Key takeaways
- SE Ranking vs Semrush comes down to limits versus data. SE Ranking Core tracks 2,000 keywords daily for $129. Semrush tracks 500 for $139.
- Semrush has the bigger keyword and backlink databases and many more tools. SE Ranking has enough data for most agencies at a fraction of the cost per keyword.
- Both charge for white label and extra features. SE Ranking's Agency Pack is $69 a month on annual billing. Semrush sells the Agency Growth Kit separately.
- For agencies that report rankings, SE Ranking or a dedicated tracker like Zutrix beats Semrush on cost. For research-heavy teams, Semrush wins.
SE Ranking vs Semrush is the comparison agencies make when the Semrush bill grows faster than the client list. The two entry plans cost almost the same. What you get for the money is very different. This comparison covers price, tracked keywords, projects, seats, data quality, and reporting, with every number checked on the two pricing pages on September 16, 2026.
We make Zutrix, which competes with both on rank tracking and agency reporting. We keep our own product to one marked section. If you want the wider field, read our Semrush alternatives guide.
SE Ranking vs Semrush: the quick verdict
| SE Ranking Core | Semrush SEO plan | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $129 a month, $103.20 on annual | $139 a month, $117.33 on annual |
| Tracked keywords | 2,000, daily | 500, daily |
| Projects | 10 | 5 |
| Seats | 1 manager seat | 1 user, $45 each extra |
| Keyword database | Smaller, adequate for most markets | Largest available |
| Backlink index | Own index, smaller | Large |
| White label | Agency Pack, $69 a month annual | Agency Growth Kit add-on |
| AI search | Add-on from $89 | Starter bundle at $199 |
| Free trial | 14 days | 7 days |
Pricing, projects, and seats
SE Ranking has two public plans. Core is $129 a month for 10 projects and 2,000 daily keywords. Growth is $279 for 30 projects and 5,000 keywords with 3 seats. Enterprise is custom. Annual billing saves 20 percent. Semrush's SEO plan is $139 for 5 projects and 500 keywords. Pro+ is $299 for 15 projects and 1,500 keywords. Advanced is $549 for 40 projects and 5,000 keywords.
Put those side by side at 5,000 keywords and the gap is large. SE Ranking Growth at $279 versus Semrush Advanced at $549. Seats are tighter on SE Ranking Core, with a single manager seat, while Semrush lets you add users at $45 each. Both tools sell white label separately. Our SE Ranking pricing and Semrush pricing guides list every tier and add-on.
4x
More tracked keywords on SE Ranking Core than Semrush SEO
$270
Monthly saving at 5,000 keywords, SE Ranking Growth vs Semrush Advanced
$69
SE Ranking Agency Pack per month for white label
Rank tracking
Both update daily. SE Ranking's tracker covers Google, Bing, Yahoo, and YouTube, with local tracking by city, mobile and desktop, and SERP feature tracking. It also stores SERP snapshots. Semrush Position Tracking is polished, with good local and mobile options and a cannibalization report, but 500 keywords does not go far across five projects.
For an agency with ten clients, SE Ranking Core covers 200 keywords per client. Semrush covers 100 per client with a five client cap. That difference alone decides the comparison for many agencies. If rank tracking is the whole job, a dedicated tracker does even better on cost. See best rank tracker tools.
Keyword and backlink data
Semrush wins this section clearly. Its keyword database is the largest available and its backlink index is second only to Ahrefs. SE Ranking's databases are smaller. For US, UK, and major European markets, SE Ranking has enough data to find the keywords that matter. For niche markets and very long tail research, Semrush finds more.
Backlinks follow the same pattern. SE Ranking shows the links that matter for a client site and a few competitors. Semrush shows more, faster, and has a stronger toxic link workflow. If link building is a core service, Semrush or Ahrefs. If backlinks are a section in a monthly report, SE Ranking is fine. Our referring domains vs backlinks guide explains what to report.
Site audit and content tools
Both have full site audits with health scores and prioritized issues. Semrush crawls more pages and has more checks. SE Ranking's audit is easier to read for clients. Both have content editors. Semrush sells its writing tools as a separate Content Toolkit. SE Ranking includes a content editor in the plan, with AI drafting on credits. For an agency writing client content, SE Ranking's bundle is the better deal.
Reporting and white label
SE Ranking's Agency Pack adds white label, a client portal with logins, and unlimited scheduled reports for $69 a month on annual billing. Semrush's Agency Growth Kit adds branded reports, a client portal, and lead generation tools at a higher price. Both produce good PDFs. SE Ranking's client portal is the better experience for a client who wants to log in and look. Our white label SEO reports guide covers what to include.
Semrush vs SE Ranking as agency SEO tools
Search for "SERanking vs Semrush" on any agency forum and the answers split the same way. Agencies with many small clients pick SE Ranking because projects and keywords are the limits they hit first. Agencies with a few large clients pick Semrush because data depth is the limit they hit first. Both are sound agency SEO tools. They fail in different places.
One more difference shows up at renewal. SE Ranking's annual discount is 20 percent and its white label pack needs annual billing, so most agencies commit for a year. Semrush is easier to run month to month. If your client list is unstable, that flexibility has a value of its own.
AI search tracking
SE Ranking sells AI Search as an add-on from $89 a month for 200 daily prompts. Semrush bundles 50 prompts into its $199 Starter tier. Per prompt, SE Ranking is far cheaper. Both track several models and show cited sources. Compare the field in our best AI visibility tools guide.
- +Count keywords per client, then multiply by clients. That number picks the tool.
- +Add the white label cost to both before comparing totals.
- +Test keyword volumes for your niche in both trials.
- xPay Semrush prices for rank tracking alone.
- xAssume SE Ranking has Semrush-level data for very niche markets.
- xForget seat costs on Semrush for a growing team.
Who should pick SE Ranking, and who should pick Semrush?
| You are | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Agency reporting rankings and audits | SE Ranking | 2,000 keywords, 10 projects, client portal |
| Research-heavy in-house team | Semrush | Deepest keyword and backlink data |
| Running PPC and social too | Semrush | One login for every channel |
| Writing client content | SE Ranking | Editor included |
| Tracking only, many clients | Zutrix Agency | 2,500 keywords, white label, $149 |
| Niche or small markets | Semrush | More keyword coverage |
FAQ
Common questions
Written by the Zutrix team
Last reviewed September 16, 2026
Zutrix has built rank tracking and SEO software for more than eight years. Our guides come from the same team that runs the product, and every how-to is checked against what we see in real ranking data across the keywords our customers track. We write them for people who are new to SEO and for agencies who want a clear answer fast.
Search volume and difficulty figures come from live Google results and third-party keyword data.
Sources and further reading