Independent head-to-head
SE Ranking vs Semrush
Both are on our shortlist, and most people only need one. Here is where each genuinely wins.
Do you need Semrush's breadth, or will SE Ranking's reporting-first plans cover your core work?
Choose SE Ranking if your work is rank tracking, audits and client reporting and you do not need a full marketing suite; choose Semrush if you also need PPC and advertising data or the largest research toolset. SE Ranking's Core plan is $129/month against Semrush's $139 SEO plan, so compare what each includes at your keyword count rather than the headline price.
SE Ranking
Rank Tracking ToolsRank tracking, research and reporting in one SEO platform.
Semrush
Rank Tracking ToolsThe broadest all-in-one SEO and marketing platform.
Decision view
Compare what changes the answer
| Decision factor | SE Ranking$129/mo | Semrush$139/mo |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $129/mo | $139/mo |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Free trial | 14 days | 7 days |
| Best for | Agencies and freelancers who need credible client reporting without a four-figure monthly software bill. | Teams who need SEO, PPC and competitor research from one subscription and will genuinely use more than the SEO toolkit. |
| Not for | Link-led work, or research in markets outside its stronger databases. | Solo operators who only need keywords and rankings — you will pay for a marketing suite and use a keyword tool. |
Shared answers are dimmed so trade-offs stay visible.
Plan comparison
Published plans as recorded on each vendor’s pricing page on its verification date. Limits and add-ons differ between vendors, so compare at your own volume.
SE Ranking
| Plan | Monthly | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Core | $129 | $103.20/month billed annually ($1,238.40/year); 10 projects, 2,000 keywords tracked daily, 250K pages/month audit |
| Growth | $279 | 30 projects, 5,000 keywords tracked daily, 2M pages/month audit |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom limits and full API access — contact sales |
Semrush
| Plan | Monthly | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| SEO | $139 | SEO toolkit only. |
| Pro+ | $299 | Adds AI visibility tooling. |
| Advanced | $549 | — |
Where SE Ranking wins
- Rank tracking, research and site audits in one workspace
- Core annual billing saves 20% compared with paying monthly
- White-label reporting is included rather than an upsell
Where Semrush wins
- Widest feature coverage of any single SEO subscription
- Intent labels and clustering are the best in class for research at scale
- Strong PPC and advertising data that competitors largely lack
SE Ranking or Semrush?
Choose SE Ranking if your work is rank tracking, audits and client reporting and you do not need a full marketing suite; choose Semrush if you also need PPC and advertising data or the largest research toolset. SE Ranking's Core plan is $129/month against Semrush's $139 SEO plan, so compare what each includes at your keyword count rather than the headline price.
Agencies and freelancers who need credible client reporting without a four-figure monthly software bill.
Teams who need SEO, PPC and competitor research from one subscription and will genuinely use more than the SEO toolkit.
What decides it
- What the plan includes
- SE Ranking's Core plan lists 10 projects, 2,000 daily-tracked keywords and a 250K-page monthly audit allowance; Semrush's SEO plan is the toolkit-only tier.
- Reporting
- White-label reporting is included with SE Ranking rather than sold as an add-on.
- Data depth
- Semrush is stronger in research at scale and PPC data; SE Ranking's keyword data thins out in smaller markets and its backlink index is behind.
- Trial
- SE Ranking offers 14 days, Semrush 7 — enough to test both on your own projects.