Launch offer: 3-day trial for $1, then $39/mo. Cancel anytime.

LazySEO

Best Semrush alternatives

Semrush is one of the broadest SEO platforms available: keyword and backlink databases, site audits, rank tracking, AI visibility reports and a separate Content Toolkit. Because it does so much, the right alternative depends on which part you actually use.

Last reviewed September 30, 2026. Written by the LazySEO team, so we include ourselves; product details for other tools come from their own websites.

Who Semrush is built for

  • SEO specialists and agencies who need keyword, backlink, competitor and audit data in one place
  • Teams managing several websites or clients with reporting needs
  • Marketers who also run paid search or want AI visibility analytics

Why teams look for an alternative

  • They mainly used it for content ideas and need someone, or something, to write the articles
  • A single small site does not need the full depth of a suite
  • They want a second opinion on backlink data from another index
  • They prefer to pay for content production rather than for research

3 Semrush alternatives compared

  1. 1. LazySEO

    $39/mo per site after a $1, 3-day trial

    Best for: small teams who want keyword opportunities turned into published articles

    LazySEO is not a research suite. It covers the part of the job that comes after research: it builds a keyword plan from your site and competitors, writes the articles and publishes them. It has no backlink database or full site audit, so teams that rely on those features keep a suite alongside it.

    LazySEO vs Semrush, feature by feature

  2. 2. Ahrefs

    Starter: $29/mo; Lite: $129/mo, or $1,290/yr; limited free tier

    Best for: SEOs who mainly need backlink and keyword research

    Ahrefs is the most direct like-for-like alternative: Site Explorer for backlinks, Keywords Explorer, Site Audit (also on Ahrefs Free) and Brand Radar as an AI-search add-on. Its Starter plan is listed at $29/month and Lite at $129/month.

    LazySEO vs Ahrefs

  3. 3. Surfer SEO

    Discovery: €59/mo, or €49/mo billed yearly (EUR pricing)

    Best for: content teams that used Semrush mainly for on-page content work

    Surfer focuses on content: a Content Score editor, Surfer AI, keyword research, topical maps, content audits and an AI Tracker. It does not try to match Semrush on backlinks or technical crawling.

    LazySEO vs Surfer SEO

Prices are entry-level plans as listed on each vendor's website when this page was last reviewed. Check the vendor's pricing page before you buy.

How to choose

  • If you use backlink and competitor data every week, replace Semrush with another suite such as Ahrefs rather than a content tool.
  • If you mainly used Semrush for content ideas, a content editor or an autopilot will cover more of the work.
  • Many teams combine one research tool with one production tool instead of paying for two suites.

Questions about Semrush alternatives

Can LazySEO replace Semrush?

Only if content production was your main use. LazySEO does its own keyword research for the articles it writes, but it has no backlink database, full site audit or PPC data.

What does Semrush cost compared with the alternatives?

When we checked, Semrush listed its SEO plan at $139/month ($117.33/month billed yearly), with a limited free plan. Ahrefs Lite was $129/month, Surfer Discovery €59/month and LazySEO $39/month per site.

Want SEO content without the manual work?

Try LazySEO for 3 days for $1, then $39/mo. Cancel anytime.

Start 3-Day Trial
LazySEO vs SemrushAll alternatives guidesAll comparisons