9 Semrush Alternatives for Agencies and In-House SEO Teams

Why teams look for a Semrush alternative

Semrush is a large platform with research, tracking, auditing, content and advertising tools. That breadth is its strength and, for many teams, its problem. Third-party price trackers list the Pro plan at about $139.95 a month on monthly billing, with limits such as 5 projects and 500 tracked keywords, and the higher plans cost more. Extra users cost extra too.

Looking for cheaper alternatives to Semrush is the most common starting point. Teams usually leave for one of four reasons: the bill, hitting limits on tracked keywords or projects, a feature set that is more than they use, or a preference for another tool’s data or interface. If you are unsure whether you need a paid tool at all, our guide to the best SEO tools compares the main options by job.

9 Semrush alternatives to consider

Each entry notes what it does best and where it falls short. Prices are monthly list figures reported by third-party sources in October 2026, so confirm them on each vendor’s site.

1. Ahrefs

Ahrefs is the most direct rival for serious SEO work. It is known for its backlink index, its Site Explorer for studying any competitor, keyword research, rank tracking and site audits. Sources list plans from a limited Starter tier at $29 a month, then Lite at $129, Standard at $249 and Advanced at $449.

Choose it if link research and competitor analysis matter most. Watch for cost at the upper tiers, and usage limits that vary by plan.

2. SE Ranking

SE Ranking covers rank tracking, keyword research, site audits, backlink checks and white-label reports at a lower price than the big two. Third-party sources list entry plans around $52 to $65 a month, depending on billing, though they disagree on exact numbers, so check its pricing page.

Choose it if you run client work and need branded reports on a budget. Watch for a smaller data set than Ahrefs or Semrush for backlinks.

3. Moz Pro

Moz Pro is one of the oldest SEO suites. It offers keyword research, rank tracking, site crawls and its own authority metrics. Sources list plans from about $49 a month for Starter up to $299 for Large.

Choose it if you want a simple tool with clear metrics. Watch for fewer advanced features than Semrush or Ahrefs.

4. Mangools

Mangools bundles KWFinder for keyword research, SERPChecker, SERPWatcher for rank tracking, LinkMiner and SiteProfiler in one subscription. It is known for a clean interface. Sources list Basic at about $49 a month, or about $30 a month on annual billing.

Choose it if you are a beginner, freelancer or small business. Watch for limits on lookups and tracked keywords on lower plans.

5. Ubersuggest

Ubersuggest, from Neil Patel, offers keyword ideas, a site audit, backlink data and rank tracking at low prices. It is also known for lifetime plans. Capterra lists an individual plan at $29 a month or $290 for lifetime access, though other sources show older, lower prices.

Choose it if you are a solo site owner with a tight budget. Watch for a thinner data set for large or competitive sites.

6. SpyFu

SpyFu is built around competitor research. It shows which keywords a rival ranks for and which keywords they buy in ads, and its history goes back years. Sources disagree on its current plan prices, so check its pricing page.

Choose it if you run paid search and want to study competitors. Watch for weaker site audit and content tools.

7. Similarweb

Similarweb estimates traffic, audience and sources for websites, so it answers questions such as “how big is this competitor and where do their visitors come from?”. It is more of a market intelligence tool than a day-to-day SEO suite.

Choose it if you need market and competitor traffic estimates. Watch for estimates. Small sites have less reliable numbers.

8. Google Search Console, Keyword Planner and Trends

Google’s free tools cover a lot. They are the best free alternatives to Semrush for your own site, and the first place to look if you want Semrush alternatives free of charge. Search Console shows the queries and pages that actually bring you clicks, Keyword Planner gives search volume ranges and Trends shows interest over time. They use real data from your site, which paid tools only estimate.

They do not show competitor data or backlinks of other sites, but they are the right base for any team.

Choose it if you want the real data about your own site, for free. Watch for no competitor view. Pair it with one paid tool if you need that.

9. Screaming Frog SEO Spider

Screaming Frog is a desktop crawler that finds technical problems such as broken links, redirect chains, missing titles and duplicate pages. The free version has a crawl limit, and a paid license removes it. It does not do keyword research or rank tracking, so teams use it beside another tool.

Choose it if technical SEO audits are your main need. Watch for learning curve. It gives raw data that needs interpretation.

Semrush alternatives compared

How to pick the right alternative

• Agency with many clients: SE Ranking or Semrush’s higher plans, for white-label reports and many projects.
• In-house team with one site: Ahrefs or Moz Pro for research, plus Search Console for real data.
• Freelancer or small business: Mangools or Ubersuggest, plus Google’s free tools.
• Ecommerce store: a tool with strong site audits and rank tracking, since product and category pages drive revenue. See our ecommerce SEO strategies.
• Paid search focus: SpyFu or Semrush, for ad and keyword history.
• Technical focus: Screaming Frog, beside any research tool.

Many teams now also track whether their brand appears in AI answers. If that matters to you, see our comparison of AI rank tracking tools and our guide on how to optimize your site for AI Overviews.

How to switch tools without losing your history

1. Export your data. Download tracked keywords, rank history, projects and reports before you cancel.
2. Run both for a month. Overlap the old and new tool, so you can compare trends side by side.
3. Expect different numbers. Each tool uses its own keyword database and traffic model. Judge by direction, not exact volume.
4. Rebuild your keyword lists. Import your tracked keywords and check that locations and devices match.
5. Reset your reports. Recreate the dashboards and client reports you need, and drop the ones nobody reads.
6. Cancel once the new setup works. Do not wait for a perfect match.

If you would rather hand the work to a team, our AI SEO services and digital marketing services cover research, content and technical fixes, and our list of the best AI SEO agencies explains how to compare providers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a cheaper alternative to Semrush?

Mangools, SE Ranking and Ubersuggest all cost less per month than Semrush’s Pro plan, and Google Search Console and Keyword Planner are free. Mangools suits beginners, SE Ranking suits client reporting and Ubersuggest suits solo users.

Is Ahrefs better than Semrush?

Neither is better in every case. Ahrefs is known for its backlink data and competitor research, while Semrush offers a broader set of marketing tools, including advertising and content features. Try both on your own site and judge which data is more useful.

Which is better, Moz or Semrush?

Semrush offers more features and data, and Moz Pro is simpler and often lower in cost. Moz suits teams that want clear keyword and link metrics, and Semrush suits teams that want research, tracking and advertising tools in one place.

Why is Semrush so expensive?

Semrush sells a large platform that covers SEO, advertising, content and social tools, and it maintains big data sets. Plans are limited by projects, tracked keywords and reports, and extra users cost more, so prices climb as your team grows.

Can I do SEO for free?

Yes, to a point. Google Search Console, Keyword Planner, Trends, PageSpeed Insights and the free version of Screaming Frog cover your own site’s data, technical checks and basic research. Paid tools add competitor and backlink data.

What is the best free Semrush alternative?

Google Search Console is the best free base, because it shows real queries and clicks for your site. Add Keyword Planner for volume ranges, Trends for seasonality and Screaming Frog’s free version for technical checks.

Do I need a paid SEO tool?

Not always. A small site can do well with Google’s free tools and good content. Paid tools help when you need competitor research, backlink analysis, large-scale rank tracking or client reports.

Why do SEO tools show different numbers?

Each tool builds its own keyword database and estimates traffic with its own model. Only Google Search Console shows real data for your site. Use paid tools to compare trends and competitors, not to read exact figures.

Which SEO tool is best for agencies?

Agencies need many projects, white-label reports and fair per-client costs. SE Ranking is popular for value, and Semrush and Ahrefs suit agencies that need deeper data. Compare project limits and reporting features before you commit.

Can AI replace SEO tools?

AI can speed up research, outlines and reports, but it does not replace data. You still need real search data, rank tracking and crawling to know what to fix. Many tools now add AI features on top of their data.

Bottom Line

There is no single best Semrush alternative. Pick Ahrefs for link research, SE Ranking or Mangools for value, Ubersuggest for a tight budget and Google’s free tools as the base for everyone. Run a one-month overlap before you switch.

A tool only shows you what to do. If you want a team to do it, explore our SEO services.

Vikram Jain

Delivery Manager

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I’m Vikram Jain, a Delivery Manager, Account Manager, and Senior Technical Project Manager with over 19 years of experience in the IT industry. (PMP, PSM I, Google Certified Project Manager). I specialize in requirement gathering, stakeholder management, pre-sales, and delivering scalable solutions across industries including eCommerce, CRM, and consumer goods. I have led cross-functional teams and managed multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring timely and high-quality delivery. I’m passionate about building strong client relationships, mentoring teams, and driving strategic growth through effective planning and execution. My focus is on aligning business needs with technology solutions to deliver impactful and measurable results.