SE Ranking vs Semrush — Pricing, Plans, and Verified Costs (2026)
SE Ranking starts at $129/mo. Semrush starts at $139/mo. SE Ranking is $10/mo cheaper on the entry tier than Semrush.
See price history: SE Ranking · Semrush
SEO platform positioned as the value alternative to Semrush (now Adobe) at roughly half the price. Distinctive for its "full SEO suite" positioning — keyword research, rank tracking, backlink monitoring, site audit — bundled at the Essential tier rather than sold as add-ons. Priced $65-$259/mo (annual). Bootstrapped, popular with agencies serving SMB clients where the client can't justify Semrush's price tag.
Enterprise SEO + digital marketing platform, acquired by Adobe for $1.9B in cash (deal closed April 28, 2026) and now part of Adobe's Customer Experience (CX) Enterprise. Formerly publicly traded (SEMR) before the take-private. Positioned as the alternative to Ahrefs for teams that want a broader marketing suite (social media, PPC intelligence, content marketing, and now Generative Engine Optimization / AI Search) beyond pure SEO. Distinctive as the marketing generalist tool (Ahrefs is SEO-specialist), and increasingly as the Adobe-blessed answer to brand visibility across ChatGPT/Perplexity/AI Overviews. Priced $139-$549/mo across four main tiers plus custom Enterprise. Real cost bloat: user seats + Local + Trends + Content Marketplace still charge extra even after Adobe.
All plans compared
| Tier role | Plan | SE Ranking monthly | SE Ranking annual | Semrush monthly | Semrush annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry paid | Core / SEO | $129 | $103.2 | $139 | $117.33 |
| Mid tier 1 | — / Starter (SEO + AI Search) | — | — | $199 | $165.17 |
| Mid tier 2 | — / Pro+ (SEO + AI Search) | — | — | $299 | $248.17 |
| Pro / power | Growth / Advanced (SEO + AI Search) | $279 | $223.2 | $549 | $455.67 |
| Enterprise | Enterprise | Custom | Custom | Custom | Custom |
Tier names differ across vendors. Rows are aligned by tier role, not name. Full tier structures on each tool's page.
What each is best for
SE Ranking is worth it if… small-to-mid marketing agencies and in-house SEO teams that want a full-stack SEO suite — keyword research + rank tracking + backlink analysis + site audit + competitor research — at a fraction of Ahrefs/Semrush price. Core (formerly Essential) covers small teams; Pro adds larger keyword databases; Business scales for agencies.
Semrush is worth it if… marketing agencies and in-house SEO teams (5-100 people) that need the full SEO/PPC/content/AI Search stack — keyword research + rank tracking + backlink audit + site audit + content optimization + local SEO + AI visibility (ChatGPT/Perplexity/AI Overview citations). SEO covers small teams doing traditional search; Starter adds AI Search monitoring; Pro+ scales for growing agencies across multiple sites; Advanced adds API + deeper AI visibility for larger orgs.
Bottom line: Similar positioning, closer to a preference call than a strategic one.
Choose SE Ranking over Semrush if…
Choose SE Ranking if…
- You want fixed-price predictability (flat rate, from $129/mo).
- You match the profile SE Ranking is built for: small-to-mid marketing agencies and in-house SEO teams that want a full-stack SEO suite — keyword research + rank tracking + backlink analysis + site audit + competitor research — at a fraction of Ahrefs/Semrush price.
- You need a general-purpose marketing & email option rather than a vertical-specific one.
Choose Semrush if…
- You want fixed-price predictability (flat rate, from $139/mo).
- You match the profile Semrush is built for: marketing agencies and in-house SEO teams (5-100 people) that need the full SEO/PPC/content/AI Search stack — keyword research + rank tracking + backlink audit + site audit + content optimization + local SEO + AI visibility (ChatGPT/Perplexity/AI Overview citations).
- You need a general-purpose marketing & email option rather than a vertical-specific one.
At a glance
| SE Ranking | Semrush | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No | No |
| Entry price | $129/mo | $139/mo |
| Enterprise available | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing model | Flat Rate | Flat Rate |
| Last verified | September 19, 2026 | September 12, 2026 |
| Full pricing | View full pricing | View full pricing |
Pricing last verified September 19, 2026. Tracked daily.
Frequently asked questions
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Common questions about SE Ranking and Semrush
- How much does SE Ranking cost in 2026?
- Does SE Ranking have a free plan?
- How often does SE Ranking change prices?
- What are the best SE Ranking alternatives in 2026?
- How much does Semrush cost in 2026?
- Does Semrush have a free plan?
- How often does Semrush change prices?
- What are the best Semrush alternatives in 2026?