CompareSemrush vs SE Ranking
Semrush vs SE Ranking: what each one costs a content site
SE Ranking's Core plan is $10 a month cheaper than Semrush's SEO plan and tracks four times as many keywords, 2,000 against 500, with both checked daily and both including competitor research in that price. Semrush adds a named drafting feature, ContentShake AI, for $60 a month more; SE Ranking's pages list none. SE Ranking's trial needs no card; Semrush's free tier is a capped number of daily reports rather than a trial of the paid plan.
Semrush and SE Ranking compared
| Semrush | SE Ranking | |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest paid plan | SEO, $139/mo ($117.33/mo billed yearly) | Core, $129/mo ($103.20/mo billed yearly) |
| Keywords on that plan | 500 tracked keywords | 2,000 tracked keywords |
| Rank checks | Daily | Daily |
| Keywords competitors rank for and you don't | Yes, in the suite | Competitor research, in the suite |
| Scheduled competitor email | Not listed | Not listed |
| Tells you what to write | ContentShake AI, a $60 a month add-on; on demand | Not listed |
| Backlink index and site audit | Yes | Yes |
| Free plan or trial | Free account with 10 reports a day; 7-day trial of paid plans | 14-day trial, no card |
Figures from www.semrush.com and www.semrush.com and seranking.com, checked September 2026. "Not listed" means the vendor's pages don't say. Check their sites for current prices.
Where GapDigest fits
Both plans price rank tracking and competitor research inside a suite built for a team that also runs audits and manages backlinks. On one content site, that is $129 to $139 a month for two features. GapDigest sells daily tracking and competitor keyword gaps on their own for $19, with a post plan for each gap included on every plan.
- $19/mo ($190/yr)
- 200 tracked keywords
- Yes, on every plan: up to 10 per competitor
- Yes, on every plan: a post plan or refresh plan for each gap worth writing, 4 to 60 a month
When Semrush is the better choice
Semrush is the better pick if you also run ads, audit sites, research backlinks, or track more than 500 keywords. GapDigest covers daily positions and alerts, your Search Console, the competitor digest, and the post plans, plus a weekly health check of your own site's top pages, but has no backlink index and no full technical audit.
When SE Ranking is the better choice
SE Ranking is the better choice if you need backlink monitoring, a full technical audit, or client reports. GapDigest covers rank tracking and alerts, Search Console, competitor keyword gaps, the post plans, and a weekly health check of your own site's top pages, but has no backlink monitoring or full audit.
Run the check on your own site
Your domain against one competitor, up to 20 keywords with searches, difficulty, and intent (the weekly report itself lists up to 10 per competitor). No login.
Questions
Which is cheaper, Semrush or SE Ranking?
Semrush's cheapest paid plan is SEO at $139/mo ($117.33/mo billed yearly). SE Ranking's is Core at $129/mo ($103.20/mo billed yearly). Neither figure includes tax, and both are the vendor's own listed price as of September 2026.
Does Semrush or SE Ranking show the keywords a competitor ranks for that you don't?
Semrush: Yes, in the suite. SE Ranking: Competitor research, in the suite. GapDigest includes that list on every plan, including the free one.
Where does GapDigest fit next to both?
Both plans price rank tracking and competitor research inside a suite built for a team that also runs audits and manages backlinks. On one content site, that is $129 to $139 a month for two features. GapDigest sells daily tracking and competitor keyword gaps on their own for $19, with a post plan for each gap included on every plan.
Are these prices still current?
Checked directly on Semrush's and SE Ranking's own pricing pages in September 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so verify on their sites before you buy.