Tool Comparison
IBISWorld vs Semrush
- Paid from
- —
- Free plan
- No
- Platforms
- Web, API
Best if
- You want scores, AI chat, and custom dashboards.
- Paid from
- $139/mo
- Free plan
- Yes
- Platforms
- Web, Mobile, API
Best if
- You'd rather start free and only pay if you outgrow it
- You do a lot of your research from your phone
- You want app & website traffic and sheets / excel add-ins.
Pick IBISWorld instead if
IBISWorld
Subscription, One-time · Web · API
- You want scores, AI chat, and custom dashboards.
Start here
Semrush
Free • From $139/mo · Web · Mobile · API
- You'd rather start free and only pay if you outgrow it
- You do a lot of your research from your phone
- You want app & website traffic and sheets / excel add-ins.
Skip both if: Neither one clicks with how you research; there are strong third options.
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Our take
The bottom line
IBISWorld and Semrush cover a lot of the same ground (2 shared categories, APIs & data feeds and blogs), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. IBISWorld includes scores and AI chat, and Semrush includes app & website traffic and sheets / excel add-ins.
What readers say
IBISWorld
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Semrush
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Key differences at a glance
- Free plan
- Semrush
- Free trial
- Semrush7 days
- Mobile app
- Semrush
What IBISWorld does best
- Industry Research Reports include market conditions, forecasts, performance, risks, companies, and financial benchmarks, with PDF downloads and selected table exports.
- Individual reports are sold separately, while annual memberships cover a licensed collection of reports and products.
- Business Environment Profiles for proprietary forecasts across economic indicators.
- Industry Risk Ratings and Early Warning System data for forward-looking industry risk context.
- Valuation Multiples provide five years of industry EV/Revenue, EV/EBIT, and EV/EBITDA benchmarks in more than 1,300 US, UK, and Australian reports.
What Semrush does best
- Analysis of website traffic, visitor sources, engagement, keywords, competitors, backlinks, SEO performance, paid search, and market benchmarks.
- Semrush One and AI visibility products to monitor brand and content visibility across AI search and classic SEO workflows.
- The Standard API for eligible SEO Toolkit Business users, with separately purchased API units and request or line-based consumption.
- Separate API paths for Trends, Listing Management, and Map Rank Tracker, noting that local APIs and map rank APIs have their own access and billing rules.
- Export support for data and reports through CSV, Excel, PDF, JSON, Google Sheets, Position Tracking, Site Audit, and App Center connector workflows.
Side by side
Pricing comparison
See for yourself
Side by side
Price, platforms, data, and market coverage.ShowHide
Side by side
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & plans | ||
Starting price | Subscription, One-time | Free • From $139/mo |
Free tier | No | Yes |
Free trial | — | 7 days |
Plan limits | — | 8 limits: SEO: websites: 5, SEO: tracked keywords daily: 500 +6 more |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | No | Yes |
API access | Yes | Yes |
Broker sync | No | — |
Integrations | Salesforce and Snowflake | Google Analytics, Google Search Console +1 more |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | — | — |
Categories covered | 5 | 4 |
Regions | North America, Europe, APAC | North America, Europe, APAC, LatAm, Middle East, Africa |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Security | — | Data residency: US and SSO: SAML |
| Try it | Visit IBISWorld | Visit Semrush |
Standout features
The best features of IBISWorld and Semrush.ShowHide
Standout features
What IBISWorld does best
- Industry Research Reports include market conditions, forecasts, performance, risks, companies, and financial benchmarks, with PDF downloads and selected table exports.
- Individual reports are sold separately, while annual memberships cover a licensed collection of reports and products.
- Business Environment Profiles for proprietary forecasts across economic indicators.
- Industry Risk Ratings and Early Warning System data for forward-looking industry risk context.
- Valuation Multiples provide five years of industry EV/Revenue, EV/EBIT, and EV/EBITDA benchmarks in more than 1,300 US, UK, and Australian reports.
What Semrush does best
- Analysis of website traffic, visitor sources, engagement, keywords, competitors, backlinks, SEO performance, paid search, and market benchmarks.
- Semrush One and AI visibility products to monitor brand and content visibility across AI search and classic SEO workflows.
- The Standard API for eligible SEO Toolkit Business users, with separately purchased API units and request or line-based consumption.
- Separate API paths for Trends, Listing Management, and Map Rank Tracker, noting that local APIs and map rank APIs have their own access and billing rules.
- Export support for data and reports through CSV, Excel, PDF, JSON, Google Sheets, Position Tracking, Site Audit, and App Center connector workflows.
All details
Every attribute we track for IBISWorld and Semrush.ShowHide
All details
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | Other | Other |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Regions | North AmericaEuropeAPAC | North AmericaEuropeAPACLatAmMiddle EastAfrica |
Coverage details | 7 countries | Not specified |
| Access & integrations | ||
API protocols | REST | REST |
API auth & delivery | Auth: OAuth2100 req/min | Auth: APIKey and OAuth2 |
Integrations | SalesforceSnowflake | Google AnalyticsGoogle Search ConsoleGoogle Sheets |
Export formats | PDFExcelJSON | CSVExcelPDFJSON |
| Plans & trust | ||
Security & compliance | Not specified | Data residency: USSSO: SAML |
Vendor & support | IBISWorldFounded 1971Support: Email and Phone | Semrush Inc.Country: United StatesSupport: Email |
Curation ratings | Not specified | Methodology 4/5Reliability 4/5UX 4/5 |
Green tags are exclusive to that tool in this comparison.
Pricing
Plans, billing, free trials, and monthly prices.ShowHide
Pricing
| Tier | ||
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | — | Free |
| Entry paid plan | Subscription“Membership (Subscription)” | $139/mo“SEO”websites: 5 · tracked keywords daily: 500 |
| Tier 2 | $2850“Single Report - Industry Research” | $199/mo“Starter”websites: 5 · tracked keywords daily: 500 · +1 more |
| Tier 3 | $800“Single Report - Spotlight” | $299/mo“Pro+”websites: 15 · tracked keywords daily: 1,500 · +1 more |
| Top plan | — | $549/mo“Advanced” |
| Custom / enterprise | — | Contact sales“Enterprise” |
| Free trial | — | 7 days |
Alternatives
Free alternatives
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between IBISWorld and Semrush?
IBISWorld leans toward APIs & data feeds, scores, and AI chat, while Semrush puts more weight on app & website traffic, APIs & data feeds, and sheets / excel add-ins. They overlap in 2 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
Is IBISWorld or Semrush free to use?
Semrush has a free tier, so you can get started without paying anything. IBISWorld is paid-only. If budget matters, start with Semrush and see how far it takes you before opening your wallet.
Can I use IBISWorld or Semrush on my phone?
Semrush lists a dedicated mobile app, so it travels better. IBISWorld doesn't list a dedicated mobile app; its documented access is web and API.
Do IBISWorld and Semrush have APIs?
Yes, both offer API access, so developers and quants can pull data programmatically or wire up their own integrations.
Should I choose IBISWorld or Semrush?
It depends on what you're after. Pick IBISWorld if scores and AI chat matter to you; go with Semrush if you'd rather have app & website traffic and sheets / excel add-ins. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
Can I export data from IBISWorld and Semrush?
Yes, both export to spreadsheets (Excel), which is handy if you like running your own numbers.
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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.