Guide
Semrush alternatives that won't eat your marketing budget
Semrush is built for large marketing teams. Its plans start well above $100 a month. If you run a small business, you probably use a fraction of it. Here is what to use instead.
8 min read · Updated September 2026
Why people look for a Semrush alternative
- —Price: paid plans start above $100/month, and extra users cost more.
- —Complexity: dozens of tools, most of which small teams never open.
- —Data without direction: you get reports, but not a clear next step.
What to look for instead
- —Keyword research with volume and difficulty for your country.
- —Rank tracking for the keywords that make you money.
- —A site audit that ranks issues by impact.
- —Backlink data you can act on.
- —Pay for what you use, not a seat licence.
The main options
Ahrefs: excellent backlink data, similar price bracket to Semrush. Best if links are your main focus.
Ubersuggest: cheaper and simpler, but lighter data depth.
Moz Pro: solid authority metrics, smaller keyword database.
SE Ranking: good value rank tracking and audits.
Google Search Console: free, and the only source of your real clicks. Use it alongside any tool.
TopRankr: starts at $19/month with a free plan. Every tool feeds an AI action plan that tells you exactly what to change on a page to move up.
How TopRankr is different
Other tools show you data. TopRankr tells you what to do. Pick a keyword, and TopRankr compares your page with the pages ranking above you. You get a numbered list: fix the title, add these subtopics, earn links from these kinds of sites.
Credits mean you only pay for the lookups you run. Nothing is locked behind an enterprise tier.
Which one should you pick?
- —Agency with a big budget and many clients: Semrush or Ahrefs.
- —Solo founder or small team that wants to know what to do: TopRankr.
- —Zero budget: Google Search Console plus our free tools.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free Semrush alternative?
Google Search Console is free and shows your real search data. TopRankr also has a free plan with 50 credits a month and free tools that need no signup.
Is TopRankr's data as good as Semrush?
For keyword volume, rankings and backlinks, the data is comparable for most small-business use. Semrush has more niche tools like PPC and social reporting.
Can I switch without losing history?
Export your tracked keywords as CSV and add them to TopRankr's rank tracker. Ranking history starts from the day you add them.
Let TopRankr do this analysis for you
Free plan includes 50 credits every month.