Semrush vs. Moz: Which is better?
Semrush and Moz are effective paid SEO tools, but which one is better depends on your needs, budget, and business size. In most cases, SEOs recommend Semrush over Moz because of the platform’s database and extensive capabilities in and outside SEO.
While looking for the right search engine optimization (SEO) tool to help you manage your SEO strategy, you’ve likely come across two big names: Semrush and Moz (also known as Moz Pro) — but which one is better?
Keep reading to learn more about Moz and Semrush compare!
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Which is better, Semrush or Moz?
When it comes to Semrush vs. Moz, which one is better depends on your needs, budget, and organization. If you’re looking for an omnichannel tool, Semrush is a competitive choice while Moz is a good option if you’re looking for an SEO-only tool.
Compare Semrush and Moz
Get an overview of Semrush vs. Moz in the breakdown below:
| Features | Semrush | Moz |
| Average rating | 4.5 / 5 | 4.4 / 5 |
| Best for |
|
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| Pricing | Starting at $129.95 / month | Starting at $99 / month |
| Strengths |
|
|
| Weaknesses |
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| Site audits | Comprehensive website analysis tools for detailed auditing and in-depth website performance reporting | Full-suite of website analysis tools available, plus detailed performance reporting |
| Keyword research | Excellent keyword research capabilities, with 6 built-in tools to utilize and a database of over 25 billion keywords | Extensive keyword research capabilities with detailed reporting |
| Keyword rank tracking | Track position, visibility, SERP features, and more | Track up to 4,500 keywords |
| SEO content |
| Topic ideas |
| Competitor research |
|
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| Backlink analysis | In-depth backlink analysis capabilities and tools |
|
| Customer support |
|
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| Ease of use | Interface is tricky to learn; learning curve when first getting started | User-friendly interface, though there is a learning curve during onboarding |
| AI |
| None |
| Integrations |
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|
Alternatives to SEMRush and Moz
- SEO.com — an affordable all-in-one tool for comprehensive SEO management
- Ahrefs — a robust toolset for in-depth analysis and research
- Ubersuggest — a simplified tool for effective SEO research and analysis
- SpyFu — a competitive intelligence tool for strategic keyword and ad analysis
What is the difference between Moz and Semrush?
The difference between Moz and Semrush is Moz is an SEO-only platform while Semrush is a digital marketing suite. This difference is often a decision point for users and businesses deciding between Moz vs. Semrush.
Inside Semrush
Learn more about Semrush below:
Semrush pros
Let’s start with some pros and cons of one of the most popular SEO tools today: Semrush.
In-depth analytics
One of the reasons users love Semrush is because it’s an analytics-focused software.
As we’ve mentioned in previous posts about great SEO strategies, data-backed decisions are crucial, and with Semrush you’ll get that. Semrush focuses on providing users with specific, measurable results and detailed insights about your marketing campaigns, from keyword data to domain analytics.
Keyword research tools
Many users turn to Semrush for keyword research because of its extensive keyword database, which exceeds 25 billion keywords, plus over 20 million ideas for a single keyword. When using Semrush for keyword research, you’ll gain access to six different keyword tools, including Keyword Magic, Keyword Gap, Organic Traffic Insights, and more.
Multifaceted platform
What makes Semrush stand out is its extensive features that make it a multifaceted marketing platform.
Semrush isn’t just an SEO tool — it’s marketing software that includes toolkits for content marketing, social media, paid advertising, and more, making it a valuable Moz alternative for businesses seeking a comprehensive marketing solution. This selection of features makes it a worthy asset for any business looking to increase its online presence beyond search engines.
Semrush cons
Learn more about Semrush’s advantages over Moz below:
Pricing
Arguably, the most common complaint from Semrush users and non-users is its high cost. In general, Semrush’s pricing tiers are high, with the lowest subscription starting at $129.95 per month, and the highest tier reaching up to $499.95 per month. There are additional features users can add to their subscriptions, but they’re hidden behind extra paywalls.
The pricing can hinder smaller businesses from leveraging Semrush’s full potential.
Learning curve
Another downside of Semrush is the learning curve associated with its software.
Many users have reported that while they love Semrush, the learning curve can be a hassle to get over when first using the platform, especially if you’re new to marketing tools. Some people even went as far as getting a demo with Semrush’s customer service representatives for additional help.
User experience
Once you get over Semrush’s learning curve, you may still have some user experience issues. If you’re new to marketing software, Semrush can be a bit overwhelming to navigate, considering the vast amount of tools and features it houses for SEO, paid advertising, and more.
Even business owners with experience with these platforms have reported feeling overwhelmed and sometimes getting lost while trying to access certain features.
Inside Moz
Another major player in SEO tools is Moz Pro. Like Semrush, Moz Pro has numerous features that make it an excellent business asset, but it also has some downsides.
Moz pros
Learn more about Moz vs. Semrush in this compilation of its advantages:
Keyword Explorer
Moz Pro’s Keyword Explorer tool is one that keeps users coming back for more. Keyword Explorer allows users to categorize, prioritize, and compare keywords. Plus, users can make keyword lists to better organize their keyword research efforts for different campaigns. Moz Pro’s keyword research tools also include options for competitive keyword analysis, so users can learn how to stay ahead of the competition, making it one of the top competitor analysis tools out there.
Link Explorer
Moz Pro is also home to Link Explorer, a link research tool that allows users to analyze their website’s internal link profile and evaluate the quality of backlinks. Link Explorer offers in-depth insights into everything that goes into a quality linking strategy, from domain authority to spam scores and followed links to and from your site, making it one of the top link building tools out there.
In-depth website analytics
Another perk of using Moz Pro is its in-depth analytics and reporting capabilities.
Moz Pro’s powerful website analytics tool helps users audit their site for on-page and technical SEO issues. When no issues are present, Moz Pro’s web analytics tools can closely monitor your site for changes in SEO performance, help you identify opportunities to improve, and even launch competitive analyses.
Moz’s cons
Learn more about Moz’s disadvantages below:
Pricing
Despite having starting prices that are cheaper than Semrush’s, Moz Pro is still pricey. Ranging from $69 to $419 per month, Moz Pro can get expensive as you grow and want to access more features. Like Semrush, Moz Pro has many features hidden behind paywalls, and their higher subscription tiers can grow to be just as expensive.
Onboarding
Moz Pro also comes with a learning curve when first getting started. Its onboarding process can be tricky for those new to SEO tools, thus being time-consuming. Additionally, Moz Pro’s interface is often described as less user-friendly than other SEO platforms.
Limited features
While Moz Pro has an extensive list of features and tools, many users have reported feeling there are still limitations on what they can do with the platform, considering the extra costs associated with them. Lower-tier subscriptions offer some features, but users must upgrade to higher-priced subscriptions to unlock Moz Pro’s full functionality.
How to choose between Semrush vs. Moz
If you’re looking for help with choosing between Semrush vs. Moz, consider these tips:
- Determine your budget
- Outline your needs and requirements
- List your stakeholders and/or users
Once you take the above steps, you can see if a tool won’t meet your needs, budget, or team preferences. If both meet your requirements, then take advantage of the free trials available from both tools.
If you’re still not sold on Moz as an alternative to Semrush, check out our analysis of Semrush vs. SpyFu or Ahrefs vs. Moz.
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