Semrush is one of the most popular digital marketing and SEO platforms in the world. It offers everything from keyword research and competitor analysis to backlink tracking, content marketing tools, rank tracking, and technical SEO audits.
However, Semrush can be expensive, and not everyone needs its advanced features. Many users look for tools that are more affordable, easier to use, or more specialized for certain tasks.
In this comprehensive guide, we break down the best Semrush alternatives you can use in 2025 — including their features, pros, cons, and who they’re best suited for.
Ahrefs – The Best Overall Semrush Alternative
Ahrefs is the closest and strongest competitor to Semrush. It offers almost everything Semrush provides, but with an even stronger backlink analysis engine.
Key Features
- World-class backlink index
- Keyword Explorer with accurate KD scores
- Content Explorer for topic ideas
- Rank Tracker with historical data
- Powerful Site Audit tool
Why It’s a Great Alternative
Ahrefs is known for having the most accurate backlink and keyword database. If backlink research or competitive analysis is your priority, Ahrefs outperforms Semrush.
Pros
- Most accurate backlink data
- Excellent UI and data visualization
- Strong competitor research tools
Cons
- No PPC (Google Ads) data
- Pricing is still high
Best For
Agencies, SEO professionals, link builders
Moz Pro – Best for Beginners
Moz Pro is one of the easiest SEO tools to use. It’s built for beginners and businesses who need clean data without complexity.
Key Features
- Keyword Explorer
- Site Crawl
- On-page optimization recommendations
- Domain Authority (DA) metrics
- Moz Local for local SEO campaigns
Why It’s a Good Alternative
Moz offers simple, easy-to-understand insights. Its local SEO features make it a strong choice for small businesses.
Pros
- Very beginner-friendly
- Strong local SEO
- Clear keyword suggestions
Cons
- Smaller backlink index
- Slower data updates
Best For
Beginners, small businesses, local SEO consultants
Ubersuggest – Best Budget-Friendly Semrush Alternative
If you want a cheaper SEO tool with all basic features, Ubersuggest is one of the best choices.
Key Features
- Keyword research
- Backlink overview
- Site audit
- Content ideas
- Chrome extension for quick on-page SEO
Why It’s a Great Alternative
It provides all essential SEO features at the lowest price in its category — ideal for freelancers and new website owners.
Pros
- Very affordable
- Simple interface
- Great for basic keyword and site audits
Cons
- Data accuracy is not as strong as Semrush or Ahrefs
- Backlink database is limited
Best For
Beginners, low-budget users, small businesses
SE Ranking – Best for Agencies & Freelancers
SE Ranking is an excellent all-in-one SEO suite and one of the most underrated Semrush competitors.
Key Features
- Extremely accurate rank tracking
- Keyword and competitor analysis
- Backlink monitoring
- Website audit
- White-label reporting
- Social media management
Why It’s a Good Alternative
It offers nearly Semrush-level features at half the price. Agencies benefit from white-label reports and strong rank tracking.
Pros
- Affordable pricing
- Agency-friendly features
- Accurate position tracking
Cons
-
Interface slightly less polished
Best For
Agencies, freelancers, growing businesses
Mangools (KWFinder) – Best for Keyword Research
Mangools offers multiple SEO tools bundled together, but KWFinder is the star of the show.
Included Tools
- KWFinder (keyword research)
- SERPChecker
- LinkMiner
- SiteProfiler
Why It’s a Great Alternative
KWFinder is one of the best tools for finding low-competition and long-tail keywords.
Pros
- Beautiful, clean UI
- Accurate long-tail keyword suggestions
- Affordable pricing
Cons
-
Limited advanced SEO features
Best For
Bloggers, niche site owners, content writers
SpyFu – Best for PPC Competitor Research
If your focus is PPC (Google Ads), SpyFu is one of the best Semrush alternatives.
Key Features
- Competitor PPC campaign insights
- Keyword bidding history
- SEO + PPC combined reports
- Unlimited data export
Why It’s a Great Alternative
Semrush offers PPC insights, but SpyFu goes even deeper with historical PPC data and ad performance.
Pros
- Best PPC competitor analysis
- Unlimited search results
- Affordable plans
Cons
-
Backlink tools are weak
Best For
Advertisers, PPC specialists, marketing agencies
Majestic – Best for Backlink Analysis
Majestic is a specialized SEO tool focused entirely on backlink intelligence.
Key Features
- Trust Flow and Citation Flow
- Link context
- Backlink history
- Deep link graph mapping
Why It’s a Great Alternative
If backlinks are your priority, Majestic provides some of the most comprehensive link data available.
Pros
- Advanced backlink insights
- Powerful link trust metrics
Cons
- No keyword research
- Not beginner-friendly
Best For
Link auditors, technical SEOs, enterprise sites
SimilarWeb – Best for Traffic Analytics
SimilarWeb is not a complete SEO suite, but it’s excellent for traffic and market analysis.
Key Features
- Traffic sources
- Audience demographics
- Competitor comparison
- Market intelligence tools
Why It’s a Great Alternative
Semrush provides traffic estimates, but SimilarWeb is often more accurate and better for understanding user behavior.
Pros
- Excellent traffic insights
- Great for market research
Cons
-
Limited pure SEO capabilities
Best For
Growth teams, large businesses, eCommerce brands
Surfer SEO – Best for Content Optimization
Surfer SEO focuses exclusively on on-page SEO and content optimization using AI-powered suggestions.
Key Features
- SEO content editor
- Keyword density recommendations
- Competitor content comparison
- AI outline builder
Why It’s a Great Alternative
Semrush offers basic on-page tools, but Surfer specializes in detailed content optimization.
Pros
- Best content optimization tool
- Easy scoring system
Cons
-
No backlink or keyword database
Best For
Bloggers, content creators, writers
Screaming Frog – Best for Technical SEO
Screaming Frog is the most advanced website crawler used for technical SEO audits.
Key Features
- Full site crawling
- Detects broken links
- Identifies duplicate content
- Analyzes redirect chains
- Generates XML sitemaps
Why It’s a Great Alternative
Semrush’s site audit is good, but Screaming Frog goes deeper with technical site-level data.
Pros
- Extremely accurate
- One-time affordable license
Cons
-
No keyword or competitor research
Best For
Technical SEO specialists and developers
Which Semrush Alternative Should You Choose?
Choose based on your specific needs:
✔️ Backlinks → Ahrefs / Majestic
✔️ Keyword research → Ahrefs / KWFinder
✔️ Budget → Ubersuggest
✔️ Agencies → SE Ranking
✔️ PPC research → SpyFu
✔️ Content SEO → Surfer SEO
✔️ Technical SEO → Screaming Frog
✔️ Market/traffic data → SimilarWeb
Final Recommendation
If you want an all-in-one tool similar to Semrush but more affordable, SE Ranking is the best Semrush alternative in 2025.