Semrush is still one of the biggest names in SEO software. But in 2026 its pricing starts at $139 per month for the SEO plan, and the plan that adds AI search tracking costs $199 per month. For a small marketing team or a founder running the company blog, that adds up fast.
AI also changed what you need from an SEO tool. Ranking on Google is only half the job now. You also want to know if ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, Gemini and Perplexity mention your brand, and which of your blog posts they cite.
The good news: most Semrush competitors now track AI search too, often for less money. Below are the 8 best Semrush alternatives, with prices checked on each official site in November 2026.
Quick answer: top picks at a glance
- Best overall: Ahrefs, for the strongest backlink and content data plus built-in AI prompt tracking.
- Best value all-in-one: SE Ranking, with AI visibility tracking included in every paid plan.
- Best for AI search tracking on a budget: Moz Pro, which tracks 150 AI prompts on its $99 Standard plan.
- Best AI automation: Search Atlas, with its OTTO SEO agent that applies fixes for you.
- Cheapest paid option: Ubersuggest, with plans between $29 and $99 per month.
- Best free option: SEO PowerSuite, whose free desktop version never expires.
Why Look for a Semrush Alternative?
Semrush is a strong tool, so switching is usually about fit, not quality. These are the most common reasons teams look elsewhere:
- Price: the SEO plan is $139 per month, and the separate AI Visibility Toolkit costs $99 per month per domain (billed annually).
- AI tracking costs extra: custom AI prompt tracking starts on the $199 Starter (SEO + AI) plan, which tracks 50 prompts per day.
- Too many features: a content team that only needs keyword research, rank tracking and audits may never touch half the toolkit.
- Seat costs: extra users start at $45 per month each, which hurts small teams.
If any of these sound familiar, one of the tools below will likely fit better.
Semrush Alternatives Compared
|
# |
Tool |
Best for |
Free plan |
Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Backlinks, content research and AI prompt tracking |
Yes (Ahrefs Free, limited) |
$29/mo (Starter), $129/mo (Lite) | |
|
2 |
All-in-one value with AI visibility included |
No (14-day free trial) |
$129/mo, or $103.20/mo yearly | |
|
3 |
Affordable AI search tracking |
No |
$49/mo (Starter), $99/mo (Standard) | |
|
4 |
AI agents that automate SEO work |
No (7-day trial) |
$99/mo | |
|
5 |
Budget team plans with AI brand tracking |
No (7-day trial) |
$50/mo | |
|
6 |
Site audits and simple rank tracking |
No (14-day trial) |
59.90 euros/mo | |
|
7 |