Tag: seo tools

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SEMRUSH

What Is Semrush and What Is It Used For? (Plain-English Guide 2026)

If someone at work told you to “check it in Semrush” and you nodded along, this is for you. Here’s what Semrush is, what people use it for, and how it gets its numbers, in plain English.

Last updated: 26 October 2026 · By Alan Spicer, YouTube Certified Expert

Part of the Semrush series.

Semrush is a website you log in to that tells you what people search for on Google, which websites win those searches, and how to win more of them yourself. Everything else it does grows out of that idea.

Why listen to me? I’ve been a YouTube Certified Expert since 2017, spent 2020–2021 on the vidIQ customer success team, and have been self-employed for 20 years running my own content sites. I explain marketing tools to business owners for a living, without the jargon.

⚡ QUICK ANSWER: What is Semrush?

Semrush is an online SEO and marketing platform. It shows what people search for on Google, which websites rank for those searches, how much traffic competitors get, and what’s holding your own site back. Marketers use it for keyword research, competitor analysis, site audits, rank tracking and AI search visibility.

What is Semrush in simple terms?

Semrush is a subscription website that collects search data from Google and AI tools and turns it into reports you can act on. You type in a keyword and it tells you how many people search for it and how hard it is to rank. You type in a website and it tells you which searches that site ranks for and roughly how much traffic it gets.

SEO, short for search engine optimisation, is the work of making your website show up higher in Google’s free results. Semrush is an SEO tool first, but it also covers content writing, local listings, social media, paid ads, digital PR and, since 2025, how often AI assistants such as ChatGPT mention your brand.

Semrush was founded in 2008 and became a public company before Adobe bought it. Adobe completed the deal on 28 April 2026, so Semrush now calls itself “an Adobe company”. You still use it at semrush.com with a Semrush login.

What is Semrush used for?

Semrush is used for six main jobs, and most small businesses only need the first four.

Job What Semrush shows you Main tool
Keyword research What people search, how often, and how hard it is to rank Keyword Magic Tool
Competitor analysis Which keywords and pages bring competitors their traffic Organic Research, Keyword Gap
Site audits Technical problems stopping your pages from ranking Site Audit
Rank tracking Where your pages rank each day Position Tracking
Backlink research Which websites link to you and to competitors Backlink Analytics
AI visibility How ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Google’s AI features mention your brand AI Visibility toolkit, Semrush One

In digital marketing teams, Semrush often sits next to Google Search Console and Google Analytics. Search Console and Analytics show what’s happening on your own site. Semrush shows the wider market: what people search that you don’t rank for yet, and what your competitors are doing.

28B

keywords

43T

backlinks

808M

domain profiles

142

country databases

How does Semrush work and where does its data come from?

Semrush works by collecting search results at huge scale and estimating everything else from them. It checks which pages rank for billions of keywords across 142 country databases, crawls the web for links, and combines that with clickstream and third-party data to estimate search volumes and traffic.

Rankings are the most reliable part, because Semrush sees the actual search results. Traffic numbers for other websites are estimates: Semrush multiplies each keyword’s search volume by the click rate for that position and adds it up. Use them to compare sites and spot trends, not as exact visitor counts. For your own site, connect Google Search Console and compare.

Semrush also builds its own scores. The best known is Authority Score, a 0 to 100 grade of a website’s overall quality based on its backlinks, organic traffic and spam signals. It’s a Semrush metric, not something Google uses, but it’s a quick way to size up a site.

Who uses Semrush?

Semrush is used by in-house marketers, SEO agencies, freelancers, bloggers, affiliate site owners, ecommerce stores and local businesses. Big brands use it at enterprise level, while solo business owners usually stick to the SEO plan.

I’d recommend it to anyone whose income depends on website traffic. If your business lives on YouTube with no website, Semrush is less useful, because its data is built around Google web search. For YouTube-specific keyword research, my guide to the best YouTube SEO tools is the better starting point.

Got the data but no plan?

Semrush will hand you hundreds of keywords. I’ll help you pick the handful that can bring in customers this quarter.

  • You don’t know which keywords to target first
  • Competitors outrank you and you don’t know why
  • You want your website and YouTube channel working together

Book your free discovery call →

View coaching services & packages · Read client results

Is Semrush free?

Semrush has a free account and a 7-day free trial of its paid plans. The free account has no time limit but only allows 10 reports a day, 1 project and 10 tracked keywords. The trial gives you full access to a paid plan for 7 days, and you can cancel before you’re charged.

Semrush also runs free single-purpose tools on its website, such as a website traffic checker, a keyword tool, a backlink checker and an AI visibility checker. They’re handy for a one-off look. My Semrush free trial guide explains how to get the most from the 7 days.

Try Semrush free for 7 days

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.

How much does Semrush cost?

Semrush’s SEO plan costs $139 a month, Semrush One Starter $199 and Pro+ $299, with about 17% off if you pay yearly. Advanced is custom-priced for large teams. Separate toolkits for content, local, social, ads, traffic and digital PR are sold on their own.

Plan Monthly price What it adds
Free $0 10 reports a day, 1 project
SEO $139 Full SEO tools, 5 websites, 500 tracked keywords
Semrush One Starter $199 SEO plus AI visibility tracking
Pro+ $299 15 websites, 1,500 keywords, historical data, content tools
Advanced Custom 40+ websites, API, share of voice

Source: Semrush pricing page, checked 20 October 2026. US dollars; VAT may apply in the UK.

If you’ve seen Semrush Pro, Guru and Business mentioned elsewhere, those are the old plan names. Their limits now sit on SEO, Pro+ and Advanced.

How do you learn to use Semrush?

You learn Semrush fastest by using five reports on your own website rather than watching every tutorial. My honest view is that it’s a great tool and very easy to understand once you’ve opened the main reports a few times.

Learn Semrush in five sessions

  1. Run Site Audit on your website and read the top three issues.
  2. Put your main topic into the Keyword Magic Tool and filter for keyword difficulty under 30.
  3. Type your biggest competitor into Domain Overview and look at their top pages.
  4. Use Keyword Gap to compare your site with two competitors.
  5. Set up Position Tracking for 20 keywords and check it each week.

Semrush Academy has free video courses on each tool if you want more depth. For your own site’s real numbers, pair Semrush with Google Search Console, which my Search Console guide covers.

People also ask

What does Semrush stand for?

Semrush started as SEMrush, from SEM, short for search engine marketing. The company now writes it as Semrush and uses the name on its own rather than as an acronym.

Is Semrush owned by Google?

No. Semrush is independent of Google and is now owned by Adobe, which completed its purchase in April 2026. Semrush’s data is collected from search results rather than supplied by Google.

What is SemrushBot?

SemrushBot is the crawler Semrush uses to scan the web and build its backlink and site data. It’s a normal search-marketing crawler, and you can manage it through your robots.txt file like other bots.

Is Semrush a good tool?

Yes. Semrush is one of the two leading all-in-one SEO tools, alongside Ahrefs. It’s easy to learn and covers SEO and AI search in one place; price is the main drawback.

Frequently asked questions

What is Semrush used for in digital marketing?

In digital marketing, Semrush is used to plan content around real searches, study competitors, fix technical SEO problems, track rankings, research paid search keywords and monitor how AI assistants mention a brand.

Is Semrush only for SEO?

No. SEO is the core, but Semrush also sells toolkits for content writing, local listings, social media, paid ads, website traffic research and digital PR, plus AI visibility tracking.

Do I need Semrush if I have Google Search Console?

Search Console shows your own site’s real data for free. Semrush adds what Search Console can’t: keywords you don’t rank for yet, competitor research, daily rank tracking and deeper audits.

Is Semrush hard to learn?

Not really. Every report uses the same layout of a search bar, headline numbers and a filterable table. Most people are comfortable with the main reports within a week.

How accurate is Semrush data?

Ranking data is accurate because it comes from live search results. Search volumes and other sites’ traffic are estimates, so treat them as a guide for comparing options rather than exact figures.

Can I use Semrush for a small business?

Yes. A small business usually only needs the SEO plan, or the free account plus Search Console at the start. Focus on keyword research, Site Audit and Position Tracking.

What is the difference between Semrush and Semrush One?

Semrush is the company and platform. Semrush One is a plan that bundles the SEO toolkit with AI visibility tracking, starting at $199 a month.

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.

Want to know if Semrush is right for your business?

Tell me what you sell and where your customers find you. On a free call I’ll tell you whether Semrush, a cheaper tool or no tool at all is the right next step. 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.

Book your free discovery call →

View coaching services & packages · Read client results

Sources

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.

Categories
SEMRUSH

Semrush Free Trial 2026: How It Works, What You Get and How to Cancel

The Semrush free trial gives you full access for 7 days, which is enough to find out whether the tool earns its price on your own site. Here’s exactly how it works, what to test, and how to cancel cleanly if it isn’t for you.

Last updated: 24 October 2026 · By Alan Spicer, YouTube Certified Expert

Part of the Semrush series.

I’m a fan of Semrush: it’s easy to use, easy to understand, and the 7-day trial gives you a full overview before you pay anything. The trial only helps if you use it properly, though, so this guide includes a day-by-day plan.

Why listen to me? I’ve been a YouTube Certified Expert since 2017 and self-employed for 20 years, running my own content sites and SEO content builds for clients. I test every paid tool on its trial with a plan, so I’m not paying for something I won’t open.

⚡ QUICK ANSWER: How long is the Semrush free trial?

The Semrush free trial lasts 7 days. It covers Semrush One, the SEO toolkit and most other toolkits, with full access to their tools. You add a card to start, Semrush runs a small refunded check, and you’re only charged if you don’t cancel before the 7 days end.

Start the Semrush free trial (pick your toolkit)

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.

How does the Semrush free trial work?

The Semrush free trial gives you 7 days of access to a paid plan or toolkit at no cost. You choose a product, create an account, add a card, and use the tools straight away. If you cancel before the 7 days are up, you aren’t charged. If you don’t cancel, the subscription starts and you pay the normal monthly price.

Semrush explains the card step on its pricing page: it charges “a nominal amount” to check the card is valid and refunds it immediately. You won’t be charged the plan price until the trial ends.

7

days of full access

$0

if you cancel in time

8

toolkits on the trial page

10

reports a day on the free account

Which Semrush plans have a free trial?

The 7-day free trial is available on Semrush One and on most individual toolkits. You pick which one when you start, so choose based on the job you want done.

Trial option What you can test Price after the trial (monthly) Pick it if…
Semrush One SEO tools plus AI visibility tracking From $199 You care about Google and AI search
SEO Toolkit Keyword research, backlinks, site audits, rank tracking $139 You want classic SEO for a website
Content Toolkit Topic ideas, SEO briefs, AI writing and optimisation From $60 (billed yearly) You write a lot of content
Local Toolkit Google Business Profile, listings, reviews From $30 per location (billed yearly) You’re a local business
Traffic & Market Toolkit Traffic estimates for any website From $289 (billed yearly) You research competitors or markets
Social Toolkit Scheduling, tracking, influencers From $20 (billed yearly) You manage social accounts
Advertising Toolkit Google and Meta ads research From $99 (billed yearly) You run paid ads

Source: Semrush free trial and pricing pages, checked 20 October 2026. Toolkit prices are shown as the yearly-billed monthly rate on Semrush’s site; the monthly rate may be higher. Prices in US dollars; VAT may be added in the UK.

For most small businesses, bloggers and creators with a website, the SEO Toolkit or Semrush One is the right trial. If you want to see how ChatGPT, Gemini and Google’s AI features talk about your brand, go for Semrush One, because the SEO Toolkit doesn’t include AI visibility tracking.

What do you get on the Semrush trial?

On the trial you get the same tools paying customers get on that plan, so it’s a real test rather than a demo. On the SEO Toolkit that means Keyword Magic Tool, Domain Overview, Organic Research, Keyword Gap, Backlink Analytics, Site Audit and Position Tracking, within the plan’s limits of 5 websites and 500 tracked keywords.

Semrush One adds AI visibility on top: prompt tracking, brand mentions across ChatGPT, Google’s AI features, Gemini and Perplexity, and an AI-readiness check inside Site Audit.

The free account is different. It has no time limit, but you only get 10 reports a day, 1 project and 10 tracked keywords. It’s fine for poking around. It’s not enough to plan a content strategy.

Feature Free account 7-day trial (SEO Toolkit)
Time limit None 7 days
Card needed No Yes
Analytics reports 10 a day 3,000 a day
Projects / websites 1 5
Tracked keywords 10 500
Full keyword lists and exports Limited Yes

Source: Semrush pricing page FAQ, checked 20 October 2026.

What should you test during the Semrush trial?

Test the reports you’d use every week, on your own site and your real competitors. A trial spent clicking around the menu tells you nothing. A trial spent building a 90-day content plan tells you whether the subscription pays for itself.

My 7-day Semrush trial plan

  1. Day 1: Create a project for your site and run Site Audit. Write down the three most serious errors and fix them.
  2. Day 2: Run Domain Overview on your three biggest competitors. Note their top pages and estimated traffic.
  3. Day 3: Use Keyword Gap to compare your site with those competitors. Export the keywords they rank for and you don’t.
  4. Day 4: Take your main topic into the Keyword Magic Tool. Filter for keyword difficulty under 30 and pick 30 keywords.
  5. Day 5: Set up Position Tracking for those 30 keywords so you can see where you start.
  6. Day 6: Open Backlink Analytics for your strongest competitor and list five sites that might link to you too.
  7. Day 7: Review what you found. If it’s more than a month of work, keep the subscription. If not, cancel today.

If you’re on Semrush One, swap day 6 for the AI visibility reports. Check which prompts mention your competitors and not you, because that list tells you which pages to write or improve.

Start your 7-day trial and follow 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.

How do you cancel the Semrush free trial?

You cancel the Semrush free trial from your account’s subscription settings before the 7 days end, and you won’t be charged. Semrush’s own FAQ says you can cancel, downgrade or upgrade “at any time” unless you’ve signed custom terms.

**Set a reminder for day 6.** The trial turns into a paid subscription automatically. Put a reminder in your calendar the day you sign up, so you decide on purpose rather than finding a charge on your statement.

Your exports stay yours after you cancel. Download keyword lists, audit reports and gap analyses as CSV or Excel files during the trial so the work isn’t lost if you don’t continue.

Is there a Semrush coupon code or discount?

There isn’t a standing Semrush coupon code, and any site promising a magic code is selling you something that doesn’t exist. The real ways to pay less are the 7-day free trial, paying yearly (up to 17% off), and starting on the cheaper SEO plan rather than Semrush One.

Semrush sometimes runs longer trials through partner offers, but the standard trial on Semrush’s own site is 7 days. If you see a longer trial advertised, check it’s on a semrush.com page before you trust it.

Not sure which trial to pick?

I’ll look at your site and your goals on a free call and tell you whether you need Semrush One, the SEO Toolkit, or just the free account and Search Console.

  • You run a website or blog and want more Google traffic
  • You’re a creator thinking about a website as well as YouTube
  • You want an outside view before spending $139 a month

Book your free discovery call →

View coaching services & packages · Read client results

How much does Semrush cost after the free trial?

After the free trial, the SEO plan costs $139 a month and Semrush One starts at $199 a month, or $117.33 and $165.17 a month if you pay yearly. Pro+ is $299 a month for bigger sites and teams. My Semrush review explains who each plan suits.

If the trial showed you a clear list of wins, the subscription usually pays for itself the first time one of those pages starts bringing in enquiries or sales. If it didn’t, cancel, keep the free account, and use Google Search Console for your own site’s data. My guide on getting your website on Google covers that setup.

People also ask

Does the Semrush free trial charge you?

Not if you cancel in time. Semrush makes a small card check that’s refunded straight away, then charges the plan price only when the 7-day trial ends.

Can you use the Semrush trial twice?

Semrush ties trials to your account and payment details, so a second trial on the same details isn’t something to count on. Use your 7 days fully the first time.

Is Semrush free forever?

There’s a free account with no time limit, but it’s capped at 10 reports a day, 1 project and 10 tracked keywords. The full tools need a paid plan or the 7-day trial.

Is the Semrush trial the full version?

Yes. The trial gives you the same tools and limits as the paid plan you choose, so the results you get are the same results you’d get as a customer.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a credit card for the Semrush free trial?

Yes, Semrush asks for a card to start the 7-day trial. It charges a small amount to check the card and refunds it immediately, and you aren’t charged the plan price until the trial ends.

What happens when the Semrush trial ends?

If you haven’t cancelled, the trial turns into a paid subscription on the plan you chose and your card is charged the normal price. If you cancelled, your account drops back to the free tier.

Can I switch plans during the Semrush trial?

Semrush lets paying customers upgrade or downgrade at any time. If you started the wrong trial, contact Semrush support before it ends rather than assuming it switches over automatically.

Does the Semrush trial include AI visibility?

Only the Semrush One trial includes AI visibility tracking across ChatGPT, Google’s AI features, Gemini and Perplexity. The SEO Toolkit trial covers classic SEO tools.

Can I keep my data after cancelling the trial?

Your projects stay on your account, but you’ll lose access to most of the data once you’re back on the free tier. Export your keyword lists and audit reports before day 7.

Is there a Semrush trial for agencies?

Agencies can start the same 7-day trial and test Pro+ limits for more client sites. For large teams, Semrush offers demos of its custom Advanced and Enterprise plans.

How do I cancel Semrush before the trial ends?

Go to your account’s subscription settings and cancel the plan before day 7. Semrush says you can cancel at any time, and doing it inside the trial means you won’t be charged.

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.

Want to get more out of your 7 days?

Book a call before you start the trial and I’ll tell you which reports to run for your site, so the week ends with a real plan instead of a pile of exports. 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.

Book your free discovery call →

View coaching services & packages · Read client results

Sources

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.

Categories
SEMRUSH

Semrush Review 2026: Is It Still the Best SEO Tool? (Honest Verdict)

Semrush is the SEO tool most people end up comparing everything else to, and in 2026 it changed more than it has in years. New owner, new plan names, and a big push into AI search. Here’s my honest take on whether it’s worth your money.

Last updated: 22 October 2026 · By Alan Spicer, YouTube Certified Expert

Part of the Semrush series.

Short version: Semrush is easy to use, easy to understand and does more than any single tool I’ve tried for website SEO. The 7-day free trial gives you a proper look at all of it. The catch is price, and the new plan line-up confuses people. I’ll cover both.

Why listen to me? I’ve been a YouTube Certified Expert since 2017, I spent 2020–2021 on the vidIQ customer success team, and I’ve run 500+ channel audits. I’ve also been self-employed for 20 years and run my own content sites, so I judge SEO tools on one thing: do they help you get found and paid.

⚡ QUICK ANSWER: Is Semrush worth it in 2026?

Yes, if you run a website you want to grow from Google or AI search. Semrush covers keyword research, competitor analysis, site audits, rank tracking and AI visibility in one place, and it’s easy to learn. Plans start at $139 a month, so test it on the 7-day free trial first.

My verdict: 4.5 / 5 ★★★★½

Semrush is the easiest all-in-one SEO tool to learn and the most complete for website SEO plus AI search. Price is the only real drawback.

Try Semrush free for 7 days

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.

What is Semrush?

Semrush is an online SEO and marketing platform that shows you what people search for, which websites rank for those searches, and what you need to fix to rank higher yourself. You log in through a browser, type a keyword or a website address, and it gives you search volumes, competitor data, backlinks and a to-do list for your own site.

It started as a keyword tool and grew into a full marketing suite. In 2026 it sells “toolkits” for SEO, AI visibility, content, local listings, traffic analysis, social media, advertising and digital PR. Most people only need the SEO side, and that’s what this review focuses on.

Semrush also has a new owner. Adobe completed its purchase of Semrush on 28 April 2026, so the company now describes itself as “an Adobe company”. Day to day, the product and the login are the same.

28B

keywords in the database

43T

backlinks tracked

808M

domain profiles

142

country databases

Is Semrush easy to use?

Semrush is easy to use once you know which three or four reports matter, and that’s the part most reviews skip. My honest view after using it: it’s a great tool, very easy to understand, and the free 7-day trial gives you a full overview of what it can do before you pay anything.

The dashboard looks busy on day one because there are over 50 tools in the menu. You don’t need most of them. For a small business site, a blog or a creator’s website, the work happens in five places:

  • **Keyword Overview and Keyword Magic Tool** to find what people search and how hard it is to rank.
  • **Domain Overview and Organic Research** to see any competitor’s traffic and top pages.
  • **Site Audit** to find technical problems on your own site.
  • **Position Tracking** to watch your rankings move each day.
  • **Backlink Analytics** to see who links to you and to your competitors.

Every report has the same layout: a search bar at the top, headline numbers in cards, then a table you can filter and export. Learn one and the rest feel familiar. Semrush Academy, the free course platform, covers each tool if you prefer video lessons.

What does Semrush do well?

Semrush does five jobs well enough that most small teams can drop two or three other subscriptions. Here’s what I’d use it for and why.

Keyword research

The Keyword Magic Tool takes one seed word and returns thousands of related searches, grouped by topic, with volume, keyword difficulty and search intent for each. The intent label (informational, commercial, transactional or navigational) saves you writing a sales page for a keyword where people only want an answer. Filter for difficulty under 30 and you’ve got a list of long-tail keywords a newer site can rank for.

Competitor analysis

Type a competitor’s domain into Organic Research and you see the keywords it ranks for, its estimated traffic, and which pages bring that traffic in. Keyword Gap compares up to five sites and shows the searches they rank for and you don’t. For a new site, that gap list is often the whole content plan for the next six months.

Site Audit

Site Audit crawls your site and flags broken links, slow pages, missing titles, duplicate content and crawl errors, sorted by severity. On the Semrush One plans it also checks “AI readiness”, including whether AI crawlers can reach your pages. You get a health score out of 100 and a plain-English explanation of how to fix each issue.

Position Tracking

Position Tracking checks where your pages rank for a keyword list every day, on desktop and mobile, for a country or a city. The SEO plan tracks 500 keywords across 5 websites. It’s the report I’d look at weekly to see whether new content is working.

AI visibility

The newest part of Semrush tracks how often ChatGPT, Google’s AI features, Gemini and Perplexity mention your brand, and for which prompts. It’s included in the Semrush One plans and sold as a separate AI Visibility toolkit. If customers ask AI tools for recommendations in your industry, this is the only way I know to measure whether you show up.

See what Semrush finds on your site (7-day free trial)

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.

How much does Semrush cost in 2026?

Semrush costs $139 a month for the SEO plan, $199 for Semrush One Starter and $299 for Pro+, with up to 17% off if you pay yearly. There’s also a free account limited to 10 reports a day and a custom-priced Advanced plan for large teams.

Plan Monthly Billed yearly (per month) Websites / keywords tracked Best for
SEO $139 $117.33 5 / 500 Freelancers, bloggers, small business SEO
Semrush One Starter $199 $165.17 5 / 500 + 50 AI prompts SEO plus AI search tracking
Pro+ $299 $248.17 15 / 1,500 + 100 AI prompts Growing teams and agencies
Advanced Custom Custom 40+ / 5,000+ Larger organisations
Free $0 $0 1 project / 10 keywords Trying the interface

Source: Semrush pricing page, checked 20 October 2026. Prices in US dollars; UK customers are billed in pounds and VAT may be added.

If you’ve read older reviews mentioning Pro, Guru and Business, those plans have been renamed. The daily report limits on the old Pro, Guru and Business plans (3,000, 5,000 and 10,000) now sit on SEO, Pro+ and Advanced. Starter is new and adds AI visibility to the SEO plan.

Extra users cost from $45 a month each on the SEO and Semrush One plans, which adds up fast for a team. For a one-person business, the SEO plan is enough. If you care how AI tools talk about your brand, Starter is the one I’d pick.

**Price check:** Ahrefs, the closest rival, starts at $129 a month for Lite and $249 for Standard, with a $29 Starter plan for basic research. So Semrush isn’t the cheap option, but the gap is smaller than most people assume.

Semrush pros and cons

Semrush’s biggest strength is breadth: one login covers research, auditing, tracking and AI visibility. Its biggest weakness is cost, especially once you add users.

What it does well

  • Very easy to learn: every report follows the same layout
  • The largest keyword database I’ve seen (28 billion keywords)
  • Keyword intent labels and difficulty scores save hours of guesswork
  • Site Audit explains each fix in plain English
  • Tracks AI search visibility, which most rivals only started adding recently
  • 7-day free trial on every main plan

Where it falls short

  • $139 a month is a lot for a hobby blog
  • Extra users from $45 a month each
  • Traffic numbers for other sites are estimates, not exact figures
  • YouTube data is limited; it’s built for Google web search
  • The menu is overwhelming until you know the five reports that matter

Who should use Semrush, and who shouldn’t?

Semrush suits anyone who earns money from website traffic: small businesses, bloggers, affiliate site owners, freelancers and agencies. It’s harder to justify if your site makes nothing yet or your audience lives on YouTube.

You are… Should you use Semrush? Plan I’d start with
A small business owner wanting more enquiries from Google Yes SEO
A blogger or affiliate site owner Yes, once the site has 20+ posts SEO
A freelancer or consultant doing SEO for clients Yes Starter or Pro+
A brand worried about AI search Yes Starter
A YouTuber with no website Probably not; use vidIQ None
A brand-new site with no budget Use the free account first Free

If you’re a creator, YouTube search needs YouTube-specific tools. I cover those in my best YouTube SEO tools guide. Semrush comes into its own when you also run a website, because it shows where your videos and blog posts can rank on Google itself. My guide to ranking YouTube videos on Google explains that crossover.

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  • You’ve got traffic but no enquiries or sales
  • You want a content plan built from real search data

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How does Semrush compare with Ahrefs and the alternatives?

Semrush and Ahrefs are the two serious all-in-one SEO tools, and the honest answer is that both are good. Semrush is easier to learn and tracks AI visibility in its main plans; Ahrefs is loved for backlink data and has a cheaper entry plan.

Tool Starting price Free option Best at
Semrush $139/mo (SEO plan) Free account, 7-day trial All-in-one SEO and AI visibility, ease of use
Ahrefs $29/mo Starter, $129/mo Lite Ahrefs Webmaster Tools Backlink research
Moz Pro $49/mo Starter, $99/mo Standard Free trial on Medium plan Beginners, domain authority
SE Ranking $129/mo Core 14-day trial, no card Budget rank tracking
Google Search Console Free Free Your own site’s real data

Source: each provider’s official pricing page, checked 20 October 2026.

Whatever you pick, connect Google Search Console too. It’s free and shows the real clicks and searches for your own site, which no paid tool can see. Semrush lets you plug it in so both sets of data sit side by side.

How do you test Semrush for free?

You can test Semrush free for 7 days on the SEO plan, Semrush One or most toolkits, with full access to the tools. You need a card to start, Semrush runs a small check on it that’s refunded straight away, and you’re not charged until the trial ends. Cancel before day seven and you pay nothing.

Here’s how I’d use the 7 days so you know by the end whether it’s worth paying for:

My 7-day Semrush trial plan

  1. Day 1: Add your site as a project and run Site Audit. Fix the top three errors.
  2. Day 2: Put your three biggest competitors into Keyword Gap and export the keywords they rank for and you don’t.
  3. Day 3: Use the Keyword Magic Tool on your main topic. Filter to difficulty under 30 and save 30 keywords.
  4. Day 4: Set up Position Tracking for those 30 keywords.
  5. Day 5: Check Backlink Analytics on your top competitor. Note five sites that link to them and could link to you.
  6. Day 6: If you’re on Semrush One, check your AI visibility for your brand and top service.
  7. Day 7: Decide. If you found more than a month’s worth of work, keep it. If not, cancel and keep your exports.
Start your 7-day Semrush trial

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.

My verdict: should you buy Semrush in 2026?

Semrush gets 4.5 out of 5 from me. It’s the easiest complete SEO tool to learn, it’s the most useful single subscription for growing a website, and it’s ahead of most rivals on tracking AI search. I knock half a star off for price, because $139 a month plus $45 per extra user is a real cost for a small business.

If you’re serious about traffic from Google or AI tools, start the trial, follow the 7-day plan above, and see what it finds on your own site. That will tell you more than any review.

Want help turning the data into a plan?

Tools give you numbers. I help you decide what to do with them. One call and you’ll leave with a short, prioritised list for your site or channel.

  • You’ve run an audit and don’t know where to start
  • You’re choosing between Semrush and another tool
  • You want SEO and YouTube working together

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People also ask

Is Semrush free?

Semrush has a free account with 10 reports a day, 1 project and 10 tracked keywords. That’s enough to look around, but not enough to run SEO for a business. The paid plans come with a 7-day free trial.

Who owns Semrush now?

Adobe owns Semrush. The deal was announced in November 2025 at about $1.9 billion and completed on 28 April 2026. Semrush still runs as its own product under its own name.

Is Semrush good for beginners?

Yes. Semrush is one of the easier SEO tools to learn because every report uses the same layout, and Semrush Academy has free lessons for each tool. Start with Site Audit and the Keyword Magic Tool.

Is Semrush better than Ahrefs?

Neither wins outright. Semrush is easier to learn and includes AI visibility tracking on its Semrush One plans; Ahrefs is strong on backlinks and has a cheaper Starter plan. Try both on their trials and keep the one you open more.

Frequently asked questions

How much is Semrush per month?

Semrush costs $139 a month for the SEO plan, $199 for Semrush One Starter and $299 for Pro+ when billed monthly. Paying yearly brings those down to $117.33, $165.17 and $248.17 a month. Advanced is custom-priced, and UK customers may pay VAT on top.

What happened to Semrush Pro and Guru?

Semrush renamed its plans in 2026. The old Pro plan’s limits now sit on the SEO plan, Guru’s on Pro+, and Business’s on Advanced. Semrush One Starter is new and adds AI visibility tracking to the SEO plan.

Does the Semrush free trial need a card?

Yes. Semrush asks for a card to start the 7-day trial and runs a small check that’s refunded straight away. You aren’t charged until the trial ends, and you can cancel before then.

Can Semrush track AI search like ChatGPT?

Yes. The Semrush One plans and the AI Visibility toolkit track mentions of your brand in ChatGPT, Google’s AI features, Gemini and Perplexity, and show which prompts trigger them and which competitors appear instead.

Is Semrush accurate?

Semrush’s data on your own rankings is accurate because it checks the search results directly. Traffic figures for other websites are estimates based on rankings and click rates, so use them to compare sites rather than as exact visitor counts.

Is Semrush worth it for a small business?

Semrush is worth it for a small business that wants more customers from Google and has time to act on the findings. If you won’t publish content or fix issues, the free account and Google Search Console will do.

Can I use Semrush for YouTube?

Only partly. Semrush is built for Google web search. It has paid apps for YouTube keywords in its App Center, but creators get more from YouTube-specific tools like vidIQ and TubeBuddy.

Can I cancel Semrush at any time?

Yes. Semrush says you can cancel, downgrade or upgrade your plan at any time unless you’ve signed custom terms. Cancelling during the 7-day trial means you won’t be charged.

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.

Want a second pair of eyes on your SEO plan?

If you’re about to spend money on tools, spend 30 minutes with me first. I’ll tell you which data you need, what to ignore, and where the quickest wins are for your site or channel. 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.

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Sources

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.

Categories
YOUTUBE TUTORIALS

The Ultimate YouTube SEO Checklist (2026)

This checklist is the result of 10+ years consulting on YouTube channels at every scale. I have applied these steps to channels from zero to 500,000+ subscribers, across niches from personal finance to business services to entertainment. Every item on this list has a measurable, documented impact — nothing is filler.

Use this as a pre-publish workflow for every video. Once these steps become habit, your baseline SEO performance improves permanently.

⚡ Quick answer: YouTube SEO in 2026 depends on three things working together: putting your content in front of people searching for it (keyword research), compelling them to click (title + thumbnail), and keeping them watching long enough to signal quality to the algorithm (retention). This checklist covers every optimisation step in the correct order, from topic research before you film to 30-day performance review.

Before you film — keyword and topic research

The single most impactful SEO decision happens before the camera is switched on. Most channels that plateau are publishing content with insufficient search demand. The fix is not better editing or more frequent uploads — it is choosing topics that people are already searching for.

# Task Tool Why it matters
☐ 1 Check search demand for your topic VidIQ Keyword Tool No demand = no search traffic regardless of quality
☐ 2 Confirm keyword score 60+ (or best available) VidIQ Score balances volume against competition for your channel size
☐ 3 Note 2–3 secondary related keywords VidIQ / YouTube autocomplete Natural variations improve topical coverage without stuffing
☐ 4 Watch top 3 ranking videos for this keyword YouTube search Understand what format is winning — inform your differentiation
☐ 5 Confirm your angle adds something different Manual assessment Near-identical content cannibalises rankings — find your specific angle

VidIQ

Best Tool for Pre-Production Keyword ResearchFree plan · From ~£8/month

Best for: Keyword scoring, search volume estimates, competition assessment

✅ Pros

  • Real-time keyword score before you commit to filming
  • Competition level shows whether your channel can realistically rank
  • Related keyword suggestions surface long-tail opportunities
  • Free plan sufficient to start keyword research immediately

⚠️ Cons

  • Volume estimates are approximations — treat as directional
  • Full competitor analysis requires paid plan

Try VidIQ Free →

vidiq.com/alanspicer

Title optimisation — the most-read SEO element

Your title is the primary ranking signal and the primary click driver simultaneously. It must satisfy search intent (to rank) and be compelling (to earn the click). Both are required — a title that ranks but does not get clicked delivers no traffic.

# Task Target Why
☐ 6 Primary keyword in first 50 characters Essential Most critical title position for search ranking signal
☐ 7 Total title under 60 characters Under 60 chars Longer titles truncate in search results with “…”
☐ 8 Title reads naturally for humans CTR focus Keyword-stuffed titles are penalised and perform poorly
☐ 9 Question or number format considered Optional but effective “How to” and numbered list formats historically outperform plain statements
☐ 10 Year included if time-sensitive “(2026)” suffix Signals freshness; increases CTR for informational search queries

Description — the underutilised SEO asset

# Task Notes
☐ 11 Primary keyword in first sentence YouTube indexes first 150 characters most heavily
☐ 12 First 150 characters compelling standalone Shown before “Show more” — write it for the viewer scanning before clicking
☐ 13 300–500 words covering topic naturally More comprehensive descriptions improve topical understanding
☐ 14 Timestamps / chapters included Enables chapter markers in Google search results
☐ 15 Relevant links included Related videos, tools mentioned, subscribe link — drives traffic and affiliate clicks
☐ 16 No keyword stuffing Reads unnaturally, is penalised, and reduces click intent from viewers reading it

Tags — simplified for 2026

# Task Notes
☐ 17 Exact primary keyword as first tag Most important tag position — highest weighting
☐ 18 2–3 keyword variations as subsequent tags Covers related search query variations naturally
☐ 19 Channel name as final tag Associates video with your brand in recommendations
☐ 20 Total tags: 5–8 specific terms only More tags does not mean more discovery — specificity over quantity

Thumbnail — the highest-leverage visual decision

Thumbnails drive CTR, and CTR is the primary mechanism through which YouTube decides whether to show your video to more people. A video with a 7% CTR gets approximately 3.5x more impressions than the same video with a 2% CTR, all else being equal.

# Task Notes
☐ 21 Custom thumbnail uploaded Never use auto-generated still — custom thumbnails consistently outperform
☐ 22 Readable at 120px wide (mobile scale) Most impressions served at small size on mobile — test readability at small size
☐ 23 Maximum 4 words of text overlay More text becomes unreadable at small display sizes
☐ 24 Clear face expression if on camera Human faces with visible emotion measurably increase CTR
☐ 25 Consistent brand colour scheme Channel recognition increases return visitor CTR over time

Alan Spicer — YouTube Certified Expert

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Post-publish — the first 24 hours

# Task Timing
☐ 26 Add chapters / timestamps Within 30 minutes of publishing
☐ 27 Add end screens (2 video recs + subscribe) Within 30 minutes of publishing
☐ 28 Add card at 70% point to related video Within 30 minutes of publishing
☐ 29 Pin a comment with CTA or key takeaway Immediately on publish
☐ 30 Reply to every comment First 60 minutes — engagement velocity is a ranking signal
☐ 31 Share in one relevant community Within first 2 hours — initial traffic spike signals quality
☐ 32 Review auto-captions for accuracy Within 24 hours — errors compound if left uncorrected

30-day performance review

# Check Target Action if underperforming
☐ 33 Click-through rate 4–8% for established channels Below 3%: test a new thumbnail immediately
☐ 34 Average view duration 40–60% of video length Below 35%: audit first 30 seconds for stronger hook
☐ 35 Traffic source breakdown Growing search traffic share No search traffic: review title keyword alignment with actual search queries in Studio
☐ 36 Subscriber conversion rate 0.5–2% of views convert to subscriptions Low rate: strengthen subscribe CTA and channel value proposition

Understanding YouTube SEO: how the algorithm actually works in 2026

YouTube SEO is frequently misunderstood. Many creators believe it is primarily about tags — this was partially true in 2012. In 2026, tags are one of the least important ranking signals. Understanding what actually drives YouTube search and discovery ranking helps you focus effort where it matters.

YouTube’s ranking algorithm considers two broad categories of signals: relevance signals (does this video match what the viewer searched for?) and quality signals (will this viewer watch, enjoy, and engage with this video?). Most SEO advice focuses on relevance signals — titles, descriptions, tags. But quality signals — click-through rate, average view duration, watch time, likes and comments — are weighted more heavily by the algorithm.

This means the most important YouTube SEO work you can do is make great videos that viewers actually want to watch. No amount of keyword optimisation rescues a video with poor retention. But keyword optimisation does ensure your great video appears in front of the right viewers in the first place. Both matter — the checklist below covers both.

The three-phase model. I think about YouTube SEO in three phases: pre-production research (finding keywords and topics with real demand), production optimisation (thumbnail and title decisions made before filming), and post-upload optimisation (metadata, cards, end screens, community posts). Most creators only work on the post-upload phase. The highest leverage is in the pre-production phase.

Pre-upload: the keyword research process

Keyword research for YouTube is different from keyword research for Google in one important way: YouTube search volume is generally much lower, and browse and suggested traffic often exceeds search traffic for established channels. This means you are optimising for two different distribution mechanisms simultaneously.

For search-optimised content, the process is: identify a specific question your audience is asking, verify there is search volume using VidIQ or TubeBuddy keyword tools, assess whether the top-ranking videos for that keyword are from channels much larger than yours, and if the competition is manageable, build a video specifically designed to rank for that term.

For browse and suggested content, the process is different: identify topics your existing audience is interested in, look at what your channel’s viewers also watch, and create videos that satisfy similar curiosity. These videos often have more modest search rankings but perform better in suggested video feeds because YouTube shows them to viewers with demonstrated interest in related content.

The practical approach: aim for roughly 60% search-optimised content (specific keyword targets) and 40% browse-optimised content (broader topic interest) in your upload mix. This balance feeds both algorithms simultaneously and reduces over-dependence on any single traffic source.

Use VidIQ’s keyword research tool or TubeBuddy’s Keyword Explorer to find keywords with a minimum search volume of 500–1,000 monthly searches and a competition score below 50 (on a 100-point scale) for your current channel size. Channels with under 10,000 subscribers should aim for competition scores below 35.

Thumbnail strategy: why it is your most important SEO decision

Click-through rate is one of the most powerful signals in YouTube’s algorithm. A video with excellent thumbnails and titles that generates 8–10% CTR will outrank a video with poor thumbnails and a 3–4% CTR even if the content is identical, because YouTube interprets high CTR as viewer interest validation and distributes the content more broadly.

The elements of a high-CTR thumbnail: a single clear focal point that works at small sizes, a human face with strong emotion when appropriate (faces drive clicks in most niches), text that is readable at 100 pixels wide on a mobile screen, and strong colour contrast between the subject and background. Crucially: the thumbnail should create curiosity or signal value — it should make the viewer feel they will miss something if they do not click.

Thumbnail testing is how you move from intuition-based thumbnail decisions to data-driven ones. TubeBuddy’s A/B testing serves two thumbnail versions to real impressions and measures which performs better over 30 days. After running 20–30 A/B tests, most creators identify clear patterns in what works for their specific audience — patterns they could not have predicted in advance. This data is genuinely irreplaceable.

Common thumbnail mistakes that suppress CTR: too much text (viewers process images before text — the image needs to do most of the work), low contrast (thumbnails are viewed at small sizes on mobile — if the subject blends into the background, the thumbnail fails), inconsistent branding (your thumbnail should be instantly recognisable as yours in a busy feed), and promising something the video does not deliver (high CTR with poor retention is a negative signal — YouTube will stop distributing the video).

Post-upload optimisation: the 48-hour window

The first 48 hours after uploading are disproportionately important for a video’s long-term performance. YouTube uses early engagement signals — watch time, CTR, likes, comments — to decide how broadly to distribute the video beyond your existing subscribers. Strong early performance leads to wider distribution. Poor early performance often limits a video to a fraction of its potential reach.

Actions that maximise the 48-hour window: notify your email list or community immediately after publishing (not just relying on YouTube notifications), share the video in relevant communities where it adds genuine value (not as spam), respond personally to every comment in the first 24 hours (this signals high engagement to the algorithm and builds the community signal), and use a community post on your channel to drive existing subscribers to the new video.

Cards and end screens are not just engagement tools — they reduce the chance YouTube ends the viewing session after your video finishes, which is a negative signal. End screen CTR matters. Build end screens toward your most-viewed videos and most-relevant playlist rather than just your most recent content. The goal is to keep viewers watching your content, not to send them to your most recent upload if that is not the most relevant next step.

Description optimisation: the first 125 characters of your description appear in search results before the “show more” truncation. Write these as a genuine hook that includes your target keyword naturally. The full description should contain your keyword phrase two to three times (including in the first paragraph), timestamps for longer videos, relevant links with context, and a call to subscribe. Descriptions do not significantly affect ranking but they improve viewer confidence and click-through from search results.

Frequently asked questions

❓ What is YouTube SEO?
The process of optimising videos to appear higher in YouTube search results and get recommended more often. Covers keyword research, titles, descriptions, tags, thumbnails, chapters, and engagement signals.
❓ How do I optimise a YouTube video for SEO?
Research keyword before filming, include it in first 50 title characters, write description with keyword in first sentence, add 5–8 relevant tags, upload custom thumbnail, add chapters, enable captions, add end screens and cards.
❓ Do YouTube tags still matter in 2026?
Yes but less than before. 5–8 specific relevant tags are sufficient. Tags help disambiguation and related content association. Keyword stuffing is counterproductive.
❓ How long should a YouTube description be?
First 150 characters most critical. Full description: 300–500 words with keyword in first sentence, natural secondary mentions, timestamps, and relevant links.
❓ How important are YouTube chapters?
Very — videos with chapters qualify for chapter markers in Google search results, increasing SERP real estate and CTR. Add to any video over 5 minutes.
❓ What is the best free keyword research tool for YouTube?
YouTube’s autocomplete is the most underrated free tool. VidIQ free plan provides keyword scores and competition data. Both are sufficient for a starting SEO strategy.
❓ How do I get a video to rank faster?
Verified keyword demand, high-CTR thumbnail and title, strong retention in first 30 seconds, comment replies in first hour, share in one community immediately after publishing.
❓ Does upload consistency affect YouTube SEO?
Yes. Consistent channels are rewarded by the algorithm. One well-optimised video per week consistently beats five poorly-optimised videos inconsistently. Choose a sustainable frequency.

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