Moz vs Semrush Comparison 2026
Moz's entry plan is $49 a month for one site, the argument its own listing makes directly against what Semrush charges for the same category of tool. Semrush starts at $139 a month, or $117.33 billed annually, for five sites and 500 tracked keywords, and by its own account is the most expensive tool in this catalog by some distance. Per site, though, Semrush actually undercuts Moz once more than one property needs tracking: $27.80 a site against Moz's flat $49. The real question is not the sticker price but how many sites you are actually running.
At a glance
- Moz starts cheaper, at $49.
- Neither has a free tier.
Side by side
Moz | Semrush | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price (they differ) | From $49 | From $139 |
| Pricing model (they differ) | Free trial, then paid | Paid subscription |
| Free tier | No | No |
| Billing | Monthly or annual | Monthly or annual |
| Free trial | Not stated | Not stated |
| API | Yes | Not stated |
Moz
Rank tracking and link data from Moz Pro
Moz has been measuring domain authority since the metric was invented, and its rank tracking, link explorer and keyword research still cover what a content site needs to watch. Its free browser extension is what most people meet first. The index is smaller than Ahrefs', and the entry plan is priced for one site rather than for an agency.
Our note
The entry price is the argument, at $49 a month for a single site against what Ahrefs and Semrush charge. The link index behind it is smaller. Buy it for rank tracking and check backlinks somewhere else.
Semrush
Keyword and competitor research at agency depth
Semrush is the tool an SEO reaches for when they need to know what a competitor ranks for and what it is worth. Position tracking, site audits and keyword gaps are all there, along with newer reporting on how brands surface in AI answers. It costs more than most creators can justify, and the entry plan tracks five sites and 500 keywords.
Why people weigh these two
- Semrush instead of Moz
- Semrush goes deeper on keyword and competitor research at agency scale, the step up once Moz's smaller index and single-site pricing become the limit.
- Moz instead of Semrush
- Moz Pro narrows to rank tracking and link data rather than Semrush's full audit-to-content suite, starting at $49 with no free tier either.
Which one should you pick
Pick Moz for a single content site where the sticker price matters more than depth: $49 a month is the cheapest entry point here, with the honest trade that its link index and competitive research are thinner than Semrush's.
Pick Semrush if you are competing against sites with dedicated SEO teams, or tracking more than one property. The SEO plan is $139 a month, or $117.33 billed annually, for five sites and 500 keywords, which works out cheaper per site than Moz despite the higher headline number. Its own listing is blunt about who should skip it: if your audience arrives from a feed rather than a search box, this is an expensive way to learn nothing.
Common questions
- Is Semrush really more expensive than Moz?
- In total, yes, and by its own account it is the most expensive tool in this catalog. But per site it can be cheaper: $139 covers five sites on Semrush, about $27.80 each, against Moz's flat $49 for one. Which is actually dearer depends on how many sites you run.
- Why does Moz's own listing mention Semrush by name?
- Because the entry price is Moz's whole argument: $49 a month for one site against what Semrush and Ahrefs charge for the same category of research. Moz is upfront that its link index is smaller in exchange for that lower price.
- Who should skip Semrush entirely?
- By Semrush's own description, anyone whose audience arrives from a feed rather than search, since competitive keyword research would teach them little. Moz's cheaper, narrower toolset is the more sensible entry point for most creators outside heavy SEO competition.
- Does Moz track AI answer visibility like Semrush does?
- Moz's listing does not describe that feature. Semrush added AI search visibility reporting on its SEO plus AI Search tier at $199 a month, which also includes MCP access for querying the data directly.
Ratings are the average of reviews readers left. The facts are stated by each tool’s own listing and are not verified by CloutStack. How we make money.