10 Free Alternatives to SEMrush for SEO & Keyword Research

If you’re looking for powerful SEMrush alternatives for SEO, you’re in the right place. 

While SEMrush is a popular tool, it may not be the best fit for everyone due to its pricing, features, or complexity. 

Whether you need a budget-friendly option, specialized tools, or a simpler interface, there are plenty of great alternatives available. 

In this guide, we’ll explore the best SEO tools that can help you with keyword research, competitor analysis, backlink tracking, and more.

What Criteria Did We Evaluate in Semrush Alternatives?

When comparing Semrush alternatives, we considered several key factors that helps users choose the ideal SEO tool that matches their needs and budget:

• Features – The alternative should offer essential SEO tools like keyword research, backlink analysis, site audits, and competitor tracking.
• Pricing – A cost-effective solution that offers good value for money, especially for small businesses.
• Ease of use – A simple, intuitive interface that allows beginners to navigate easily.
• Data accuracy – Reliable and comprehensive data for SEO and marketing strategies.
• Support & updates – Strong customer support and regular feature updates.

10 Best Free SEO & Keyword Research Tools Instead of SEMrush

Here are the top 10 free SEMrush alternatives for SEO and keyword research, offering powerful tools and insights to optimize your digital marketing strategy.

These alternatives provide affordable and feature-rich solutions for digital marketers and SEO enthusiasts.

Ubersuggest

Founded: 2017

Ubersuggest is a popular SEO tool designed for keyword research, competitor analysis, and site audits. 

Created by Neil Patel, it provides an affordable alternative to expensive SEO tools like Semrush. 

Ubersuggest helps businesses and marketers improve their website rankings by offering insights into keywords, backlinks, and content ideas. 

It is known for its simple interface and budget-friendly pricing, making it an excellent choice for beginners and small businesses.

Key Features:

• Keyword Research – Discover keyword ideas, search volume, CPC, and competition level.
• SEO Site Audit – Analyze website health, technical SEO issues, and recommendations for improvements.
• Backlink Analysis – Check your backlinks and find new link-building opportunities.
• Competitor Analysis – Spy on competitors’ keywords, backlinks, and top-performing content.
• Content Ideas – Get trending topic suggestions based on search trends and competitors’ content.
• Traffic Analysis – See how much traffic a website gets and its top-performing pages.
• AI Writing Tool – Generate SEO-optimized content suggestions for blogs and websites.
• Chrome Extension – Access keyword and SEO data directly from Google search results.

Pricing:

• Free plan with limited searches per day

• Paid plans start at $12/month

Pros:

• User-friendly interface
• Provides keyword suggestions & SEO analysis
• Offers competitor analysis & backlink data
• Affordable compared to SEMrush

Cons:

• Limited data in the free version
• Not as in-depth as SEMrush or Ahrefs
• Can be slow at times

Ahrefs Webmaster Tools

• Founded: 2010

Ahrefs Webmaster Tools (AWT) is a free SEO tool designed for website owners to monitor and improve their site’s search performance. 

It provides essential insights into backlinks, organic traffic, and technical SEO issues. 

Unlike Ahrefs’ full suite, which requires a paid subscription, AWT offers a cost-free way to access Ahrefs’ powerful SEO data, making it an excellent alternative for small businesses and website owners.

Key Features:

• Site Audit – Scans your website for SEO issues, including broken links, slow-loading pages, and missing meta tags.
• Backlink Analysis – Access Ahrefs’ backlink database to monitor your website’s link profile.
• Keyword Rankings – Track your website’s keyword rankings and discover new ranking opportunities.
• Organic Traffic Insights – See which keywords drive traffic to your site and analyze competitor rankings.
• Indexing Issues – Identify pages that Google may not be indexing properly.
• Free Access – Unlike Ahrefs’ paid plans, AWT provides essential SEO tools at no cost.

Pricing:

• Free for website owners with limited features

• Paid Ahrefs plans start at $99/month for advanced tools

Pros:

• Free access to essential SEO tools

• In-depth backlink analysis

• Site audit to identify SEO issues

• Reliable and accurate data

Cons:

• Only works for websites you own (not for competitor research)

• Limited features compared to paid Ahrefs plans

• No keyword research tool in the free version

Google Keyword Planner

• Founded: 2013 

Google Keyword Planner is a free tool from Google Ads for keyword research.

It helps marketers, advertisers, and SEO professionals discover relevant keywords, analyze search volume, and plan effective ad campaigns. 

Since the data comes directly from Google, it is one of the most reliable tools for keyword insights.

Key Features:

• Keyword Research – Find new keyword ideas based on search trends.
• Search Volume Analysis – Check the average monthly searches for specific keywords.
• Competition Level – Understand how competitive a keyword is for paid ads.
• Cost-Per-Click (CPC) Estimates – Get an idea of how much advertisers pay for each keyword click.
• Keyword Forecasting – Predict future trends and search performance of keywords.
• Location-Based Data – Filter keyword data based on country, region, or city.

Pricing:

• Completely free to use with a Google Ads account

Pros:

• Reliable data directly from Google

• Free keyword research tool

• Provides search volume and competition level

• Useful for finding keyword ideas for PPC and SEO

Cons:

• Limited keyword data compared to paid tools

• No competitor analysis features

• Requires a Google Ads account to access

Moz Free SEO Tools

• Founded: 2004

Moz offers a set of free SEO tools designed to help businesses, marketers, and website owners improve their search engine rankings. 

These tools provide valuable insights into keyword research, backlink analysis, domain authority, and on-page SEO. 

While Moz also offers premium SEO software, its free tools are a great starting point for beginners and small businesses.

Key Features:

• Keyword Explorer – Find keyword ideas, analyze search volume, and check difficulty scores.
• Domain Authority Checker – Check the domain authority (DA) of any website to measure its SEO strength.
• Link Explorer – Analyze backlinks, find new link-building opportunities, and monitor competitors’ links.
• MozBar (Chrome Extension) – Get instant SEO metrics while browsing any webpage.
• On-Page Grader – Evaluate how well a specific page is optimized for SEO.
• Local Listing Score – Check your business’s online presence and improve local SEO.

SERP Robot

SERP Robot is a free online tool used for tracking keyword rankings on Google’s search engine results pages (SERPs). 

It allows users to check their website’s position for specific keywords without needing a subscription. 

This tool is especially useful for SEO professionals, digital marketers, and website owners who want to monitor their search rankings easily.

Key Features:

• Google SERP Rank Tracking – Check real-time keyword rankings for any website.
• Free Rank Checker – Allows users to track multiple keywords without any cost.
• Location-Based Tracking – See keyword rankings for different countries and regions.
• Device-Based Tracking – Compare rankings on desktop and mobile search results.
• Competitor Analysis – Check how competitors rank for the same keywords.
• Simple and Fast Interface – No sign-up required for basic rank tracking.

Pricing:

• Free for up to 5 keyword rank checks per day

• Paid plans start at $5/month for more searches and features

Pros:

• Free Google SERP ranking checker

• Quick and easy to use

• No account required for basic use

• Supports multiple keyword tracking

Cons:

• Limited to 5 free searches per day

• No in-depth SEO analysis or keyword suggestions

• Paid plan needed for bulk tracking and historical data

SEOquake

• Founded: 2006

SEOquake is a free browser extension that provides instant SEO insights for any webpage.

Developed by SEMrush, it helps digital marketers, SEO professionals, and website owners analyze on-page SEO, keyword rankings, and domain authority directly from their browser. 

It works with Google Chrome, Firefox, Opera, and Edge, making SEO analysis quick and accessible.

Key Features:

• SEO Bar – Displays key SEO metrics while browsing any webpage.
• SERP Overlay – Adds SEO data directly to Google search results, including domain authority and backlinks.
• On-Page SEO Audit – Analyzes a webpage’s SEO health, including meta tags, headings, and keyword density.
• Keyword Density Checker – Identifies frequently used keywords on a page.
• Backlink Analysis – Provides insights into a website’s link profile.
• Compare Domains – Compare multiple domains side by side for SEO metrics.
• Export Data – Download SEO reports in CSV format for further analysis.

Pricing:

• Completely free browser extension

Pros:

• Provides quick SEO metrics on any webpage

• Shows domain authority, backlinks, and keyword data

• Works directly in Chrome, Firefox, and other browsers

• No account or subscription required

Cons:

• Limited data compared to full SEO tools like SEMrush

• No advanced keyword research or competitor tracking

• Requires manual analysis, as it doesn’t store historical data

Keyword Surfer

• Location: Poland (by Surfer SEO)

• Founded: 2019

Keyword Surfer is a free Chrome extension that provides instant keyword insights directly in Google search results. 

It helps SEO professionals, content creators, and marketers find search volume, keyword ideas, and on-page data without needing to leave the search page. 

It’s a lightweight and user-friendly alternative to expensive SEO tools.

Key Features:

• Search Volume Data – See estimated monthly search volume for any keyword.
• Keyword Suggestions – Get related keyword ideas with search volume data.
• SERP Analysis – View word count, backlinks, and traffic estimates for top-ranking pages.
• Content Editor – AI-powered tool for optimizing content based on keyword data.
• Traffic Estimation – Get an overview of how much traffic a page receives.
• Free and Easy to Use – No need for a subscription or login.

Pricing:

• Free Chrome extension

Pros:

• Provides search volume directly in Google search results

• Free and easy to use

• Shows related keyword suggestions

• Includes basic on-page SEO data

Cons:

• Limited data compared to premium tools

• No advanced competitor analysis

• Only works in Google Chrome

SmallSEOTools

• Founded: 2010

SmallSEOTools is a collection of free online SEO and content optimization tools designed for website owners, bloggers, and digital marketers. 

It offers various utilities for plagiarism checking, keyword research, backlink analysis, and on-page SEO improvements. 

The platform is widely used for quick and easy SEO tasks without requiring a subscription.

Key Features:

• Plagiarism Checker – Detects duplicate content to ensure originality.
• Grammar Checker – Identifies and corrects grammar and spelling errors.
• Keyword Research Tool – Provides keyword suggestions and search volume data.
• Backlink Checker – Analyzes a website’s backlink profile for SEO improvements.
• Domain Authority Checker – Checks the authority and ranking potential of a website.
• Image to Text Converter (OCR) – Extracts text from images using AI technology.
• Paraphrasing Tool – Helps rewrite content while maintaining its original meaning.
• Meta Tag Generator – Creates optimized meta tags for better search engine rankings.

Pricing:

• Free with limitations

• Paid plans start at $9.80/month for more features

Pros:

• Offers a variety of SEO tools (plagiarism checker, keyword research, backlink checker, etc.)

• Free to use for basic tasks

• No account required for most tools

• Simple and user-friendly interface

Cons:

• Limited usage on the free plan

• Data accuracy may not be as reliable as premium SEO tools

• Ads can be distracting

SEO Analyzer (by Neil Patel)

• Founded: 2017

SEO Analyzer by Neil Patel is a free SEO audit tool that helps website owners, marketers, and bloggers improve their site’s search engine rankings. 

It provides detailed reports on website performance, highlighting SEO issues and offering actionable recommendations. 

This tool is ideal for those who want a quick and easy way to analyze their website’s SEO without paying for premium software.

Key Features:

• Website Audit – Scans your website for SEO issues, including broken links and missing tags.
• On-Page SEO Analysis – Checks title tags, meta descriptions, and keyword usage.
• Backlink Checker – Analyzes your website’s backlink profile and link quality.
• Site Speed Analysis – Evaluates page loading speed and provides optimization suggestions.
• Competitor Analysis – Compares your website’s SEO performance with competitors.
• Mobile-Friendliness Test – Ensures your site is optimized for mobile users.
• SEO Score & Recommendations – Provides a score with improvement suggestions.

Pricing:

• Free to use

Pros:

• Provides website SEO audit for free

• Checks for on-page SEO issues and technical errors

• Includes backlink and traffic analysis

• No account required for basic use

Cons:

• Limited data compared to premium SEO tools

• No real-time rank tracking

• Lacks advanced competitor research features

AnswerThePublic

• Founded: 2014

AnswerThePublic is a keyword research tool that helps marketers, content creators, and SEO professionals discover popular search queries. 

It visualizes search data in the form of question-based keywords, providing insights into what people are searching for online. 

This tool is especially useful for content planning, SEO optimization, and understanding audience intent.

Key Features:

• Question-Based Keyword Research – Generates keywords in the form of questions (who, what, why, how, etc.).
• Search Listening Insights – Provides real-time data on trending topics and user intent.
• Preposition Keywords – Displays keyword variations with prepositions like “for,” “with,” and “near.”
• Alphabetical Keyword Suggestions – Expands keyword research with A-to-Z keyword listings.
• Visual Data Representation – Presents search queries in an easy-to-understand visual format.
• Content Idea Generation – Helps bloggers and marketers create content based on real search queries.
• Location-Based Data – Allows users to analyze keyword trends for specific countries.

Pricing:

• Free with limited daily searches

• Paid plans start at $9/month

Pros:

• Great for discovering question-based keywords

• Visual keyword data representation

• Helps generate content ideas

• Easy-to-use interface

Cons:

• Limited free searches per day

• No keyword difficulty or competition data

• Advanced features require a paid plan

Find the Best Semrush Alternative for Your SEO Needs

Semrush is one of the top SEO tools, but it may not be suitable for everyone due to its pricing, complexity, or feature set. 

If you’re looking for an alternative, there are several options that provide powerful SEO insights at different price points.

Ahrefs is a great alternative for backlink analysis and keyword tracking, while Ubersuggest is a budget-friendly tool with keyword research and site audit features. 

Moz offers strong domain authority tracking and link analysis, while SEOquake provides an easy-to-use browser extension for quick SEO checks.

For free tools, Google Keyword Planner is ideal for keyword research, and Ahrefs Webmaster Tools offers site audits and backlink tracking. 

Choosing the best alternative depends on your SEO goals, whether it’s content optimization, competitor research, or local SEO. Evaluate your needs and pick the right tool for your strategy.

Final Thoughts:

While SEMrush is a powerful and comprehensive SEO tool, it may not be the best fit for everyone due to its pricing. 

Fortunately, there are 10 free alternatives that offer valuable SEO insights, keyword research, and competitor analysis—without the hefty price tag.

These tools help businesses, bloggers, and marketers enhance their SEO strategies by providing essential data on keyword rankings, backlinks, site audits, and search trends. 

Whether you need keyword suggestions to improve content, backlink analysis to strengthen your domain authority, or SEO audits to fix technical issues, these free alternatives can help optimize your website effectively.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Who is Semrush’s competitor?

Semrush competes with several top SEO tools, including Ahrefs, Moz, Ubersuggest, SpyFu, Serpstat, and SE Ranking. 

These alternatives offer features like keyword research, backlink analysis, and SEO audits. 

Ahrefs is popular for its backlink database, Moz for its domain authority metric, and SpyFu for competitor research, making them strong competitors to Semrush.

What is better, Semrush or Moz?

Semrush and Moz both offer powerful SEO tools, but the best choice depends on your needs. 

Semrush provides advanced features for competitor analysis, PPC research, and content marketing, making it great for professionals. 

Moz is more beginner-friendly, focusing on domain authority, link-building, and local SEO. If you need detailed data, Semrush is better; for simplicity, choose Moz.

Is SpyFu better than Semrush?

SpyFu is a great tool for PPC and competitor research, offering deep insights into paid search strategies. 

However, Semrush is more comprehensive, covering SEO, content marketing, social media, and PPC. 

If your primary focus is competitive keyword analysis and Google Ads research, SpyFu is a solid choice, but for an all-in-one SEO solution, Semrush is better.

Why is Semrush so expensive?

Semrush is expensive because it provides a comprehensive suite of SEO, PPC, and content marketing tools in one platform. 

It offers detailed analytics, competitor tracking, keyword research, and backlink analysis with real-time data. 

The pricing reflects the depth of insights, continuous updates, and vast database, making it a premium choice for businesses and SEO professionals.