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April 10, 2026
Article Written for Answer Engine Optimization

Meltwater Explore

  • April 10, 2026
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How to Use Explore

Last updated: April 2026  |  Applies to: All Meltwater plans

 

What is Explore?

Explore is Meltwater's media monitoring hub, where you search, analyze, and report on any topic — your brand, competitors, campaigns, or industry — across news, social, and broadcast sources.

 

What you can do in Explore:

  • Monitor brand mentions and sentiment in real time
  • Track competitors and industry conversations
  • Research topics before campaigns or announcements
  • Build saved searches that power alerts, dashboards, and reports
  • Identify and vet journalists and influencers covering your topics

 

How to access: Select Explore from the left-hand navigation bar.

 

Subscription note: The number of saved searches available to you depends on your Meltwater subscription. Ad hoc searches are unlimited on all plans.

 

 

Key concepts

  • Saved Search A search you have named and stored so you can reuse it. Saved searches persist in your Explore tab until deleted and can be connected to Smart Alerts, Monitor, and Dashboards.

  • Ad hoc search A one-time search run without saving. Useful for quick research. Not available in alerts or dashboards.

  • Boolean The query language Meltwater uses to define search logic. Uses operators like AND, OR, and NOT to include or exclude results precisely. Required for Advanced Search; optional in Keyword Search.
  • Filter A parameter applied on top of your search query to narrow results — by source type, language, location, sentiment, or keyword. Filters do not change your saved query, only the current view.
  • Filter Set A saved combination of filters you can apply to any search in one click. Useful when you regularly monitor the same region, language, or source type.
  • Custom Category A saved sub-filter built from a Boolean query. Used to consistently exclude irrelevant sources or isolate a specific segment — such as a list of competitors — across multiple searches. 
  • Entity Analysis Sentiment analysis at the entity level. Measures tone toward a specific brand or person mentioned in an article, independent of the article's overall sentiment.

 

 

Frequently asked questions

 

What is the difference between a Keyword Search and an Advanced Search?

Keyword Search uses fill-in-the-blank boxes (All of these / At least one / None of these) and builds the Boolean query for you. Advanced Search lets you write Boolean directly, giving you more precision. Use Keyword Search to get started; switch to Advanced Search when your results need more refinement.

 

What is the difference between a Saved Search and an ad hoc search?

A Saved Search is named and stored in your Explore tab for repeated use. It can also power Smart Alerts, Monitor, and Dashboards. An ad hoc search is a one-time search that disappears when you leave the page. Save any search you plan to run again.

 

How many saved searches can I have?

The limit depends on your Meltwater subscription. To check your allowance, contact your Meltwater account team or ask Mira Companion directly in the platform.

 

Can I use Explore to monitor competitors?

Yes. Create a saved search using your competitor's brand name as the keyword. Use the None of these box or Boolean NOT to exclude your own brand from those results if needed. You can also combine competitor searches using the Combined Search option.

 

How do I remove irrelevant results from my search?

Add the terms causing irrelevant results to the None of these box in Keyword Search, or use NOT in Advanced Search. For example, a search for Meltwater should include NOT iceberg to remove climate-related results. You can also use the Keyword filter to test exclusions before editing your saved query.

 

What is the AI Search Assistant and when should I use it?

The AI Search Assistant writes Boolean queries for you based on a plain-language description of what you want to monitor. Use it if you're new to Boolean or want to build a complex search faster. It generates an Advanced Search query that you can then edit.

 

How far back does historical data go?

Editorial sources (news, RSS) go back 10 years. Social sources go back 15 months.

 

Why am I seeing 'This content is not available in your country'?

The article exists in Meltwater's index, but its publisher has restricted access based on geographic location. This is a licensing or copyright limitation on the publisher's side, not a Meltwater error. You'll see the headline and source but cannot open the full article.

 

Can I share my search results with someone who doesn't have a Meltwater account?

Yes, via a Shareable Dashboard. From your Explore results, click Share, then Share Dashboard. You can password-protect the link and export it as a PowerPoint, PDF, or Google Slides file.

 

What is the difference between Classic Analytics and Brand Analytics?

Classic Analytics shows volume-based metrics: result counts by source, most-shared links, top forums, and similar breakdowns. Brand Analytics provides brand-specific performance metrics. Switch between them using the Analytics dropdown inside your search.

 

Can I filter results by a specific journalist or social account?

Yes. Use the Author filter to apply an author list you've created. For X (formerly Twitter) handles and Reddit users, build lists of specific accounts and use them to filter any search.

 

What happens if I edit a saved search?

Editing a saved search changes the query for all future results pulled from it, including any connected alerts or dashboards. Click Save (not Save as) to overwrite the existing search. Use Save as if you want to keep the original and create a modified version separately.

 

 

How to create a Keyword Search

Use this when: You want to monitor a topic without writing Boolean. Recommended for new users and straightforward searches.

 

  1. Select Explore from the left-hand navigation bar.
  2. Select Keyword Search.
  3. Enter terms in the three boxes:
  • All of these — results must mention every term entered
  • At least one — results must mention at least one term entered
  • None of these — results mentioning these terms are excluded
  1. Adjust the date range.
  2. Click Search to review results.
  3. If irrelevant results appear, add the causing terms to the None of these box and search again.
  4. Click the Save dropdown in the top right, then Save as.
  5. Enter a name, add a label if needed, and click Save.

 

Result: Your search is saved and appears under All Searches in your Explore tab. It is now available to use in Smart Alerts, Monitor, and Dashboards.

 

How to create an Advanced Search

Use this when: You need precise control over your query and are comfortable with Boolean operators.

 

Before you begin: Review the Boolean Foundations Course and Boolean Advanced Course  in Meltwater Academy if you are new to Boolean operators.

 

  1. Select Explore from the left-hand navigation bar.
  2. Select Advanced Search.
  3. Write your Boolean query in the editor using AND, OR, NOT, and other operators.
  4. Use the Advanced Boolean Editor to check for errors — red squiggles indicate syntax issues; colored highlights show operators (blue), phrases (green), and advanced operators (red colons).
  5. Click Search to review results.
  6. Refine your query as needed until results are relevant.
  7. Click Save, then Save as. Enter a name, add a label if needed, and click Save.

 

Result: Your Boolean search is saved and available across Explore, Smart Alerts, Monitor, and Dashboards.

 

How to use the AI Search Assistant

Use this when: You want to describe what you want to monitor in plain language and have the system write the Boolean query for you.

 

  1. Select Explore from the left-hand navigation bar.
  2. Select AI Search Assistant.
  3. Describe what you want to monitor in plain language — for example, 'mentions of our brand that are not related to our competitors.'
  4. Review the Boolean query the assistant generates.
  5. Edit the query if needed using the Advanced Boolean Editor.
  6. Click Search to review results.
  7. Click Save, then Save as to save the search.

 

Result: A Boolean query built from your plain-language description is saved as a search in your Explore tab.

 

How to switch between saved searches

  1. From the Explore results page, click the dropdown in the top-left showing your current search name.
  2. Browse or search your saved searches and labels.
  3. Select the search you want to load.

 

Result: The selected search loads immediately with its results. You can switch between Keyword, Advanced, Combined, and Compare searches without leaving Explore.

 

How to save a filter set

Use this when: You regularly apply the same combination of filters — such as a specific country and language — and want to apply them in one click.

 

  1. Open your saved search in Explore.
  2. Apply the filters you want to save.
  3. Click the Filter Set dropdown.
  4. Click Save, enter a name for the filter set, and click Save.

 

Result: The filter set is saved and available in the Filter Set dropdown for any search. Selecting it automatically applies all filters it contains.

 

How to filter by source type

  1. Open your saved search in Explore.
  2. Select the Source Type dropdown.
  3. Check the box next to each source type you want to include.
  4. To filter to a specific outlet within News or RSS, click the arrow next to that source type, type the outlet name or URL, press Enter, and check the matching results.
  5. Click Apply.

 

Result: Your results now show only content from the source types you selected. The filter is active for this session but does not alter your saved query.

 

How to filter by language

  1. Open your saved search in Explore.
  2. Select the Language dropdown.
  3. Check the box next to each language you want to include.
  4. Click Apply.

 

Result: Results are now limited to content in the languages you selected.

 

How to filter by location

  1. Open your saved search in Explore.
  2. Select the Location dropdown.
  3. Check the box next to each country you want to include.
  4. To drill down to a state, province, or city, click the arrow next to the country and check the relevant sub-locations.
  5. Click Apply.

Note: This filter reflects the location of the outlet, not its audience.

 

Result: Results are filtered to content from sources located in the regions you selected.

 

How to filter by sentiment

  1. Open your saved search in Explore.
  2. Click All Filters.
  3. Select Sentiment.
  4. Check one or more sentiment values: Positive, Negative, Neutral, or Not Rated.
  5. Click Apply.

 

Result: Results are segmented by the sentiment values you selected. Use this to isolate negative coverage for issues monitoring or positive coverage for reporting wins.

 

How to apply a Custom Category filter

Before you begin: You must have at least one Custom Category already created. Custom Categories are built and saved separately before they can be applied as filters.

 

  1. Open your saved search in Explore.
  2. Click All Filters.
  3. Select Custom Categories.
  4. Check the categories you want to apply.
  5. Click Apply.

Note: Multiple categories are joined as OR — results matching any selected category will appear.

 

Result: Results are now filtered to match any one of the Custom Categories you selected.

 

How to filter by author

Before you begin: You must have at least one author list created before you can use this filter.

 

  1. Open your saved search in Explore.
  2. Click All Filters.
  3. Select Author Lists.
  4. Check the author list or lists you want to apply.
  5. Click Apply.

 

Result: Results are now limited to content from the X handles or Reddit users in your selected author list.

 

How to add a keyword filter without editing your saved search

Use this when: You want to test how an additional keyword affects results without permanently changing your saved query.

 

  1. Open your saved search in Explore.
  2. Click All Filters.
  3. Select Keyword and Emoji.
  4. Enter the keyword or phrase and press Enter.
  5. Click Apply.

 

Result: The keyword is layered onto your existing search for this session. Your saved query is unchanged. Remove the filter to return to your original results.

 

How to share specific articles

  1. Check the boxes to the left of the articles or posts you want to share.
  2. Select your sharing method:
  • Email: select a sender, enter recipients, add a subject and description, and click Send.
  • Export: download as a CSV (for Excel or Sheets) or PDF.

 

Result: Selected articles are sent or exported. Recipients do not need a Meltwater account to receive an emailed selection.

 

How to create a shareable dashboard

  1. From your Explore results, click Share on the right side of the screen.
  2. Select Share Dashboard.
  3. In the new tab that opens, click Edit Slides to adjust content, or go directly to Share Slides.
  4. Enter a password if needed and click Save.
  5. Choose your output: report link, PowerPoint download, PDF download, or Add to Google Slides.
  6. Click Done.

 

Result: A shareable version of your Explore results is generated. Anyone with the link — and password if set — can view it without a Meltwater account.

 

How to vet a journalist or X author in Explore

  1. In your Explore results, click on a journalist's name in the content stream.
  2. A mini-profile slides in from the right side of the screen.
  3. Review the profile details: name, location, sources, beats, lists, recent articles, social media, and contact information.
  4. Click the link in the mini-profile to open the full profile in a new tab.

 

Note: Full profiles require a Meltwater Media Relations subscription.

 

Result: You can assess a journalist's relevance and reach without leaving your search results.

 

 

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