Tag: Ahrefs

Semrush is my first pick for most websites, but it isn’t the right tool for everyone. If $139 a month is too much, or you only need one part of what it does, one of these alternatives may suit you better.

Last updated: 30 October 2026 · By Alan Spicer, YouTube Certified Expert

Part of the Semrush series.

Semrush alternatives at a glance

Here are the seven alternatives side by side, with Semrush for reference. Prices are the cheapest full plan on each provider’s own pricing page, checked on 20 October 2026.

Sources: official pricing pages for each tool, checked 20 October 2026; Ubersuggest pricing as reported by Wise, September 2025. US dollars; VAT may apply.

1. Ahrefs: best for backlink research

Ahrefs is the closest rival to Semrush and the one most people compare it with. Its plans run from a $29 Starter plan for basic research, through Lite at $129 and Standard at $249, to Advanced at $449 a month. Ahrefs Webmaster Tools is free for your own verified sites.

Ahrefs is loved for its backlink index and clean interface for link research. If building links is the centre of your SEO, it’s a strong choice. Where it trails Semrush is breadth: Semrush bundles AI visibility tracking into Semrush One from $199, content tools and local SEO, and I find Semrush easier for beginners to learn. Both tools charge extra for more users.

Choose Ahrefs if: link building is your main job or you want a cheap Starter plan for occasional research.

2. SE Ranking: best value all-rounder

SE Ranking covers keyword research, rank tracking, site audits, backlinks and AI search tracking for $129 a month on its Core plan, or $103.20 billed yearly. The 14-day trial doesn’t need a card, which makes it easy to test.

It’s a sensible pick for freelancers and small agencies who want most of Semrush’s features at a lower price. Its keyword and backlink databases are smaller than Semrush’s, so research on niche or non-English markets can come back thinner.

Choose SE Ranking if: you want an all-in-one tool on a tighter budget, especially for rank tracking across many keywords.

3. Moz Pro: easiest for complete beginners

Moz Pro starts at $49 a month for a single-site Starter plan, with Standard at $99 ($79 billed yearly), Medium at $179 and Large at $299. Moz created Domain Authority, the site-strength score many people still quote.

Moz is gentle to learn and has a long history of beginner-friendly SEO education. It tracks fewer keywords for the money than Semrush and has less depth in competitor research. For a small business that wants the basics without a busy dashboard, it’s a reasonable choice.

Choose Moz Pro if: you’re new to SEO, run one site and want the simplest interface.

4. Ubersuggest: cheapest paid option

Ubersuggest is the budget pick, with plans reported at about $12 a month or a one-off $120 lifetime licence for individuals, and a limited free tier. It covers keyword ideas, basic site audits and competitor overviews.

The trade-off is depth and accuracy. Its data is fine for a hobby blog or a first look at a niche, but I wouldn’t run a business’s SEO strategy on it alone. Check current prices on Ubersuggest’s own site, because they change.

Choose Ubersuggest if: your budget is tiny and you need keyword ideas more than precise data.

5. Similarweb: best for traffic and market research

Similarweb specialises in estimating website traffic, audience and market share, with Web Intelligence plans from $125 a month and a free trial. It’s popular with researchers, investors and marketing teams sizing up a market.

For SEO work, it’s not a Semrush replacement: keyword research, site audits and rank tracking are much stronger in Semrush. Semrush also sells its own Traffic & Market toolkit for similar jobs. Pick Similarweb when the question is “how big is this site and where does its traffic come from”, not “how do I rank”.

Choose Similarweb if: you need traffic and market data more than SEO tools.

6 and 7. Google Search Console and Keyword Planner: best free options

Google Search Console is free and shows real clicks, impressions and rankings for your own site, plus indexing problems. Google Keyword Planner is free inside a Google Ads account and gives search volume ranges for keyword ideas.

Together they cover a surprising amount. What they can’t do is show you competitors, track rankings daily, or tell you how hard a keyword is to rank for organically. My Search Console guide shows how to get the most from it, and my keyword research guide explains a free method that uses both.

Choose the free Google tools if: you’re just starting and want to learn before paying for anything.

When is Semrush still the better choice?

Semrush is still the better choice when you want one tool for everything: keyword research, competitor analysis, audits, rank tracking and AI visibility. It has the largest keyword database I’ve seen at 28 billion keywords, it’s easy to learn, and its AI visibility tracking across ChatGPT, Google’s AI features, Gemini and Perplexity is ahead of most alternatives at the same price.

The honest drawback is price. If $139 a month is hard to justify, start on the free account or Search Console, and come back when your site is earning. If you can justify it, the 7-day trial is the quickest way to find out whether it beats the alternatives on your own site. My full Semrush review gives it 4.5 out of 5.

Which Semrush alternative should you choose?

Choose by your main job and your budget. The table below is the shortcut I’d give a client.

If you’re a YouTuber rather than a website owner, none of these is your main tool. YouTube needs YouTube-specific data, which I cover in my vidIQ alternatives guide.

People also ask

Frequently asked questions

Why look for a Semrush alternative?

Most people look because of price, because they only need one feature such as rank tracking or backlinks, or because they want a simpler interface. All three are fair reasons.

Is SE Ranking as good as Semrush?

SE Ranking covers most of the same jobs at a lower price, but its databases are smaller. For a single country and a modest keyword list, many users find it good enough.

Is Moz still worth using?

Moz Pro is worth it for beginners who want a simple tool and value Moz’s Domain Authority score. Power users usually find Semrush or Ahrefs more complete.

Is Ubersuggest accurate enough?

Ubersuggest is accurate enough for keyword ideas and a first look at a niche. For business-critical decisions, check its numbers against Search Console or a larger tool.

Can I use two SEO tools together?

Yes, and many people do. Google Search Console plus one paid tool is the most common setup, because Search Console gives real data for your site and the paid tool covers research.

Does any Semrush alternative track AI search?

Several do now. Ahrefs sells AI prompt tracking and Brand Radar AI, and SE Ranking offers an AI search add-on. Semrush includes AI visibility in its Semrush One plans from $199 a month.

Which Semrush alternative is best for YouTube?

None of these. They’re built for Google web search. For YouTube keyword and channel research, use YouTube-specific tools like vidIQ or TubeBuddy.