Heardly vs Syften vs F5Bot: which one fits you?
F5Bot sends free email alerts when a keyword appears on Reddit, Hacker News or Lobsters. Syften is a paid keyword monitor for Reddit, Hacker News and niche communities, with advanced filters. Heardly finds warm leads on Reddit, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok and X, ranks them by fit, and drafts a reply for each. Choose by what you need: alerts, filters, or leads.
Side by side at a glance
Prices as listed by each company, October 2026.
| Feature | Heardly | Syften | F5Bot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where it searches | Reddit, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, X | Reddit, Hacker News and niche communities | Reddit, Hacker News, Lobsters |
| How it works | Describe your product, get ranked leads with a suggested reply for each | Set keywords with advanced filters, get alerts when they match | Add keywords, get an email when they’re used |
| Starting price | $8 one time | About $30 / month | Free |
| Best for | Finding people ready to buy, across several platforms | Tracking specific keywords closely | Free, simple keyword alerts |
Which one should you choose?
Choose F5Bot if…
You just want to know when a word shows up on Reddit or Hacker News, you’re happy to sort through the alerts yourself, and you don’t want to pay anything.
Choose Syften if…
You track a set of keywords closely, want fine control over filters, and Reddit, Hacker News and niche communities cover where your audience talks.
Choose Heardly if…
You want people who are ready to buy, not just keyword hits, across Reddit, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok and X, with a reply ready to edit and send.
Alerts vs leads: the real difference
Keyword alerts tell you a word was used. That’s often someone asking for help, but just as often it’s a news story, a joke, or a competitor’s own post. You still have to read everything, decide who’s worth answering, and write the reply.
Heardly starts from what you sell instead of a list of keywords. It reads posts and comments, ranks people by how well they fit, and drafts a reply for each one, so you spend your time on the conversations most likely to turn into customers.
A note on fairness: Heardly makes this page. We’ve described the other tools from their own public information as of October 2026. Check their sites for the latest details. Looking for a GummySearch replacement? See our GummySearch comparison.
Questions about choosing a tool
Is F5Bot really free?
F5Bot is offered as a free service. You add keywords and it emails you when they appear on Reddit, Hacker News or Lobsters.
Which one is cheapest to start?
F5Bot is free. Heardly starts at $8 one time for 500 tokens that never expire, with no subscription. Syften starts at about $30 a month.
Can I use more than one?
Yes. Some people keep a free alert tool for their brand name and use Heardly to find people who are ready to buy.
Your next customers are already asking
Heardly finds them for you. Start with the $8 Starter Pack.