Semrush alternatives for small business

Semrush starts at $139.95 a month, and its content and local tools cost extra. Here's what the main alternatives cost, what each is good at, and which kind of business each one suits.

Semrush
From $139.95/mo
Alternatives compared
6
Prices checked
Oct 2026

The short answer

The best Semrush alternative depends on the work you'll actually do each month. If you want the work done (posts written and published, rankings checked, Google reviews answered), PageOne does it from $19.99 a month. If you want cheap research, Ubersuggest starts at $29. If local listings are the whole job, look at BrightLocal. If you manage many sites, SE Ranking is the closest full-suite match to Semrush.

Moz and Ahrefs are strongest on link data, and are priced for people who will use that research every week.

The alternatives at a glance.

Entry prices, billed monthly. Each card links to a full side-by-side with PageOne.

PageOne Free, or from $19.99/mo Best for: one business that wants content written and published, rankings checked, and Google reviews answered. Watch for: small research limits: 5 keyword lookups a day, and 25 keywords checked weekly on Individual. See PageOne plans → Semrush Free, or from $139.95/mo Best for: marketing teams that want research, ads, and content in one suite. Watch for: content writing and local tools are add-ons, about $90 a month more for one location. PageOne vs Semrush → Ubersuggest Free, or from $29/mo ($290 lifetime) Best for: owners who want lots of cheap keyword research and will write their own posts. Watch for: 2 AI articles a month on Individual, and no Business Profile tools. PageOne vs Ubersuggest → Moz Pro From $49/mo; Moz Local $20–$40 per location Best for: link research and Domain Authority, with Moz Local for listings. Watch for: two separate subscriptions, and no article writing or publishing. PageOne vs Moz → SE Ranking From $129/mo Best for: agencies and businesses with several sites that need daily rank tracking. Watch for: the entry price roughly doubled after its 2025 plan change. PageOne vs SE Ranking → BrightLocal From $41/mo per location Best for: citations, reviews across 80+ sites, and multi-location local SEO. Watch for: no content writing or keyword research; review replies need the $65 Grow plan. PageOne vs BrightLocal → Ahrefs Free tools, or from $29/mo; Lite $129/mo Best for: backlink research and competitor analysis. Watch for: no free trial, no Business Profile replies, and no white-label reports. PageOne vs Ahrefs →

Moz Pro's $49 Starter and Ahrefs' $29 Starter are single-site plans with smaller limits than the plans we compare on each page.

How to choose.

Start from the work you need done each month, not the longest feature list.

You want the work done, not just measured

Pick a tool that writes and publishes, like PageOne or SE Ranking. Research tools leave the writing to you.

Your customers find you on Google Maps

You need Business Profile replies and a Maps grid. PageOne, BrightLocal, SE Ranking, Moz Local, and Semrush's Local add-on all have both.

You run several sites or clients

Daily tracking and white-label reports matter more. SE Ranking or Semrush fit better than single-business tools.

You'll do your own link building

Backlink data matters most. Ahrefs, Semrush, and Moz have the biggest link indexes.

Questions about Semrush alternatives.

What is the cheapest alternative to Semrush?

PageOne has a free plan and paid plans from $19.99 a month. Ubersuggest is $29 a month, or $290 once for a lifetime plan. Both cost a fraction of Semrush's $139.95 SEO plan, with smaller limits.

Is there a free Semrush alternative?

Several tools have free plans: PageOne Free, Ubersuggest's free account, Ahrefs Free for sites you verify, and Semrush's own free account. Each limits how much you can do per day or month.

Which Semrush alternative is best for local SEO?

For a single local business, PageOne covers Business Profile replies, posts, a Maps grid, and the website content. BrightLocal is stronger for citations, reviews on many sites, and multiple locations.

Which alternative is closest to Semrush?

SE Ranking. It covers research, daily rank tracking, content, local, and AI visibility in one plan, from $129 a month.

Do I need an SEO tool at all?

If you want to show up in local searches and won't pay an agency, a tool keeps the work on a schedule. If you'd rather hand it off, compare the cheaper alternatives to an SEO agency.

How often do these prices change?

Often. Semrush and SE Ranking both restructured their plans in the last year. The date we last checked is at the bottom of each page.

More comparisons

Try PageOne on your own site.

The free plan runs the site audit, writes your first posts, and checks whether AI answers mention you. No card needed. Upgrade when you want rank tracking and your Business Profile in the same dashboard.

Prices and features checked October 5, 2026 from these public pages: Semrush, Ahrefs, Ubersuggest, Moz Pro, Moz Local, SE Ranking, BrightLocal. Vendors change plans often, so confirm current pricing before you buy. If something here is out of date, tell us and we'll fix it.

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