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Semrush

SEO plus paid-ads intelligence in one suite.

Visit Semrush Reviewed Sep 28, 2026

Semrush covers keyword research and backlinks like its main competitor, and adds advertising research: you can see which paid keywords a competitor bids on and estimate their spend. The content and social tools are useful if you want one vendor for everything.

Who it is for

A marketing agency that needs SEO and paid-search intelligence on the same competitor set.

Key features

  • Keyword research with intent grouping
  • Backlink audit and competitor analysis
  • Paid ads research and spend estimates
  • Site audit with crawl monitoring
  • Content template and SEO writing assistant
  • Seats and API limited by tier

Where it falls short

The breadth comes at the cost of depth in some modules, and the pricing tiers gate features aggressively, so the advertised entry price buys a fraction of the suite.

Pricing

No real free tier, only a limited free account; plans start around $140 a month, and the gate is that extra seats and API access sit on higher tiers.

Prices move; the tier structure is the part that stays true. Check current pricing on Semrush.

Still deciding?

Alternatives to Semrush

Frequently asked

How much does Semrush cost?

Semrush is paid software. No real free tier, only a limited free account; plans start around $140 a month, and the gate is that extra seats and API access sit on higher tiers.

What is Semrush best for?

A marketing agency that needs SEO and paid-search intelligence on the same competitor set.

What are the best alternatives to Semrush?

The closest substitutes we list are Ahrefs. They sit in a similar price bracket but make a different trade-off, so read the weaknesses section of each review before switching.

Which platforms does Semrush run on?

Semrush is available on Web and API.