7 Best Free SEMrush Alternatives for SEO & Keyword Research

SEMrush is a powerhouse for SEO professionals, but its premium pricing can be prohibitive for beginners or small businesses. Fortunately, several free alternatives offer robust features for keyword research, competitor analysis, and site audits. Here are the top free SEMrush alternatives to boost your SEO efforts without breaking the bank.

1. Ubersuggest

Ubersuggest by Neil Patel provides keyword suggestions, search volume data, and competitor insights. The free version allows limited searches per day, making it ideal for small-scale projects.

2. Google Keyword Planner

Google's own tool is perfect for keyword research, offering search volume and competition data. While designed for ads, it’s invaluable for organic SEO strategies.

3. AnswerThePublic

This visual tool uncovers long-tail keywords and questions people ask about your topic. Great for content ideation and voice search optimization.

4. SEOquake

A browser extension that delivers on-page SEO metrics, backlink data, and keyword density analysis directly in search results.

5. SERPstat

Offers a limited free plan with keyword research, rank tracking, and backlink analysis. Ideal for startups testing SEO strategies.

6. MozBar

Moz's free toolbar provides Domain Authority (DA), Page Authority (PA), and quick SEO audits while browsing any website.

7. SpyFu

Uncover competitors' top keywords and ad strategies with SpyFu's free version. Limited data but highly actionable insights.

Choosing the Right Free SEMrush Alternative

While these tools won’t match SEMrush’s full capabilities, they excel in specific areas. Combine multiple free tools to replicate SEMrush’s functionality. For example, use Ubersuggest for keywords, SEOquake for on-page analysis, and MozBar for authority metrics.

Pro Tip: Many tools offer free trials of their premium plans—take advantage to test advanced features before committing.