VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

Free Alternatives to Semrush

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Free replacement verdicts

Free Alternatives to Semrush

Zero-cost replacements grouped by fit, tradeoffs, pricing friction, and platform access. Use this list to test Semrush before paying for another subscription.

Switching from Semrush doesn't have to cost a thing. We've curated 2 free-tier alternatives that cover similar workflows, from APIs & Data Feeds to App & Website Traffic and beyond. Each pick below is framed by fit, caveats, and access friction so you can trial replacements without opening your wallet.

Visit Semrush All alternatives Tool details

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Which Alternative Should You Use?

Similarweb

Closest replacement

Best for: Investors and operators researching digital businesses through website traffic, app usage, keyword demand, and competitive benchmarks.

Similarweb best matches the base workflow on alternative data research, alternative data API, and research reports.
Similarweb also has a free plan, so you can try it without paying. Free-plan limits: Free website/app snapshots are limited.

Watch for: Modeled data, not reported financials: Traffic, app, keyword, and company estimates are proxy signals and need validation against filings, disclosures, and other datasets.

View Similarweb plans

Details Compare

Sensor Tower

Best workflow fit

Best for: Investors and operators researching app, web, ad, gaming, and audience trends as alternative data.

Sensor Tower best matches the base workflow on alternative data research, alternative data API, and research reports.
Sensor Tower also has a free plan, so you can try it without paying. Free-plan limits: Public reports and selected tools are free.

Watch for: Sales-led enterprise pricing: Sensor Tower states that pricing is customized. There is no public self-serve price table for the commercial platform.

Request Sensor Tower demo

Details Compare

Detailed Alternatives

I want to

Pay lessFill a gapUpgrade overall

Free tiers first, then the lowest starting price.

Closest replacement

Similarweb

Tested by us

Bottom line: Investors and operators researching digital businesses through website traffic, app usage, keyword demand, and competitive benchmarks.

Keep

App & Website Traffic
APIs & Data Feeds
Sheets / Excel Add-ins

Gain

Data Visualizations

Lose

Blogs
Mobile access

Watch out

Avoid as a full replacement if you rely on AI agent data access, screening and idea generation, and portfolio tracking.
Free-plan limits: Free website/app snapshots are limited. Self-service packages and trials are referenced for individuals, entrepreneurs, and small teams, but current package pages do not expose public prices. Business, enterprise, API, and module-heavy workflows require sales/custom pricing.
Modeled data, not reported financials: Traffic, app, keyword, and company estimates are proxy signals and need validation against filings, disclosures, and other datasets.

Cost: Free, no signup; Free • Contact for pricing

Fit: Drop-in replacement

View Similarweb plans Compare

Full review and details

Best workflow fit

Sensor Tower

Bottom line: Investors and operators researching app, web, ad, gaming, and audience trends as alternative data.

Keep

App & Website Traffic
APIs & Data Feeds

Gain

No additional capabilities listed.

Lose

Sheets / Excel Add-ins
Blogs
Mobile access

Watch out

Avoid as a full replacement if you rely on AI agent data access, options and trading workflows, and backtesting and quant research.
Free-plan limits: Public reports and selected tools are free. Commercial access requires demo/sales engagement. Pricing is customized by customer, module, geography, and access needs.
Sales-led enterprise pricing: Sensor Tower states that pricing is customized. There is no public self-serve price table for the commercial platform.

Cost: Free, no signup; Free • Contact for pricing

Fit: Drop-in replacement

Request Sensor Tower demo Compare

Full review and details

What This Shortlist Tells You

Similarweb is the closest drop-in replacement with overlapping coverage in App & Website Traffic, APIs & Data Feeds, and Sheets / Excel Add-ins while adding Data Visualizations coverage and Website traffic and engagement analytics, including keyword research, referral sources, and a free traffic checker tool. and API V5 is live in REST and Batch modes with one key across both endpoint families, multi-metric requests in a single API call, standardized responses, and documented MCP + AI support. features (workflow overlap ~75%).

Every pick keeps a free tier; start with Similarweb and Sensor Tower to road-test Semrush workflows without paying up front.

Round out your stack with new coverage areas like Data Visualizations.

Semrush still leads on Blogs, so keep it handy for those workflows.

Coverage Snapshot

Where alternatives already align

Most shared categories across the top matches.

APIs & Data Feeds×2 App & Website Traffic×2 Sheets / Excel Add-ins×1

New angles introduced

Categories the alternatives add beyond Semrush.

Data Visualizations+1

Free Access & Pricing

Free to start

All 2

All 2 have a standing free tier, not a trial.

Paid plans from

Not listed

No comparable monthly prices are listed for these alternatives.

Mobile app

0 of 2

0 have a mobile app, like Semrush.

API access

2 of 2

2 expose an API or data feed, usually on a paid plan.

Hands-on tested

1 of 2

1 tested hands-on. 0 are analyst picks.

Coverage overlap

88%

Average share of Semrush categories each alternative covers.

Free Alternatives FAQ

What are the best free alternatives to Semrush?

Similarweb and Sensor Tower cover the most Semrush workflows without a paid plan, in that order.

Do these picks stay permanently free?

Yes. Every tool listed has a standing free tier, not a trial. Expect caps on exports, seats, or history once you use it heavily.

Which Semrush workflows stay covered on the free plan?

The free plans cover App & Website Traffic, APIs & Data Feeds, and Sheets / Excel Add-ins. Core Semrush workflows in those areas do not need a paid upgrade.

What extra coverage do the free alternatives add?

The free alternatives add Data Visualizations, which Semrush does not cover.

Where might I still rely on Semrush?

Blogs and Sheets / Excel Add-ins stay with Semrush. Keep it for those tasks, or budget for a paid plan elsewhere if they matter.

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Feedback

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Curation & Accuracy

This directory blends AI‑assisted discovery with human curation. Entries are reviewed, edited, and organized with the goal of expanding coverage and sharpening quality over time. Your feedback helps steer improvements (because no single human can capture everything all at once).

Details change. Pricing, features, and availability may be incomplete or out of date. Treat listings as a starting point and verify on the provider’s site before making decisions. If you spot an error or a gap, send a quick note and I’ll adjust.