# SE Ranking vs Semrush: is the cheaper tool enough?

> SE Ranking vs Semrush compared on price, rank tracking, site audit, seats, white-label and AI search tracking, with per-plan math and a pick for each team.

Source: https://terradium.io/blog/se-ranking-vs-semrush

Last updated 14 October 2026 · Prices checked 14 October 2026

**The short answer**

For most small teams and agencies, **SE Ranking** is enough: its $129/mo Core plan includes daily rank tracking, a site audit, backlink research and 100 AI prompts tracked daily, and its Growth plan includes 3 seats. Pick **Semrush** if you want its broader toolkit menu, a free plan and a 7-day trial, or if your team already works in it.

Both now track AI answers. Neither writes the content that changes them. **Terradium** ($29/mo) is the dedicated option for that job, and it runs next to either suite.

SE Ranking vs Semrush is a comparison of two all-in-one SEO platforms that cover keyword research, rank tracking, site audits, backlinks and, now, AI-search visibility. SE Ranking is the cheaper of the two at each comparable tier: Core is $129/mo against Semrush's $139/mo SEO plan, and SE Ranking includes daily AI prompt tracking on that entry plan, where Semrush starts it on Starter at $199/mo. Semrush offers more toolkits and add-ons, plus a free plan.

Everything below comes from each vendor's own pricing and product pages on the date at the top. We didn't run our own data-accuracy tests, so this page doesn't rank their databases against each other.

## SE Ranking vs Semrush at a glance

| Tool | Type | Paid plans from | Free option |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| SE Ranking | All-in-one SEO suite | [$129/mo (Core)](https://seranking.com/subscription.html) | 14 days, no card trial |
| Semrush | All-in-one SEO suite | [$139/mo (SEO)](https://www.semrush.com/pricing/seo-ai-search/) | Free plan (10 reports/day) |
| Terradium | AI visibility + AI SEO content | [$29/mo (Starter)](https://terradium.io/pricing) | 7 days trial |

| | SE Ranking | Semrush |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Entry plan (monthly) | Core, $129/mo | SEO, $139/mo |
| Entry plan (billed annually) | $103.20/mo | $117.33/mo |
| Next plan up | Growth, $279/mo | Starter $199, then Pro+ $299 |
| Projects or sites on entry plan | 10 projects | 5 websites |
| Tracked keywords on entry plan | 2,000, daily | 500, daily |
| AI prompts on entry plan | 100, daily | None; 50 daily from Starter |
| Seats | 1 on Core, 3 on Growth; extra from $16 | Extra users from $45/mo |
| Free trial | 14 days, no card | 7 days |
| Free plan | None | 10 reports a day, 1 demo project |

## Round 1: Price

SE Ranking is cheaper at each comparable tier, and the gap widens as you add people.

| Scenario | SE Ranking | Semrush |
| --- | --- | --- |
| One person, entry plan, monthly | $129 | $139 |
| One person, entry plan, annual | $103.20/mo | $117.33/mo |
| Entry plan plus AI prompt tracking | $129 (Core includes 100 prompts) | $199 (Starter, 50 prompts) |
| Three people, mid plan, monthly | $279 (Growth includes 3 seats) | from $389 ($299 Pro+ plus two users from $45, assuming one login is included) |

**Verdict:** SE Ranking. At the three-person level it's $279 against from $389, a difference of at least $110/mo.

## Round 2: Keyword and competitor research

SE Ranking lists "unlimited keyword, competitor, backlink research" on Core, plus a keyword grouper. Semrush's entry SEO plan offers "basic keyword research and competitor analysis," and its fuller keyword research and optimization tools start on Starter; content optimization and keyword cannibalization analysis are on Pro+.

| | SE Ranking | Semrush |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Entry plan research | Unlimited keyword, competitor and backlink research (per SE Ranking) | Basic keyword research and competitor analysis |
| Fuller research | Same tools on every plan; limits scale | Starter and up |
| Historical data | 6 months on Core, all-time on Growth | Historical SEO data on Pro+ |

**Verdict:** SE Ranking for value, since its entry plan isn't labeled "basic." Semrush for breadth of adjacent toolkits (traffic and market, local, content, social, advertising and AI PR are sold as separate toolkits). Neither vendor's database-size claims are compared here.

## Round 3: Rank tracking

Both update tracked keywords daily, which is a real advantage over tools that update weekly (Ahrefs does, on every plan; see [Semrush vs Ahrefs](https://terradium.io/blog/semrush-vs-ahrefs)).

| | SE Ranking | Semrush |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Frequency | Daily | Daily |
| Keywords | 2,000 (Core), 5,000 (Growth) | 500 (SEO, Starter), 1,500 (Pro+), 5,000+ (Advanced) |
| Extra keywords | From $22.40 on Core | Not itemized on the pricing page |

**Verdict:** SE Ranking. Core tracks four times as many keywords as Semrush's SEO plan (2,000 against 500) for $10/mo less.

## Round 4: Site audit

| | SE Ranking | Semrush |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Included | Website and on-page audit on every plan | Site Audit on every paid plan |
| Volume | 250,000 pages a month (Core), 2 million (Growth) | Not itemized below Enterprise, which lists multi-million-page crawling |
| AI angle | Not itemized | "AI-ready" Site Audit from Starter |
| Extra | Page changes monitoring on Growth | Site audit for AI readiness in the AI Visibility toolkit |

**Verdict:** SE Ranking for published capacity, Semrush for its AI-readiness checks. If you need a dedicated desktop crawler, most teams pair either one with a tool like Screaming Frog; Mac users can check our guide to the [best SEO software for Mac](https://terradium.io/blog/best-seo-software-for-mac-the-modern-macos-stack).

## Round 5: Backlinks

Both include backlink research. SE Ranking lists backlink research and monitoring on Core and a Backlinks API as an add-on. Semrush lists Backlink Analysis among its core features. Neither publishes a link-index size on the pricing pages we read, so we can't say which index is larger.

**Verdict:** a draw on what's published. If backlinks are your main job, compare both on your own domain during the free trials (14 days for SE Ranking, 7 for Semrush).

## Round 6: Seats, clients and white-label

| | SE Ranking | Semrush |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Included seats | 1 manager seat (Core), 3 (Growth) | Team users listed on Advanced |
| Extra seats | From $16 | From $45/mo |
| White-label | Agency Pack, +$69/mo, annual billing only: white-label platform and reporting, 30 client seats | Pro Report add-on, $20/mo, includes branding and white-labeling |
| Client access | Guest links on Growth | Report sharing by link (Pro Report) |
| Shared logins | One active session per login | Individual logins per added user |

**Verdict:** SE Ranking for agencies that want a white-labeled platform with client seats. Semrush is cheaper if all you need is a branded PDF or link report, but its seats cost more. More on this in [best SEO tools for agencies](https://terradium.io/blog/best-seo-tools-for-agencies).

## AI search tracking: SE Ranking vs Semrush

Both suites now check how AI assistants answer questions about your market, and both put it inside the main plans.

**SE Ranking** includes AI prompt tracking on every plan: 100 prompts daily on Core and 250 on Growth, across 5 LLMs, with AI competitive research on 5 or 15 domains. Its product menu lists trackers for AI Overviews, AI Mode, ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity. The **AI Search add-on** ($89/mo billed monthly, $71.20/mo billed annually) adds 200 prompts in the AI Results Tracker across AI Overviews, AI Mode, Perplexity and ChatGPT, unlimited AI competitor research on those engines, and a dashboard for brand mentions, citations and sentiment trends.

**Semrush** starts AI tracking on its Starter (SEO + AI Search) plan at $199/mo: 50 prompts daily, 1 domain for AI brand performance and 300 AI visibility reports a day. Pro+ raises that to 100 prompts, and Advanced to unlimited. If you only want the AI side, the AI Visibility toolkit is $99/mo per domain for 25 prompts tracked daily across ChatGPT, Google AI, Gemini and Perplexity.

| | SE Ranking | Semrush |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Cheapest plan with AI tracking | Core, $129/mo, 100 prompts daily | AI Visibility toolkit, $99/mo per domain, 25 prompts daily |
| AI tracking inside a full SEO plan | Core, $129/mo, 100 prompts | Starter, $199/mo, 50 prompts |
| Add more AI prompts | AI Search add-on: 200 prompts, $89/mo | Move up to Pro+ (100) or Advanced (unlimited) |
| Engines | 5 LLMs; add-on covers AI Overviews, AI Mode, Perplexity, ChatGPT | ChatGPT, Google AI, Gemini, Perplexity |

On cost per prompt inside a full SEO plan, SE Ranking Core works out to $129 ÷ 100 = $1.29 per daily prompt a month, and Semrush Starter to $199 ÷ 50 = $3.98. Both measure. Neither writes the pages that get you cited. For trackers built only for this job, see [the best AI visibility tools](https://terradium.io/best-ai-visibility-tools) and our [AI rank tracker](https://terradium.io/ai-rank-tracker) page.

### SE Ranking

*All-in-one SEO suite · [$129/mo (Core)](https://seranking.com/subscription.html)*

SE Ranking is a lower-cost SEO and GEO platform for marketing teams and agencies. Every plan includes daily rank tracking, a website audit, keyword, competitor and backlink research, and daily AI prompt tracking, with agency white-label and extra AI capacity sold as add-ons.

**Pros**

- Cheaper than Semrush at each comparable tier, with 2,000 daily keywords on Core.
- AI prompt tracking included from the entry plan (100 prompts daily on Core).
- Cheap extra seats (from $16) and 3 seats on Growth.
- A 14-day free trial with no credit card.

**Cons**

- No free plan.
- The Agency Pack white-label add-on is annual billing only.
- Core keeps only 6 months of historical data; all-time history needs Growth.
- One active session per login, so a shared login doesn't work.

**Best for:** small teams and agencies that want a full suite plus AI tracking at a lower price.

### Semrush

*All-in-one SEO suite · [$139/mo (SEO)](https://www.semrush.com/pricing/seo-ai-search/) · Free plan (10 reports/day)*

Semrush is an all-in-one suite that sells SEO and AI-search visibility as combined plans, with separate toolkits for AI visibility, traffic and market data, local, content, social and advertising. Every plan tracks keywords daily and includes Site Audit.

**Pros**

- A free plan (10 reports a day) and a 7-day trial.
- A wide menu of toolkits beyond SEO, so one vendor can cover more of marketing.
- A standalone AI Visibility toolkit ($99/mo per domain) for teams that only want AI tracking.
- White-label reports for $20/mo via the Pro Report add-on.

**Cons**

- More expensive at each comparable tier.
- The entry plan has basic research only and no AI prompt tracking.
- Extra users from $45/mo add up quickly for teams.

**Best for:** teams that want the broadest toolkit menu and can absorb the higher price. Other options are in [Semrush alternatives](https://terradium.io/blog/semrush-alternatives).

### Terradium

*AI visibility + AI SEO content · [$29/mo (Starter)](https://terradium.io/pricing)*

Terradium is the dedicated option for AI answers: it samples 15 questions each week on 3 of ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews and Gemini, reports whether you're mentioned and your site cited, lists what to write next from the gaps, and writes it, 30 articles a month.

**Pros**

- Tracking and content in one tool, so the gaps you find get written up.
- Articles come from a multi-agent pipeline (plan, research, write, improve) and publish to a built-in CMS or your site via a signed webhook.
- $29/mo with a 7-day free trial.

**Cons**

- Tracks fewer prompts, less often (15, weekly) than SE Ranking or Semrush.
- No backlink index, site audit, Google rank tracking, keyword database at suite scale, white-label reporting or local SEO.

**Best for:** small teams whose problem is AI answers and content, alongside an SEO suite.

**Where Terradium fits**

Terradium doesn't replace SE Ranking or Semrush. It has no backlink index, no crawler or technical audit, no Google keyword-position tracking, no large keyword database, no PPC data, no white-label reports and no local SEO. Keep a suite for those.

What it adds is the step after measurement. Both suites will tell you which AI answers leave you out. Terradium turns those gaps into a weekly list of articles and writes them, 30 a month, for $29/mo. Want a baseline first? Run one question through the free [AI visibility checker](https://terradium.io/tools/ai-visibility-checker).

## Pick by profile

- **Freelancer or solo consultant on a budget:** SE Ranking Core. 10 projects, 2,000 daily keywords and 100 AI prompts for $129/mo, or $103.20/mo billed annually.
- **Small agency with 2 to 3 people:** SE Ranking Growth, which includes 3 seats, plus the Agency Pack if clients need a white-labeled login.
- **In-house team that wants one vendor for SEO, ads, social and market data:** Semrush, starting on Starter if you want AI tracking.
- **Team that only wants AI tracking, not a suite:** Semrush's AI Visibility toolkit, or a dedicated tracker from [the best AI visibility tools](https://terradium.io/best-ai-visibility-tools).
- **Team that needs AI visibility and the content to improve it:** add Terradium to whichever suite you pick.

## Questions

**Is SE Ranking as good as Semrush?**

For core SEO work, SE Ranking covers the same jobs: daily rank tracking, a site audit, keyword, competitor and backlink research, and AI prompt tracking. Semrush offers a wider menu of toolkits for traffic, local, content, social and advertising, plus a free plan.

**How much does SE Ranking cost?**

SE Ranking Core is $129/mo, or $103.20/mo billed annually, and Growth is $279/mo, or $223.20/mo billed annually. Enterprise is custom-priced, and there's a 14-day free trial with no credit card.

**How much does Semrush cost?**

Semrush's SEO plan is $139/mo, Starter (SEO + AI Search) is $199/mo and Pro+ is $299/mo, with Advanced at a custom price. Annual billing saves up to 17%, and extra users start at $45/mo.

**Does SE Ranking track AI Overviews and ChatGPT?**

Yes. Every SE Ranking plan includes daily AI prompt tracking (100 prompts on Core, 250 on Growth). The AI Search add-on, $89/mo billed monthly, adds 200 prompts in the AI Results Tracker across AI Overviews, AI Mode, Perplexity and ChatGPT.

**Which is better for agencies, SE Ranking or Semrush?**

SE Ranking costs less per seat (extra seats from $16 against Semrush's $45) and its Agency Pack adds a white-labeled platform with 30 client seats for +$69/mo on annual billing. Semrush's $20/mo Pro Report add-on is cheaper if you only need white-label reports.