SEMrush Alternative: Complete Guide to Cheaper SEO Tools
SEMrush costs $140/month. Discover 10+ alternatives that deliver similar features at 40-80% lower cost. Complete comparison with pros, cons, and recommendations for every budget.
SEMrush is one of the most popular SEO tools on the market—and for good reason. It's comprehensive, reliable, and packed with features. But that comes at a cost: $140/month for the Pro plan, with higher tiers costing $250-500/month.
For indie hackers, startups, and small agencies, that's a significant investment. Especially when most users only need 3-4 core features: keyword research, rank tracking, backlink analysis, and SERP intelligence.
The good news? There are excellent SEMrush alternatives that deliver 80% of the value at 20-60% of the cost.
Why Look for a SEMrush Alternative?
Before diving into alternatives, let's understand why so many people search for SEMrush competitors:
- Price – $140/mo is expensive for side projects and small businesses ($1,680/year)
- Complexity – SEMrush has 50+ features, but most users only need 5-10
- Steep learning curve – Takes weeks to master all the dashboards and reports
- Overkill for small teams – Enterprise features aren't needed for 1-5 websites
If you're managing fewer than 10 sites and don't need white-label enterprise reporting, you're probably overpaying for SEMrush.
What to Look for in a SEMrush Alternative
A good SEMrush alternative should offer these core features:
- Keyword Research – Search volume, difficulty, and keyword suggestions
- Rank Tracking – Monitor your positions for target keywords
- Backlink Analysis – See who links to you and competitors
- SERP Analysis – Understand what's ranking and why
- Site Audit – Find and fix technical SEO issues
Everything else is nice to have, but these 5 features cover 90% of SEO needs.
Top 10 SEMrush Alternatives
1. Keywords.chat – Best for Indie Hackers
Price: $59/month
Savings vs SEMrush: 58% ($81/mo, $972/year)
Keywords.chat takes a completely different approach: instead of complex dashboards, you simply chat with an AI that has access to real SEO data.
Key Features:
- Chat-based keyword research (no learning curve)
- Rank tracking for multiple projects
- SERP analysis and competitor research
- Backlink monitoring
- Technical site audits
Who it's for: Solo founders, indie hackers, and small teams who want simplicity over enterprise features.
Pros: No learning curve, great value, covers all essentials
Cons: Fewer advanced features than SEMrush, no white-label reporting
2. Ahrefs – Best for SEO Professionals
Price: $129/month
Savings vs SEMrush: 8% ($11/mo, $132/year)
Ahrefs is SEMrush's main competitor, offering nearly identical features with what many consider a cleaner, more intuitive interface.
Key Features:
- Industry-leading backlink index (440+ billion pages crawled)
- Comprehensive keyword research with 24 billion keywords
- Content Explorer for finding top-performing content
- Rank Tracker and Site Audit
- Domain Rating (DR) metric widely used in SEO
Who it's for: SEO professionals, agencies, and businesses that need the most accurate backlink data.
Pros: Best backlink database, clean UI, excellent data accuracy
Cons: Still expensive, steeper learning curve than simpler tools
3. Mangools – Best for Beginners
Price: $49/month
Savings vs SEMrush: 65% ($91/mo, $1,092/year)
Mangools offers a suite of 5 beautiful SEO tools that are incredibly user-friendly. Perfect for those intimidated by SEMrush's complexity.
Key Features:
- KWFinder (keyword research with difficulty scores)
- SERPChecker (SERP analysis with detailed metrics)
- SERPWatcher (rank tracking)
- LinkMiner (backlink analysis)
- SiteProfiler (competitor analysis)
Who it's for: Bloggers, content creators, and anyone new to SEO who wants an easy-to-use tool.
Pros: Beautiful UI, very affordable, beginner-friendly
Cons: Smaller database than SEMrush/Ahrefs, limited historical data
4. SE Ranking – Best for Agencies
Price: $65/month
Savings vs SEMrush: 54% ($75/mo, $900/year)
SE Ranking is an underrated all-in-one platform that's popular with agencies for its white-label reporting capabilities.
Key Features:
- Comprehensive keyword research and tracking
- Website audit and on-page SEO checker
- Backlink checker and monitor
- White-label PDF reports (perfect for client reporting)
- Marketing plan builder (unique feature)
Who it's for: Freelancers and agencies who need white-label client reports at an affordable price.
Pros: White-label reporting, good value, comprehensive features
Cons: Interface feels dated, smaller backlink database
5. Ubersuggest – Best Budget Option
Price: $29/month (or $290 lifetime)
Savings vs SEMrush: 79% ($111/mo, $1,332/year)
Neil Patel's Ubersuggest is the most affordable professional SEO tool, making it perfect for those on a tight budget.
Key Features:
- Keyword research with search volume and trends
- Domain overview and traffic estimates
- Backlink data
- Site audit (basic)
- Chrome extension for on-the-fly SEO research
Who it's for: Beginners, bootstrapped startups, and anyone on a very tight budget.
Pros: Very affordable, lifetime deal available, simple interface
Cons: Limited data compared to premium tools, basic features
6. Moz Pro – Best for Brand Reputation
Price: $99/month
Savings vs SEMrush: 29% ($41/mo, $492/year)
Moz created Domain Authority (DA), the industry standard metric for site strength. It's a trusted name in SEO with excellent educational resources.
Key Features:
- Domain Authority metric (widely used industry standard)
- Keyword Explorer with SERP analysis
- Link Explorer for backlink research
- Rank Tracker and Site Crawl
- On-page optimization recommendations
Who it's for: Agencies and businesses that want a trusted brand name with solid features.
Pros: Trusted brand, Domain Authority metric, good educational content
Cons: Smaller index than SEMrush/Ahrefs, higher price than some alternatives
7. SpyFu – Best for Competitor Research
Price: $39/month
Savings vs SEMrush: 72% ($101/mo, $1,212/year)
SpyFu specializes in competitor intelligence, showing you exactly what keywords competitors rank for and buy ads on—with historical data going back years.
Key Features:
- Competitor keyword research
- AdWords competitor analysis (see competitors' ad history)
- Backlink tracking
- SERP analysis
- Historical data (up to 16 years)
Who it's for: PPC marketers and those focused on competitive intelligence.
Pros: Excellent competitor research, affordable, historical data
Cons: US-focused data, weaker international coverage
8. Serpstat – Best for International SEO
Price: $59/month
Savings vs SEMrush: 58% ($81/mo, $972/year)
Serpstat is an affordable all-in-one tool with strong international database coverage across 230+ countries.
Key Features:
- Keyword research (30+ country databases)
- Site audit and page checker
- Backlink analysis
- Rank tracking
- Missing keywords finder (unique feature)
Who it's for: Businesses doing SEO in multiple countries.
Pros: Great international coverage, affordable, missing keywords tool
Cons: Smaller backlink database, less polished UI
9. Majestic – Best for Link Building
Price: $49/month
Savings vs SEMrush: 65% ($91/mo, $1,092/year)
Majestic specializes in backlink analysis with unique metrics like Trust Flow and Citation Flow that many SEO pros rely on.
Key Features:
- Massive backlink database
- Trust Flow and Citation Flow metrics
- Link context and anchor text analysis
- Historical backlink data
- Bulk backlink checker
Who it's for: Link building specialists and anyone focused primarily on backlink analysis.
Pros: Excellent backlink data, affordable, unique metrics
Cons: No keyword research tools, backlink-focused only
10. Sistrix – Best for European Markets
Price: €99/month (~$105)
Savings vs SEMrush: 25% ($35/mo, $420/year)
Sistrix is huge in Europe (especially Germany) and offers unique visibility index metrics that European SEOs trust.
Key Features:
- Sistrix Visibility Index (unique ranking metric)
- Keyword research and ranking data
- Link module for backlink analysis
- Optimizer for technical SEO
- Ads module for PPC research
Who it's for: European businesses, especially in Germany, UK, and France.
Pros: Strong European data, Visibility Index metric, modular pricing
Cons: Europe-focused, less useful for US-based businesses
Complete Comparison Table
| Tool | Price/Mo | Annual Savings | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubersuggest | $29 | $1,332/yr | Budget users |
| SpyFu | $39 | $1,212/yr | Competitor research |
| Mangools | $49 | $1,092/yr | Beginners |
| Majestic | $49 | $1,092/yr | Link builders |
| Serpstat | $59 | $972/yr | International SEO |
| Keywords.chat | $59 | $972/yr | Indie hackers |
| SE Ranking | $65 | $900/yr | Agencies |
| Moz Pro | $99 | $492/yr | Brand reputation |
| Sistrix | ~$105 | $420/yr | European markets |
| Ahrefs | $129 | $132/yr | SEO professionals |
| SEMrush | $140 | — | Enterprises |
How to Choose the Right SEMrush Alternative
With so many options, how do you pick? Here's my framework:
Based on Budget
- $0-29/mo: Ubersuggest or free tools (Google Search Console + Keyword Planner)
- $30-59/mo: Keywords.chat, Mangools, or Serpstat
- $60-99/mo: SE Ranking or Moz Pro
- $100+: Ahrefs (if you need premium backlink data)
Based on Use Case
- Solo founder with 1-3 projects: Keywords.chat or Mangools
- Agency with 5-20 clients: SE Ranking (white-label) or Moz (brand)
- Link building specialist: Majestic or Ahrefs
- PPC marketer: SpyFu
- International business: Serpstat or Sistrix (Europe)
- Complete beginner: Ubersuggest or Mangools
Based on Experience Level
- Beginner: Keywords.chat (no learning curve) or Ubersuggest
- Intermediate: Mangools or SE Ranking
- Advanced: Ahrefs or Moz Pro
💡 Pro Tip: Take advantage of free trials. Try 2-3 tools for a week each doing your actual SEO work. The tool that feels most natural is the right one—regardless of features or price.
Free SEMrush Alternatives
If you're on a zero budget, these free tools can get you started:
- Google Search Console – Shows what you already rank for (your site only)
- Google Keyword Planner – Search volume estimates (requires Google Ads account)
- Google Trends – Keyword trend data and seasonal patterns
- Answer The Public – Question-based keyword ideas (3 free searches/day)
Reality check: Free tools work if you're willing to do manual work and piece together data. But if you value your time, a $29-59/mo paid tool will save you 10+ hours per month.
When SEMrush is Still Worth It
Let's be fair: SEMrush is excellent, and for some users, it's worth every penny:
- You're managing 50+ client sites
- You need advanced PPC/advertising intelligence
- You want 10+ years of historical data
- You need social media management in the same tool
- You have a dedicated SEO team using it daily
If that's you, stick with SEMrush. But if you're a solo founder or small team, you're likely overpaying for features you'll never use.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best SEMrush alternative for small businesses?
Keywords.chat ($59/mo) for a chat-based workflow, Mangools ($49/mo) for a simple dashboard, or Ubersuggest ($29/mo) if budget is tight. All three provide keyword research, rank tracking, and backlink analysis without SEMrush's complexity.
Is Ahrefs better than SEMrush?
For pure SEO (backlinks, keyword research), most pros prefer Ahrefs. For PPC and social media marketing, SEMrush has better features. Ahrefs is also $11/month cheaper ($129 vs $140). If you only do organic SEO, go with Ahrefs.
What's the cheapest full-featured SEMrush alternative?
Ubersuggest at $29/month is the cheapest, offering keyword research, rank tracking, site audits, and backlink analysis. For better data quality, Mangools ($49/mo) or SE Ranking ($65/mo) offer more robust alternatives.
Can I get SEMrush for free?
SEMrush offers a limited free account (10 searches/day, 10 results per search), but it's not practical for serious SEO work. For truly free alternatives, combine Google Search Console + Google Keyword Planner + Answer The Public.
Which SEMrush alternative has the best backlink data?
Ahrefs is universally considered to have the best backlink database—many say it's even better than SEMrush. For budget options, Moz ($99/mo) or Majestic ($49/mo, backlink-focused) offer solid backlink analysis.
Try the Simplest SEMrush Alternative
Keywords.chat delivers all essential SEO tools through a simple chat interface. No dashboards, no complexity—just ask questions and get answers. Save $972/year compared to SEMrush.
Start 7-Day Free Trial →Final Thoughts
There's no "best" SEMrush alternative for everyone. The right choice depends on your:
- Budget – What can you afford?
- Use case – What do you actually need?
- Team size – Solo or agency?
- Technical level – Beginner or expert?
My recommendation? If you're an indie hacker or small team:
- Start with Keywords.chat ($59/mo) for simplicity
- Or Mangools ($49/mo) if you prefer traditional dashboards
- Upgrade to Ahrefs ($129/mo) only when you're making $5K+/mo from SEO
For most users, a $49-65/mo tool delivers 80% of SEMrush's value at 40-60% of the cost. That's $900-1,200 saved per year—enough to reinvest in content creation, link building, or growing your business.
The best SEO tool is the one you'll actually use consistently. Choose based on that principle, and you can't go wrong.
Still deciding? Have questions? Email me at hello@keywords.chat – I'm happy to help!