AI SEO

10 Best Semrush Alternatives for SEO in 2026

Compare top Semrush alternatives including Ahrefs, Moz, SE Ranking and more affordable SEO tools.

📅 Updated: 2026-02-02🔢 10 alternatives compared

Why Look for Semrush Alternatives?

Semrush is one of the most comprehensive SEO and digital marketing platforms available, but many users seek alternatives for valid reasons:

  • • High pricing — Plans start at $139.95/month, making it expensive for freelancers and small businesses
  • • Feature overload — Many users only need keyword research or backlink analysis, not 50+ tools
  • • Steep learning curve — The sheer number of features can overwhelm beginners
  • • Credit limitations — Lower-tier plans restrict daily keyword lookups and reports
  • • Specific needs — Some tools specialize in areas where Semrush is merely adequate
  • • Budget constraints — Startups and solopreneurs need affordable SEO solutions
  • • Regional focus — Some alternatives offer better local SEO data for specific markets

    • Top 10 Semrush Alternatives

    1. Ahrefs

    Best for: Backlink analysis and comprehensive SEO research

    Description: Ahrefs is widely regarded as the strongest competitor to Semrush, with the largest backlink index and excellent keyword research capabilities. Its Site Explorer and Content Explorer tools are industry-leading.

    Key Features:

  • • Largest backlink database with 35+ trillion known links
  • • Keyword Explorer covering 10+ search engines including YouTube and Amazon
  • • Site Audit tool for technical SEO analysis
  • • Content Explorer for content research and gap analysis
  • • Rank Tracker with daily updates

    • Pricing: Starter at $29/month; Lite at $129/month; Standard at $249/month; Advanced at $449/month

    Best for: SEO professionals and agencies needing deep backlink intelligence

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    2. Moz Pro

    Best for: Domain authority tracking and beginner-friendly SEO

    Description: Moz Pro offers a well-rounded SEO toolset built around its proprietary Domain Authority metric. Known for its user-friendly interface and excellent educational resources, Moz is ideal for those new to SEO.

    Key Features:

  • • Domain Authority (DA) and Page Authority metrics
  • • Keyword Explorer with priority scoring
  • • Link Explorer for backlink analysis
  • • On-page optimization grader
  • • Local SEO tools with Moz Local add-on

    • Pricing: Starter at $49/month; Standard at $99/month; Medium at $179/month; Large at $299/month

    Best for: Small businesses and SEO beginners wanting an approachable platform

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    3. SE Ranking

    Best for: Affordable all-in-one SEO with accurate rank tracking

    Description: SE Ranking delivers an impressive feature set at a fraction of Semrush's price. It covers keyword research, backlink monitoring, site audits, and competitor analysis with a clean, modern interface.

    Key Features:

  • • Real-time keyword rank tracking across multiple search engines
  • • Competitive research with traffic and keyword overlap analysis
  • • Website audit with actionable fix suggestions
  • • Backlink monitoring and checker tool
  • • Marketing plan and SEO reporting tools

    • Pricing: Essential at $65/month; Pro at $119/month; Business at $259/month

    Best for: Small-to-mid agencies and freelancers seeking value for money

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    4. Ubersuggest

    Best for: Budget-friendly keyword research for beginners

    Description: Created by Neil Patel, Ubersuggest provides essential SEO tools at extremely affordable prices. It covers keyword ideas, content suggestions, and basic site audits — perfect for those starting their SEO journey.

    Key Features:

  • • Keyword suggestions with search volume and CPC data
  • • Content ideas based on top-performing pages
  • • Site audit with SEO health score
  • • Backlink data and domain overview
  • • Chrome extension for on-the-go research

    • Pricing: Individual at $12/month; Business at $20/month; Enterprise at $40/month; Lifetime deals available

    Best for: Solopreneurs and bloggers on a tight budget

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    5. Mangools

    Best for: Simple, visual keyword research and SERP analysis

    Description: Mangools bundles five focused SEO tools — KWFinder, SERPChecker, SERPWatcher, LinkMiner, and SiteProfiler — into one affordable package with a beautifully designed interface.

    Key Features:

  • • KWFinder for long-tail keyword discovery with difficulty scores
  • • SERPChecker for detailed SERP analysis
  • • SERPWatcher for daily rank tracking
  • • LinkMiner for backlink research
  • • SiteProfiler for quick domain overviews

    • Pricing: Entry at $29.90/month; Basic at $44.90/month; Premium at $89.90/month

    Best for: Bloggers and affiliate marketers who want simplicity

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    6. SpyFu

    Best for: Competitor PPC and keyword espionage

    Description: SpyFu specializes in revealing competitors' paid and organic search strategies. It shows every keyword a domain has bought on Google Ads and every organic rank, making it invaluable for competitive intelligence.

    Key Features:

  • • Complete competitor keyword history (paid and organic)
  • • PPC competitor analysis with ad copy history
  • • Keyword grouping and recommendation engine
  • • Backlink analysis and outreach tools
  • • Unlimited search results on all plans

    • Pricing: Basic at $39/month; Professional at $79/month; Team at $299/month

    Best for: PPC marketers and competitive analysts

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    7. Serpstat

    Best for: Multi-purpose SEO with strong clustering features

    Description: Serpstat offers a growth hacking tool for SEO, PPC, and content marketing. Its keyword clustering and text analytics features set it apart from competitors.

    Key Features:

  • • Keyword clustering for content planning
  • • Rank tracking with visibility trends
  • • Site audit with page-level analysis
  • • Backlink analysis and monitoring
  • • PPC research and ad analysis

    • Pricing: Individual at $59/month; Team at $119/month; Agency at $479/month

    Best for: Content teams wanting keyword clustering and topic mapping

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    8. Similarweb

    Best for: Traffic analysis and market intelligence

    Description: Similarweb provides unmatched website traffic estimation and competitive benchmarking. While broader than a pure SEO tool, its digital marketing intelligence helps understand market positioning.

    Key Features:

  • • Website traffic estimation and sources breakdown
  • • Industry benchmarking and market analysis
  • • Keyword analysis with traffic share data
  • • Referral and display advertising intelligence
  • • App intelligence for mobile analytics

    • Pricing: Starter at $149/month; Professional at $399/month; Enterprise custom pricing

    Best for: Marketing strategists and business analysts needing market-level insights

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    9. Majestic

    Best for: Link intelligence and backlink-focused SEO

    Description: Majestic is a pure-play backlink analysis tool with one of the largest link indexes available. Its Trust Flow and Citation Flow metrics are industry benchmarks for link quality assessment.

    Key Features:

  • • Trust Flow and Citation Flow link quality metrics
  • • Fresh and Historic backlink indexes
  • • Topical Trust Flow for niche relevance
  • • Bulk backlink checker
  • • Link context and anchor text analysis

    • Pricing: Lite at $49.99/month; Pro at $99.99/month; API at $399.99/month

    Best for: Link builders and agencies focused on backlink strategy

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    10. Morningscore

    Best for: Gamified SEO for small businesses

    Description: Morningscore turns SEO into a game, assigning monetary value to your SEO efforts. Its simplified dashboard makes SEO accessible to business owners who aren't marketing experts.

    Key Features:

  • • SEO "score" showing estimated traffic value in dollars
  • • Gamified mission system for SEO tasks
  • • Keyword rank tracking with ROI estimation
  • • Competitor analysis simplified
  • • Health check for technical SEO issues

    • Pricing: Starter at $65/month; Growth at $115/month; Professional at $225/month

    Best for: Small business owners wanting to understand SEO ROI without complexity

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    Comparison Table

    ToolStarting PriceBest FeatureBacklink DataKeyword ResearchRank TrackingFree Plan |------|---------------|--------------|---------------|-----------------|---------------|-----------| Ahrefs$29/moBacklink index★★★★★★★★★★★★★★Limited Moz Pro$49/moDomain Authority★★★★★★★★★★★★Limited SE Ranking$65/moValue for money★★★★★★★★★★★★★Trial Ubersuggest$12/moBudget pricing★★★★★★★★★★Limited Mangools$29.90/moUI design★★★★★★★★★★★★Trial SpyFu$39/moPPC intelligence★★★★★★★★★★Limited Serpstat$59/moKeyword clustering★★★★★★★★★★★Limited Similarweb$149/moTraffic analysis★★★★★★★★Limited Majestic$49.99/moLink metrics★★★★★★★★★Limited Morningscore$65/moGamified SEO★★★★★★★★★Trial

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is the best free alternative to Semrush?

    Ubersuggest offers the most generous free tier among Semrush alternatives, allowing limited daily searches. Ahrefs also provides free webmaster tools for verified site owners, including Site Audit and basic Site Explorer access.

    Is Ahrefs better than Semrush?

    It depends on your focus. Ahrefs excels in backlink analysis with the largest link index, while Semrush offers more marketing tools including social media and PPC management. For pure SEO, many professionals consider them equally capable.

    What is the cheapest Semrush alternative with good data?

    Ubersuggest at $12/month and Mangools at $29.90/month offer the best value for individual users. For teams, SE Ranking provides the most features per dollar with plans starting at $65/month.

    Can I replace Semrush with multiple free tools?

    Yes, you can combine Google Search Console (rank data), Google Keyword Planner (keyword ideas), Ubersuggest free tier, and Ahrefs free webmaster tools to cover basic SEO needs without paying for Semrush.

    Which Semrush alternative is best for agencies?

    Ahrefs and SE Ranking are the top choices for agencies. Ahrefs provides deep data and white-label reporting, while SE Ranking offers more affordable multi-client management with excellent reporting features.

    Conclusion

    While Semrush remains a dominant force in SEO tooling, the alternatives listed above prove you don't need to pay premium prices for quality SEO data. Ahrefs is the closest feature-for-feature competitor, ideal for serious SEO professionals. Ubersuggest and Mangools serve budget-conscious users brilliantly, and SE Ranking hits the sweet spot between affordability and capability.

    Choose based on your primary need: backlink analysis (Ahrefs, Majestic), keyword research (Mangools, Ubersuggest), competitive intelligence (SpyFu, Similarweb), or all-round SEO (SE Ranking, Moz Pro). Most tools offer free trials, so test a few before committing.

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