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6 best SEMrush alternatives to boost your SEO game in 2025
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SEMrush is packed with features, but it isn’t flawless for every use case. You may be reading this because you’re seeking SEMrush alternatives that offer more in-depth backlink data, more affordable pricing, or a more straightforward interface. No matter which line you fall into, our list has got you!
In this guide, you’ll learn:
Our selection focused on what real marketers and SEO professionals actually need, so we looked at:
Now that you’ve read about how we came up with these alternatives, let’s discuss them.
Ahrefs offers a vast backlink index, strong keyword tools, site auditing, and content explorer—all in one platform. Many SEOs choose it as a SEMrush alternative for deeper link intelligence and more stable metrics over time. Its reputation for data quality, especially in link analysis, often makes it a go-to tool for link-driven SEO strategies.
Ahrefs also offers a free “Webmaster Tools” tier that allows site owners to monitor specific metrics for their own domains.
Content-heavy sites, link-building campaigns, and agencies that rely on backlink intelligence
Similarweb doesn’t try to replicate every SEO function. Instead, it excels at showing you where your competitors really generate traffic—what channels, what referrals, and how their paid versus organic mix shifts. Use it as a lens to view market trends and inform keyword or content opportunities from a traffic-logic perspective.
SEOs who want to prioritize content or keyword work based on actual competitor traffic behavior
If your SEO workload leans heavily toward link health, cleanup, and monitoring, Backlink.com is built for that vertical. It strips away broad SEO fluff and zeroes in on backlink analytics, audits, link monitoring, and cleanup services. Where SEMrush tries to be a full-suite tool, Backlink.com is more vertical and nimble in the link domain.
Backlink.com pricing is typically obtained through a vendor or consultation.
Sites with large backlink portfolios or agencies managing link risk and cleanup
As Google’s own keyword tool, it gives you direct insight into search volumes, keyword suggestion trends, and PPC cost estimates. While it lacks competitive intelligence features like ad-copy archives or backlink data, it remains an essential foundational tool, especially for SEOs who want to anchor their strategy in Google’s own data.
Free — included with a Google Ads account
SEO beginners, budget teams, and anyone validating keyword lists before scaling
Search Console provides data directly from Google, including information on queries that generate impressions, which pages are indexed (or not), coverage errors, and mobile usability issues. It cannot dig into competitor keywords, but for your own domain, it’s vital. It uncovers what Google “sees” on your site, often revealing technical and query gaps that third-party tools miss.
Free
All sites but must have a tool to complement any external SEO analytics
Ubersuggest, developed by Neil Patel, offers a simplified version of SEO functions—keyword research, backlink data, and site audits—at a lower cost and with less complexity. Its cleaner interface and lower barrier of entry make it a good match for solopreneurs or small firms who want SEO power without high overhead.
Freelancers and small websites just starting out with SEO
You don’t have to stay tied to SEMrush to build winning SEO campaigns.
Some of its strongest rivals now outperform it in key areas. Ahrefs leads in backlink data, Similarweb excels at traffic and audience insights, and Ubersuggest simplifies keyword discovery for everyday users.
Here’s a smart next step: choose one paid tool (such as Ahrefs or Backlink.com) to cover your most enormous SEO gap, then pair it with a free option like Google Search Console or Keyword Planner for ongoing performance tracking.
Run both together for a month. Compare keyword accuracy, backlink data, and overall usability to determine the best option. The combo that delivers the clearest insight per dollar is your ideal long-term SEO stack. Then stick with it, but evaluate as you go.
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