HARO vs Qwoted: Choosing the Right PR Platform for Media Coverage in 2025

HARO vs Qwoted: Choosing the Right PR Platform for Media Coverage in 2025

Back in the day, HARO was the go-to for getting quoted in the press. Then came Qwoted — bringing cleaner UX, faster filters, and way less spam. Now in 2025, both platforms are still around. But they’ve changed a lot and so has the way journalists work.

If you’re trying to land media mentions or build backlinks, choosing the right platform matters more than ever. The one you pick can decide whether your pitch gets lost in a crowded inbox — or lands you in a national headline.

Today, we’ll compare HARO and Qwoted. What’s changed? Who are they best for? And where should you spend your time if you’re serious about getting featured?

HARO vs Qwoted: Here’s What Really Sets Them Apart

Not all media opportunities are created equal – so how do you know which one actually works for you? HARO and Qwoted both show you chances to get coverage, but they do it in very different ways.

First off, HARO

HARO, short for “Help a Reporter Out,” is a media outreach platform that connects professionals with journalists looking for expert sources. 

Source:  HARO

Every day, it sends a large volume of queries directly to your inbox, covering a wide range of topics and media outlets. While this gives you many opportunities to be featured, not every query will be relevant to your expertise. 

The platform becomes most effective when you can quickly identify the right opportunities and respond strategically, helping you secure valuable media coverage and build your professional authority. Plus, you can also explore HARO alternatives.

What’s inside Qwoted

Image Source: Qwoted

Qwoted is a media pitching platform that organizes journalist requests in a centralized dashboard, rather than sending them straight to your inbox. Each opportunity is filtered based on your industry, expertise, and preferences, so you only see queries that are relevant to you. 

This structure makes it easier to track, prioritize, and respond to opportunities efficiently. By streamlining the workflow, Qwoted helps PR professionals save time, reduce noise, and focus on pitches that have the highest potential for coverage and impact.

Volume vs Relevance — Which Media Platform Actually Pay Off?

HARO delivers a high volume of journalist queries straight to your inbox every day. For PR pros, it’s a goldmine of opportunities. But not every query will be relevant to your niche. It depends on how to respond to a HARO query. 

The challenge lies in quickly spotting the ones that truly matter, which can take skill and strategy.

Like, a health and wellness PR professional might see 120 queries in their HARO inbox. Out of those, 8–10 could be directly relevant — covering nutrition, fitness, or wellness tech — while the rest touch on finance, travel, or general lifestyle. 

Experienced PR pros know how to filter efficiently and focus on the high-value queries, turning HARO’s volume into a real advantage.

So, HARO gives volume, but spotting the right queries quickly takes experience and strategy.

On the other hand, Qwoted organizes journalist queries in a clean, focused dashboard. Opportunities are filtered based on your expertise, industry, and preferences, so you see only the queries that matter. This makes it easier to respond efficiently and strategically, without getting lost in irrelevant emails, especially if you are beginner.

Even though targeted opportunities are easier to manage — but experienced pros can still turn HARO’s volume into an advantage. 

With the right strategy, they can quickly filter high-value queries and respond faster than competitors, making the sheer number of HARO queries work in their favor.

How Much Is Your Time Actually Worth?

HARO works on strict timing. Three times a day — early morning, midday, and late afternoon – your inbox can get flooded with 70–120+ journalist queries. The best ones vanish fast, often within an hour, so scanning quickly and knowing how to pitch on HARO immediately is crucial. 

It’s a high-volume, high-pressure system—excellent for those who thrive on speed, but exhausting if you prefer a controlled approach.

Qwoted takes a completely different approach. You can log in once or twice a day and see all relevant opportunities in one place. Journalists can also contact you directly if your profile fits, leading to warmer, higher-converting leads. 

All in all, HARO is still the best because you get queries straight to your inbox, and you can reply to them from there. That’s a plus point, we believe.

Alright, now let’s talk about cash.

Pricing 

HARO offers free access. You can create an account, start receiving daily journalist queries directly in your inbox, and reply to as many as you want without paying anything. 

For freelancers, small businesses, or anyone just starting out in PR, that’s a huge advantage. You get full access to the core feature without any subscription or limits.

On the other hand, Qwoted offers a free plan — but it’s quite restricted. You’re only allowed two pitches each month, and most of the useful features are locked behind their Pro plan, which starts at $149 per month. If you’re pitching regularly or want better visibility, you’ll likely need to upgrade.

So, Which One Should You Use for Your Media Coverage in 2025?

If you’re new to PR, freelancing, or simply don’t want to commit to a paid tool just yet, we suggest starting with HARO. It’s free, straightforward, and doesn’t require you to log into any dashboard. You’ll get real journalist queries straight to your inbox, and you can respond to them directly. 

Qwoted offers a more refined experience with a cleaner interface, smart filters, and better pitch tracking. But unless you’re on the paid plan, you’ll hit limits fast. For seasoned PR pros or agencies managing multiple campaigns, Qwoted’s structure can be a huge help — but only if you’re ready to invest in it.

So what’s the verdict?

Start with HARO. It’s free, fast, and effective. Then, once you’ve got the hang of it — or need something more advanced — add Qwoted to the mix. 

Final Thoughts

If you want to get media coverage in 2025, both HARO and Qwoted can work. But in different ways. HARO is ideal if you’re starting out or want to keep things simple. It’s free, easy to use, and gives you access to a wide range of journalist requests. That’s why we recommend starting with HARO.

Qwoted is also a great option, especially if you’re looking for a cleaner platform and more control. But it comes at a cost.

If you can use both, even better. But if you’re choosing just one, HARO is a solid place to begin.

And if you ever need help getting featured — on sites like Forbes, Entrepreneur, or Business Insider — just reach out here. We’ll help you land media links that actually build your brand.

FAQS

1. What is Haro & qwoted?

HARO (Help a Reporter Out) is a platform where journalists post questions, and experts reply for a chance to be featured in the media. Qwoted works similarly but offers a cleaner dashboard and fewer, more targeted opportunities. Both help you get press coverage, backlinks, and credibility.

2. Should you use Haro or qwoted?

It depends on your style and priorities. In HARO vs Qwoted, HARO gives you a flood of opportunities for big mentions but needs speed and daily effort. Qwoted offers fewer, more targeted queries, making it easier to respond without the overwhelm.

3. Is Haro free?

Yes, HARO is completely free. You can sign up, get daily journalist queries in your inbox, and respond to as many as you like — without paying anything. 

4. Can I use both HARO and Qwoted at the same time?

Absolutely. In fact, many people do. HARO gives you more volume, while Qwoted helps you stay focused with better filters and tracking. Using both increases your chances of finding the right pitch opportunities—and getting featured in top publications. There’s no rule saying you have to choose just one.

5. Is Qwoted still useful?

Yes, Qwoted is still a valuable tool for PR pros, freelancers, and business owners who want media exposure without the chaos of sorting through hundreds of irrelevant queries.