Yes, Semrush has a free version. No, it won’t run your SEO on its own. Here’s exactly what the free account gives you, where the limits bite, and how to squeeze the most out of it before you decide whether to pay.
Last updated: 5 November 2026 · By Alan Spicer, YouTube Certified Expert
Part of the Semrush series.
The free Semrush account lets you run 10 reports a day, set up 1 project and track 10 keywords, with no card and no time limit. That’s enough to learn the tool and check a few keywords. The paid plans, which you can try free for 7 days, lift those limits by hundreds of times.
Why listen to me? I’ve been a YouTube Certified Expert since 2017 and self-employed for 20 years. I always start on free tiers to learn a tool before paying, and this guide sets out exactly what Semrush’s free account gives you against the paid plans.
Jump to a section
- What do you get with a free Semrush account?
- What free Semrush tools can you use without an account?
- Where does the free version run out?
- How do you get the most out of Semrush for free?
- What do you get when you pay for Semrush?
- Can you try the paid version free?
- People also ask
- Frequently asked questions
⚡ QUICK ANSWER: Is Semrush free?
Semrush has a free account with no time limit and no card required. It allows 10 analytics reports a day, 1 project and 10 tracked keywords. Paid plans start at $139 a month and come with a 7-day free trial. Semrush also offers free standalone tools such as a keyword tool and backlink checker.
What do you get with a free Semrush account?
A free Semrush account gives you limited access to most of Semrush’s core tools, capped by daily usage. Semrush describes it as being “for trying out the platform”, with no card required.
| Feature | Free account | SEO plan ($139/mo) |
|---|---|---|
| Analytics reports per day | 10 | 3,000 |
| Projects / websites | 1 demo project | 5 |
| Keywords tracked in Position Tracking | 10 | 500 |
| Card required | No | Yes, for the 7-day trial |
| Time limit | None | Monthly subscription |
| Full keyword lists and exports | Limited | Yes |
Source: Semrush pricing page and FAQ, checked 20 October 2026.
“Reports” means lookups in the analytics tools: each time you search a keyword in Keyword Overview or a domain in Domain Overview, that’s one of your 10. They go quickly if you’re comparing several competitors. The 1 project lets you set up Site Audit and Position Tracking on one site.
10
reports a day free
1
project
10
tracked keywords
$0
no card needed
What free Semrush tools can you use without an account?
Semrush runs several free standalone tools on its website alongside the free account. They’re handy for quick, one-off checks.
- **Keyword Tool:** search volume and difficulty for a keyword.
- **Website Traffic Checker:** estimated traffic for any site.
- **Backlink Checker:** a snapshot of the links pointing at a site.
- **SEO Checker:** a quick on-page check of a URL.
- **AI Visibility Checker:** a snapshot of how AI tools mention a brand.
They give you a taste of the data, with limited rows. For a proper keyword list or competitor analysis, you’ll hit the limits fast.
Where does the free version run out?
The free version runs out the moment you try to do SEO properly. Building a keyword list, analysing three competitors and checking your own site in one sitting can use your 10 reports before lunch.
The limits that bite hardest:
- **10 lookups a day** makes competitor research a week-long job.
- **Truncated results** mean you don’t see the full keyword lists where the long-tail opportunities live.
- **10 tracked keywords** isn’t enough to see how a content plan is performing.
- **No AI visibility tracking** to see how ChatGPT or Google’s AI features mention you.
If you’re running a business site, those limits cost you more in time than the subscription costs in money.
Not sure whether to pay yet?
I’ll look at your site on a free call and tell you whether the free stack is enough for now, or what a paid plan would add for you specifically.
- You’ve hit the free limits already
- You don’t know which paid plan you’d need
- You want a plan that works on free tools first
How do you get the most out of Semrush for free?
Use your 10 daily reports on the questions free Google tools can’t answer, and use Google Search Console for everything about your own site. That split stretches the free account a long way.
My free SEO stack
- Google Search Console for your own site’s clicks, impressions, rankings and indexing. Free and exact.
- Semrush free account for competitor checks and keyword difficulty, 10 lookups a day.
- Semrush’s 1 project for Site Audit on your own site, so you catch technical problems.
- Google autocomplete and People Also Ask for long-tail question ideas.
- Google Keyword Planner for rough volume ranges on a longer keyword list.
My Search Console guide shows how to find quick wins in your own data, and my keyword research guide has a free method that fits this stack.
What do you get when you pay for Semrush?
Paying for Semrush removes the daily caps, opens full keyword and competitor lists, and adds daily rank tracking for hundreds of keywords. On Semrush One, you also get AI visibility tracking across ChatGPT, Google’s AI features, Gemini and Perplexity.
| Plan | Monthly price | Reports a day | Tracked keywords | AI visibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 10 | 10 | No |
| SEO | $139 | 3,000 | 500 | No |
| Semrush One Starter | $199 | Not stated on the pricing page | 500 | 50 prompts |
| Pro+ | $299 | 5,000 | 1,500 | 100 prompts |
Source: Semrush pricing page and FAQ, checked 20 October 2026. Starter’s daily report allowance isn’t listed in the FAQ.
My pricing guide explains each plan in detail and how to save up to 17% with yearly billing.
Can you try the paid version free?
Yes. Semrush’s 7-day free trial gives you the full paid plan, so you can see exactly what the limits feel like without them. You add a card, Semrush makes a small refunded check, and you’re only charged if you don’t cancel before the 7 days end.
My honest take: Semrush is easy to use and very easy to understand, and the 7-day trial gives you a great overview of what the paid version adds. Run it on your own site with a plan, and you’ll know by day seven. My free trial guide has the plan.
Affiliate link: if you start a trial or subscribe through it, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. The trial lasts 7 days and you can cancel before it ends.
People also ask
Is Semrush free forever?
The free account has no time limit, so you can keep it as long as you like. It’s capped at 10 reports a day, 1 project and 10 tracked keywords.
Does Semrush free need a credit card?
No. The free account doesn’t need a card. The 7-day trial of a paid plan does, though you aren’t charged if you cancel before it ends.
Is the free version of Semrush good enough?
It’s good enough to learn the tool and run occasional checks. For a business doing SEO every week, the 10-reports-a-day cap and truncated lists become a problem.
Frequently asked questions
How many searches do you get on Semrush free?
The free account allows 10 requests a day to Semrush’s analytics reports. Paid plans allow 3,000 a day on the SEO plan, 5,000 on Pro+ and 10,000 on Advanced.
Can I do a site audit on Semrush free?
Yes, on the one project the free account allows. It’s useful for spotting technical problems on your own site, though with lower limits than paid plans.
Can I track rankings for free on Semrush?
Yes, but only 10 keywords in Position Tracking on the free account. The SEO plan tracks 500 keywords daily.
Is Semrush free for students?
Semrush’s standard free account is open to anyone. Semrush Academy’s courses are also free. Check Semrush’s site for any current education programmes.
Is there a free alternative to Semrush?
Google Search Console and Keyword Planner are free and cover your own site and rough volumes. Ahrefs and Ubersuggest also have limited free tiers.
What happens if I go over the free limit?
You’ll be asked to wait until the next day or upgrade. The 10-report cap resets daily.
Is the Semrush free trial the same as the free account?
No. The free account is permanent but limited. The free trial is 7 days of a full paid plan, which turns into a subscription unless you cancel.
About the author
Alan Spicer has been a YouTube Certified Expert since 2017 and creating on YouTube since 2012. He holds six YouTube Silver Play Buttons, has coached 500+ creators and run 500+ channel audits, and spent 2020–2021 on the vidIQ customer success team. After 20 years self-employed, he runs his consultancy and his own content sites from Huddersfield, usually fuelled by tea. Read client results.
Related reading
Free tools, real plan
You can get a long way on free tools if you know what to do with them. On a free call I’ll give you a plan built around the free stack first. I’m a YouTube Certified Expert with six Silver Play Buttons, 500+ channel audits and 20 years of running my own online businesses behind me.
Sources
- Semrush plans and pricing, including free account FAQ, checked 20 October 2026
- Semrush free trial page, checked 20 October 2026
- Search Console Help: About Search Console
Affiliate disclosure: Some links in this post are affiliate links. If you start a Semrush trial or subscription through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools I’d use myself, and programme terms and prices change, so check the current details on Semrush’s site before you buy.
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