12 Best Semrush Alternatives & Competitors (2024 Comparison)
Semrush is the most complete SEO & content marketing toolset available. And it’s one of our favorite SEO tools.
But it’s not right for everyone.
Maybe you’re looking for a Semrush alternative that’s more affordable or easier to use. Either way—we’ve got you covered.
In this post, we’re comparing the best Semrush alternatives & competitors so you can find the best SEO tool for your needs.
The best Semrush alternatives – summary
TL;DR:
- SE Ranking – Best Semrush alternative overall. Includes a great balance between features and affordability.
- Serpstat – Another solid alternative to Semrush. Includes PPC research as well.
- Mangools – Best Semrush alternative for beginners.
#1 – SE Ranking
SE Ranking ranks top in our Semrush alternatives list due to its affordability and fantastic featureset.
It has a very similar feature set and comes with pretty much all the same core functionality but with plans starting at roughly a third of the cost.
Like Semrush, you can use SE Ranking for keyword research, competitor analysis, on-page SEO audits, backlink reports… you know, all the usual stuff.
And it has one of the largest databases of keywords & backlinks of any tool we’ve tested.
But unlike Semrush, it’s far more affordable. And it’s incredibly affordable for large numbers of projects.
Semrush’s lowest-priced plan (Pro) costs $99.95/month when billed annually and lets you track up to 500 keywords. To track the same number of keywords with SE Ranking, you’d pay just $33.12/month. That’s a substantial saving.
And despite the low-cost price tag, SE Ranking is every bit as good as Semrush. But don’t want to take our word for it, just check the reviews.
SE Ranking has a 4.8-star rating on G2 based on over 900 reviews, compared to Semrush’s 4.6-star rating. Complaints are few and far between, and there’s not a single 1-star or 2-star review that we could find.
And it’s easy to see why SE Ranking has such a happy customer base. Its keyword and backlink databases are huge, all of the built-in SEO tools are great, the interface is really intuitive, support is awesome… there’s nothing not to like.
In addition to all the core SEO tools, SE Ranking also comes with a few additional features that Semrush lacks. The Marketing and SEO Plan is one of our favorites.
It generates complete SEO strategies for you with a checklist of all the tasks you need to complete, from pre-launch care to off-page optimization, social media promotion, and beyond. You can also add your own custom tasks to your to-do list to stay organized.
And did we mention that SE Ranking is great for agencies? The white-label interface, reporting, and lead generation widget are all really useful features that can help you to impress your clients and find new prospects. And the pricing is equally great for agencies.
On higher level plans, you also get API access which is a neat feature if you want to include SE Ranking data in your own tool.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| All-in-one tool | Complicated interface which makes it harder for beginners to use |
| Flexible and affordable pricing | |
| Generous allowances make it a good option for agencies and freelancers | |
| Huge database of keywords and backlinks |
Pricing
Plans start from $23.52/month. A free trial is available.
Read our SE Ranking review.
#2 – Serpstat
Next on our Semrush alternatives list is Serpstat, packed with a range of SEO tools for backlink analysis, PPC, and more.
This all-in-one SEO tool can help you track your rankings, analyze keywords, complete a site audit, and more. All in all, the product features over 30 useful SEO tools.
Serpstat stands out in comparison to Semrush thanks to its range of PPC features. You can use Serpstat to examine and analyze competitor ads, group relevant keywords and ads, gain insight into CPC and keywords indicators, track PPC for specific search terms and analyze trending landing pages.
In addition to all the features mentioned above, Serpstat can also be used to create custom reports and checklists, run one-page audits, and manage your SEO team, making it a great choice for larger businesses and agencies.
Serpstat is also a little more affordable than Semrush, as they offer a Lite plan which costs less than $100/month.
And, they also have a powerful API that you can use to incorporate their data into your own tools.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Full range of PPC features | Smaller backlink database than some other platforms |
| Over 30 tools in total | Keyword difficulty metric could use some improvement |
| Affordable Lite plan available | |
| Generous usage allowances |
Pricing
Plans start from as little as $45/month for 24-month packages.
#3 – Mangools
Mangools is a great all-in-one SEO solution that is perfect for beginners. This tool is full-featured and extremely useful, but it’s not as overwhelming or complicated to use as some other options.
You can use Mangools for all of your essential SEO tasks: keyword research, rank tracking, backlink analysis, and SERP analysis. You can also use it to keep track of various SEO metrics and gain valuable insight into your site and your competitors.
Mangools also has SEO tools that can help you identify your competition and benchmark your site against your biggest industry competitors.
Although Mangools doesn’t offer as many complicated features as Semrush, what it does offer is an easy-to-use simplified dashboard and useful features that can help you streamline your SEO processes, such as email updates for rank tracking and easily shareable reports.
Mangools is also extremely affordable in comparison to Semrush, with its agency plan costing less than Semrush’s cheapest plan. And entry level plans starting at $29.90/month.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Simplified tool that’s great for beginners | Fewer features than other all-in-one tools |
| Rank tracking updates | Backlink tool could do with extra filtering options |
| Very affordable | |
| Covers several keyword research types |
Pricing
Free plan available. Paid plans start at €29/month, save 35% with an annual subscription. Mangools offer a 48-hour full refund policy.
Read our Mangools review.
#4 – Ahrefs
Ahrefs is one of the biggest names in the industry and is a solid alternative to Semrush. It includes tons of useful tools and a great depth of data, making it one of the best all-in-one SEO solutions available.
Firstly, Ahrefs features an easy-to-use dashboard that can help you keep track of all the essential SEO projects and metrics. It also includes Site and Keyword Explorer tools which you can use to discover new keywords, and learn more about your competitor’s backlinks and keyword rankings.
In addition to this, Ahrefs offers a tool which will run a site audit that scans your site for SEO issues. There are also rank tracking and content exploration tools available.
Although Ahrefs has long been an industry favorite, they’ve recently changed their pricing structure and they now bill overages automatically which can significantly increase your plan price. This makes it a less desirable option for both agencies and individuals alike.
They also reduced their usage allowance to offer only 500 monthly reports across all plans.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Extensive tool set | Expensive |
| Easy-to-use dashboard | Bills overages automatically |
| Large database of backlinks and keywords | No free trial |
| Most active crawler (second to Google) |
Pricing
Plans start from $83/month when billed annually. Overages are billed automatically. Monthly credits vary depending on plan.
#5 – SEO PowerSuite
SEO PowerSuite is a downloadable SEO tool that shares many of the same features as Semrush. The majority of its features are available on desktop, but some features such as the backlink analysis tool are cloud-based.
The tool comes complete with advanced rank tracking software that can help you monitor your rankings and even monitor geo-specific rankings. The rank tracker also features 23 keyword analysis tools that are essential for SEO.
Additionally, SEO Powersuite includes a tool which runs a site audit, backlink analysis and building tool known as Link Assistant, and SEO Spyglass, which will help you gain insight into your competitors using comprehensive backlink research.
It’s a great alternative to regular online SEO tools as you pay a yearly price for access to all the tools which makes it a great option for agencies and larger businesses. Also, there is a free option available for limited usage which will be enough for some users.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| All-in-one SEO tool | Download required |
| Free plan available | Only yearly pricing options available |
| Large backlink database | |
| Great value for money |
Pricing
SEO Powersuite has a limited free plan available. Premium plans start from $299/year.
#6 – Morningscore
Morningscore is an easy-to-use Semrush alternative that’s a great choice for beginners. Like Semrush, it’s an all-in-one SEO tool, but it prides itself on being the easiest one to use, making it perfect for people who want to take the complication out of SEO.
The Morningscore user interface is extremely intuitive and includes a range of gamification and goal-setting features that make achieving your SEO targets both straightforward and fun.
In terms of features, the tool has everything you need to complete all the essential SEO tasks. For example, you can use Morningscore for keyword research and planning, backlink monitoring, competitor analysis, and rank tracking.
It also has a site ‘health check’ feature which will complete a site audit and highlight any technical issues, or issues within your content that need to be fixed. You can also use Morningscore for reporting and running in-depth scans on competitor sites.
If you’re new to the world of SEO, or you just prefer simplified tools without too many bells and whistles, Morningscore is a great option.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| All-in-one solution | Less features overall than Semrush |
| Beginner friendly and easy-to-use | |
| Gamification and goal setting features |
Pricing
Plans start from $65/month with a 14-day free trial available.
#7 – WebCEO
WebCEO WebCEO is a full-featured toolkit with over 23 professional SEO tools included. It includes all the essential SEO tools such as backlink checking, site audits, keyword analysis/research, and competitor analysis.
However, WebCEO is jam-packed full of additional features that you won’t get with Semrush. For example, you can use WebCEO to get instant ranking checks and audit toxic links. You can also run partner link checks which will let you monitor backlinks and check their attributes.
Other cool features include a content submission tool that will help you submit content to directories, search engines, and blog communities; and social media analytics.
All in all, WebCEO is one of the most full-featured tools out there, and it’s a great choice for anyone looking for a true all-in-one solution for digital marketing and SEO.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Over 23 tools in total | UI could be improved |
| Lots of unique features such as content submission | |
| Free trial available |
Pricing
Plans start from $33/month. 14-day free trial available.
#8 – SpyFu
SpyFu is a competitor analysis and SEO research tool that is perfect for getting the edge on your paid and organic search rivals.
This tool includes some of the same features as Semrush keyword research and rank tracking but its main focus is on SEO and PPC competitor analysis. You can use SpyFu to research your competitor’s SEO keywords and spy on your competitor’s content and ranking data.
You can also keep a close eye on your PPC competitors and keep track of domains that are bidding on Google ads. You can also browse your competitor’s Google ads campaigns and ad tests to gain essential insights for planning your own ad campaigns.
When it comes to PPC analysis, Spyfu really is one of the best tools available, as it can not only help you to get ahead of the competition but it can also help you to highlight areas within your own campaigns where you may be wasting money.
Overall, if competitor analysis is your main goal right now, then Spyfu is an essential tool to have in your stack.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Useful for SEO and PPC | Not as many general SEO and content features as Semrush |
| Easy to use | Mainly focused on competitor research |
| Great for competitor research and analysis |
Pricing
Plans start from $33/month with substantial discounts available if you download ClickCease.
#9 – Moz Pro
Moz Pro is another big player in the marketing SaaS space. It’s up there with Semrush as one of the most popular SEO toolkits around and stands out for its reliable data and industry-leading SEO metrics.
Like Semrush, Moz Pro aims to be an all-in-one solution for all your SEO needs. It comes with a suite of tools, including:
- Keyword Explorer. Use this to discover new search terms to target in your campaigns, and assess keyword opportunities with metrics like volume and difficulty.
- Rank Tracker. Use this to keep an eye on how you’re ranking for your target keywords, or keep an eye on the competition. See your local positions for individual keywords in different regions or get an overview of your performance with Moz’s Search Visibility score.
- Site Crawl. Use this to dig through your site and uncover optimization issues that may be holding you back.
- On-page Optimization. Use this to audit individual pages of content and get recommendations on how you can improve in order to rank higher.
- Link Explorer. Use this to find new link opportunities, reveal your competitors’ backlink profiles, and analyze the strength of any backlink with proprietary authority metrics.
Moz is also the home of Page Authority (PA) and Domain Authority (DA)—two metrics widely considered to be the best way to understand how authoritative a given website is.
There’s no doubt Moz Pro is a great SEO toolkit, but truth be told, we still think it’s a little overpriced. Its pricing plans start in a similar ballpark to Semrush, which puts it out of reach to cash-strapped startups and solopreneurs.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Industry-leading authority metrics | No PPC or SMM tools |
| All-in-one solution | Less value for money than other SEO tools |
| Accurate and reliable data | |
| Large database of backlinks and keywords |
Pricing
Plans start from $79/month if you pay yearly. You can start with a 30-day free trial.
#10 – Labrika
Labrika is an AI-powered SEO toolkit that features some of the most cutting-edge features we’ve seen.
It includes three AI-led tools: an SEO Auditor, Interactive Content Optimizer, and Advanced Rank Checker.
All three are super easy to use with an intuitive UI that anyone should be able to get the hang of quickly.
The SEO Auditor checks your pages against over 200 ranking factors and compiles the results into one ultra-actionable report. Each problem found is accompanied by a tooltip that gives you an explanation and shows you how to fix it.
The Interactive Content Optimizer compares your page to the top 10 competitors that are already ranking on Google and provides recommendations on changes you can make to boost your ranking potential.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Super advanced rank tracking tool | Not an all-in-one solution |
| AI-powered content suggestions | No backlink analysis |
| Comprehensive auditing capabilities |
Pricing
Prices start from as little as $15/month, depending on your usage needs and the length of your subscription. You can get started with a free trial.
#11 – Keyword Revealer
Keyword Revealer markets itself as the only SEO tool you will ever need, and with its full feature set, they might just be right. Keyword Revealer is jam-packed full of useful SEO tools including an advanced keyword research function, a rank tracker, and a competitor/backlink analysis tool.
What’s great about this tool is that it’s extremely easy to use. The keyword research tool, for example, provides all the important metrics you need such as CPC, PPC, and difficulty in one easy-to-read dashboard.
There is also a useful keyword brainstorming feature that makes it super simple to visualize and understand keyword context and search intent.
Overall, it’s a simple and full-featured tool at an affordable price point.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Easy to use | Lacking in additional tools for content and PPC etc. |
| Very affordable paid plans | |
| Free plan available | |
| Large keyword database |
Pricing
Keyword Revealer offers a limited free plan. Paid plans start from $12.50/month.
#12 – RankWatch
Last but not least on our Semrush alternatives list is RankWatch, a complete SEO solution with a wide range of useful SEO tools.
You can use RankWatch to complete all the essential SEO tasks including keyword research, rank monitoring, competitor analysis, and more.
RankWatch can also be used for running in-depth site audits, to help you identify issues and improve your site’s performance. RankWatch is extremely useful when it comes to keyword research. The powerful research and suggestion tool can help you discover thousands of keyword ideas and provide you with key metrics such as keyword difficulty, CPC, and search volumes.
With RankWatch, you also have the option of white labeling all of your dashboards and reports, which makes it a great choice for agencies and companies that want to use their own branding when sharing reports and dashboards with clients.
In addition to a 14-day free trial, RankWatch also offers a backlink analyzer, website analyzer, and a mobile-friendly checker tool for free.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| White label dashboards and reporting | Fewer tools overall than Semrush |
| Advanced rank tracking | No content features |
| Free trial and free tools available | |
| Affordable introductory plans |
Pricing
Plans start from $26/month when billed annually. Free trial available.
Semrush alternatives FAQ
What is Semrush?
Semrush is a leading all-in-one marketing platform. It provides a suite of tools to help you improve your online visibility and uncover strategic insights to inform your marketing campaigns.
These tools cover all areas of online marketing including SEO, PPC, content marketing, SMM, and competitive research.
What tools and features does Semrush include?
Semrush comes with over 40 tools in total. These tools are grouped into several toolkits: the SEO toolkit, advertising toolkit, content marketing toolkit, competitive research toolkit, social media toolkit, and management toolkit.
We won’t even try to list all the features in each of these toolkits here as there are just too many, but here are some of the highlights:
- Position tracking
- Site audits
- Backlink analytics
- Keyword research tools – SEO & PPC
- On-page SEO checker
- Link building
- Traffic analytics
- Advertising research
- Topic research
- SEO Writing Assistant
- Brand monitoring
- PLA research
- Social media tracker
- Social media poster
- Lead generation tool
- Reporting
Is there a free alternative to Semrush?
There’s no free SEO toolkit that can do everything Semrush can. However, there are lots of free tools out there that can replace some of Semrush’s features.
The free version of SEO PowerSuite can do lots of the same SEO tasks as Semrush, but there are certain usage caps unless you pay for a premium license. We’d also recommend trying out SE Ranking’s free trial.
And of course, you can also use the limited version of Semrush for free. Just bear in mind that you won’t be able to access a lot of data before you’ll need to upgrade to a paid plan.
Is Semrush worth it?
It depends on your budget and needs. Semrush may seem pricey—there’s no doubt about that—but if you want top-tier marketing tools and enterprise-level features, there’s no better choice.
And for the money, they offer a large number of features and have generous usage limits. For example, Ahrefs offers 500 monthly reports while Semrush offers 3,000 daily reports.
On the other hand, if you’re a small business owner or blogger and you don’t need all the bells and whistles Semrush has to offer — a tool like SE Ranking may be more suitable.
What’s the best cheap Semrush alternative for non-profits?
SE Ranking is our favorite cheap Semrush alternative. It offers plans starting at as little as $23.52/month and still comes with most of the same tools as Semrush, which makes it a good choice for non-profits on a tighter budget.
Wrapping it up
That concludes our roundup of Semrush alternatives & competitors.
Overall, I’m a big fan of Semrush and the features it brings. You can run SEO audits, conduct keyword research, track keyword rankings, run blogger outreach campaigns, track social media analytics, and more.
But for those that don’t need all those features or want a more budget-friendly alternative, you can’t go wrong with these tools:
- SE Ranking is our top pick on our Semrush alternatives list, and is suitable for most users. It offers a fantastic balance of features and affordability, with similar tools to Semrush at a fraction of the cost.
- Serpstat is another great alternative worth checking out. In addition to a powerful suite of SEO tools, it also includes tools to help with PPC research.
- Mangools is the best alternative to Semrush for beginners. It has one of the easiest-to-use interfaces and it’s super affordable.
If you’re still twiddling your thumbs as to which of these Semrush alternatives you should choose, don’t worry! Most of them offer a free trial where you can test out the tool beforehand.
Before you go, check out our roundup of SEO statistics to find out about the latest trends transforming the SEO industry this year!
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