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Best Semrush Alternatives in 2026: 8 Tools Compared

By ToolNimba Editorial Team October 28, 2026 9 min read

Best Semrush Alternatives
  1. Top pick
    Ahrefs logoAhrefs

    All-round SEO and backlink research

    Starting price$29 per month
    Check out AhrefsRead our review
  2. Runner-up
    SE Ranking logoSE Ranking

    Mid-priced all-in-one suite

    Starting price$103.20 per month
    Check out SE RankingRead our review
  3. Also great
    Moz Pro logoMoz Pro

    Beginners and Domain Authority

    Starting price$49 per month
    Check out Moz ProRead our review

How we researched this

We compared official pricing and feature pages, app store listings, privacy policies and public user reviews. Prices change, so check the provider's site before you pay.

Key takeaways

  • Ahrefs is the closest all-round alternative to Semrush for backlink and competitor research, with a Starter plan from $29 per month.
  • SE Ranking is the best mid-priced all-in-one suite, while Moz Pro suits beginners who want a simpler tool with Domain Authority metrics.
  • Mangools, Ubersuggest, and SpyFu offer the lowest entry prices for freelancers and small sites that need real keyword data.
  • SEO PowerSuite suits users who prefer a yearly desktop license with no per-project keyword limits, though it runs on your own computer.

Quick comparison

NameBest forStarting priceFree plan
AhrefsAll-round SEO and backlink research$29 per monthYesVisit
SE RankingMid-priced all-in-one suite$103.20 per monthFree trialVisit
Moz ProBeginners and Domain Authority$49 per monthFree trialVisit
MangoolsSimple budget keyword research$29.90 per monthFree trialVisit
SpyFuCompetitor and PPC research$39 per monthYesVisit
SerpstatBudget all-in-one suite$50 per monthFree trialVisit
UbersuggestCheapest full-featured option$29 per monthYesVisit
SEO PowerSuiteDesktop license with no keyword caps$349 per yearYesVisit

The best Semrush alternatives

We compared official feature pages, pricing pages, and public reviews for SEO tools that are still sold in October 2026. Semrush itself costs about $139 per month on its entry SEO plan, so the tools below are judged on whether they replace its core jobs: keyword research, rank tracking, site audits, and competitor research, at a lower price or with a simpler workflow.

01Ahrefs logo

Ahrefs

Best for: All-round SEO and backlink research

Check out Ahrefs
Starting price$29 per month
Free planYes
Ahrefs website
ahrefs.com homepage

Ahrefs is the first alternative most SEO users try, and for good reason. Site Explorer shows backlinks, referring domains, and top pages for any site, while Keywords Explorer covers search volume, difficulty, and related terms. Site Audit and Rank Tracker round out a suite that covers most of what Semrush offers for organic search.

The price jump matters. The $29 Starter plan is limited, and the fuller Lite plan costs $129 per month, close to Semrush entry pricing. Ahrefs Free still gives limited audit and explorer data for your own verified sites. Pick Ahrefs when backlinks and competitor research are your main job.

What we like
  • Large backlink index
  • Strong Site Explorer and Keywords Explorer
  • Free tools for verified sites
Watch out for
  • Full Lite plan costs $129 per month
  • Rank updates can be weekly on lower plans
02SE Ranking logo

SE Ranking

Best for: Mid-priced all-in-one suite

Check out SE Ranking
Starting price$103.20 per month
Free planFree trial
SE Ranking website
seranking.com homepage

SE Ranking is the closest all-round replacement for teams that want one suite without Semrush add-on pricing. It bundles keyword research, rank tracking, site audits, backlink checks, and reporting, with white-label reports that agencies value. The interface is clear, and plan limits are easy to read before you buy.

It is not the cheapest option here. Core costs $129 per month, or $103.20 per month billed annually, so small sites may prefer Mangools or Ubersuggest. SE Ranking also lacks some of Semrush ads research depth. Pick it when you run several client or company sites and want one predictable suite.

What we like
  • Keyword research, rank tracking, and audits in one suite
  • White-label reports
  • Clear plan limits
Watch out for
  • Entry Core plan costs $129 monthly without annual billing
  • Fewer ad research features than Semrush
03Moz Pro logo

Moz Pro

Best for: Beginners and Domain Authority

Check out Moz Pro
Starting price$49 per month
Free planFree trial
Moz Pro website
moz.com homepage

Moz Pro suits beginners and small teams who want SEO basics without a steep learning curve. Keyword Explorer, Link Explorer, rank tracking, and site crawls cover the core jobs, and Domain Authority gives a simple way to compare link strength across sites. Free tools such as MozBar and limited Keyword Explorer use help new users learn the metrics first.

Limits appear fast for larger work. The $49 Starter plan covers one site and a small keyword set, while fuller plans cost $99 per month and up. Moz Pro data depth also trails Ahrefs for heavy link research. Pick Moz Pro when you manage one to three sites and value simplicity over maximum data.

What we like
  • Easy to learn
  • Domain Authority benchmarking
  • Useful free tools such as MozBar
Watch out for
  • Starter plan covers one site
  • Data depth lags Ahrefs on large projects
04Mangools logo

Mangools

Best for: Simple budget keyword research

Check out Mangools
Starting price$29.90 per month
Free planFree trial

Mangools is the friendliest budget tool in this list. KWFinder gives clear keyword difficulty, volume, and SERP previews, while SERPChecker, SERPWatcher, LinkMiner, and SiteProfiler cover the basic research loop. The design stays simple, which helps freelancers and bloggers who only need keyword data a few times a week.

The trade-off is data scale. Backlink data is smaller than Ahrefs, and rank tracking caps are lower than SE Ranking. Mangools costs $29.90 per month billed annually on its Basic plan. Pick it when you want a clean, low-cost keyword tool and you do not need agency-scale reporting.

What we like
  • Clean and simple interface
  • Good keyword and SERP tools
  • Low annual price
Watch out for
  • Smaller backlink data set
  • Rank tracking limits on lower plans
05SpyFu logo

SpyFu

Best for: Competitor and PPC research

Check out SpyFu
Starting price$39 per month
Free planYes

SpyFu stands out for competitor history. It shows which keywords rivals have ranked for, which ads they have run, and how that history changed over time. That view helps paid search and SEO teams find gaps without guessing. A limited free search on the homepage lets you test a domain before paying.

Site audits and rank tracking are thinner than SE Ranking or Ahrefs, and Basic rank updates are weekly. Basic costs $39 per month, or $29 per month billed annually. Pick SpyFu when competitor and PPC research is the main reason you are leaving Semrush, and pair it with another audit tool if needed.

What we like
  • Long competitor keyword history
  • Google Ads research
  • Low entry price
Watch out for
  • Weekly rank updates on Basic
  • Weaker site audit depth than all-in-one suites
06Serpstat logo

Serpstat

Best for: Budget all-in-one suite

Check out Serpstat
Starting price$50 per month
Free planFree trial

Serpstat gives small teams a full suite at a lower price than Ahrefs or SE Ranking. It covers keyword research, rank tracking, site audits, backlink analysis, and competitor research in one account. That breadth makes it a practical Semrush alternative for growth marketers who need several tools but cannot justify a premium suite.

Limits sit on the entry plan. The Individual plan costs $50 per month billed annually, with some features such as API access and JavaScript rendering held for higher tiers. Rank tracking also consumes checks, so large keyword lists cost more. Pick Serpstat when you want one budget suite and your keyword list stays modest.

What we like
  • Keyword research, tracking, and audits in one lower tier
  • Useful competitor tools
Watch out for
  • Entry plan excludes some advanced features
  • Tracking consumes checks
07Ubersuggest logo

Ubersuggest

Best for: Cheapest full-featured option

Check out Ubersuggest
Starting price$29 per month
Free planYes

Ubersuggest is the cheapest usable full-featured option here for a small site. It offers keyword research, content ideas, site audits, backlink data, and rank tracking in one dashboard. Limited free daily searches let you test keyword ideas before paying, and paid plans start at $29 per month, with promotional annual offers sometimes lower.

Data depth is the limit. Its keyword and backlink sets are smaller than Ahrefs or Semrush, and rank checks on lower plans are weekly. For a blogger or small business that checks SEO a few times a month, that is often enough. Pick Ubersuggest when budget matters most and your site is small.

What we like
  • Low entry price
  • Keyword ideas and site audits
  • Limited free daily searches
Watch out for
  • Smaller data set than Ahrefs
  • Weekly rank checks on lower plans
08SEO PowerSuite logo

SEO PowerSuite

Best for: Desktop license with no keyword caps

Check out SEO PowerSuite
Starting price$349 per year
Free planYes

SEO PowerSuite takes a different approach: it is desktop software, not a cloud suite. Rank Tracker, WebSite Auditor, SEO SpyGlass, and LinkAssistant cover rank tracking, audits, backlinks, and link building. A yearly Professional license costs $349, and keyword tracking is not metered by project in the same way cloud tools meter it.

Running it locally is both a strength and a weakness. You control the data and avoid monthly per-project fees, but you must run the software and manage updates yourself. The free version limits saved projects and reports. Pick SEO PowerSuite if you prefer a one-year license and you work mainly from one computer.

What we like
  • Yearly license, not monthly per-project pricing
  • Unlimited keyword tracking
  • Free desktop version
Watch out for
  • Runs on your own computer
  • Reports and saved projects need a paid license

How we picked these

We compared official feature pages, pricing pages, and public reviews for SEO tools that are still sold in October 2026. We kept tools with a clear official homepage and a current plan, and we favored a mix of all-round suites, budget keyword tools, competitor tools, and a desktop option. We noted where a headline price requires annual billing and where rank tracking or keyword limits change the real cost.

How to choose a Semrush alternative

Match the tool to the job you actually do

If backlinks and competitor research dominate your week, shortlist Ahrefs or SpyFu. If you manage several sites and need audits, tracking, and reports in one place, shortlist SE Ranking, Serpstat, or Moz Pro. If you only research keywords for one small site, Mangools or Ubersuggest will save money without slowing you down.

Check limits before you pay

Compare tracked keywords, projects, rank update frequency, and audit crawl limits against your real workload. A low monthly price can hide weekly rank updates, a one-site limit, or a small keyword cap. Use a free plan or trial with your own site and a competitor site to test data quality before you commit.

Test data against your own results

No tool estimates traffic perfectly, so compare its keyword and traffic figures with Google Search Console for your own site. A tool that matches your known rankings and traffic patterns is more useful than one with a larger database you cannot trust. Keep the tool that helps you make decisions, not the one with the longest feature list.

Sources

  1. https://ahrefs.com
  2. https://seranking.com
  3. https://moz.com
  4. https://mangools.com
  5. https://www.spyfu.com
  6. https://serpstat.com
  7. https://neilpatel.com/ubersuggest
  8. https://www.link-assistant.com
  9. https://blog.contentforce.ai/semrush-alternatives/
  10. https://www.outrank.so/blog/semrush-alternatives

Frequently asked questions

What are the best Semrush alternatives for small businesses?

Mangools and Ubersuggest are strong picks for small businesses because they cover keyword research and basic tracking at a low price. Moz Pro suits a small team that wants a simpler suite, while SE Ranking suits a growing team with several sites. Pick by how many sites you manage and how often you check rankings.

What is the best alternative to Semrush for backlink research?

Ahrefs is the best alternative to Semrush for backlink research, thanks to its large index and Site Explorer. SpyFu is a cheaper option for competitor keyword history, though its link data is thinner. SEO PowerSuite also offers backlink checks through SEO SpyGlass for users who prefer desktop software.

Are there free Semrush alternatives?

Yes, several tools offer free options. Ahrefs Free covers limited data for your own verified sites, SpyFu offers limited free searches, and Ubersuggest offers limited daily searches. SEO PowerSuite has a permanent free desktop version with limits on saved projects. Free tiers suit testing, but paid plans are needed for regular tracking.

What are the top Semrush alternatives for agencies?

SE Ranking is a top Semrush alternative for agencies because it bundles research, tracking, audits, and white-label reporting. Ahrefs suits agencies that focus on link building and competitor research across many client sites. Moz Pro can work for smaller agencies, but its project and keyword limits rise only on higher plans.

Is Semrush worth it compared with cheaper alternatives?

Semrush is worth it if you use its full breadth, from SEO and content tools to ads research and market data, in one account. If you only need keyword research, rank tracking, and audits, a cheaper tool such as SE Ranking, Serpstat, Mangools, or Ubersuggest can cover the job for less. Compare your weekly tasks against each tool before you renew.

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