SEO tools should make your life easier. But with so many plans, add-ons, and hidden costs, it’s easy to end up paying for features you don’t actually need. 💸
If you’re deciding which all-in-one SEO tool is worth the investment, SE Ranking and Semrush are both strong options.
The question is: Which one gives you better value for what you pay?
This breakdown will help you decide. We tested both platforms, compared what really matters, and looked closely at how they perform for different needs and budgets.
Let’s take a look. 👇
What Is SE Ranking?
SE Ranking is a cloud-based SEO platform built to support both teams and client-focused workflows with tools that cover competitor research, site audits, and local SEO.
It also includes a content planner and a built-in tool for lead generation, making it a practical option for managing diverse marketing tasks at scale.
SE Ranking Features
SE Ranking includes a wide set of features designed for scalable SEO work. Core features include:
- SEO Report Builder: Builds white-label reports with customization and automation options for regular client delivery.
- Keyword Rank Tracker: Monitors keyword positions across multiple search engines to evaluate progress over time.
- Keyword Research Tools: Uncovers keyword opportunities and reveals competitor tactics to refine your SEO plan.
- Website Audit Tool: Scans websites for technical errors that may affect performance and search rankings.
- Backlink Checker and Gap Analyzer: Reviews backlink profiles and compares link gaps against top competitors.
SE Ranking Pricing
SE Ranking has three subscription tiers, plus a Solo version for one-time needs, with project limits and team collaboration options:
- Essential: $65/month – Designed for individual SEO professionals, this plan includes 1 manager seat, 5 projects, and 500 keywords tracked daily, along with core SEO tools and the option for add-ons.
- Pro: $119/month – Ideal for agencies and small teams, offering 3 manager seats, 30 projects, 2,000 keywords tracked daily, core SEO tools, and additional features with add-ons available.
- Business: $259/month – Tailored for large agencies and enterprises, this plan includes 5 manager seats, unlimited projects, 5,000 keywords tracked daily, core SEO tools, and the option for add-ons.
What Is Semrush?
Semrush is a digital marketing platform built to support teams managing SEO, paid media, and content strategies in one place.
It brings together tools for keyword analysis, backlink evaluation, ad campaign refinement, competitor insight, and data that supports strategic decision-making.
Its broad feature set suits users across industries and experience levels, with a focus on actionable research and detailed reporting for both small projects and enterprise campaigns.
Semrush Popular Features
Semrush offers a deep toolkit across search and marketing tasks. Notable capabilities include:
- Keyword Research: Delivers detailed keyword insights, including volume trends, search intent, and competitive difficulty for SEO and PPC.
- Competitive Research: Reveals your competitors’ rankings, traffic sources, ad spend patterns, and backlink strategies.
- Backlink Analysis: Identifies strengths and gaps in your backlink profile and pinpoints new linking opportunities.
- Position Tracking: Tracks daily keyword rankings and visibility changes across target locations and devices.
- Content Marketing Tools: Offers features like Topic Research and SEO templates to build content around user intent and ranking potential.
Semrush Pricing
Semrush provides three plan tiers with optional add-ons including local SEO tools, trends monitoring, and social media publishing:
- Pro Plan: $139.95 per month, 5 projects, 500 keywords to track, 10,000 results per report, SEO, PPC, and research tools.
- Guru Plan: $249.95 per month, all Pro features, 15 projects, 1,500 keywords to track, 30,000 results per report, content marketing toolkit, Looker Studio integration, and more.
- Business Plan: $499.95 per month, all Guru features, 40 projects, 5,000 keywords to track, 50,000 results per report, Share of Voice, extended limits, API access, and more.
SE Ranking vs. Semrush: Honest Look at What You Get
Choosing between SE Ranking and Semrush depends on your workflow, budget, and feature priorities. This breakdown highlights what each tool offers so you can match the right platform to your needs without overpaying or missing functionality.
1. Keyword Research
SE Ranking’s keyword research tool prioritizes usability while covering essential SEO metrics. It shows search volume, difficulty, CPC, and related terms across a wide range of countries.
Users can find new keywords, analyze competitor targeting, and group terms into thematic clusters for easier campaign planning.
While its data depth is moderate, the tool makes it easy to track keyword changes over time and organize keyword lists effectively for local or global SEO.
Semrush offers a highly detailed keyword research experience with its features, like Keyword Magic Tool and Keyword Overview.
It provides access to over 20 billion keywords with insights into volume, CPC, difficulty, competition, and search intent.
The platform also supports trend analysis and advanced filtering that allow users to explore extensive keyword variations and track what competitors are ranking for or bidding on.
Winner: Semrush
Semrush delivers broader keyword coverage, deeper data, and more advanced tools. The integration of competitor analysis and the scale of the keyword database give Semrush a noticeable advantage for in-depth research.
2. Site Audit
SE Ranking’s site audit tool scans up to 1,000 pages quickly while covering over 115 technical SEO metrics, resolving technical issues that impact visibility.
It checks crawlability, HTTP status codes, Core Web Vitals, and internal links with updates that enhance depth without sacrificing speed on most sites.
Users can customize audits, schedule scans, and include JavaScript rendering to evaluate dynamic content.
Semrush’s site audit includes over 130 checks that span technical SEO, mobile performance, crawlability, and site speed. The tool also monitors Core Web Vitals, structured data, and HTTPS implementation.
With automatic recommendations and historical comparisons, users can track improvements over time, highlight errors, warnings, and top-priority fixes in a visual report.
Winner: Semrush
Semrush provides more technical checks, better issue categorization, and deeper mobile performance insights. Its audit dashboard is more visual and easier to navigate when prioritizing fixes.
3. SEO Report Builder
SE Ranking’s report builder offers full customization with the option to create templates from scratch or use built-in formats.
Users can tailor reports to each client, selecting only the most relevant data, and send manually or schedule for automatic delivery, streamlining ongoing communication.
Unlimited templates and flexible formatting make it ideal for teams managing multiple client profiles or reporting styles.
Semrush’s reporting tool gathers data from its platform, allows you to add external sources, and customize visuals for personalized and detailed performance tracking.
Users can create branded reports using widgets, charts, and pre-set templates. Automated scheduling ensures timely delivery, and coverage spans visibility metrics, backlink trends, and keyword positions.
Winner: SE Ranking
SE Ranking stands out by allowing unlimited template creation and a more streamlined workflow for client-facing reporting. Its interface is built for speed, with simpler customization steps and scheduling that doesn’t require extra setup.
4. Backlink Analysis
SE Ranking’s backlink analysis tool covers core link metrics such as Domain Trust, anchor distribution, and toxicity scores. It tracks new and lost backlinks, supports gap analysis, and highlights broken links.
Users can access data from a large index of 2.9 trillion backlinks across 411 million domains. Frequent updates keep the information current, making it easier to monitor link trends and find opportunities for outreach.
Semrush’s backlink tool offers detailed insights into both your and your competitors’ link profiles. It provides toxic link detection, anchor text breakdowns, and authority scoring.
Semrush’s reporting tool gathers data from its platform and allows you to add external sources and customize visuals for personalized and detailed performance tracking.
Winner: Semrush
Semrush excels with more advanced comparison tools, better toxic link detection, and clearer visualizations of backlink strength.
5. Domain Research
SE Ranking’s competitor analysis tool gives you a full overview of any domain’s SEO and PPC performance. It shows which keywords a domain ranks for, how much traffic it gets, what backlinks it has, and even its Google Ads history.
You can compare your domain with competitors to spot keyword gaps and content opportunities. The tool also includes historical data to track changes over time, and Domain Trust scores (0–100) that reflect how likely a domain is to rank well.
Semrush provides a layered view of any domain using tools like Domain Overview, Organic Research, and Traffic Analytics. It breaks down organic traffic, paid campaigns, backlinks, keyword overlap, and even display ads.
Each domain includes an authority score based on multiple SEO signals, offering a snapshot of overall strength. Traffic Analytics adds further context by showing visitor behavior, traffic sources, and geographic distribution.
Winner: Semrush
Semrush outperforms in depth and breadth of data. Its authority score and traffic intelligence add dimensions that SE Ranking doesn’t match.
6. Pricing
SE Ranking offers more affordable pricing, starting at $65/month. The entry-level plan includes 50 domain checks per day, tracking for 500 keywords, and audits for up to 100,000 pages.
Semrush starts at $129.95/month for the Pro plan, which includes access to most SEO, PPC, and content tools. Higher-tier plans offer more historical data, additional projects, and advanced features.
Winner: Fit depends, neither ideal
Both platforms are robust and feature-rich, but neither delivers strong value for the price. The entry-level plans are limited, and unlocking the full range of tools becomes expensive.
For those seeking a complete SEO toolkit without straining the budget, there are more affordable alternatives that offer significantly better cost-effectiveness.
SE Ranking vs. Semrush: What If the Best Value Isn’t There?
Looking for a platform that actually delivers on its price tag? Some tools charge premium rates without offering proportionate returns.
That’s why you should meet Search Atlas, the ultimate all-in-one solution built with performance and practicality in mind.
What Is Search Atlas?
Search Atlas is a comprehensive SEO platform that provides features like keyword discovery, rank monitoring, backlink analysis, technical SEO fixes, site audits, and more.
It supports seamless data integration with tools like GSC, GA4, and GBP, so you can centralize performance metrics without manual work.
While other platforms can feel complex or require a steep learning curve, Search Atlas is built for ease of use with an interface that is clean and intuitive.
For those looking to deepen their SEO knowledge, Search Atlas also offers a blog full of helpful guides, articles, and tutorials, making it a valuable resource for any SEO professional.
OTTO SEO
Search Atlas features OTTO SEO, an AI-driven assistant designed to do more than just highlight SEO issues, handling fixes automatically.
From crawl errors to indexing glitches and Core Web Vitals improvements, it identifies and resolves problems to keep your site running efficiently.
Keyword Research Tools
Search Atlas includes a comprehensive keyword suite to support your content and SEO strategies with clarity and precision.
- AI-Backed Insights: View key metrics like search volume, cost-per-click, trend data, and user intent in a format that’s easy to act on.
- Multiple data aggregators: Select from 5 aggregator partners to place your business in high-value networks.
- Opportunity Analysis: Compare your keyword presence with competitors to identify missed ranking opportunities and content gaps.
- Daily SERP Tracking: Monitor keyword positions in real time across mobile, desktop, and local results to stay ahead of shifts.
- Keyword Magic Tool: Access curated suggestions grouped by user intent to refine your targeting.
Site Audit
Search Atlas performs a comprehensive scan of your website to detect issues like broken redirects, missing schema, and technical errors.
Reports are automated with real-time alerts, and recommended fixes are easy to follow. For users managing multiple domains, it supports bulk audits for streamlined analysis across sites.
White-Label Reporting
Create client reports that are informative and on-brand with white label SEO. Customize layouts, add your logo, and include AI-generated summaries that highlight key SEO insights.
All reports pull data from integrated sources like GSC, GA4, and OTTO. You can enable lead tracking and embed service widgets to keep clients engaged between updates.
Backlink Analysis
Search Atlas gives you full visibility into your backlink profile with tools for link gap discovery, competitor comparisons, and relevance scoring.
Quickly identify links your competitors have that you don’t, uncover new opportunities, and ensure your backlinks align with your content focus.
For backlink building, OTTO includes WILDFIRE, a focused system designed to help you earn high-authority links.
It operates on a 2-to-1 exchange model where you provide two outbound links and receive one quality inbound link in return, supporting a sustainable and effective link-building strategy.
Domain Power
Instead of relying solely on backlinks, Search Atlas introduces Domain Power (DP), a unique metric that reflects a site’s true visibility in search results.
DP is calculated using real performance data like organic traffic and keyword rankings pulled directly from Google Search Console.
This method gives you a more accurate sense of authority based on how a site actually performs in the SERPs.
Search Atlas Pricing
Compared to SE Ranking or Semrush, which often require multiple add-ons to unlock full functionality, Search Atlas offers an all-in-one SEO solution with pricing that remains affordable.
Every plan from Search Atlas includes one activation of OTTO SEO, the AI assistant, at no extra cost, making it a budget-friendly choice for both individuals and teams.
| Starter plan | Growth plan | Pro plan | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price: | $99 monthly | $199 monthly | $399 monthly |
| Free OTTO Activation | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| User Seats | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| GSC Sites | 5 | 15 | Unlimited |
| GBP Accounts | 3 | 10 | 25 |
| Regular AI Quota | 100 | 250 | Unlimited |
| Keywords per Site | Top 10K | Top 100K | Top 1M |
| Keyword Rank Tracking Projects | 20 | 50 | 1000 |
| Site Auditor Projects | 5 | 10 | 100 |
| Total Pages Crawled per Month | 50K | 100K | 10M |
| Full Dashboard Whitelabel | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Report Builder | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Backlink Analyzer Projects | 2 | 5 | 5 |
Why Pay More for SEO? Try a Budget-Friendly Alternative
SE Ranking and Semrush offer strong SEO tools, but unlocking their full value often means paying for costly upgrades or add-ons—which isn’t always the best fit for every budget.
Search Atlas takes a more cost-effective approach. 💰
It brings together all the essential SEO features in one place, helping you automate tedious SEO tasks, track your progress, and improve your site’s performance.
Why pay more when you can get everything you need with Search Atlas? Start your free trial today! No hassle, and you can cancel anytime. ✨
