Best Semrush Alternatives (2026): Free, Cheaper & AI-Ready Picks

By Md. Khalilur Rahman, founder of TechLifeTV | Last updated: October 13, 2026 | Prices checked: October 13, 2026

Disclosure: Some links in this guide may be affiliate links. If you buy through one, TechLifeTV may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. That doesn’t change what I recommend. Every tool below is labeled “Hands-on” (I’ve used it myself) or “Researched” (I haven’t, so I relied on the vendor’s own pages and public reviews).

Key takeaways

• SE Ranking’s Core plan lists at $129/month ($103.20/month billed annually). Semrush’s Pro plan lists at $139.95/month ($117.33/month billed annually). Limits differ, so compare features, not just price.
• Free options worth using: Google Search Console, Ahrefs Free (for sites you own), Screaming Frog (up to 500 URLs), and SEO PowerSuite’s free tier.
• For AI search visibility, a dedicated tracker like Otterly starts at $29/month for 15 prompts. These tools measure your visibility. They don’t make AI engines cite you.
• I’ve used six of the tools here myself. The rest are clearly marked “Researched.”
• Semrush’s website now describes the company as “An Adobe Company.” Some people prefer independent vendors. That’s a personal call, not a quality problem.

Best Semrush Alternatives at a Glance (Prices Checked October 2026)

Tool	Best for	Starting price (monthly/annual)	Free option	My experience
SE Ranking	All-in-one SEO for small teams	$129 / $103.20 (Core)	14-day trial, no card	Hands-on
Mangools	Keyword research and SERP analysis on a budget	$30.5 /$18.85 (Mangools Basic)	Free account (limited)	Hands-on
Moz Pro	Domain Authority and simple reporting	$49 / $39 (Starter)	Check Moz’s current offer	Hands-on
Screaming Frog	Technical site audits	$279/year per license	Free, up to 500 URLs	Hands-on
Otterly	AI search visibility tracking only	$29 (Lite)	See Otterly’s site	Hands-on
Ahrefs	Backlinks and competitor research	$29 (Starter), $129 (Lite)	Ahrefs Free (own sites)	Researched
Ubersuggest	Tight budgets	$29 to $99 (monthly plans)	7-day trial on monthly plans	Researched
Serpstat	Multi-market data, API access	$50/month billed annually (Individual)	7-day trial	Researched
SpyFu	Competitor SEO and PPC research	$39 / $29 (Basic)	30-day money-back	Researched
SEO PowerSuite	Desktop SEO suite	$349/year (Professional)	Free tier (limited)	Researched
Semrush (for reference)	Broad SEO, content and AI toolkit	$139.95 / $117.33 (SEO)	7-day trial, limited free plan	Hands-on

Prices checked on each vendor’s pricing page on October 13, 2026. They change often, so confirm before you subscribe.

Why look for a Semrush alternative?

Most people switch for one of three reasons: price, plan limits, or a platform that’s bigger than they need. Semrush’s Pro plan costs $139.95 a month, or $117.33 billed annually, and includes 5 websites with 500 keywords tracked daily. If that’s more or less than you need, it’s worth comparing.

A few other things push people to look around:

• AI features sit higher up the ladder. Semrush’s SEO + AI Search Starter plan is $199/month ($165.17 annually) and includes 50 daily prompts and one domain for AI brand tracking.
• Add-ons add up. Extra users start at $45/month, and white-labeled reports come with the $20/month Pro Report add-on.

Ownership. Adobe announced a deal to acquire Semrush in late 2025, and Semrush’s site now carries the line “An Adobe Company.” Plenty of marketers don’t care. Others like independent vendors. Adobe’s newsroom announcement for Semrush acquisition

All-in-one suite or specialist tool: which do you need?

An all-in-one suite covers keyword research, rank tracking, audits, and backlinks in one login. A specialist does one job in more depth. Semrush is a suite, so some people replace it with a smaller suite, while others use two or three focused AI SEO tools.

Here’s how I think about it:

1. Pick a suite (SE Ranking, Ahrefs, Moz Pro, Serpstat) if you want one dashboard.
2. Pick specialists (Mangools for keyword and SERP work, Screaming Frog for audits, Otterly for AI visibility) if you want to pay only for what you use.
3. Mix both. A free tool like Google Search Console plus one paid tool is a very common setup.

How I chose and tested these tools

I’ve personally used Semrush, SE Ranking, Moz, Mangools, Screaming Frog, and Otterly. I haven’t used Ahrefs, Ubersuggest, Serpstat, SpyFu, or SEO PowerSuite, so those sections rely on each vendor’s own pages and public reviews, and I say so.

I judged each tool on these points:

• Data you can cross-check against Google Search Console
• Ease of use for a beginner
• Pricing clarity, including add-ons and limits
• Free options and trial terms
• AI search visibility features

Semrush Alternatives Reviewed: What I Used and What I Researched

SE Ranking (Hands-on): best all-in-one for small teams

SE Ranking covers rank tracking, audits, keyword research, backlinks, and AI visibility in one platform. The parts I like most are Rank Tracker, Website Audit, the On-Page SEO Checker, SERP Tracker, Keyword Grouper, the Keyword Tool, Website Competitor Analysis, and the AI Overviews Tracker.

• Price: Core is $129/month, or $103.20/month billed annually. Growth is $279/month ($223.20 annually).
• What Core includes: 10 projects, 1 manager seat, 2,000 keywords and 100 AI prompts tracked daily, 250,000 audit pages per month, and 25K API credits with MCP access.
• Trial: 14 days, no credit card. The trial is capped at 10 projects, 750 tracked keywords, and 20 AI prompts per day.
• Add-ons: Agency Pack (white-label reporting) is +$69/month on annual billing only. The AI Search add-on is +$71.20/month annually ($89 monthly). The API add-on is +$45/month on annual billing.
• Compared with Semrush: Core lists for less than Semrush’s Pro plan and tracks more keywords daily (2,000 vs 500). The tool sets aren’t identical, so check the features you’d use.
• Not for: People who only need keyword research. A lighter tool may cost less.
• Try SE Ranking free for 14 days with no card

Mangools (Hands-on): best for keyword research and SERP analysis on a budget

Mangools bundles five tools: KWFinder (keywords), SERPChecker (SERP analysis), SERPWatcher (rank tracking), LinkMiner (backlinks), and SiteProfiler (site metrics). The keyword research and SERP analysis are what I like most, especially for the price.

• Price: Mangools Basic: $30.5 /month, Mangools Premium: $40.50/month and Mangools Agency: $70.50/month; API, MCP & AI search Watcher Pro are included in all plans. Mangools says annual plans save 35%.
• Free option: A free account with limited daily lookups, plus free mini tools such as a SERP simulator.
• Refund policy: Mangools states a full refund within 48 hours of payment.
• Also on offer: An AI Search Watcher for AI visibility. I haven’t tested it, so check its pricing separately.
• Compared with Semrush: Far narrower. That’s the trade: fewer tools, a simpler screen.
• Not for: Teams that need a built-in technical audit crawler or white-label agency reports.
• Start with a free Mangools account

Moz Pro (Hands-on): Best for Domain Authority and simple reporting

Moz is best known for Domain Authority. The feature I like most is Moz’s Domain Analysis tool for a quick read on a site’s authority.

• Price: Starter $49/month ($39 annually), Standard $99 ($79), Medium $179 ($143), Large $299 ($239).
• Compared with Semrush: Moz Starter lists well below Semrush’s Pro plan, but entry plans come with tighter limits.
• Not for: Heavy daily keyword tracking on a small plan.

Ahrefs (Researched): Best for backlinks and competitor research

Ahrefs is the most like-for-like rival to Semrush that I haven’t used myself. Its pricing page lists Starter at $29/month, Lite at $129, Standard at $249, Advanced at $449, and Enterprise at $1,499. Annual billing saves up to 17%.

• Free option: Ahrefs Free gives site owners limited access to Site Explorer and Site Audit. Ahrefs says it doesn’t run discounts or free trials on paid plans.
• AI visibility: Brand Radar starts at $199/month, and custom prompt packages run $50, $100, or $250/month.
• Limits on Lite: 5 projects, 750 tracked keywords (updated weekly), 5 tracked AI prompts.
• Compared with Semrush: Lite lists at $129 against Semrush’s $139.95, but daily tracking limits differ. Ahrefs’ tracking updates weekly.
• Not for: Anyone who wants a free trial before paying.

Ubersuggest (Researched): Best for tight budgets

Ubersuggest’s pricing page shows three monthly plans from $29 to $99, a one-time 7-day free trial on monthly plans, and lifetime plans. The entry plan covers 1 project, 125 tracked keywords per project, and 1,000 pages per audit.

• AI visibility: The entry plan includes 10 AI prompts per brand, updated monthly.
• Data caution: Ubersuggest says its numbers are estimates built from multiple data providers. Treat volumes as directional.
• Not for: Agencies or anyone who needs an API. Ubersuggest says it has no API plans.

Serpstat (Researched): best for multi-market work and API access

Serpstat lists Individual at $50/month (annual billing), Team at $100, Team x2 at $169, and Agency at $410. Individual covers 5 projects and 100 searches per day. Team adds API access and an MCP integration. White-label reports start on Agency.

• Trial note: The 7-day trial asks for a card, charges $1 to verify it (refunded), and auto-renews after 7 days unless you cancel.
• Not for: Solo bloggers who want to avoid card-required trials.

SpyFu (Researched): best for competitor SEO and PPC research

SpyFu Basic is $39/month, or $29/month billed annually. It includes 10k-row results and exports, 5,000 weekly tracked keywords, and one live tracking project. It doesn’t include Search Console integration, white-label reports, or API access.

• Higher plans: Pro + AI is $59 for the first month, then $119 ($89 annually), and adds those features.
• Guarantee: SpyFu offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
• Not for: Anyone who needs deep backlink analysis as the main use case.

SEO PowerSuite (Researched): best desktop SEO suite

SEO PowerSuite’s free tier works on 1 project (no saving), audits up to 500 URLs, tracks up to 1,100 backlinks, and monitors 1 competitor. It also tracks Google AI Overviews. Professional is $349/year (shown as $29.10/month), Enterprise is $599/year, and Max is $899/year. It’s sold as an annual subscription.

• Catch: The free version doesn’t let you save projects or ranking checks.
• Not for: Anyone who wants to log in from any device. It’s desktop software.

Screaming Frog (Hands-on): best for technical audits

Screaming Frog crawls your site and flags technical issues. I mainly use the free site audit. The free version crawls up to 500 URLs. A paid license is $279/year per user, with discounts for five or more.

• Compared with Semrush: It’s a crawler, not a suite. It doesn’t replace keyword research or rank tracking.
• Not for: Complete beginners who want guided fixes.

Who are the main Semrush competitors?

The main Semrush competitors fall into four groups: all-in-one suites, budget research tools, free and technical tools, and AI visibility trackers. Sites like Semrush overlap, but few copy it feature for feature. Pick the group that matches your problem first, then the tool.

Group	Tools covered here
All-in-one suites	SE Ranking, Ahrefs, Moz Pro, Serpstat, SEO PowerSuite
Budget research	Mangools, Ubersuggest, SpyFu
Free and technical	Google Search Console, Ahrefs Free, Screaming Frog, SEO PowerSuite
AI visibility	Otterly, SE Visible, Ahrefs Brand Radar

What are the best free Semrush alternatives?

If you’re looking for a free alternative to Semrush, no single tool replaces it fully, but a few cover a lot. Our guide to Semrush Free Alternatives: 8 Tools With Real Free Tiers compares free tools for keyword research, site audits, and other SEO tasks.

The best options include Google Search Console for your own site’s data, Ahrefs Free for limited audits, Screaming Frog for crawls of up to 500 URLs, and SEO PowerSuite’s free tier.

Tool	What’s free	Main limit
Google Search Console	Your own site’s search performance	No competitor data
Ahrefs Free	Limited Site Explorer and Site Audit	Sites you own only
Screaming Frog	Site crawler	500 URLs per crawl
SEO PowerSuite	Rank tracking, audit, backlinks	1 project, no saving, 500 URLs, 1,100 backlinks
Semrush Free	1 demo project, 10 reports/day	Very limited
Mangools	Free account and mini tools	Small daily lookup limits

Semrush’s free Keyword Tool gives you 10 searches a day (checked October 13, 2026).

Free tools are a good start while you learn. If you track dozens of keywords weekly, you’ll probably outgrow them.

What are the cheaper alternatives to Semrush?

The cheapeR paid options start around $29 to $49 a month: Ahrefs Starter, SpyFu Basic (annual), Ubersuggest, and Moz Starter. Cheaper plans trade away limits, so check tracked keywords, projects, and exports before you buy.

Tool	Cheapest paid plan	What to check
Ahrefs Starter	$29/month	Which tools the entry plan includes
SpyFu Basic	$39 monthly, $29 annual	1 tracking project, no Search Console integration
Ubersuggest	From $29/month	1 project, 125 tracked keywords on entry
Mangools	Mangools Basic: $30.5 /month or $18.85 annual	API, MCP & AI search Watcher Pro are included. See Mangools plans and pricing
Moz Pro Starter	$49 monthly, $39 annual	Smaller site and keyword allowance
Serpstat Individual	$50/month, annual billing	5 projects, 100 searches per day
SE Ranking Core	$129 monthly, $103.20 annual	Costs more but includes more
Semrush SEO (reference)	$139.95 monthly, $117.33 annual	Up to 5 websites to monitor

Which Semrush alternative is best for agencies?

For agencies, SE Ranking with the Agency Pack is the closest all-in-one fit I’ve used. White-label reports are also available on SEO PowerSuite Enterprise, SpyFu Pro + AI, Serpstat Agency, and as a Semrush add-on. I’m describing plan features here, not agency workflows.

• SE Ranking: Agency Pack adds white-label reporting, client seats, and a Lead Generator for +$69/month (annual billing).
• SEO PowerSuite: Enterprise is $599/year with white-label reports.
• Serpstat: White-label reports start on the $410/month Agency plan.
• Semrush: The Pro Report add-on is $20/month for white-labeling.

Which Semrush alternative is the best for affiliate marketers and bloggers?

For bloggers and affiliate marketers, I’d start with Google Search Console for your own data, then add one paid tool. Mangools suits keyword research and SERP analysis. SE Ranking suits rank tracking, audits, and keyword grouping in one place.

Which Semrush alternative is best for small business owners?

For most small business owners, start free with Google Search Console, then add one paid tool. Mangools is a simple keyword and SERP tool, and SE Ranking adds rank tracking, audits, and AI prompt tracking under one login. If you only want to check AI visibility, Otterly’s Lite plan starts at $29 a month.

• Visibility and rankings: SE Ranking Core is $129/month ($103.20 annually). It tracks up to 2,000 keywords and 100 AI prompts daily, and includes site audits. It costs more than the options above, but it covers search rankings and AI visibility in one place.
• Tightest budget: Ubersuggest has monthly plans from $29. Its entry plan covers 1 project and 125 tracked keywords per project.
• Competitor ads: SpyFu Basic is $39/month, or $29 billed annually. It’s useful if you want to see what rivals spend on Google Ads.
• Simple authority checks: Moz Pro Starter is $49/month ($39 annually).

For the keywords I track, SE Ranking’s rankings were very close to what Semrush showed.

Want help with AI-assisted content and SEO workflows? See my guide to AI SEO tools for small business

Which Semrush alternative is best for AI search visibility (GEO and AEO)?

For AI visibility, SE Ranking and Otterly are the two I’ve used. Otterly is a focused tracker starting at $29/month. SE Ranking includes 100 daily AI prompts in Core and offers fuller tracking through an add-on. Remember: these tools measure visibility. They don’t create it. More details: please visit our AI search visibility management tools guide.

Tool	Starting price	What to know
Otterly (Hands-on)	$29/month (Lite, 15 prompts); $189 (100 prompts); $489 (400 prompts)	Tracks AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Copilot. Gemini and Google AI Mode cost extra.
SE Ranking (Hands-on)	Included in Core (100 prompts/day); AI Search add-on +$71.20 annual / $89 monthly	Core tracks 5 LLMs. SE Ranking’s AI Search add-on includes AI Overviews, AI Mode, Perplexity, and ChatGPT tracking.
SE Visible (Researched)	From $99/month (200 prompts)	Standalone AI tracker by SE Ranking. 10-day free trial.
Semrush (Hands-on)	SEO $139.95; SEO + AI Search Starter $199	Starter adds 50 daily prompts and 1 domain.
Ahrefs Brand Radar (Researched)	From $199/month	Custom prompt packages start at $50/month.
Ubersuggest (Researched)	Entry plan, from $29	10 prompts per brand, updated monthly.
SEO PowerSuite (Researched)	Free tier tracks Google AI Overviews	Desktop software.

A tracker tells you whether AI engines mention you. For how that differs from an analysis tool, see the difference between a tracker and an analysis tool. Getting cited still depends on clear, original, well-sourced content. Getting cited still depends on clear, original, well-sourced content. For details about AI Mode, you may visit our Best AI Mode SEO tools Guide.

Is Semrush still worth keeping?

Yes, for some people. Semrush covers SEO, content, competitor research, and AI visibility under one login, and its free plan lets you test a little first. If it fits your workflow and budget, you don’t need to switch. If you’re only using two or three features, an alternative may cost less.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best Semrush alternative?

It depends on your needs. SE Ranking is the closest all-in-one match for most small teams in my experience. Mangools suits keyword and SERP work on a tighter budget, and Ahrefs suits backlink research.

Is there a free alternative to Semrush?

Yes, several partial ones. Google Search Console, Ahrefs Free, Screaming Frog (500 URLs), and SEO PowerSuite’s free tier each cover part of the job. None replaces Semrush fully.

What is a cheaper alternative to Semrush?

Ahrefs Starter ($29/month), SpyFu Basic ($29 billed annually), Ubersuggest (from $29), and Moz Starter ($49, or $39 annually) are the lowest-priced paid options. Check each plan’s limits first.

Is SE Ranking cheaper than Semrush?

On list price, yes, at the entry level. SE Ranking Core is $129/month ($103.20 annually), and Semrush’s Pro plan is $139.50/month ($117.33 annually). Plan limits and included features differ, so compare what you’d actually use.

What are the best Semrush alternatives for agencies?

SE Ranking with the Agency Pack, Serpstat Agency, and SEO PowerSuite Enterprise all offer white-label reporting. Semrush offers it through a $20/month add-on. Compare client counts and report needs.

Can Google Search Console replace Semrush?

Not entirely. Search Console shows how your own site performs in Google, but it has no competitor research or backlink database for other sites. Many people pair it with one paid tool.

What is the best Semrush alternative for AI search visibility?

Otterly is a focused, low-cost tracker, and SE Visible offers broader options. Ahrefs Brand Radar starts at $199/month. Choose based on how many prompts you need to track.

The bottom line

You don’t have to replace Semrush with one tool. Start with what you actually use, check each plan’s limits, and use free options while you learn. I’ll re-check these prices and update this page every quarter.

If you write about SEO tools yourself, here’s how SE Ranking’s affiliate program works. We break down the 30% recurring commission and payout terms in our full guide.

Prices and features were checked on vendor pricing pages on October 13, 2026, and may have changed since. Confirm current details before you buy.