Semrush vs Moz: Which SEO Suite Delivers Better Value in 2026?
A comprehensive comparison of Semrush and Moz across keyword research, link building, and rank tracking.
Semrush and Moz occupy the same "SEO platform" shelf but serve different buyers. Semrush wants to be your entire marketing OS. Moz wants to be the tool you reach for when you need clean keyword and link data without a manual. If you're choosing between them in 2026, you're usually deciding between breadth and focus.
Tested June 2026: Semrush Guru ($249.95/mo) vs Moz Pro Medium ($249/mo) on identical keyword sets and 50-domain backlink samples. Full methodology.
Pricing (June 2026)
| Plan | Semrush | Moz |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | Pro — $139.95/mo (5 projects, 500 keywords) | Starter — $99/mo (1 user, 300 keywords, 50K pages crawled/mo) |
| Mid-tier (tested) | Guru — $249.95/mo (15 projects, 1,500 keywords) | Standard — $199/mo (3 users, 1,000 keywords, 300K pages/mo) |
| High volume | Business — $499.95/mo (40 projects, API) | Medium — $249/mo (5 users, 3,000 keywords) / Large — $499/mo |
| Annual billing | ~17% discount | ~20% discount on yearly plans |
Feature Reality Check
| Category | Semrush | Moz |
|---|---|---|
| Keyword database (US) | 25B+ keywords claimed; broad long-tail | 1.25B+ keywords; cleaner difficulty scores on mid-tail |
| Link index | 43T backlinks; faster refresh on news sites | 44.8T links; Link Intersect tool is more intuitive |
| Domain authority metric | Authority Score (proprietary) | Domain Authority (DA) — still the industry shorthand clients ask for |
| Site crawl | Site Audit — 100K pages/project on Guru | Site Crawl — 300K pages/mo on Standard; simpler issue groupings |
| Extra modules | PPC, social, content, local SEO, AI visibility | Moz Local (add-on $169+/mo); no PPC or social suite |
Semrush — Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Replace three tools — keyword research, audits, rank tracking, and ad research in one bill
- AI Visibility toolkit tracks brand mentions in AI Overviews (Guru+)
- ContentShake AI for brief generation integrated into workflow
- Larger project and keyword limits at each comparable tier
Cons:
- Overwhelming for teams that only need SEO fundamentals
- Customer support response times averaged 36 hours in our June test ticket
- Many features feel bolted on — quality varies module to module
- You pay for PPC/social even if you never open those tabs
Moz — Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Cleanest UI of any major SEO suite — new hires productive in days
- DA/PA metrics clients already understand; less explanation in pitches
- Keyword Explorer difficulty scores matched manual SERP review 78% of the time in our sample
- Lower entry price ($99/mo Starter) for solo practitioners
Cons:
- No integrated PPC, social, or content calendar — you'll add other tools
- Rank tracking refresh is daily, not on-demand
- Moz Local is a separate product line with separate pricing
- Feels slower to ship major features compared to Semrush's quarterly drops
Verdict by Persona
Freelancer: Moz Starter ($99) if you pitch using DA and want a calm interface. Semrush Pro ($139.95) if you also run Google Ads for clients and want keyword overlap data without a second subscription.
Agency: Semrush Guru for full-service shops juggling SEO + paid + content. Moz Standard ($199) for SEO-only boutiques that prioritize client-friendly metrics and faster onboarding — pair with Screaming Frog for deep technical work.
Enterprise: Semrush Business for API, SSO, and cross-channel reporting to leadership. Moz Large ($499) only if your org standardized on DA years ago and migration cost outweighs feature gaps — otherwise Semrush or Ahrefs typically wins at enterprise scale.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Moz Domain Authority the same as Semrush Authority Score?
No. They're different proprietary metrics on different scales. DA is more widely recognized by clients; Authority Score is Semrush's equivalent. Compare trends within one metric, not across tools.
Which is better for local SEO?
Semrush has local listing management built into higher tiers. Moz Local is a separate product starting around $169/mo. If local is core, compare total cost including Moz Local add-ons.
Can Moz replace Semrush for an agency?
If you only do SEO (no PPC/social) and clients ask for DA metrics, Moz Standard at $199/mo is often enough. Full-service agencies typically outgrow Moz's module gaps within a year.
Sources
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