7 alternatives to Semrush, compared on pricing we verified from each vendor’s own page. Screaming Frog is the cheapest at $279/year flat licence. Semrush itself starts at SEO $139/mo ($117.33 annual), against a median of $49 a month across the 8 monthly-comparable tools we track in seo & content optimization. Every row below links to our full review of that tool.
Where Semrush sits. Of the 8 tools in seo & content optimization whose monthly price we can compare, Semrush is 7th of 8 on price — the category runs from $23.25 to $129 a month. Everything cheaper than it is listed below.
Why people look for Semrush alternatives
- Price. Semrush works out at $117.33 a month, above the $49 median for seo & content optimization in our dataset.
- The headline price needs annual payment. Semrush’s advertised figure is an annual rate shown monthly; paying month to month costs more. That is true of 53% of the tools we track, but it still surprises buyers.
The catch with Semrush
Pro/Guru/Business retired; lineup is now SEO $139, Starter $199, Pro+ $299 (monthly), Advanced and Enterprise quote-only; Adobe-owned since April 2026. That is the fact worth carrying into any comparison below — it is recorded against Semrush in our pricing dataset with the date we last checked it.
The 7 alternatives, compared
| Tool | Entry price | What kind of price | Free tier | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semrush (the one you are replacing) | SEO $139/mo ($117.33 annual) | annual rate shown monthly | Yes | — |
| Ahrefs | Starter $29/mo | true monthly rate | No | Cutting the bill ($29 vs $117.33) |
| Moz Pro | $39/mo annual (Starter) | annual rate shown monthly | No | Cutting the bill ($39 vs $117.33) |
| Frase | Starter $49/mo | true monthly rate | No | Cutting the bill ($49 vs $117.33) |
| Surfer SEO | Discovery $49/mo billed yearly | annual rate shown monthly | No | Cutting the bill ($49 vs $117.33) |
| SE Ranking | $103.20/mo annual (Core) | annual rate shown monthly | No | Like-for-like on price ($103.20 vs $117.33) |
| Clearscope | $129/mo (Essentials) | true monthly rate | No | Like-for-like on price ($129 vs $117.33) |
| Screaming Frog | $279/year flat licence | annual total | Yes | Lowest monthly price here |
Prices are the cheapest paid entry each vendor publishes on its own pricing page, verified 12 October 2026. The what kind of price column matters more than it looks: an annual rate shown monthly is not a figure you can pay month to month, so two tools in this table can look a dollar apart and bill very differently.
How each one differs from Semrush
Ordered by how close each one is to Semrush on price and billing model, rather than alphabetically, so the nearest swaps come first.
SE Ranking
SE Ranking priced close to Semrush at $103.20; has no free tier, unlike Semrush. Read the full SE Ranking review.
Clearscope
Clearscope priced close to Semrush at $129; has no free tier, unlike Semrush; quotes a true monthly rate rather than an annual one shown monthly. Read the full Clearscope review.
Surfer SEO
Surfer SEO starts at $49 against Semrush’s $117.33; has no free tier, unlike Semrush. Plan names changed: the old Essential tier is now Standard at $99/mo. Read the full Surfer SEO review.
Moz Pro
Moz Pro starts at $39 against Semrush’s $117.33; has no free tier, unlike Semrush. Read the full Moz Pro review.
Screaming Frog
Screaming Frog starts at $23.25 against Semrush’s $117.33. Read the full Screaming Frog review.
When Semrush is still the right answer
Three of the alternatives above are cheaper on paper, and that is the wrong place to stop. Reasons to stay put: it publishes a free tier, so you can hold a position without paying while you decide; it bills flat rather than per seat, which most of its category does not; migration is rarely free — exports, re-training and rebuilt integrations all cost time that a cheaper sticker may not recover. Our Semrush review carries the verdict and the watch-outs.
What to check before you switch
- Put both prices on the same billing basis. Semrush’s headline needs annual payment, so a candidate quoting a true monthly rate is not the comparison it appears to be — how to tell which you are looking at.
- Check whether the candidate charges per seat. Semrush bills flat, so a per-seat replacement changes your cost curve as you hire even if the entry price is lower.
- Use Semrush’s free tier while you trial the alternative. You can run both without paying twice, which is the cheapest way to make this decision.
- Check the export path before you commit, not after. Ask specifically what format your data leaves in and whether history comes with it.
- Price the integrations you actually use. A replacement that drops one connector you depend on costs more than its sticker.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest alternative to Semrush?
Of the Semrush alternatives we track with a monthly-comparable published price, Screaming Frog is the lowest at $279/year flat licence, against Semrush at SEO $139/mo ($117.33 annual). Verified 12 October 2026.
Is there a free alternative to Semrush?
Yes. Screaming Frog offers free or limited free access. Semrush itself also has a free tier.
What is the closest alternative to Semrush?
On pricing structure, SE Ranking: $103.20/mo annual (Core) against Semrush’s SEO $139/mo ($117.33 annual), and both charge a flat rate. That makes it the most like-for-like swap on cost, though you should still compare the feature set against your own list.
Is Semrush still worth it in 2026?
Often, yes. Semrush starts at SEO $139/mo ($117.33 annual), which is $117.33 a month against a category median of $49. That is above the median for seo & content optimization, so price is a legitimate reason to look. Our full Semrush review has the verdict and the watch-outs.
How did you choose these Semrush alternatives?
They are the tools we track in the same category (SEO & Content Optimization) that have a DigiJaws review, ordered by published entry price with the priced options first. Every price is read from the vendor’s own pricing page on a recorded date and carries a label for what kind of figure it is — a true monthly rate, an annual rate shown monthly, a usage rate or a quote-only placeholder. We do not rank on commission and we publish no price we cannot source.
Alternatives are the tools we track in SEO & Content Optimization with a DigiJaws review. Every price is read from the vendor’s own pricing page on a recorded date; we publish no figure we cannot source, and quote-only vendors carry no price rather than an estimate. Full pricing dataset under CC BY 4.0, and the category roundup is here. Verified 12 October 2026.
Semrush Alternatives: 7 Options Compared (2026). DigiJaws, 2026. https://digijaws.com/reviews/semrush-alternatives/