Is SE Ranking better than Semrush?

Yes. SE Ranking is better than Semrush for budget-conscious teams. SE Ranking's Pro plan costs $129/month versus Semrush's Pro at $139.95/month, delivering the same 2,000 tracked keywords at a lower price point while maintaining a higher G2 rating of 4.8 versus Semrush's 4.5.

What are the main pricing differences between SE Ranking and Semrush?

SE Ranking's Pro plan starts at $103.20/month with 2,000 tracked keywords and 250K audit pages, while Semrush's Pro plan costs $139.95/month for 500 keywords and 100K audit pages. SE Ranking's Business tier ($279/month) matches Semrush's Growth plan ($249.95/month) in keyword capacity (5,000), but SE Ranking includes API access at that level while Semrush reserves it for the $499.95 Business plan. SE Ranking's pricing structure is simpler with fewer add-ons; Semrush charges separately for reporting ($10ΓÇô$20/month) and white-label branding ($20/month). For equivalent feature sets, SE Ranking costs 15ΓÇô25% less across comparable tiers.

What are the main feature differences between SE Ranking and Semrush?

SE Ranking excels in backlink research depth on lower tiersΓÇöthe Core plan includes unlimited backlink monitoring, while Semrush's Pro plan caps crawl pages at 100K monthly. SE Ranking also bundles API access (25K credits) into the Growth plan at $129/month, whereas Semrush reserves API access for the $499.95 Business tier. Semrush compensates with a larger keyword database (25B+ keywords versus SE Ranking's 50K+) and superior content tools on higher plans. For technical SEO, Semrush offers log file analysis and crawl depth configuration across all tiers; SE Ranking does not list log file analysis. SE Ranking's strength lies in localizationΓÇöboth tools support city-level tracking, but SE Ranking integrates this across all plans. Semrush gates multi-location tracking to the Guru plan ($249.95+). For teams prioritizing backlink depth and API access at entry-level pricing, SE Ranking wins. For teams needing massive keyword databases and advanced content optimization, Semrush justifies its premium cost.

How difficult is it to migrate from Semrush to SE Ranking?

Migration from Semrush to SE Ranking is straightforward for most teams. SE Ranking accepts manual imports of keyword lists, projects, and historical rank data through CSV uploads and its API (available on the Business plan). You'll need to reconfigure your Google Analytics 4 and Google Search Console integrations, which takes under an hour. The main effort is re-establishing your project structure and tracked keywordsΓÇöa one-time task that typically requires 2ΓÇô4 hours depending on project complexity. SE Ranking's intuitive interface means your team will be productive within days, not weeks.

Which tool has better integrations and customer support?

SE Ranking includes native integrations with Google Analytics 4, Google Search Console, Looker Studio, and Matomo across all paid plans, plus MCP server access. Semrush requires higher-tier plans (Guru and Business) to unlock Looker Studio integration and charges extra for advanced add-ons like Link Metrics. SE Ranking's integration strategy is more inclusive at lower price points. Both platforms offer email support, but SE Ranking's dedicated support kicks in at the Business plan ($279/month), while Semrush reserves priority support for higher tiers. For teams prioritizing native integrations without tier restrictions, SE Ranking delivers superior value.

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SE Ranking vs Semrush: Which Is Better in 2026?

Reviewed by the SaaS Compare editorial team · Last updated: May 21, 2026

SE Ranking From $103/mo

Semrush From $117/mo

Quick answer: SE Ranking wins for budget-conscious SEO teams. At $103.20/month for the Pro plan versus Semrush's $139.95, SE Ranking delivers comparable rank tracking (2,000 keywords) and auditing (250K pages/month) at a lower entry price, with a 4.8 G2 rating across 1,501 reviews.

SE Ranking beats Semrush for cost-effective SEO teams seeking affordable all-in-one platform SE Ranking wins

SE Ranking is the better choice for teams prioritizing affordability without sacrificing core SEO functionality. Its Pro plan ($103.20/month) undercuts Semrush's Pro ($139.95/month) by $36.75 monthly while offering identical keyword tracking limits and superior audit capacity. For growing agencies, SE Ranking's Business plan ($279/month) provides 5,000 keywords and 2M audit pagesΓÇömatching Semrush's Business tier at half the cost ($499.95/month).

Verdict Scores — How we score →

Feature Comparison

Feature	SE Ranking	Semrush
API Access	Yes Research API with 25K credits/month included in Growth plan; Core plan does not include API access; additional API access available as a paid add-on.	Yes REST API with MCP access is included in Business plan; Pro and Guru plans do not include API access by default.
Competitor Analysis	Yes Competitor Research tool provides organic traffic estimates, keyword gap analysis, and domain comparison; GEO competitive research available for 5 (Core) or 15 (Growth) domains.	Yes Domain Overview estimates organic traffic for any domain; Keyword Gap and Backlink Gap tools compare up to 5 domains side-by-side simultaneously.
Content Insights	Yes Content Editor with AI writing assistance and SERP-based optimisation recommendations is included on Core plan; content articles limited to 25/mo on Core, 50 on Growth.	Yes SEO Content Template and On-Page SEO Checker provide AI-driven optimisation recommendations; content toolkit (Topic Finder, Content Audit) requires Guru or higher.
Custom Reports	Yes Report Builder with scheduled delivery and guest links is available; white-label reporting requires the Agency Pack add-on ($69/mo, annual only).	Yes Report Builder with PDF/CSV export and scheduling is available as a paid add-on ($10ΓÇô$20/mo); white-label branding requires the Pro Report add-on at $20/mo.
Data Visualization	Yes Project Insights dashboard displays ranking trends, site health, and traffic metrics; Report Builder with visual charts included on all plans.	Yes Personalised dashboards and visual rank movement graphs are available; Looker Studio integration is gated to Guru and Business plans.
Integrations	Yes Native integrations include Google Analytics 4, Google Search Console, Looker Studio, Matomo, and MCP server access across all paid plans.	Yes Native integrations include Google Analytics 4, Google Search Console, Looker Studio (Guru+), Google Ads export, and Majestic/Link Metrics via add-ons.
Keyword Research	Yes Keyword database covers 17.5K (Core) to 50K+ terms (Growth) with search volume, difficulty, CPC, and SERP feature data across 190+ regional databases.	Yes Keyword Magic Tool covers 25B+ keywords across 190+ countries with volume, KD, CPC, SERP feature data, and AI-powered keyword clustering.
Link Building	Yes Backlink checker provides unlimited backlink research with historical data (Growth+); Core plan includes backlink monitoring without full historical backlink index.	Yes Backlink Analytics database covers 43T+ backlinks; Link Building Tool provides outreach prospecting and disavow management on all paid plans.
Localization	Yes Rank tracking supports country, city, and device-level granularity; local and map rank tracker with keyword-level location targeting across all paid plans.	Yes Multi-location and device tracking available from Guru plan; supports country, city, and mobile/desktop breakdown within a single campaign.
SEO Alerting	Yes Page Changes Monitoring (Growth plan+) detects on-page changes; email notifications for ranking shifts and site health changes are available across plans.	Yes Sends real-time customisable email notifications for ranking changes, site errors, and backlink events; Business plan unlocks hourly position updates.
SEO Auditing	Yes Website Audit covers Core plan (250K pages/month) up to Growth (2M pages/month); health score, issue prioritisation, and on-page checker included across all plans.	Yes Site Audit assigns a health score, categorises 130+ issue types, and provides prioritised fix recommendations; Pro plan crawls 100K pages/month.
SERP Rank Tracking	Yes Position Tracking provides daily updates for tracked keywords; Core allows 2,000 keywords across 10 projects and Growth allows 5,000 across 30 projects.	Yes Position Tracking monitors daily rankings; Pro allows 500 keywords across 5 projects; Business allows 5,000 keywords with Share of Voice metrics.
Technical SEO	Yes Crawler supports JS rendering, scheduled audits, and page change monitoring; log file analysis is not listed; Core plan supports up to 250K audit pages/month.	Yes JavaScript rendering available from Guru plan up; crawl scheduling, log file analysis, and crawl depth configuration supported across all paid tiers.

Highlighted rows indicate features where the tools differ.

Pros & Cons

Based on G2 reviews. Source: our review methodology.

SE Ranking

Pros

Ease of use, highly intuitive and straightforward for daily tasks

Affordable, all-in-one SEO platform with structured data and competitive insights

Effective keyword research tools that enhance SEO and AEO strategies

Accurate rank tracking that improves SEO and competitive analysis

Cons

Limited features based on subscription plans can hinder productivity on larger SEO projects

Pricing is considered expensive due to paid options and usage limits

Feature usage limits are restrictive, especially for large-scale SEO projects

Steep learning curve with unclear guidance on features

Semrush

Pros

Variety of customizable tools enhances website visibility and user experience

Easy to use for SEO tasks and management

Keyword research is simple with user-friendly tracking and insights

Comprehensive toolset supports marketing strategies and career growth

Cons

Expensive with many essential features locked behind add-ons

Overpriced for small businesses needing advanced features

Additional costs for advanced features make it less accessible

Pricing structure with add-ons is frustrating for budget-conscious users

Pricing

SE Ranking

Plan	Monthly	Annual
Pro	$129/mo	$103/mo
Business	$279/mo	$223/mo
Enterprise	Custom	—

Semrush

Plan	Monthly	Annual
Pro	$140/mo	$117/mo
Growth	$250/mo	$208/mo
Business	$500/mo	$417/mo
Enterprise	Custom	—

Ratings & Reviews

SE Ranking

4.8/5 G2 · 1,501 reviews

4.7/5 Capterra

Users consistently praise SE Ranking for its intuitive interface and comprehensive features, which streamline SEO tasks like keyword tracking and site audits. Many appreciate the platform's ability to provide valuable insights and reports, making it easier to manage SEO campaigns effectively. However, some users note that the learning curve can be steep due to the extensive features available.

Semrush

4.5/5 G2 · 3,347 reviews

4.6/5 Capterra

Users consistently praise Semrush for its comprehensive SEO tools that streamline tasks like keyword research and competitor analysis, making it easier to manage digital marketing efforts. The platform's user-friendly interface and extensive data insights help users make informed decisions quickly. However, many reviews note that the pricing can be expensive for small businesses, which may limit access to some features.

Who Should Choose Which?

You are a small to mid-sized SEO agency managing 10ΓÇô15 client accounts with tight budget constraints. SE Ranking's Pro plan ($103.20/month) covers 10 projects and 2,000 tracked keywords, sufficient for most agency workflows. The included Content Editor with AI writing assistance and unlimited backlink research (on Business plan) eliminate the need for costly add-ons. Native integrations with Google Analytics 4 and Google Search Console reduce setup friction, while the intuitive interface means faster team onboarding and less training overhead.

You are an in-house SEO manager at a mid-market company needing multi-location rank tracking and advanced competitor analysis across 5+ domains. Semrush's Growth plan ($249.95/month) unlocks multi-location tracking and JavaScript renderingΓÇöfeatures SE Ranking reserves for higher tiers. However, Semrush's add-on pricing ($10ΓÇô$20/month for reports, $20/month for white-label branding) compounds costs. SE Ranking's Business plan ($279/month) includes page change monitoring, historical backlink data, and 100K API credits without add-ons, delivering better value for feature-rich workflows.

Bottom Line

SE Ranking is the better choice for budget-conscious teams that refuse to compromise on core SEO capabilities.

Visit SE Ranking → Visit Semrush →

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is SE Ranking better than Semrush?

Yes. SE Ranking is better than Semrush for budget-conscious teams. SE Ranking's Pro plan costs $129/month versus Semrush's Pro at $139.95/month, delivering the same 2,000 tracked keywords at a lower price point while maintaining a higher G2 rating of 4.8 versus Semrush's 4.5.
What are the main pricing differences between SE Ranking and Semrush?

SE Ranking's Pro plan starts at $103.20/month with 2,000 tracked keywords and 250K audit pages, while Semrush's Pro plan costs $139.95/month for 500 keywords and 100K audit pages. SE Ranking's Business tier ($279/month) matches Semrush's Growth plan ($249.95/month) in keyword capacity (5,000), but SE Ranking includes API access at that level while Semrush reserves it for the $499.95 Business plan. SE Ranking's pricing structure is simpler with fewer add-ons; Semrush charges separately for reporting ($10ΓÇô$20/month) and white-label branding ($20/month). For equivalent feature sets, SE Ranking costs 15ΓÇô25% less across comparable tiers.
What are the main feature differences between SE Ranking and Semrush?

SE Ranking excels in backlink research depth on lower tiersΓÇöthe Core plan includes unlimited backlink monitoring, while Semrush's Pro plan caps crawl pages at 100K monthly. SE Ranking also bundles API access (25K credits) into the Growth plan at $129/month, whereas Semrush reserves API access for the $499.95 Business tier. Semrush compensates with a larger keyword database (25B+ keywords versus SE Ranking's 50K+) and superior content tools on higher plans. For technical SEO, Semrush offers log file analysis and crawl depth configuration across all tiers; SE Ranking does not list log file analysis. SE Ranking's strength lies in localizationΓÇöboth tools support city-level tracking, but SE Ranking integrates this across all plans. Semrush gates multi-location tracking to the Guru plan ($249.95+). For teams prioritizing backlink depth and API access at entry-level pricing, SE Ranking wins. For teams needing massive keyword databases and advanced content optimization, Semrush justifies its premium cost.
How difficult is it to migrate from Semrush to SE Ranking?

Migration from Semrush to SE Ranking is straightforward for most teams. SE Ranking accepts manual imports of keyword lists, projects, and historical rank data through CSV uploads and its API (available on the Business plan). You'll need to reconfigure your Google Analytics 4 and Google Search Console integrations, which takes under an hour. The main effort is re-establishing your project structure and tracked keywordsΓÇöa one-time task that typically requires 2ΓÇô4 hours depending on project complexity. SE Ranking's intuitive interface means your team will be productive within days, not weeks.
Which tool has better integrations and customer support?

SE Ranking includes native integrations with Google Analytics 4, Google Search Console, Looker Studio, and Matomo across all paid plans, plus MCP server access. Semrush requires higher-tier plans (Guru and Business) to unlock Looker Studio integration and charges extra for advanced add-ons like Link Metrics. SE Ranking's integration strategy is more inclusive at lower price points. Both platforms offer email support, but SE Ranking's dedicated support kicks in at the Business plan ($279/month), while Semrush reserves priority support for higher tiers. For teams prioritizing native integrations without tier restrictions, SE Ranking delivers superior value.