Best Semrush alternatives (2026)
By Will
Semrush is a brilliant, sprawling SEO platform, and it is priced like one. For a lot of small sites, bloggers and freelancers it is both too expensive and far more than they will ever use. If you open Semrush and touch 10% of it, you are paying for the other 90%.
We compared the best Semrush alternatives on features, ease of use and price. Mangools is the best value for most people and the easiest to actually use, Ahrefs is the premium alternative with the best backlink data, and Surfer SEO is the one to add if your focus is content optimisation.
| # | Tool | Best for | Rating | Pricing | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MangoolsBest value and best for most | Freelancers, Bloggers | 10-day trial. Paid plans from around $29/mo (cheaper billed annually). No free plan. | Visit | |
| 2 | AhrefsBest premium alternative | SEO professionals, Link builders | Limited free Webmaster Tools. Paid plans from around $129/mo. | Visit | |
| 3 | Surfer SEOBest for content optimisation | Content writers, Marketers | Paid plans from around $99/mo. | Visit |
#1 · Best value and best for most
Mangools
A friendly bundle of keyword research, rank tracking, backlink and SERP tools at a fraction of Semrush's price. The easiest to use and the right pick for most small sites, bloggers and freelancers.
#2 · Best premium alternative
Ahrefs
The go-to for serious backlink analysis and a genuinely deep toolset. Priced closer to Semrush, but the pick if link data and depth matter more than saving money.
#3 · Best for content optimisation
Surfer SEO
Not a full Semrush replacement, but the best tool for optimising the actual words on your pages. Pair it with Mangools and you cover most of what Semrush does for far less.
For most people, Mangools does the everyday SEO jobs, keyword research, rank tracking and competitor checks, for a small monthly fee and none of the overwhelm. Choose Ahrefs if you need the deepest backlink data, and add Surfer if writing and optimising content is where you spend your time.