featured-com vs terkel
Featured.com vs Terkel — features, pricing, and which to choose for your SEO workflow in 2026.
Quick Verdict
Featured.com and Terkel both tackle the same core problem: connecting experts with journalists to earn authoritative backlinks through source matching. While both platforms promise to streamline the traditionally manual process of digital PR outreach, they take distinctly different approaches to execution and pricing.
The fundamental difference lies in their operational models. Featured.com positions itself as an AI-first platform launched in 2022, emphasizing automated matching between sources and media opportunities. Terkel, established in 2020, operates more as a curated marketplace with established publisher relationships and a proven track record of placements.
Feature Comparison
Terkel's strength lies in its established network of publisher relationships and proven placement history. The platform maintains direct connections with publications actively seeking expert sources, which translates to higher conversion rates from pitch to publication. Their system focuses on quality over quantity, with manual curation ensuring that opportunities align closely with expert profiles. Featured.com uses to cast a wider net, automatically matching user profiles with media requests across a broader range of publications. The AI-driven approach means faster response times to breaking news opportunities and broader coverage of potential matches. However, this automated system may generate more false positives and require users to filter through more irrelevant opportunities. Both platforms handle the basic workflow of profile creation, opportunity matching, and response management, but Terkel provides more granular control over pitch customization and follow-up sequences.
Pricing Comparison
Featured.com offers a significant advantage with its free tier, allowing users to test the platform without financial commitment. This makes it accessible to solo consultants and small businesses exploring digital PR for the first time. Terkel starts at $99 monthly, which reflects its focus on established businesses and agencies with dedicated PR budgets. The higher price point typically correlates with more curated opportunities and higher-quality publisher relationships, but the barrier to entry excludes smaller players. For agencies managing multiple clients, Terkel's pricing structure often provides better value despite the higher starting point, as the quality of opportunities typically justifies the investment through higher-value backlink acquisitions.
Best For
Featured.com works better for solo entrepreneurs, consultants, and small businesses just starting with digital PR. The free tier allows experimentation without risk, and the AI-driven approach requires less manual oversight. It's ideal for those who can handle higher volumes of opportunities and don't mind filtering through automated matches. Terkel is the stronger choice for established businesses, agencies, and experts who prioritize placement quality over quantity. The curated approach and established publisher network deliver more reliable results for those with budget flexibility. It's particularly effective for industries where expert credibility is crucial and lower-volume, high-impact placements align better with business goals.
The Verdict
Terkel wins for most serious digital PR efforts despite the higher cost. The established publisher relationships and curated opportunity quality typically generate better ROI through higher-value backlinks and more authoritative mentions. However, Featured.com's free tier makes it worth testing first, especially for newcomers to digital PR who need to understand the process before committing to paid tools. Start with Featured.com to learn the ropes, then graduate to Terkel when placement quality becomes more critical than cost savings.