--- title: 5 Best Hashtag Research Tools Verified in 2026 description: "Picking hashtags by guesswork still happens more often than most marketers admit. You type a keyword into Instagram's search bar, copy whatever autocomplete suggests, and hope it works. A dedicated hashtag research…" url: "https://tlinky.com/best-hashtag-research-tools/" date: "2026-09-03T01:41:00+00:00" modified: "2026-09-03T01:43:57+00:00" author: Shaddam Hossain type: article site: TLinky language: en-US --- # 5 Best Hashtag Research Tools Verified in 2026 Picking hashtags by guesswork still happens more often than most marketers admit. You type a keyword into Instagram’s search bar, copy whatever autocomplete suggests, and hope it works. A dedicated hashtag research tool replaces that guesswork with actual data: which tags your niche uses, how competitive each one is, and whether your posts are ranking inside them over time. Instagram’s own Creators guidance on improving reach confirms that relevant keywords in your hashtags directly help people discover your content through Search, not just through the algorithm. Hashtag rules also differ by platform. What works for [TikTok hashtags](https://tlinky.com/best-hashtags-for-tiktok/) rarely translates directly to [LinkedIn hashtag strategy](https://tlinky.com/how-to-use-linkedin-hashtags/), which is one reason a single research tool rarely covers every network equally well. We checked five hashtag research tools directly against their own pricing and feature pages rather than repeating review-site claims. Every price, plan limit, and feature listed below was confirmed on the company’s official site. **In this article, you will learn:** - Which hashtag research tools actually verify their pricing and features on their own websites - How Instagram-specific tools like Flick differ from cross-platform listening tools like Mentionlytics - What each tool costs at every plan tier, with no hidden upgrade traps - Which tool fits a solo creator, a small brand, and an agency managing multiple clients - A free way to start building hashtag lists before paying for a dedicated tool ![Best Hashtag Research Tools](https://tlinky.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/best-hashtag-research-tools.webp) ## Key Takeaways - Flick tracks hashtag performance through Instagram’s own API and includes hashtag tracking on every plan, including the entry-level Solo tier at £11 a month billed yearly. - Mentionlytics treats hashtags as a trackable keyword type inside its social listening platform, with the Basic tier listed at $69 a month standard, currently discounted to $49 a month on annual billing. - Iconosquare gates hashtag performance reports and competitor hashtag tracking behind its Scale plan at €69 a month billed yearly, not its free tier or entry-level Launch plan. - Predis.ai pairs an AI hashtag generator with competitor hashtag analysis starting at $19 a month on its Core plan, aimed at solo creators and small teams. - Sprout Social’s hashtag tracking lives in its Listening add-on, sold starting on the $199 Standard plan, and is not available at all on the $79 Essentials plan. ## Quick Answer The best hashtag research tools for 2026 are Flick for Instagram-first hashtag search and tracking, Mentionlytics for cross-platform hashtag and brand monitoring, Iconosquare for hashtag reporting alongside full social analytics, Predis.ai for AI-generated hashtags with competitor analysis, and Sprout Social for teams already managing tags and listening in one platform. ## Hashtag Research Tools: Quick Comparison | Tool | Category | Best For | Free Plan | Starting Price | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Flick | Instagram hashtag research | Solo creators and small brands on Instagram | No, 7 day trial | £11/month billed yearly | | Mentionlytics | Social listening with hashtag tracking | Cross-platform hashtag and brand monitoring | No, free trial only | $69/month (promo: $49/month annual) | | Iconosquare | Analytics and scheduling with hashtag reports | Brands wanting hashtag data alongside full analytics | Yes, limited | $0, hashtag reports need Scale plan | | Predis.ai | AI content and hashtag generation | Creators and agencies making content and hashtags together | No, credit-based trial | $19/month (Core) | | Sprout Social | Social media management with tagging | Teams willing to add Listening for hashtag tracking | No | $199/month (Standard, minimum for the Listening add-on) | ## How We Evaluated Each Tool We tested each tool using its free plan, trial, or, when needed, a paid plan; we used publicly available resources. We evaluated key features, usability, platform coverage, and pricing, and verified current plan details against official sources. The ratings, rankings, and recommendations below are our editorial judgment, built on top of those documented prices and features rather than an independent lab test or usability study. Evaluation criteria included whether hashtag tracking works on a free or entry-level plan, how hashtag data connects to broader analytics, and how clearly each company documents its own hashtag tools. ## The 5 Best Hashtag Research Tools These five tools cover the range a marketer actually needs: an Instagram specialist, a cross-platform listening tool, two analytics platforms that treat hashtags as one feature among many, and an AI content tool that generates and analyzes hashtags together. ### 1. Flick **Best for:** Instagram creators and small brands who want hashtag search, tracking, and collections in one dashboard Flick started as a pure Instagram hashtag tool and still centers its product around hashtag search, collections, and performance tracking. It also schedules posts across Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and LinkedIn, which pairs naturally with a [TikTok marketing tools stack](https://tlinky.com/best-tiktok-marketing-tools/) if you post to both platforms. ![Flick](https://tlinky.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/flick-1024x311.webp) Flick Every Flick plan includes hashtag tracking, but the Solo tier caps tracked posts at 30 a month. Upgrading to Pro removes that cap and unlocks the full hashtag toolkit. Flick pairs well with [TLinky’s hashtag generator](https://tlinky.com/tools/hashtag-generator/instagram/) for a first pass at ideas before diving into paid research. #### Key features - Hashtag search with relevance and competition data for Instagram - Hashtag collections to save and organize tags by campaign or niche - Hashtag performance tracking through Instagram’s own API - Post scheduling across Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and LinkedIn - AI content writing tools for captions - CSV export and hashtag import, with Flick’s own plan comparison showing broader feature access on Pro and Agency ![Flick Dashboard](https://tlinky.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/flick-dashboard-1024x305.webp) Flick Dashboard #### Pros - Hashtag tracking is included on every plan, even the cheapest one - Confirms exactly how it tracks performance, through Instagram’s API monitoring top posts - Scales cleanly from one Instagram account to agency-level client management #### Cons - Flick’s own site describes Solo as having access to only some features, with Pro and Agency unlocking the full toolkit, so confirm advanced metrics are included before choosing Solo - Focused almost entirely on Instagram, with limited hashtag depth for other platforms #### Pricing Solo costs £11 a month billed yearly and includes 4 social profiles, 1 user, and 30 tracked Instagram posts a month. Pro costs £24 a month billed yearly with unlimited profiles up to 8, unlimited tracking, and full feature access. ![Flick pricing](https://tlinky.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/flick-pricing-1024x445.webp) Flick pricing Agency costs £55 a month billed yearly for up to 20 profiles and 5 users. Monthly billing costs more than these yearly rates, since Flick’s own pricing page confirms a 20 percent discount for paying yearly. All plans include a 7 day free trial. **Not for:** Marketers who need deep hashtag research on TikTok, LinkedIn, or X rather than Instagram specifically. **Why we included this:** Flick documents its hashtag tracking method openly and includes it on every tier, which is rare among tools that gate hashtag data behind top plans. [Try Flick](https://www.flick.social/learn/pricing?utm_source=tlinky.com) ### 2. Mentionlytics **Best for:** Brands that want hashtags tracked alongside broader mentions, competitors, and sentiment Mentionlytics is built as a social listening platform first, with hashtags as one of several keyword types you can monitor. You set up a hashtag the same way you would a brand name or competitor, then watch mentions accumulate across platforms. ![Mentionlytics](https://tlinky.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/mentionlytics-1024x447.webp) Mentionlytics This approach suits brands running a hashtag campaign who also want to see how people talk about that campaign beyond the tag itself, including sentiment and reach. It also works well for brands tracking [hashtag performance on YouTube Shorts](https://tlinky.com/best-hashtags-for-youtube-shorts/) alongside Instagram and X. #### Key features - Hashtag tracking as a dedicated keyword type inside the Listening dashboard - Cross-platform monitoring across social networks, blogs, forums, and news sites - AI sentiment analysis on tracked hashtags and mentions - Competitor and industry monitoring alongside your own hashtags - Custom dashboards and scheduled reporting ![Mentionlytics dashboard](https://tlinky.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/mentionlytics-dashboard-1024x488.webp) Mentionlytics dashboard #### Pros - Tracks hashtags across a wider range of sources than Instagram-only tools - Sentiment analysis adds context that a raw hashtag count does not provide - Useful for campaign monitoring beyond just the hashtag itself #### Cons - Hashtags are one feature inside a broader listening tool, not the main focus - Entry pricing is noticeably higher than Instagram-specific hashtag tools #### Pricing Basic is listed at $69 a month standard, currently discounted to $49 a month on annual billing as a limited-time offer. Essential costs $169 a month, Advanced $299 a month, and Pro $499 a month. Mentionlytics offers a free trial with no credit card required rather than a permanent free plan. ![Mentionlytics price](https://tlinky.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/mentionlytics-price-1024x504.webp) Mentionlytics price **Not for:** Solo creators who only need Instagram hashtag suggestions and cannot justify a full listening platform’s price. **Why we included this:** Mentionlytics fits brands that need hashtag data inside a wider monitoring picture, not just a standalone hashtag lookup. [Try Mentionlytics](https://www.mentionlytics.com/pricing/?utm_source=tlinky.com) ### 3. Iconosquare **Best for:** Brands and agencies that want hashtag performance reports built into full social analytics Iconosquare is an analytics-first social media management tool that added hashtag and mention tracking as part of its Listening feature set. It covers Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn, X, Threads, Pinterest, and YouTube. ![Iconosquare](https://tlinky.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/iconosquare-1024x260.webp) Iconosquare Hashtag reports and competitor hashtag tracking sit on the Scale plan and above, not on the free tier or the entry-level Launch plan. #### Key features - Hashtag performance reports covering your own and competitor hashtags - Campaign tracking that groups posts by hashtag used - Tags and mentions analytics to monitor brand tagging - Competitor benchmarking, from 1 competitor per profile on Launch up to unlimited on Excel - Scheduling and publishing across 8 social networks ![Iconosquare dashboard](https://tlinky.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/iconosquare-dashboard-1024x429.webp) Iconosquare dashboard #### Pros - Hashtag data lives alongside full account and campaign analytics, not in isolation - Supports 8 networks, wider platform coverage than most hashtag-specific tools - Free plan exists for very light use, even without hashtag reporting #### Cons - Hashtag reports require the Scale plan, not the free or Launch tier - Pricing is listed in euros, which adds currency conversion for US-based teams #### Pricing The free plan covers 1 user and 2 social profiles with basic analytics but no hashtag reports. Launch costs €33 a month billed yearly for standard analytics without hashtag tracking. Scale costs €69 a month billed yearly and adds hashtag reports, competitor tracking, and mentions analytics. Excel costs €116 a month billed yearly with unlimited data retention and white-label reporting. ![Iconosquare price](https://tlinky.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/iconosquare-price-1024x517.webp) Iconosquare price **Not for:** Anyone who wants hashtag reporting on a free or bottom-tier paid plan, since Iconosquare reserves it for Scale and above. **Why we included this:** Iconosquare’s comparison table names hashtag reports as a specific line item, which made it easy to confirm exactly which plan unlocks the feature. [Try Iconosquare](https://www.iconosquare.com/plans-and-pricing?utm_source=tlinky.com) ### 4. Predis.ai **Best for:** Creators and agencies who want AI-generated hashtags paired with competitor hashtag analysis Predis.ai builds hashtags into its AI content generation workflow rather than treating hashtag research as a separate tool. You get an AI hashtag generator plus a competitor analysis feature that surfaces the hashtag sets competitors are using. ![Predis.ai](https://tlinky.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/predis.ai_-1024x328.webp) Predis.ai This makes it a fit for teams who want content, captions, and hashtags produced together rather than researching hashtags separately from writing the post. Its video generation also overlaps with dedicated [AI video generator tools](https://tlinky.com/best-ai-video-generator-tools-for-creators/), so weigh whether you need that overlap before paying for both. #### Key features - AI hashtag generator built into the content creation flow - Competition hashtag sets that show what competitors are tagging - Hashtag analysis alongside broader competitor content themes - Video, carousel, and image generation with the same AI engine - Auto-posting and scheduling to up to 60 channels on the top plan #### Pros - Generates hashtags and captions in the same workflow, saving a separate research step - Competitor hashtag analysis is included even on the entry Core plan - Credit-based pricing scales with actual usage instead of a flat seat count #### Cons - Credit limits mean heavy hashtag and content generation can run out mid-month - Hashtag features are secondary to Predis.ai’s core video and image generation focus #### Pricing Core costs $19 a month billed yearly with 1,300 credits and 60 competitor analysis runs a month. Rise costs $40 a month billed yearly with 3,200 credits and 130 competitor runs. Enterprise+ costs $212 a month billed yearly with 10,000 credits and 600 competitor runs. ![Predis.ai Pricing](https://tlinky.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/predis.ai-pricing-1024x451.webp) Predis.ai Pricing **Not for:** Teams who only want hashtag research without any AI content or video generation attached. **Why we included this:** Predis.ai confirmed AI Hashtags Generator and Competition Hashtag Sets as named features on its own pricing comparison table, which most content-generation tools do not list this specifically. [Try Predis.ai](https://predis.ai/pricing/?utm_source=tlinky.com) ### 5. Sprout Social **Best for:** Teams willing to add Sprout’s Listening add-on for hashtag tracking alongside publishing and reporting Sprout Social’s own hashtag analytics guide describes hashtag tracking as part of its Listening tools, separate from Tags, which let you manually label your own scheduled messages and pull a Tag Performance Report on how those labeled posts did. Hashtag tracking watches how a tag is used and performing across your channels; Tags organize and report on content you already tagged yourself. ![Sprout Social](https://tlinky.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/sprout-social-1024x508.webp) Sprout Social Sprout’s official pricing page lists Listening as a paid add-on available starting on the Standard plan, not included in the cheaper Essentials tier. Message tagging and deeper tag insights are named as Professional-tier additions. Teams that already lean on [TikTok analytics tools](https://tlinky.com/best-tiktok-analytics-tools/) for performance data should confirm which add-ons their Sprout plan supports before assuming hashtag tracking is included. #### Key features - Hashtag tracking through Sprout’s Listening tools, sold as an add-on from the Standard plan up - Tag Performance Report for measuring how your own tagged posts and messages performed - Message tagging and extensive tag insights, named as Professional-tier additions - Multi-platform coverage across X, Instagram, and other connected networks - Unified social inbox for managing comments and messages ![Sprout Social dashboard](https://tlinky.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/sprout-social-dashboard-1024x533.webp) Sprout Social dashboard #### Pros - Hashtag tracking sits inside a platform teams may already use for publishing - Listening tools add sentiment context beyond a simple hashtag count - Multi-platform support extends beyond Instagram-only tools #### Cons - Listening, which is where hashtag tracking lives, is a paid add-on rather than a feature built into any plan by default - Essentials, Sprout’s $79 entry plan, does not qualify for the Listening add-on at all #### Pricing Essentials starts at $79 a month and does not support the Listening add-on. Standard costs $199 a month and is the entry point where Listening can be added for hashtag tracking. Professional costs $299 a month and adds message tagging and extensive tag insights on top of Standard. Advanced costs $399 a month with everything in Professional plus more reporting depth. Enterprise pricing is custom. ![Sprout Social pricing](https://tlinky.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/sprout-social-pricing-1024x492.webp) Sprout Social pricing **Not for:** Anyone comparing Sprout’s $79 Essentials price against dedicated hashtag tools, since Essentials cannot add the Listening tools that provide hashtag tracking. **Why we included this:** Sprout Social’s own pricing page and hashtag analytics guide both confirm hashtag tracking lives in Listening, useful for teams that already need Sprout’s broader platform for other reasons. [Try Sprout Social](https://sproutsocial.com/pricing/?utm_source=tlinky.com) ## Tool Ratings at a Glance | Tool | Ease of Use | Hashtag Depth | Platform Coverage | Value for Price | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Flick | 5 | 5 | 3 | 4 | | Mentionlytics | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | | Iconosquare | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | | Predis.ai | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | | Sprout Social | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 = Excellent, 4 = Good, 3 = Fair, 2 = Limited. We scored each tool on documented hashtag capabilities, platform coverage, entry-level access, and price relative to those capabilities. Ease of Use reflects our editorial read of each product’s own interface descriptions and screenshots, not a controlled usability study. ## Bonus: Free Ways to Start Hashtag Research Before paying for a dedicated tool, it helps to generate a starting list of hashtags for free and see whether you even need advanced tracking. ### TLinky Hashtag Generator [TLinky’s hashtag generator](https://tlinky.com/tools/hashtag-generator/) produces platform-specific hashtag suggestions for Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn, and more, based on a keyword or topic you enter. The [TikTok-specific version](https://tlinky.com/tools/hashtag-generator/tiktok/) works well as a first pass before testing tags in a paid research tool to see how they actually perform. Use it to build an initial shortlist, then track how those specific tags perform once you post, using one of the five tools above. ## Which Hashtag Tool Fits Your Situation? | You are a… | Start with… | | --- | --- | | Solo Instagram creator on a tight budget | Flick Solo, since hashtag tracking is included from the entry plan | | Brand running hashtag campaigns across multiple platforms | Mentionlytics, for cross-platform hashtag and sentiment tracking | | Agency managing analytics and reporting for several clients | Iconosquare Scale, for hashtag reports bundled with full analytics | | Content creator who wants hashtags generated alongside captions | Predis.ai Core, for AI hashtag generation and competitor analysis | | Team already using Sprout Social’s Standard plan or higher | Sprout Social, adding the Listening add-on for hashtag tracking | | Marketer just starting out with no budget yet | TLinky’s free hashtag generator, then upgrade once you know your niche | Once you have a hashtag strategy running, pairing it with a [link in bio tool built for TikTok creators](https://tlinky.com/best-link-in-bio-tools-for-tiktok-creators/) or a [social media scheduling tool](https://tlinky.com/best-social-media-scheduling-tools/) helps keep tagging consistent across every post you publish. ## Frequently Asked Questions Here are direct answers to the questions marketers most often ask about hashtag research tools. ### What is the best free hashtag research tool? Iconosquare offers the broadest free feature set among the tools compared here, though it does not include hashtag performance reports at that tier. For pure hashtag generation with no cost at all, TLinky’s own hashtag generator produces a usable starting list for any major platform. Most dedicated hashtag tracking tools, including Flick and Mentionlytics, reserve their real hashtag data for paid plans. A free generator is a starting point, not a replacement for tracked performance data over time. ### Do hashtags still matter for Instagram reach in 2026? Yes, based on Instagram’s own guidance for creators. Instagram’s Creators blog states that including relevant keywords in your hashtags helps both followers and non-followers discover your content through Search, alongside your caption and bio. Instagram has not published a specific numeric hashtag limit on that page, so treat any claimed exact hashtag count from third-party blogs with caution unless it links back to an Instagram source. ### How much do hashtag research tools cost? Pricing ranges widely depending on whether hashtags are the core product or one feature inside a larger platform. Flick starts at £11 a month for Instagram-specific hashtag tracking, while Sprout Social’s hashtag tracking requires adding its Listening tools, which start on the $199 a month Standard plan rather than the $79 entry price. Cross-platform listening tools like Mentionlytics sit in the middle, listed at $69 a month standard for hashtag tracking bundled with broader mention monitoring, though a $49 a month annual promotion is currently live. ### Can I track hashtag performance without a paid tool? Instagram’s native Insights show basic reach data for your own posts but do not break performance down by which hashtag drove that reach. A dedicated tool like Flick connects to Instagram’s API specifically to monitor how your posts rank inside the hashtags you use. Without a dedicated tool, you would need to manually check hashtag search results and compare your post’s position over time, which is slow and easy to get wrong. ### What is the difference between a hashtag generator and a hashtag research tool? A hashtag generator, like TLinky’s free tool, suggests relevant tags based on a keyword you enter, with no ongoing tracking involved. A hashtag research tool, like Flick or Mentionlytics, adds performance tracking, competition data, and often sentiment or engagement analysis over time. Generators are useful for a quick starting list. Research tools are built for marketers who want to know whether the hashtags they chose are actually working after they post. ### Should agencies use a hashtag-specific tool or a full analytics platform? Agencies managing several client accounts generally get more value from a platform like Iconosquare or Sprout Social, where hashtag data sits next to the full analytics and reporting clients expect. A hashtag-specific tool like Flick works well when hashtag research is the main deliverable rather than one part of a broader report. The right choice depends on whether hashtags are a standalone service or one piece of a larger social media management retainer. ## Wrapping Up Hashtag research tools split into two camps: platforms built around hashtags specifically, like Flick, and broader analytics or listening tools that treat hashtags as one feature among many, like Mentionlytics, Iconosquare, Sprout Social, and Predis.ai. Neither approach is automatically better. A solo Instagram creator gets more value from a focused tool with hashtag tracking on its cheapest plan, while an agency already paying for full analytics gains more by using the hashtag features already bundled into that platform. Start with TLinky’s free hashtag generator to build an initial list, then move to whichever paid tool above matches how you actually plan to use the data. **Sources** - [Instagram for Creators, Tips for Improving Your Reach](https://creators.instagram.com/blog/tips-for-improving-your-reach?utm_source=tlinky.com) - [Flick, Pricing](https://www.flick.social/learn/pricing?utm_source=tlinky.com) - [Mentionlytics, Pricing](https://www.mentionlytics.com/pricing/?utm_source=tlinky.com) - [Iconosquare, Plans and Pricing](https://www.iconosquare.com/plans-and-pricing?utm_source=tlinky.com) - [Predis.ai, Pricing](https://predis.ai/pricing/?utm_source=tlinky.com) - [Sprout Social, Hashtag Analytics: Your Complete Guide to Tracking Hashtag Performance](https://sproutsocial.com/insights/hashtag-analytics/?utm_source=tlinky.com) - [Sprout Social, Pricing](https://sproutsocial.com/pricing/?utm_source=tlinky.com)