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Last updated: October 29, 2026
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Semrush Pricing 2027: Free Plan, 7-Day Trial and What Each Plan Really Costs
Semrush has a free plan (no credit card) and a 7-day free trial. Its SEO plan costs $139 per month, or $117.33 per month on annual billing. Plans that add AI search visibility cost $199 (Starter) and $299 (Pro+) per month, or $165.17 and $248.17 on annual billing. Advanced is priced on request.
- Free plan: $0, no credit card required.
- Free trial: 7 days, cancel anytime.
- SEO: $139/month, or $117.33/month billed annually.
- Starter (SEO + AI Search): $199/month, or $165.17 billed annually.
- Pro+ (SEO + AI Search): $299/month, or $248.17 billed annually.
- Advanced: custom pricing.
Semrush plans compared
| Plan | Monthly billing | Annual billing (per month) | Yearly cost (annual) | Annual saving |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | $0 | $0 | — |
| SEO | $139 | $117.33 | $1,407.96 | $260.04 |
| Starter (SEO + AI Search) | $199 | $165.17 | $1,982.04 | $405.96 |
| Pro+ (SEO + AI Search) | $299 | $248.17 | $2,978.04 | $609.96 |
| Advanced | Custom | Custom | Custom | — |
Annual billing saves about 16 to 17% on every paid plan.
Which plan do you need?
Free
Good for a first look at your own site and a handful of keyword checks. It is limited, but it lets you learn the interface before paying.
SEO
The core toolkit for keyword research, competitor analysis, backlinks, site audits and rank tracking. This is the plan most freelancers, bloggers and small businesses need.
Starter and Pro+ (SEO + AI Search)
These add AI search visibility tools: tracking how your brand appears in AI-generated answers. They make sense if AI assistants already send you traffic or if your clients ask for it. If not, the SEO plan is enough for now.
Advanced
For large companies and agencies with custom needs. Book a demo to get pricing.
How to use the free trial without wasting it
The 7-day trial is short. Prepare before you start:
- List 20 to 50 keywords you want to target.
- List 3 to 5 competitors.
- On day 1, run a site audit on your own domain.
- On days 2 and 3, research keywords and export the results.
- On days 4 and 5, analyse competitors' top pages and backlinks.
- On day 6, decide: will you use it every week? If not, cancel before day 7.
Start the 7-day Semrush trial → Cancel anytime before it ends · Affiliate link
What Semrush costs over time
| Period | SEO (monthly billing) | SEO (annual billing) | Pro+ (annual billing) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | $1,668 | $1,407.96 | $2,978.04 |
| 2 years | $3,336 | $2,815.92 | $5,956.08 |
| 3 years | $5,004 | $4,223.88 | $8,934.12 |
Is Semrush worth it?
Semrush is worth it if SEO or content brings you customers and you will use it weekly. One good keyword or competitor insight can pay for a month. It is not worth it if you only check rankings occasionally: free tools such as Google Search Console cover your own site's data, and cheaper tools cover rank tracking.
Cheaper Semrush alternatives
| Tool | Entry price | Free option | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| SE Ranking | $103.20/month (Core, annual), $129 monthly | 14-day trial | Rank tracking: 2,000 keywords daily |
| Ahrefs | $29/month (Starter) | Ahrefs Free for your own site | Keyword research, backlinks |
| Moz Pro | from about $49/month * | Free tools | Beginners |
| Google Search Console | Free | Free | Your own site's real search data |
* From 2026 pricing guides.
See our Semrush alternatives and Ahrefs alternatives guides.
Semrush vs Ahrefs on price
| Semrush | Ahrefs | |
|---|---|---|
| Free option | Free plan + 7-day trial | Ahrefs Free (own site), Starter trial |
| Entry paid plan | SEO: $139/month ($117.33 annual) | Starter: $29/month (keyword research and competitor monitoring) |
| Full toolkit | SEO plan | Lite: $129/month |
| Annual discount | about 16–17% | up to 17% |
At full-toolkit level, Semrush SEO ($139) and Ahrefs Lite ($129) cost about the same monthly. The difference is the trial: Semrush lets you test for 7 days before paying.
How to pay less for Semrush
- Start on the free plan, then use the 7-day trial when you have a clear project.
- Choose annual billing once you know you will keep it: $260 saved per year on SEO.
- Stay on the SEO plan unless you need AI search visibility.
- Pair it with free Google Search Console instead of buying extra tracking.
Questions to ask before you buy
- Will you use it every week?
- Do you need AI search visibility now, or only classic SEO?
- How many sites or clients will you track?
- Can a cheaper rank tracker cover your main need?
Semrush terms explained
- Toolkit: a group of Semrush tools sold together (for example SEO).
- AI Search visibility: tools that track how your brand appears in AI-generated answers.
- Rank tracking: daily monitoring of your positions on chosen keywords.
- Site audit: a crawl of your website that finds technical SEO issues.
Three real-world scenarios
A blogger publishing 4 articles a month
On the SEO plan with monthly billing, the blogger pays $139 a month. If the blog earns less than that from search, a cheaper setup makes more sense: Google Search Console (free) plus Ahrefs Starter ($29) for keyword ideas costs $348 a year instead of $1,668. Semrush becomes worth it once search traffic pays for the subscription.
A small business doing its own SEO
The owner needs keyword research, a site audit and rank tracking for one site. The SEO plan on annual billing costs $1,407.96 a year. Using the 7-day trial first, with a prepared keyword list, avoids paying for a tool the team won't use weekly.
A freelancer managing 5 client sites
The SEO plan covers research and audits for client work. If clients ask how they appear in AI answers, Starter (SEO + AI Search) at $165.17 a month on annual billing adds AI visibility tracking; at 5 clients, that is about $33 per client per month, easy to pass on in a retainer.
Common mistakes when buying Semrush
- Starting the trial unprepared. 7 days go fast; prepare keywords and competitors first.
- Paying for AI Search plans too early. Stay on SEO until AI visibility matters to you or your clients.
- Forgetting free data. Google Search Console shows your real queries and clicks for free.
- Buying annually on day one. Use monthly billing for a month or two, then switch.
- Paying for unused months. Cancel or downgrade during slow periods.
How to budget for Semrush in 5 steps
- Decide how often you will use it. Weekly or more justifies a paid plan; monthly does not.
- Choose the toolkit: SEO for most people, an AI Search plan only if AI visibility matters now.
- Use the 7-day trial with a prepared list of 20 to 50 keywords and 3 to 5 competitors.
- Pay monthly for the first one or two months to confirm the habit.
- Switch to annual billing once you are sure: it saves $260 a year on SEO.
Our verdict
Semrush is one of the most complete SEO platforms, and its free plan plus 7-day trial make it low-risk to test. At $139 a month, or $117.33 on annual billing, it pays for itself when search traffic drives your revenue. If you only need occasional keyword ideas or rank checks, start with free tools and a cheaper plan, and come back to Semrush when SEO becomes a weekly job.
FAQ
How much does Semrush cost per month?
$139 per month for the SEO plan, or $117.33 per month on annual billing. Plans with AI search visibility cost $199 and $299 per month.
Is Semrush free?
Yes, there is a free plan with no credit card required, and a 7-day free trial of paid plans.
Can I cancel the Semrush trial?
Yes, you can cancel anytime during the 7-day trial.
Is Semrush cheaper than Ahrefs?
At full-toolkit level they cost about the same ($139 vs $129 per month). Ahrefs has a cheaper $29 Starter plan for keyword research; Semrush has a free plan and a 7-day trial.
Does Semrush offer refunds?
Check Semrush's terms when you subscribe; the 7-day trial is the safest way to test before paying.
Can I share one Semrush account?
Plans are designed for a set number of users. Check user limits in your plan before sharing access.
Which Semrush plan is best for beginners?
The free plan to learn the interface, then the SEO plan once you need full keyword and competitor data.
Sources
semrush.com/prices, ahrefs.com/pricing and seranking.com/subscription, checked October 29, 2026.
Related
- 3 Best Semrush Alternatives in 2027 (Cheaper Options)
- Ahrefs vs Semrush (2027): Prices, Trials & Which to Choose
- Semrush vs SE Ranking (2027): Prices, Trials & Which to Pick