SE Ranking vs Semrush Comparison 2026
SE Ranking bundles rank tracking, keyword research, backlinks and site audits into one plan at $129 a month, or $103.20 billed annually, for 10 projects and 250,000 pages of audit, with white labelling built in for agencies. Semrush covers the same categories at $139 a month, or $117.33 annually, but its entry plan caps at only 5 sites and 500 tracked keywords, despite the higher price. Semrush's reporting on how brands surface in AI answers is bundled into its dearer AI Search tier; SE Ranking sells the same idea as a separate add-on from $71.20.
The full SEO toolkit at a smaller price
Keyword and competitor research at agency depth
At a glance
- SE Ranking starts cheaper, at $129.
- Neither has a free tier.
Side by side
SE Ranking | Semrush | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price (they differ) | From $129 | 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 | 14 days | Not stated |
| API | Yes |
SE Ranking
The full SEO toolkit at a smaller price
SE Ranking does rank tracking, keyword and competitor research, backlink checks and site audits, and prices them well under what the two market leaders charge for the same list. It has since added tracking for what the AI answer engines say about a brand. Agencies use it because reporting and white labelling are built in rather than sold on.
Our note
SE Ranking is what you buy when Ahrefs and Semrush are right and also twice the price. The add-on list is where the cost creeps back, so price the agency pack in before comparing.
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 SE Ranking
- Semrush goes deeper on competitor keyword and gap research at agency scale, starting at $139, for a team that needs more depth than SE Ranking trims in to hit its price.
- SE Ranking instead of Semrush
- SE Ranking bundles the same audits, rank tracking and backlink checks, and states its whole pitch as pricing that undercuts the two market-leading suites, agency reporting and white labelling included.
Which one should you pick
Choose SE Ranking if the agency angle matters, client reports and white labelling built in rather than sold as an upgrade, and if 10 projects at a lower price than Semrush's 5-site cap beats brand recognition. Entry is $129 a month, or $103.20 billed annually, though price the add-ons in first: the agency pack, AI results tracking and extra API credits all cost extra and several are annual only.
Choose Semrush if the data depth and reputation are worth the premium, particularly competing against sites that already run SEO teams. The SEO plan is $139 a month, or $117.33 annually, for 5 sites and 500 keywords, and SEO plus AI Search at $199 adds MCP access so an assistant can query the data directly. It is the most expensive tool in this catalog by some distance, and the five-site limit on the entry plan is the wall most people hit first.
Common questions
- Which is cheaper, SE Ranking or Semrush?
- SE Ranking, at every comparable tier: $129 a month against Semrush's $139, or $103.20 against $117.33 billed annually. SE Ranking's entry plan also covers 10 projects against Semrush's 5 sites, so it gives more for less at the bottom of the range.
- Does SE Ranking track how brands appear in AI answers like Semrush does?
- Yes, but differently. Semrush bundles AI visibility reporting and MCP access into its SEO plus AI Search tier at $199 a month. SE Ranking sells the equivalent as a separate add-on starting at $71.20, so it is not included in the base entry price.
- Which one includes white-label client reporting without an upgrade?
- SE Ranking does, built into its base plans rather than sold as an agency tier. Semrush is not described the same way in its own materials, and agencies using it typically factor client reporting into a higher tier.
- How many sites or projects does the entry plan cover on each?
- SE Ranking's entry plan covers 10 projects. Semrush's SEO plan, despite costing more, covers only 5 sites and 500 tracked keywords, which is the limit most people hit first on that plan.
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.