Ahrefs
4.8 AI SEO / AEO / GEO Top pick
All-in-one SEO toolset renowned for backlink and keyword data, now tracking brand visibility in AI search with Brand Radar.
Free tier · $129/mo Visit ↗
Semrush
AI SEO / AEO / GEO 4.8 /5 MaxAEO Score
The industry-standard all-in-one SEO and digital marketing platform, now extended with an AI Visibility Toolkit for AI search.
Quick answer
Semrush is best for SEO professionals. It offers paid plans from $139.95/mo. Its standout strength is unmatched breadth of SEO, content, advertising, and competitive tools; the main trade-off is full capability requires multiple toolkits/add-ons that raise the real cost. Top alternatives: Ahrefs and Moz.
Pricing
$139.95/mo
Free tier
No
MaxAEO Score
4.8 /5
Pricing as of June 2026 and may change — verify on the vendor's site. · Data verified 2026-06-04
Third-party ratings: G2 4.5 · 3,800+ reviews
Pricing plans
| Plan | Price | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Pro | $139.95/mo | 5 projects, 500 keywords to track, 100K pages/mo crawl, 10K results per report; best for freelancers and small business |
| Guru | $249.95/mo | 15 projects, 1,500 keywords, 300K pages/mo, adds SEO Writing Assistant, Content Template, Topic Research, historical data, Looker Studio |
| Business | $499.95/mo | 40 projects, 5,000 keywords, 1M pages/mo, 50K results per report, Share of Voice tracking, API access |
Verify pricing on the vendor's site (as of 2026-06-04).
Best for
SEO professionals Agencies Enterprise marketing teams Content and PPC teams
Why we recommend it
Semrush is the most widely adopted SEO platform and a category anchor, combining deep keyword, backlink, rank-tracking, site-audit, and content tools in one suite. It has extended into AI search with a dedicated AI Visibility Toolkit and an AI Visibility Index, letting teams cover both classic rankings and AI citations. With a huge user base and one of the deepest third-party review footprints in the space, it is the default benchmark for serious SEO work.
Our take
From our research, Semrush's strength is sheer breadth and data depth — keyword research, daily rank tracking, site audits, competitive analysis, and content tools in one suite backed by very large datasets — which is why it remains the category's default. The honest tradeoff is cost and complexity: the headline $139.95 Pro price is just the SEO Toolkit, and capabilities like AI search visibility (AI Visibility Toolkit), local, social, and advertising are separate add-ons, so a full stack costs well above the entry tier and the dense interface has a real learning curve.
Key use cases
- Run keyword research and competitive analysis across a massive keyword and domain database
- Track daily keyword rankings and audit site health at scale
- Analyze competitors' organic, paid, and content strategies
- Optimize on-page content and build topical authority with the SEO Writing Assistant
- Monitor brand visibility in AI search engines via the add-on AI Visibility Toolkit
Integrations
Google Analytics Google Search Console Google Looker Studio Google Ads Google Business Profile Google Docs Monday.com Supermetrics Wix WordPress (Yoast/AIOSEO)
Pros
- Unmatched breadth of SEO, content, advertising, and competitive tools
- Very large keyword/backlink datasets and daily rank tracking
- Extensive integrations, learning resources, and an app marketplace
Cons
- Full capability requires multiple toolkits/add-ons that raise the real cost
- Feature depth and dense UI create a steep learning curve for beginners
What to compare
- Broadest all-in-one toolset spanning SEO, content, advertising, social, and local
- Backed by one of the largest keyword and backlink databases in the category
- AI search visibility is sold as a separate add-on, not bundled into the core SEO plans
Semrush alternatives
Moz
4.4 AI SEO / AEO / GEO
Veteran SEO platform with trusted authority metrics (DA/PA), now adding AI Visibility Dashboards for AI search.
Free tier · $99/mo Visit ↗
SE Ranking
4.6 AI SEO / AEO / GEO
Affordable all-in-one SEO platform for agencies and SMBs, with an AI Search add-on for tracking AI visibility.
$129/mo Visit ↗
Frequently asked questions
Does the Semrush plan price include AI search visibility tracking?
No. The Pro/Guru/Business prices ($139.95/$249.95/$499.95 per month) cover the SEO Toolkit. AI search visibility tracking is delivered through a separate AI Visibility Toolkit add-on subscription, so monitoring how ChatGPT, Google AI Mode, and other engines mention your brand is priced and purchased on top of the core SEO plan.
Does Semrush have a free plan?
There is no perpetual paid-feature free tier, but Semrush offers a 7-day free trial and a set of free standalone tools (including an AI Visibility Checker, SEO/site audit checker, keyword and backlink checkers). You can also create a limited free account, but full project workflows require a paid subscription starting at $139.95/month for Pro.
How much does Semrush cost?
Semrush starts at $139.95/mo. There is no permanent free tier.
Who is Semrush best for?
Semrush is best for SEO professionals, Agencies, Enterprise marketing teams. A typical use: run keyword research and competitive analysis across a massive keyword and domain database.
What are the best Semrush alternatives?
Top Semrush alternatives include Ahrefs, Moz, SE Ranking — compare them on features, pricing, and best-fit use case.
Is Semrush worth it?
Unmatched breadth of SEO, content, advertising, and competitive tools, though full capability requires multiple toolkits/add-ons that raise the real cost. It is a strong fit for SEO professionals.
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