Alternatives
The 11 best Semrush alternatives in 2026
Last updated Prices checked
A Semrush alternative is any SEO tool that covers the jobs you use Semrush for (keyword research, rank tracking, site audits, backlink analysis or competitor research) at a lower price, with a simpler interface, or with a sharper focus on one of those jobs. Most teams don't need a like-for-like suite. They need the two or three Semrush features they actually open every week.
Why people leave Semrush
Semrush is a broad, capable suite, and for many teams it's worth the money. The reasons people look elsewhere are mostly about cost and fit:
- The entry price. Semrush's cheapest paid SEO plan is $139/mo billed monthly, and AI-search tracking starts on the Starter (SEO + AI Search) plan at $199/mo. That's a lot for a solo site owner who mostly checks rankings.
- Seats. Additional users start at $45/mo each, so a growing team pays noticeably more than the sticker price.
- Paying for breadth you don't use. Semrush sells combined SEO + AI Search plans plus add-on toolkits. If you only need rank tracking and a site audit, much of what you pay for goes unused.
- Agency extras moved. Semrush discontinued its Agency Growth Kit (which included the Client Portal and CRM). White-label reporting is now the Pro Report add-on at $20/mo.
So why is Semrush so expensive? Mostly because it's priced as a multi-toolkit platform that charges for each additional user, not a single-purpose tool. If you need the whole platform, the price is defensible. If you don't, one of the tools below will likely cost less.
Semrush alternatives at a glance
Prices are each tool's cheapest paid plan, billed monthly, read off the vendor's pricing page on the date above. Where a vendor geo-prices or blocked our check, the table says "See pricing page" instead of guessing.
| Tool | Type | Paid plans from | Free option |
|---|---|---|---|
| SE RankingLower-cost SEO + GEO platform aimed at marketing teams and agencies, with AI-search tracking and agency white-label as add-ons. | All-in-one SEO suite | $129/mo (Core)10 projects, 2,000 keywords + 100 AI prompts tracked daily | 14 days, no card trial |
| AhrefsBacklink- and crawler-data-led SEO platform, now also selling AI-search visibility (Brand Radar), from solo site owners to enterprise teams. | All-in-one SEO suite | $129/mo (Lite)1 user, 5 projects, 750 tracked keywords (weekly updates) | Ahrefs Free for your own verified sites |
| Moz ProLong-standing SEO suite (Domain Authority, Link Explorer) for small businesses up to larger teams, now bundling AI visibility dashboards into every plan. | All-in-one SEO suite | $49/mo (Starter)For one website | Free Moz account (limited) |
| SimilarwebWebsite traffic and competitive-intelligence platform for marketers, researchers and enterprises, with SEO, AEO and ad intelligence in higher tiers. | Competitive / market intelligence | $199/mo (Competitive Intelligence)1 user, 3 months of history; $125/mo billed yearly | Free limited data on similarweb.com |
| SpyFuCompetitor keyword and ad research tool focused on what rivals rank for and buy in Google Ads, for marketers and PPC specialists. | Competitor research (SEO + PPC) | See pricing page | See pricing page |
| SEO PowerSuiteDownloadable desktop SEO suite (rank tracking, audits, backlinks, keyword research) sold as yearly licenses with unlimited projects and keywords. | Desktop SEO software | $29.10/mo (Professional)Billed yearly ($349/yr); no monthly plan | Free version (1 project, 500-URL crawl) |
| UbersuggestBudget keyword-research and site-audit tool from Neil Patel's company, aimed at small businesses and beginners, with monthly or one-time lifetime plans. | Budget SEO tool | See pricing page | Free account (limited) |
| MangoolsSimple, low-cost bundle of five SEO apps (keyword research, SERP analysis, rank tracking, backlinks, site metrics) for bloggers, small businesses and beginners. | Beginner-friendly SEO toolkit | See pricing page | Free account (limited) |
| MajesticSpecialist backlink-index tool (Trust Flow, Citation Flow, Fresh and Historic Index) for link builders, agencies and developers. | Backlink analysis | $49.99/mo (Lite)1 user, Fresh Index; $41.67/mo billed yearly; excl. VAT | None |
| Ahrefs Free (Webmaster Tools)Ahrefs' free tier for owners of verified websites: site audit, own-site backlink and keyword data, and privacy-focused web analytics. | Free SEO tool (site owners) | Free | Free for verified sites |
| TerradiumSmall teams that want to be cited in AI answers and need the articles to get there | AI visibility + AI SEO content | $29/mo (Starter)15 tracked questions, weekly, on 3 of 4 AI engines; 30 AI-written articles a month | 7 days trial |
All-in-one Semrush alternatives
These cover most of what Semrush does: keyword research, rank tracking, site audits and backlinks in one subscription.
SE Ranking
All-in-one SEO suite · $129/mo (Core)
SE Ranking is the most direct "cheaper Semrush" on this list. The Core plan includes 10 projects, 2,000 keywords and 100 AI prompts tracked daily, and 250,000 audit pages a month. Growth moves to 30 projects, 3 manager seats, 5,000 keywords and 250 AI prompts daily.
Pros
- Daily keyword and AI-prompt tracking on the entry plan
- 14-day free trial with no credit card
- Extra manager seats start at $16, far less than Semrush's extra users
- Agency Pack add-on for white-label reporting with 30 client seats
Cons
- Only one manager seat on Core
- The Agency Pack is annual billing only
- The fuller AI Results Tracker (AI Overviews, AI Mode, Perplexity, ChatGPT) is a separate $89/mo add-on
Best for: Small marketing teams and agencies that want most of Semrush for less.
Ahrefs
All-in-one SEO suite · $129/mo (Lite) · Ahrefs Free for your own verified sites
Ahrefs is Semrush's closest peer and the usual alternative for teams who care most about backlink and crawl data. Lite includes 5 projects, 750 tracked keywords and 100,000 crawl credits; higher plans raise every limit and the history window.
Pros
- Strong backlink, Site Explorer and Site Audit tooling
- Ahrefs Free gives verified site owners Site Audit and Site Explorer at no cost
- Paid plans include a handful of tracked AI prompts, with Brand Radar for deeper AI-visibility research
Cons
- No free trial
- Rank Tracker updates weekly on every plan, while Semrush and SE Ranking update daily
- Extra users cost $40 to $100/mo depending on plan, with caps on how many you can add
Best for: SEO and link-building teams who want Semrush-level depth with a backlink focus. See our Semrush vs Ahrefs comparison for the head-to-head.
Moz Pro
All-in-one SEO suite · $49/mo (Starter) · Free Moz account (limited)
Moz Pro is one of the longest-running SEO suites, known for Domain Authority and Link Explorer. The Standard plan includes 1 user, 3 tracked sites, 300 tracked keywords and 150 tracked AI prompts, and Moz has an entry Starter plan for people managing a single site.
Pros
- AI visibility tracking is included in every Standard-and-up plan (150 to 600 prompts across GPT, Gemini, Google AI Mode and Perplexity, updated weekly)
- A lower entry price than Semrush
- A free Moz Community account gives limited access to MozBar, Keyword Explorer and Link Explorer
Cons
- Fewer tracked keywords than SE Ranking or Ahrefs at a similar price
- Extra seats cost $49/mo each
- AI prompt tracking updates weekly, not daily
Best for: Small businesses and in-house marketers who want a familiar, lighter suite. Moz or Semrush? Pick Moz if you track a few sites and want AI prompts bundled; pick Semrush if you need PPC data, more toolkits, or daily tracking at scale.
Similarweb
Competitive / market intelligence · $199/mo (Competitive Intelligence) · Free limited data on similarweb.com
Similarweb is a market-intelligence platform first: website traffic, channels and competitor benchmarks. SEO tools (keyword research, rank tracker, site audit, backlinks) and AEO tools (AI brand visibility with 150 tracked prompts) start on the Competitive Intel & SEO & AEO plan.
Pros
- Traffic and channel estimates for any competitor's site
- SEO, AEO and ad intelligence on one platform at higher tiers
- Free limited data on similarweb.com
Cons
- The cheapest plan doesn't include the SEO or AEO tools
- One user and 3 to 6 months of history on self-serve plans
- Priced above Semrush once you add SEO
Best for: Teams that need competitive traffic intelligence more than day-to-day SEO.
Budget and PPC alternatives
SpyFu
Competitor research (SEO + PPC) · See pricing page
SpyFu focuses on competitor research: which keywords rivals rank for and which they buy in Google Ads. Its plans are Basic, Pro + AI (which bundles RivalFlow AI for SEO improvement and AI visibility) and Team/Agency.
Pros
- Unlimited keyword and domain searches on every paid plan
- Strong on PPC competitor research, a Semrush strength many cheaper tools skip
- 30-day money-back guarantee for new subscriptions
Cons
- Historical data is only on Pro + AI and Team/Agency
- Narrower than Semrush: no full technical SEO suite
- We couldn't read its pricing page, so check current prices there
Best for: PPC specialists and marketers who mainly use Semrush to spy on competitors' keywords and ads.
SEO PowerSuite
Desktop SEO software · $29.10/mo (Professional) · Free version (1 project, 500-URL crawl)
SEO PowerSuite is downloadable desktop software covering rank tracking, site audits, backlinks and keyword research. It's sold as yearly licenses (Professional is $349/yr), with discounts for 2- and 3-year terms.
Pros
- Unlimited projects and tracked keywords on paid plans
- A free-forever version (1 project, no saving, 500-URL crawl)
- All plans list Google AI Overviews tracking
- White-label reports from the Enterprise plan
Cons
- No monthly billing
- Desktop software you install, rather than a browser app
Best for: Budget-conscious SEOs and small agencies who want unlimited tracking and don't mind a desktop app.
Ubersuggest
Budget SEO tool · See pricing page · Free account (limited)
Ubersuggest is Neil Patel's budget keyword-research and site-audit tool. Its three paid tiers allow 150, 300 or 900 reports a day and 1, 7 or 15 projects, and you can buy a one-time lifetime plan instead of a subscription.
Pros
- Free account, and a 7-day trial on monthly plans
- Lifetime plans for people who hate subscriptions
- AI Search Visibility tracks 10 to 20 prompts per brand across ChatGPT, Gemini and Google AI Overview
- Add-ons such as extra users are +$5/month each
Cons
- Rank tracking updates weekly
- AI prompts update monthly to weekly depending on tier
- Lifetime purchases are final and non-refundable
- Geo-priced, so check the pricing page for your region
Best for: Beginners and small businesses that want a cheap free Semrush alternative to start with.
Beginner, backlink and free alternatives
Mangools
Beginner-friendly SEO toolkit · See pricing page · Free account (limited)
Mangools bundles five simple apps: KWFinder (keyword research), SERPChecker, SERPWatcher (rank tracking), LinkMiner (backlinks) and SiteProfiler. Every plan includes all five, plus 1 AI Search Watcher monitor with 5 prompts.
Pros
- Clean, beginner-friendly interface
- All five apps on every plan
- Free account, and a full refund within 48 hours of payment
Cons
- Rank tracking updates weekly except on the Agency plan
- Lookup limits (100 KWFinder lookups per 24 hours on Basic) are tight for heavy research
- Geo-priced, so check the pricing page for your region
Best for: Bloggers and small-business owners who find Semrush overwhelming.
Majestic
Backlink analysis · $49.99/mo (Lite)
Majestic is a specialist backlink index, known for its Trust Flow and Citation Flow metrics and its Fresh and Historic indexes. It doesn't try to be a suite.
Pros
- A focused backlink tool at a lower price than Semrush
- Pro adds the Historic Index, raw exports and custom reports
- 7-day money-back guarantee on Lite and Pro for first-time customers
Cons
- No keyword research, rank tracking or site audit to replace the rest of Semrush
- Lite has the Fresh Index only and no API
- Prices exclude VAT
Best for: Link builders who used Semrush mainly for backlink analysis.
Ahrefs Free (Webmaster Tools)
Free SEO tool (site owners) · Free · Free for verified sites
Ahrefs Free (formerly Ahrefs Webmaster Tools) gives you Site Audit, Site Explorer and Web Analytics for an unlimited number of websites you've verified.
Pros
- Free, with no trial clock
- Site Audit with 170+ issue checks on your own sites
- Includes 1 AI Content Helper document per month
Cons
- Only covers sites you own; competitor research needs a paid Ahrefs plan
- 5,000 crawl credits per project per month, and up to 1,000 backlinks or keywords visible at once
Best for: Site owners who want a free Semrush alternative for auditing and monitoring their own site.
If you also need AI visibility
Semrush now sells AI-search tracking inside its SEO + AI Search plans and as a standalone AI Visibility toolkit ($99/mo per domain for 25 prompts). Several tools above include some AI-prompt tracking too. If being cited in ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini and Google AI Overviews is the main goal, compare dedicated trackers in our roundup of AI visibility tools and the AI rank tracker guide.
Terradium
AI visibility + AI SEO content · $29/mo (Starter)
Terradium tracks your brand in AI answers and writes the content to fix the gaps. Each week it samples 15 questions on 3 of 4 engines (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews and Gemini), reports whether you're mentioned and your site is cited, and lists what to write next. It writes 30 articles a month with a multi-agent pipeline and publishes them to a built-in CMS or to your site via a signed webhook.
Pros
- AI visibility tracking and AI-written SEO content in one tool
- A weekly Actions list built from the gaps in AI answers
- 7-day free trial
Cons
- No backlink index, site crawler, Google rank tracking or PPC data
- Samples weekly on 3 engines, less often than daily trackers
- No keyword database at Semrush scale
Best for: Small teams whose problem is content and AI answers, used next to (or instead of part of) a Semrush subscription.
How to choose a Semrush alternative
- List the Semrush features you actually use. If it's rank tracking and audits, SE Ranking or SEO PowerSuite will do. If it's backlinks, Ahrefs or Majestic. If it's competitor ads, SpyFu.
- Price the seats, not the plan. Add the cost of every extra user. SE Ranking's seats start at $16; Semrush's start at $45.
- Check update frequency. Ahrefs, Ubersuggest and most Mangools plans track rankings weekly. If you report daily movements, choose SE Ranking or stay on Semrush.
- Try before you commit. SE Ranking and Semrush offer trials; Ahrefs doesn't, but Ahrefs Free lets you test its audit on your own site.
- Decide where AI answers fit. If AI visibility matters, check whether the tool's included prompts and cadence are enough, or pair your suite with a dedicated tracker.
- Mind your platform. If you work on a Mac, see our guide to the best SEO software for Mac before buying desktop tools.
For more options, see our guides to Ahrefs alternatives and Moz alternatives.
Questions
- What is the best Semrush alternative?
- For a full suite at a lower price, SE Ranking is the closest match: its Core plan tracks 2,000 keywords and 100 AI prompts daily. If backlink data matters most, Ahrefs is Semrush's closest peer.
- Why is Semrush so expensive?
- Semrush is priced as a multi-toolkit platform with per-seat pricing. The entry SEO plan is $139/mo billed monthly, AI-search tracking starts on the $199/mo Starter plan, and extra users start at $45/mo each.
- Is there a free Semrush alternative?
- Ahrefs Free gives you Site Audit, Site Explorer and Web Analytics for websites you've verified, at no cost. SEO PowerSuite has a free-forever version, and Mangools and Ubersuggest offer limited free accounts. Semrush itself also has a free plan with 10 reports a day.
- Moz or Semrush: which should I pick?
- Moz Pro is cheaper to start and bundles AI prompt tracking (updated weekly) into every Standard-and-up plan. Semrush tracks keywords daily, covers more sites on its entry plan and offers more toolkits, at a higher price.
- Can Terradium replace Semrush?
- Only partly. Terradium tracks whether AI answers mention and cite you and writes 30 SEO articles a month, but it has no backlink index, site crawler, Google rank tracking, large keyword database or PPC data.
See where AI answers leave you out
Terradium samples ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews and Gemini for the questions your buyers ask, then writes the articles that close the gaps. $29 a month, 7 days free.
Start free for 7 days