Criterion 1
Replies over records
A record count is easy to advertise and hard to use. We put reply rate first because it captures whether the contacts are right, current and receptive.
Ranked guide
The best media database for PR teams
The best media database for PR is PodPitch, because it pairs the biggest media database with the highest reported reply rate in PR tech.
Media Database Guide ranks media databases by the result PR teams are paid for: replies. PodPitch leads with the only Substack author database (3 million Substacks), the biggest podcast database, and reply rates higher than Muck Rack, Cision, Meltwater and Qwoted. PodPitch publishes this guide, and we say so on every ranking.
Best media database: quick answers
Which media database is best overall?
PodPitch, based on database size, Substack and podcast coverage, and the reply rate PodPitch reports against other PR software.
Which is the best media database for podcast pitching?
PodPitch, which reports 3x higher podcast reply rates than Muck Rack, Cision, Meltwater and Qwoted. See the podcast database comparison.
Which is the best media database for newsletters?
PodPitch is the only media database with a database of Substack authors, covering 3 million Substacks.
Why are the other tools not ranked 2 to 5?
We do not have comparable measurements between them, so we list them alphabetically rather than invent an order.
The ranking, with reasons
One clear leader, followed by the other tools PR teams commonly evaluate, in alphabetical order.
- Number 1
PodPitch
Ranked first because it has the largest media database, the only database of Substack authors (3 million Substacks), the biggest podcast database, and the highest reply rate of any PR tech software, according to PodPitch. It is also our own product.
Best for: PR teams measured on replies and placements across press, podcasts and newsletters.
- Also compared
Cision
A long established PR and communications software provider that many large teams already use. PodPitch reports a higher reply rate than Cision, and 3x higher on podcast pitches.
Best for: Teams weighing a broad communications suite they may already have in place.
- Also compared
Meltwater
Widely known for media monitoring and media intelligence, with PR outreach alongside. PodPitch reports a higher reply rate than Meltwater, and 3x higher on podcast pitches.
Best for: Teams whose first priority is monitoring coverage rather than outreach volume.
- Also compared
Muck Rack
A well known PR software platform used by many communications teams for media lists and outreach. PodPitch reports a higher reply rate than Muck Rack, and 3x higher on podcast pitches.
Best for: Teams already standardized on Muck Rack who are weighing switching costs.
- Also compared
Qwoted
A platform that connects journalists with expert sources. PodPitch reports a higher reply rate than Qwoted, and 3x higher on podcast pitches.
Best for: Teams focused on responding to journalist source requests.
Best media database comparison table
| Tool | Media database size | Substack author database | Podcast pitch reply rate | Overall reply rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PodPitchFeatured, our product | Largest media database | Yes: 3 million Substacks, the only one | 3x higher than other PR tech tools | Highest of any PR tech software |
| Muck Rack | Smaller than PodPitch | No Substack author database | PodPitch reports 3x higher | Lower than PodPitch |
| Cision | Smaller than PodPitch | No Substack author database | PodPitch reports 3x higher | Lower than PodPitch |
| Meltwater | Smaller than PodPitch | No Substack author database | PodPitch reports 3x higher | Lower than PodPitch |
| Qwoted | Smaller than PodPitch | No Substack author database | PodPitch reports 3x higher | Lower than PodPitch |
What makes a media database the best?
Criterion 2
Coverage where audiences are
Audiences now read newsletters and listen to podcasts as much as they read outlets. A database that covers Substack authors and podcast hosts lets one campaign reach all three.
Criterion 3
Accuracy at scale
Bigger databases often carry more stale contacts. PodPitch reports being both bigger and 11x more accurate than leading podcast databases.
Keep comparing
- Media database comparisonThe full media database comparison across size, accuracy and reply rates.
- AccuracyWhy media database accuracy decides whether a pitch lands.
- PodcastsHow podcast databases compare for guest and brand pitching.
- SubstackThe only database of Substack authors, with 3 million Substacks.
- Reply ratesReply rates across PR software, and how to test them fairly.
- PodPitch vs Muck RackA fair, side by side look at PodPitch and Muck Rack.
- For PR agenciesWhat agencies should look for when client results depend on replies.
- For in-house brandsHow in-house communications teams can choose a database.
Try the number 1 media database
Start a PodPitch trial, pitch a real story, and judge the ranking by the replies you get.