye out for private blog network (PBN) issues

Be aware of the potential risks of Featured’s emerging private blog network (PBN).

Times have changed since the early 2000s, when that was an advisable link-building strategy.

Today, organically earned backlinks from a diverse range of entities is paramount.

Featured has started linking some of its own subsites together, and once Google picks up on this, the value of these backlinks will decrease, and may even go negative.

Overall, Featured is a powerful tool in your media outreach arsenal—just use it responsibly.

Pricing

Featured offers a few plans, based on your needs.

On the free plan, you can submit up to three answers per month.

If you pitch often, you’ll need to upgrade — and multi-user access is only available on Pro and Business plans.

Is Featured Right for You?

You get what you pay for in subscribing to Featured — your pitches will convert better than anywhere else.

3. Help A B2B Writer: Best for Marketing Niches

Looking for a hidden gem in the world of media outreach?

Say hello to Help A B2B Writer (HaB2BW).

Purchased by content marketing community Superpath in 2023, this niche platform flies under the radar.

But it packs a punch for marketing, sales, and tech professionals.

To gain deeper insight into the value of Help a B2B Writer, I spoke with Jimmy Daly, the co-founder and CEO of Superpath.

Jimmy shared his perspective on how this platform addresses a critical need in people-first content creation:

Let’s see if it’s the secret weapon your outreach strategy needs.

How Help A B2B Writer Compares to HARO

HaB2BW specializes in marketing, sales, and technology opportunities.

This differs greatly from HARO, which accepts pitches on a wide range of topics, including finance, entertainment, business, and travel.

This platform also provides basic SEO metrics (unlike HARO). And has a great conversion rate.

Pros

• Best conversion ratio: Within its niche, HaB2BW outperforms all other platforms
• SEO insights: Unlike other free newsletters, Help A B2B Writer lists basic SEO metrics and backlink policy information (as volunteered by the listing creator)
• Free access: No subscription fees or per-pitch costs
• Spam-free environment: High-quality opportunities without the clutter

Cons

• Limited scope: Only useful if you’re in the marketing, tech, or business niches
• Occasional glitches: Being a smaller platform, it sometimes experiences deliverability issues
• Lower volume: Fewer opportunities compared to more general platforms

Pricing

Help A B2B Writer is completely free.

Is Help A B2B Writer Right for You?

Help A B2B Writer is a fantastic addition to your media outreach toolkit — especially if you’re in its target B2B industries.

It’s a great way to get high-quality opportunities without spending a dime.

Just be prepared for a lower volume of opportunities overall.

4. Qwoted: Superb Reputation for Quality

Want to rub shoulders with the crème de la crème of media outlets?

Enter: Qwoted.

This platform specializes in top-tier publications. And has given HARO a run for its money for years.

But is it worth the hefty price tag? Let’s find out.

How Qwoted Compares to HARO

Qwoted takes a premium approach to journalistic outreach.

This HARO alternative is a paid platform that focuses on quality over quantity.

It does this through access to elite publications and a rigorous vetting process for contributors.

Pros

• Higher conversion rates: Less spam means better chances of getting picked
• Quality control: A strict vetting process, including interviews and IP tracking, ensures high-quality contributions
• Prestige factor: Opportunities from top-tier media outlets. You won’t find a better tier of publications out there on the net (aside from personal networking).
• PR-friendly: Great for building relationships with top journalists

With both a high price and individual vetting, Qwoted’s higher barrier to entry means a lot less spam.

But it also means better conversion rates for everyone.

Cons

• SEO-phobic: While Qwoted is friendly with PR agencies, it’s decidedly standoffish toward SEO agencies
• Expensive for teams: Qwoted doesn’t advertise its pricing for team accounts, but online chatter says it’s on the pricier side

Pricing

Qwoted offers a free plan with two pitches per month.

Past that, you’ll pay $149 per month for 35 pitches — or an undisclosed amount for unlimited pitches.

If you need a team account, contact their sales team for a custom quote.

Is Qwoted Right for You?

Qwoted is the caviar of media outreach platforms.

If you can afford it and meet their standards, it could elevate your brand to new heights.

Qwoted is ideal if you:

• Have a substantial PR budget
• Prioritize getting quoted in prestigious publications
• Have unique, high-level expertise to share

But it might not be the best fit if you:

• Are primarily focused on SEO and link-building
• Are just starting out in media outreach
• Have a limited budget

5. Direct Contributions: High Success Rate, Limited Opportunities

Sometimes, the best way to get media coverage is to take matters into your own hands.

Let’s explore how you can make direct contributions work for you.

How Direct Contributions Compare to HARO

Direct contributions are exactly what they sound like.

Instead of using a platform to find media opportunities or experts for your articles, you connect with publications and individuals directly.

You build long-term relationships and have more control over your pitches and topics.

Pros

• High success rate: Once you establish a relationship, your chances of being quoted increase
• Long-term benefits: Building relationships can lead to ongoing opportunities
• Customization: Tailor your pitches to specific publications or writers

Cons

• Time-intensive: Requires significant effort to research and reach out to the right people
• Slower start: Takes time to build relationships and see results
• Limited scale: Harder to reach a large number of opportunities quickly

Pricing

Direct contributions are free in terms of platform costs.

(Unless you pay for a premium plan on an outreach tool.)

But remember, your time is valuable. Factor in the hours you’ll spend researching and reaching out.

Are Direct Contributions Right for You?

This approach works well if you:

• Have a specific niche or expertise
• Are willing to invest time in building relationships with journalists, writers, and marketers
• Prefer quality over quantity in your media mentions

But it might not be ideal if you:

• Need quick results
• Don’t have much time for outreach
• Are looking for a high volume of backlinks

How Does HARO Compare?

After shutting down in 2024, HARO was acquired (and revived) by Featured.com.

The platform rolled out with new features in April 2025 to improve pitch quality, crack down on spam, and expand beyond traditional media.

While some changes present new challenges to SEOs, there’s also an opportunity to participate in this space for many more years.

HARO 101

HARO has a few unique characteristics

• While still an email newsletter, there is a sophisticated backend
• Media outlets must have a minimum DA of 20 and a “verifiable editorial presence”
• HARO now scores every pitch for AI usage. Journalists can filter out AI-generated responses entirely, and accounts that abuse AI get banned.
• There’s also now a podcast category, making it easier to find credible guests and land audio appearances

The new HARO format preserves the original platform, but does increase the difficulty for those solely looking for link-building opportunities.

For one, the AI scoring doesn’t always get it right. And can result in your pitches being sent straight to the trash can.

Even more challenging?

If you write outreach pitches from a location that doesn’t match your profile, you might get a lifetime ban.

Having said that, HARO has many fantastic publications that can result in high-quality backlinks.

Pros

• Top publications: Business Insider, Forbes, CBS… all the places you want your brand mentioned
• Free: I spoke with the new ownership on my podcast, and they reaffirmed that HARO will remain free

Cons

• Email format: Just like the old HARO, the revived HARO’s format can be tricky to navigate
• More stringent filters: From AI detection false-positives to profile verification software, the new HARO has a lot more barriers in place

Is HARO Right for You?

If you’re a HARO veteran looking for familiar territory, you’re in the right spot.

Just be prepared for lower conversion rates compared to the original format.

Our advice?

Keep an eye on HARO as the publications gradually return. But don’t put all your eggs in this basket just yet.

Choosing the Right HARO Alternatives

Earning mentions and quotes in trusted publications is good PR.

But it’s also an authority signal that strengthens your visibility across Google and AI search engines.

The right HARO alternative depends on your budget, time, niche, and goals (SEO vs. PR).

So, try a mix of free and paid platforms to see what delivers the best return.

Whichever you choose, make your pitches valuable and relevant.

That’s how you earn high-quality backlinks — and future-proof your visibility in both traditional and AI-driven search.

Want to keep building your brand authority?

These guides will help:

• Generative Engine Optimization (GEO): Learn how AI search engines surface brands — and how to make sure yours gets mentioned by building your online presence and authority
• Journalist Outreach: The Definitive Guide: Master the art of pitching journalists and landing high-authority coverage. Plus, get our free journalist outreach toolkit.