Semrush vs SE Ranking
The market leader against the value challenger, asking a fair question. Which features on that $139.95 invoice do you actually use?
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Semrush
The everything-suite, now tracking AI answers too.
SE Ranking
The complete toolkit without the big-suite price.
Prices last checked on
| Feature | Semrush | SE Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 4.6 / 5 | 4.4 / 5 |
| Price | From $117.33/mo | From $103.20/mo |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Best for | Agencies and serious businesses | Value-focused professionals |
| Category | All-in-one suites | All-in-one suites |
| Provider | Semrush Inc. | SE Ranking |
| Visit Semrush | Visit SE Ranking |
Our verdict
SE Ranking wins for most non-agency buyers. The workflows that fill ninety percent of real SEO weeks (rank tracking, audits, keyword research, basic link monitoring) all exist at roughly half the price, with friendlier limits per tier.
Semrush wins where its depth is the actual requirement, with bigger databases for competitive intelligence, the full content and PPC platform, and the most mature AI-visibility tracking. Our test is simple. List the Semrush features you opened last month.
If the list is rank tracking and the keyword tool, SE Ranking refunds you the difference every month.
“The most complete marketing suite in the business, and with Semrush One it moved first on the AI era, tracking how often ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini mention your brand. Expensive, occasionally overwhelming, and still the safest professional default.”Editorial team, on Semrush
“The value champion among the serious suites. Rank tracking, audits, backlink data, and content tools come at a clear discount to Semrush, with an interface that does not require a course. Data depth trails the big two, but for most businesses this is the rational buy.”Editorial team, on SE Ranking
Frequently asked questions
Is SE Ranking a good replacement for Semrush?
For most buyers outside agencies, yes. The workflows that fill ninety percent of real SEO weeks, meaning rank tracking, site audits, keyword research, and basic link monitoring, all exist in SE Ranking with friendlier limits per tier. Semrush stays worth paying for when its depth is the actual requirement. That means competitive intelligence, the PPC and content platform, and mature AI visibility tracking.
How much do I save by switching from Semrush to SE Ranking?
About $172 a year at the entry tiers. SE Ranking Core is $103.20 a month on annual billing, $1,238.40 a year, against roughly $117.49 a month for Semrush Pro, $1,410 a year. Billed monthly it is $129 against $139.95. Prices in US dollars, last checked August 2026, and the gap widens on the higher plans.
How do I know whether I actually need Semrush?
List the Semrush features you opened last month. If that list is rank tracking and the keyword tool, SE Ranking does the same work for less. If it includes competitor gap analysis, the content platform, PPC research, or AI visibility reporting for clients, you are using what you pay for, and switching will cost you more in workarounds than it saves.
Does SE Ranking track AI answers the way Semrush does?
Yes, but higher up the price list. AI visibility tracking sits on SE Ranking's Growth plan at $223.20 a month on annual billing, not on Core at $103.20. Semrush bundles its AI answer tracking into Semrush One rather than selling it separately. If that data is the reason you are shopping, compare the tiers that include it, not the entry prices.