Head to head
Semrush vs SE Ranking
Short answer. Semrush and SE Ranking are both seo suite tools, so this is a like-for-like choice. SE Ranking is the cheaper way in at from $129/mo ($103.20/mo annual) against from $139/mo ($117.33/mo annual). Both handle AI search the same way (Tracking). Choose Semrush if you match its target profile: sEO professionals, marketers and agencies that need the deepest data and competitive analysis available. Choose SE Ranking if you match its: agencies and in-house teams that want suite-grade data plus AI tracking without paying enterprise prices.
Semrush
The broadest SEO and competitive-intelligence suite, now split into an SEO plan and higher tiers that bundle AI search visibility tracking.
from $139/mo ($117.33/mo annual)7-day free trial, plus a permanent free plan
Visit Semrush (opens in a new tab)
SE Ranking
Full-featured SEO suite that bundles 100 daily AI prompts and GEO research into its entry plan, undercutting the bigger suites on AI coverage.
from $129/mo ($103.20/mo annual)14-day free trial, fully functional
Visit SE Ranking (opens in a new tab)
Side by side
| Semrush | SE Ranking | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | SEO suite | SEO suite |
| Entry price | from $139/mo ($117.33/mo annual) | from $129/mo ($103.20/mo annual) |
| Free trial | 7-day free trial, plus a permanent free plan | 14-day free trial, fully functional |
| AI search (GEO) | Tracking | Tracking |
| Best for | SEO professionals, marketers and agencies that need the deepest data and competitive analysis available. | Agencies and in-house teams that want suite-grade data plus AI tracking without paying enterprise prices. |
| Integrations | Google Search Console, Google Analytics, WordPress, Looker Studio, API, MCP | Google Search Console, Google Analytics, Looker Studio, API, MCP |
| Languages | Multilingual | Multilingual |
Where they actually differ
Ten capabilities, same definition for both tools, taken from each vendor's published documentation. The rows below are only the ones where the two disagree, because those are the rows that decide the purchase.
| Capability | Semrush | SE Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Yes | No |
Pricing compared
Semrush: The $139 SEO plan does not include AI visibility. Prompt tracking starts with the $199/mo Starter plan (50 prompts daily), rising to 100 on Pro+ and 200 on Advanced. A free plan exists with no card required.
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0/mo | Limited daily lookups, no credit card required. |
| SEO | $139/mo ($117.33 annual) | 5 websites, 500 keywords tracked daily, position tracking, site audit. |
| Starter (SEO + AI Search) | $199/mo ($165.17 annual) | Adds AI visibility tracking, 50 prompts tracked daily across Google, ChatGPT, Perplexity and Gemini. |
| Pro+ | $299/mo ($248.17 annual) | 100 prompts tracked daily plus expanded limits. |
| Advanced | $549/mo ($455.67 annual) | 200 prompts tracked daily, largest limits. |
SE Ranking: Core already includes 100 prompts tracked daily and 5 domains of GEO research. A separate AI Search add-on ($89/mo, $71.20 annual) extends AI Overviews, AI Mode, Perplexity and ChatGPT tracking further.
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Core | $129/mo ($103.20 annual) | 10 projects, 1 seat, 2,000 keywords and 100 prompts tracked daily, 5 domains in GEO research, 250K pages audited per month, 25K API credits, MCP access. |
| Growth | $279/mo ($223.20 annual) | 30 projects, 3 seats, 5,000 keywords and 250 prompts daily, 15 domains in GEO research, 2M pages per month, 100K API credits. |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom limits and terms. |
| AI Search add-on | $89/mo ($71.20 annual) | AI Overviews, AI Mode, Perplexity and ChatGPT tracking with competitor research. |
Entry price is the wrong number to compare on its own. Add seats, add the tier that unlocks the feature you came for, and the gap usually moves. Run both through the stack cost calculator to see the annual figure.
Semrush in detail
The broadest SEO and competitive-intelligence suite, now split into an SEO plan and higher tiers that bundle AI search visibility tracking. AI visibility is a paid tier rather than an add-on: the $139 SEO plan excludes it, and prompt volume scales with price from 50 to 200 daily.
Strengths
- Deepest dataset and competitive analysis in the category
- Free plan and 7-day trial make evaluation cheap
- AI visibility is native to the platform, not a separate subscription
Limits
- Expensive once you need AI search: the real entry point becomes $199/mo
- Many features gated behind higher tiers or paid add-ons
- Extra seats start at $45/mo
Read the full Semrush review →
SE Ranking in detail
Full-featured SEO suite that bundles 100 daily AI prompts and GEO research into its entry plan, undercutting the bigger suites on AI coverage. One of the few suites where AI prompt tracking (100 per day) and GEO competitive research are included in the entry plan rather than sold as a tier upgrade.
Strengths
- Best AI-tracking-per-dollar of the mainstream suites
- 14-day fully functional trial
- MCP access included at the entry tier
Limits
- One seat on Core; extra managers require Growth
- Interface is less refined than Ahrefs or Semrush
- The AI Search add-on adds real cost if you need full coverage
Read the full SE Ranking review →
How to choose between them
Go with Semrush when
- Deepest dataset and competitive analysis in the category
- Free plan and 7-day trial make evaluation cheap
- AI visibility is native to the platform, not a separate subscription
Go with SE Ranking when
- Best AI-tracking-per-dollar of the mainstream suites
- 14-day fully functional trial
- MCP access included at the entry tier
Whichever way you lean, run the trials on the same brief before you commit: Semrush gives you 7-day free trial, plus a permanent free plan and SE Ranking gives you 14-day free trial, fully functional. Judging output on your own topic beats any comparison table, including this one.
Frequently asked questions
Semrush vs SE Ranking: which is better?
Neither is better in the abstract. Semrush suits seo professionals, marketers and agencies that need the deepest data and competitive analysis available. SE Ranking suits agencies and in-house teams that want suite-grade data plus ai tracking without paying enterprise prices. Match the tool to the job you actually need done and the answer is usually obvious; if it is not, our tool finder narrows it in about a minute.
Is Semrush cheaper than SE Ranking?
SE Ranking has the lower entry price: from $129/mo ($103.20/mo annual) against from $139/mo ($117.33/mo annual). Entry price is not total cost though, because both vendors gate features by tier. Compare full plan tables on the pricing comparison.
Which one is better for AI search visibility?
They are level on this: both are rated Tracking on our scale. Tracks how AI engines answer, but does not produce the content that fixes it. If AI visibility is the priority, look at the dedicated trackers.
Can I use Semrush and SE Ranking together?
Yes, and plenty of teams do. The common stack pairs a tool that produces work with a tool that measures or researches it, because those two jobs rarely live in the same product. Before you stack, price the combined subscription in the stack cost calculator: two mid-tier tools often cost more than one plan that covers both.
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Last verified 2 August 2026. Prices, plans and features on this page were read on each vendor's own site on that date. Vendors change pricing often, so confirm before you buy. Spotted an error? Tell us and we will fix it.