Comparison
SE Ranking vs Semrush (2026): Do You Need the Bigger Suite?
SE Ranking vs Semrush compared: rank tracking limits, AI search visibility, audits, users, trials and October 2026 pricing, plus who should pick which.
On this page
SE Ranking and Semrush are both all-in-one SEO platforms. Both track rankings, research keywords and competitors, audit websites and analyse backlinks. In 2026 both also track how brands appear in AI answers such as ChatGPT, Perplexity and Google's AI Overviews.
The difference is mostly about scale and how limits are packaged. Semrush is the larger suite with more toolkits and add-ons. SE Ranking puts more tracked keywords and AI prompts into its main plan at a lower list price.
This comparison is based on both companies' official pricing and feature pages, checked on 20 October 2026. We haven't run both tools side by side on our own site, so there are no invented rankings, data-accuracy scores or "winners by points".
Quick verdict
- Choose SE Ranking if you want one account that covers rank tracking, research, audits, local SEO, content tools and AI visibility, with generous tracking limits on the entry plan.
- Choose Semrush if you want the broader toolkit, with market analysis, prompt research, AI brand sentiment and a large add-on catalogue, and you're comfortable paying more as you add users and features.
At a glance
| SE Ranking | Semrush | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | All-in-one SEO + GEO platform | SEO and AI-search suite with add-ons |
| Main plans (monthly billing) | Core $129 · Growth $279 | SEO €134 · Starter SEO + AI Search €190 · Pro+ €286 (EUR as shown to us) |
| Annual billing | −20% (Core $103.20/mo) | Up to 17% off (SEO €112.52/mo) |
| Keywords tracked daily (entry plan) | 2,000 | 500 |
| AI prompts tracked daily (entry plan) | 100 | Custom prompts on SEO; 50 on Starter SEO + AI Search |
| Users | 1 manager seat (Core), 3 (Growth) | Extra users from €43/mo |
| Free option | 14-day trial | Free plan + 7-day trial |
Semrush showed prices in euros from our location in Spain, so its figures are EUR while SE Ranking's are USD. Check each pricing page for your currency.
Pricing compared (October 2026)
SE Ranking
SE Ranking has two self-serve plans plus Enterprise:
- Core: $129/month, or $103.20/month billed annually. 10 projects and 1 manager seat, 2,000 keywords and 100 AI prompts tracked daily, 5 domains in GEO research, 250,000 audit pages a month, 25 content-marketing articles and 25K API credits with MCP access.
- Growth: $279/month, or $223.20/month billed annually. 30 projects and 3 manager seats, 5,000 keywords and 250 prompts tracked daily, 15 GEO research domains, 2 million audit pages, full-lifetime historical data, guest links and page-changes monitoring.
- Enterprise: custom.
Extra manager seats start at $16. An Agency Pack add-on (annual billing only) adds client seats, white-label reporting and a lead generator. The 14-day free trial is fully functional with starter limits. Payments are generally non-refundable, so the trial is the place to test.
Try SE Ranking free →Affiliate link
Semrush
Semrush showed us three main plans in euros:
- SEO: €134/month, or €112.52/month billed annually. 5 websites to monitor, 500 keywords tracked daily, basic keyword research and competitor analysis, Position Tracking, Site Audit, AI visibility reports and custom prompt monitoring.
- Starter SEO + AI Search: €190/month, or €158.40/month billed annually. Adds keyword research and optimization tools, competitor insights, MCP access, 50 prompts tracked daily and an AI-ready Site Audit.
- Pro+: €286/month, or €238/month billed annually. 15 websites and 1,500 tracked keywords, aimed at teams and agencies working across several markets.
Additional users start at €43/month, and reporting add-ons are sold separately. Semrush also has a free plan and a 7-day free trial. Enterprise is sold separately.
On price alone: SE Ranking Core tracks 2,000 keywords a day at its list price. Semrush's SEO plan tracks 500. If daily rank tracking for several sites is your main job, SE Ranking gives you more room per euro or dollar. If you need Semrush's wider toolkits, the extra cost buys breadth rather than tracking volume.
Features compared
Rank tracking
Both track rankings daily. SE Ranking includes Google Top 100 tracking, Share of Voice and a local and map rank tracker (1,500 keywords on both plans). Semrush's Position Tracking is included from the SEO plan, and it lists local search visibility tools separately, including listing management, local rank monitoring and Google Business Profile tracking.
Keyword, competitor and backlink research
SE Ranking describes its keyword, competitor and backlink research as unlimited on both plans. Semrush positions research as its core strength, with keyword research, competitor analysis, market analysis (market size, audience and traffic dynamics) and backlink analysis that also covers the citations LLMs use when they mention your brand.
AI search visibility
This is where both have moved fastest.
- SE Ranking tracks daily prompts across five LLMs, tracks AI sources and offers AI competitive research. Core tracks 100 prompts a day and Growth 250.
- Semrush lists AI visibility across ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Claude and AI Overviews, plus prompt research (which prompts your audience uses, with volume and intent) and AI brand sentiment (how LLMs describe your brand and competitors).
If you want to research prompts the way you research keywords, Semrush has a dedicated feature for it. If you mainly want to track a fixed set of prompts daily, SE Ranking includes more of them on the entry plan.
Site audits
SE Ranking Core audits up to 250,000 pages a month and includes an on-page checker and SERP analyzer. Semrush includes Site Audit on every plan, with an "AI-ready" Site Audit from Starter SEO + AI Search.
Content tools
SE Ranking includes a Content Editor, AI Writer, Content Idea Finder and Content Planner, with 25 articles a month on Core. Semrush lists content creation and optimization tools as part of its "Create and optimize" group. If content production is your main need, a content-first tool may suit you better than either suite. See our SE Ranking vs Frase comparison.
Integrations and API
SE Ranking connects to Looker Studio (Data Studio), Matomo, GA4 and Google Search Console, and includes an MCP server and research API credits on both plans. Semrush offers an MCP server and API, an App Center and integrations. MCP access is listed from Starter SEO + AI Search.
Which should you choose?
- Freelancers and small businesses tracking a few sites: SE Ranking Core gives you more tracked keywords and prompts per plan.
- Agencies: SE Ranking Growth plus the Agency Pack covers white-label reporting. Semrush Pro+ covers more websites, with users and reporting added as paid extras.
- Teams that live in market and competitor research: Semrush's market analysis, prompt research and sentiment tools are the reason to pay more.
- Tight budgets: start with SE Ranking's 14-day trial or Semrush's free plan before committing. Both companies sell annual plans upfront.
Pros and cons
SE Ranking
Pros
- 2,000 tracked keywords and 100 AI prompts daily on the entry plan.
- Research described as unlimited.
- Local rank tracking and listing management included.
- MCP and API credits on both plans.
Cons
- Payments are generally non-refundable.
- Only one manager seat on Core.
- Fewer specialised research toolkits than Semrush.
Semrush
Pros
- Broad toolkit including market analysis.
- Prompt research and AI brand sentiment.
- Free plan and 7-day trial.
Cons
- Entry plan tracks 500 keywords.
- Extra users and reporting add-ons cost more.
- Prices vary by region and currency.
Our verdict (researched, not yet hands-on)
For most small businesses, bloggers and freelancers, SE Ranking covers the everyday SEO jobs, plus AI visibility, at a lower list price and with higher tracking limits. Semrush makes sense when you need its extra depth, especially market analysis and prompt research, and the budget for add-ons. Run both trials on the same project and compare the reports you actually use.
Read our full SE Ranking review or see more SE Ranking alternatives.
Try SE Ranking free →Affiliate link
FAQ
Is SE Ranking cheaper than Semrush? On list prices, yes. SE Ranking Core is $129/month and Semrush's SEO plan was €134/month when shown to us in euros. SE Ranking Core also tracks more keywords a day (2,000 vs 500). Compare in your own currency.
Does Semrush have a free plan? Yes, Semrush lists a free plan for trying the platform, plus a 7-day free trial of paid plans. SE Ranking offers a 14-day free trial.
Which is better for AI search tracking? Both track AI answers. SE Ranking includes 100 daily prompts on Core across five LLMs. Semrush adds prompt research and AI brand sentiment, with 50 daily prompts on Starter SEO + AI Search.
Can I get a refund? SE Ranking says payments are non-refundable except where the service wasn't delivered as promised. Semrush has a refund policy in its pricing FAQ. Check the current terms before buying.
Should I compare Ahrefs too? Ahrefs is the third big name. Its Lite plan was $129/month with 750 tracked keywords. See our SE Ranking alternatives roundup for a wider comparison.