When I first started using HARO, I had no idea how transformative it would be for both journalists and businesses. For those who don’t know, HARO—short for Help A Reporter Out—has been a lifeline for many. It’s where journalists find the perfect sources for their stories and where businesses, like mine, have snagged some incredible PR opportunities.
Over the years, I’ve seen how HARO made the process of finding and connecting with sources almost effortless. For journalists, it was like striking gold in a sea of niche stories and overwhelming news cycles. And for businesses, it offered a straightforward way to get in front of audiences they might never have reached otherwise. That’s why the announcement of HARO shutting down on December 9th hit hard—it feels like losing a tool I didn’t realize I relied on so much.
Since its launch in 2008, HARO has been a staple in the industry, helping thousands of journalists and businesses connect. Now, with just weeks left until its closure, I can’t help but wonder: what’s next? Let’s take a look at what made HARO so effective, why it’s shutting down, and what alternatives might fill the gap.
What Is HARO and Why Was It Popular?
To put it simply, HARO connected journalists with sources who could help their stories. The platform wasn’t built for any specific topic but instead focused on connecting any journalist with a helpful source. How? By asking questions!
Journalists could simply post open questions and queries on the platform and then they’d receive responses. If it’s simple fact-checking, a user could chime in with a correction or anecdote. If it was a bigger story, a journalist might get information on how to pursue the issue or find a legitimate source. In the beginning, the only remuneration HARO asked for was a reference to the post on the platform in the published work.
Over the years, that unfortunately changed, but the platform remained valuable and somewhat powerful.
Over the years, HARO helped over 55,000 journalists reach over 800,000 sources. Not only did it help their stories, but it gave users some key advantages and benefits.
Why HARO Is Shutting Down
Unfortunately, the answers to why HARO is shutting down are a bit less clear, though there is a big clue. Expanding a service, or adding a subscription, can damage a long-established brand. That seems to be the case with HARO.
Earlier this year, HARO announced a move to a paid subscription model called Connectively. While that model didn’t remove the option to make free pitches or to use HARO in general, it severely limited it. Within a month, users on Reddit said that HARO had ceased sending emails to users. It didn’t mean that operations had ceased, but it meant that things were not going well.
Within 6 months, they would announce their closure, which comes in December.
But journalists and PR-seeking businesses need not fret. HARO was a significant asset, but it wasn’t the only option. Let’s talk about alternatives.
The Top Alternatives and Replacements for HARO
Just because HARO is coming to an end, doesn’t mean that journalists are about to lose their sources and connections. While they might not be as well known, there are a number of successful alternatives to HARO that are well worth exploring.
They might be tools, or they might be entirely new platforms, but many can have just as many benefits as using HARO. Here’s a breakdown.
Paid HARO Alternatives
QWOTED
Features & Benefits
- Allows journalists to directly connect with sources
- Offers inboxes and other message management
- Real-time notifications and updates
- Targeted pitching that reaches expert sources
- Unique profiles based on industries and other criteria
- Fewer source opportunities but more targeted and focused
Cost
While accounts are free to create, Qwoted creates a “custom pricing plan” for different users based on needs and requirements.
ProfNet
Features & Benefits
- A more professional platform where professional journalists can reach sources and PR firms
- Puts journalists and relevant parties in direct contact with expert sources
- Can generate and release press releases for targeted audiences
- Generates publicity for expert sources and firms
Cost
ProfNet also offers custom pricing based on subscriber size and industry type.
Muck Rack
Features & Benefits
- Access to over 250,000 different contacts
- Allows for pitching directly to contacts and journalists
- Categorization for different industries and platforms
- Monitoring services for journalists and business activities
- Pitching directly from the application
- AI-based research and list building
- Perfect for PR teams with long-term goals
Cost
The cost ranges from yearly payments of $3,500 to $40,000 based on subscriber size, necessary features, and team size.
Prowly
Features & Benefits
- Detailed database for both sources and journalists
- Personal pitching to individual journalists
- “Online newsroom” with press releases, media content, and relevant industry information
- Press release distribution services
- CRM that allows firms to monitor their content in-house
Cost
There are various tiers, including custom pricing, but the lowest plan starts at $258 per month.
JustReachOut
Features & Benefits
- Large database with verified journalists and users
- Connect with journalists who are looking for content ideas and inspiration
- Custom pitch creation with AI analysis features
- Performance-tracking that monitors open rates, CTR, and mentions
- Helps new and small businesses to connect with industry-related journalists and professionals
Cost
Monthly plans start at $147 a month with an “Ultimate Outreach” plan at $497 per month.
Free HARO Alternatives
SourceBottle
Features and Benefits
- Global platform with a more international reach
- Privacy options that maintain anonymity
- Free email alerts and other spam reduction services
- Refined search options based on industry and location
- Focused on individuals and smaller businesses
- Paid premium plans and expert profiles
JournoRequest (on Twitter/X)
Features and Benefits
- Accessible directly through Twitter / X
- Immediate, real-time updates
- A more “organic” means of directly contacting relevant journalists
- Industry and topic specifications
- Involves more direct monitoring of Twitter / X messages and posts
- Great for businesses with robust online presences and social media accounts
ExpertFile
Features and Benefits
- Free public profiles that can be publicly viewed
- Premium options for users with more demanding requests and needs
- Search engine and SEO features
- Expert profiles that can display all media coverage
- “Spotlight” which highlights different industries, journalists, and topics
- Perfect for attracting “passive” media attention
Help a B2B Writer
Features and Benefits
- Direct connections between industry experts and writers
- Messaging and journalist querying for free
- Streamlines research and targeted searching
- Features quotes that bolster credibility and boost profiles
- Useful for businesses in tech, SaaS, and other B2B companies
PressPlugs
Features and Benefits
- Increased exposure and access to journalists and other contacts
- PR tools and research content that can enhance and optimize pitches
- Premium plans offer more features and contract services but free plans are available for journalists
- Great for freelancers and small businesses
Niche and Industry-Specific Alternative Platforms to NARO
HealthSource
Features and Benefits
- Specifically targeted at the health and beauty space
- Available, vetted medical experts offering quotes, interviews, and expertise
- High-quality streaming and communication channels
- Measuring and monitoring tools
- Ideal for health and medical-related businesses and start-ups
HARO-like Subreddits
Features and Benefits
- Communities like r/PublicRelations have media and journalist-finding opportunities available to anyone and everyone
- Free 24/7 support from Redditors and industry professionals
- Perfect for DIY-ers and professionals looking to learn at the ground level
ExpertPitch
Features and Benefits
- Boost credibility and authority in any given industry
- Focuses on finance, legal issues, and other business-related subjects
- Offers expert, data-driven advice on various issues
- Catalogue of available experts that journalists can browse and message
- Perfect for highly regulated industries and businesses
Fashion & Beauty Monitor
Features and Benefits
- Focused on fashion, clothing, accessories, and beauty-related brands and businesses
- Over 60,000 available contacts in related fields
- Influencer knowledge base associated with trends and products
- Posts about industry news and events
- Emphasizing lifestyle and entertainment media exposure
TechJournal
Features and Benefits
- Focused on tech companies, start-ups, and innovators
- Knowledge base available to researchers and students
- Platform for news and announcements updating
- Research data on various analytics
Opportunity-Monitoring Tools Similar to HARO
Google Alerts
Features and Benefits
- Set up alerts that monitor specific keywords, brand names, trends, and associated phrase opportunities like “seeking expert”, “media request”, or even personal work
- Get immediate notifications of positive and negative feedback
- Simple setup and free execution, but like other Google products it’s broad and requires specific language and keywords to avoid irrelevant content
- Follow clients, topics, businesses, and entire industries
HARO Alternative Email Newsletters
Features and Benefits
- Featured (formerly Terkel), Pitchbox, and OnePitch offer uniquely beneficial email newsletters
- Many also offer access to databases of journalistic or media queries
Features and Benefits
- Established communities with collectives of journalists, industry experts, and more
- Create connections by liking, following, and engaging with different groups, writers, and editors
- Journalists will post open media requests that can be addressed by anyone
- Networking on a professional level that increases both brand visibility and credibility
BuzzSumo
Features and Benefits
- Monitor brand and topic mentions on different social media platforms
- Database of different influencers relevant to multiple industries
- Content discovery that also features alerts for different keywords, journalists, and topics
- Builds long-term connections for companies interested in extensive content marketing or PR integration
