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Semrush

One of the category's largest platforms, extending well beyond SEO into a full marketing suite

4.5 SEO
4.5 Excellent 4.5
Broader marketing scope connects SEO to paid and social strategy directly Among the higher prices in this category for full access
Reviewed by Challenging Voice Editorial · Updated Aug 2026 How we rate
PricingFrom $139/mo
Free planYes
CompanySemrush
PlatformsAPI, Chrome Extension, Web
CategorySEO
Founded2008
Visits24
Last reviewedJul 2026
UpdatedAug 2026
Ask AI about Semrush ChatGPT Claude Perplexity

Overview

Semrush, founded in 2008, ranks among the largest and most recognized platforms in this category alongside Ahrefs and Moz, also covered in this directory, but extends further than either into a broader marketing suite: paid advertising research, social media management, and content marketing tools sit alongside its core SEO capability rather than SEO standing alone.

Semrush is now an Adobe company; the acquisition is stated in its own site header.

That broader marketing scope suits a team that wants SEO data connected to paid search and social strategy in the same platform, competitive research spanning organic and paid channels together rather than pieced together across several separate specialized tools, a genuine breadth advantage for teams managing multi-channel marketing.

A free tier covers limited use, and paid plans start around $139 a month for full access. For a marketing team that wants SEO integrated alongside paid advertising and social media research in one comprehensive platform, rather than SEO handled in isolation from the rest of a multi-channel strategy, Semrush's broader marketing-suite scope addresses that directly.

Key features

  • Broader marketing suite extending beyond SEO into paid ads and social
  • One of the largest, most recognized platforms in this category
  • Free tier for limited use
  • Operating since 2008
  • Competitive research spanning organic and paid channels together
  • Comprehensive keyword, backlink, and content marketing tools

Screenshots & demo

Demo video

Screenshots

Semrush screenshot 1

Pricing

Pro
$139/mo
  • Core SEO and research tools
  • Limited projects and keywords
Guru
$249/mo
  • Content tools and more history
  • Higher limits
Business
$499/mo
  • API access
  • Extended limits and users

Is Semrush expensive?

Semrush starts at $139, which is 256% above the SEO median of $39 a month across the 79 priced tools we list in that category.

The cheapest paid option in SEO starts at $5 and the most expensive at $390.

38% of SEO tools in the directory offer a free tier, and this is one of them.

Compared against every priced listing in SEO, recalculated as the catalogue changes. Method and the full market breakdown are in our AI tool pricing study.

Pros & cons

Pros

  • Broader marketing scope connects SEO to paid and social strategy directly
  • Free tier available to start before a paid commitment
  • Long operating history and strong industry recognition
  • Comprehensive feature depth across many marketing disciplines

Cons

  • Among the higher prices in this category for full access
  • Broader marketing scope may include capability a pure-SEO buyer doesn't need
  • Breadth of features adds a real learning curve for newcomers

How it compares

ToolRatingFreeFromBest known for
Semrush (this tool)4.5Yes$139/moBroader marketing suite extending beyond SEO into paid ads and social
Serpstat4.2No$50/moComprehensive SEO suite: keyword research, rank tracking, backlinks, audits
SE Ranking4.6No$103/moComprehensive SEO suite: keyword research, rank tracking, audits, and backlinks
Ahrefs4.6No$129/moOne of the largest, most frequently updated backlink indexes in the industry

Alternatives to Semrush

4 tools matched to Semrush on what they do, their category and their price.

Ahrefs

4.6

A comprehensive, long-established SEO suite built around one of the largest backlink indexes

Paid SEO

Frequently asked questions

What is Semrush?
Semrush is a seo tool. One of the category's largest platforms, extending well beyond SEO into a full marketing suite.
Is Semrush free?
Yes, Semrush offers a free plan. Paid plans unlock more features and higher usage limits, starting at $139/month.
How much does Semrush cost?
Semrush plans: Pro $139/mo; Guru $249/mo; Business $499/mo.
What are the best Semrush alternatives?
The closest matches in the directory are Serpstat, SE Ranking, and Ahrefs, compared side by side above.

Reviews

4.5 No reviews yet

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