Moz vs Semrush: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Two seo tools tools, compared feature by feature — pricing, ratings, strengths, and the use case each one wins.
The Short Answer
The price gap is the headline: $49/mo against $139.95/mo, nearly 3×. Moz gives you Domain Authority and Page Authority — still the metrics most clients recognise — plus a genuinely beginner-friendly interface. What you give up is depth: Moz's keyword and backlink databases are smaller, and its rank tracking updates weekly rather than daily. If you report to clients in DA/PA and don't need daily positions, Moz does the job at a third of the cost. If you need daily tracking and competitive depth, Semrush.
| Feature | ||
|---|---|---|
| Entry Score | 82/100 | 30/100 |
| Starting Price | $49/mo | $139.95/mo |
| Free Tier | ||
| Best For Stage | early-traction, growing | growing, scaling |
| Keyword database | 27.9B · as of 2026 | |
| Backlink index | 43T · as of 2026 | |
| Rank tracking | ||
| Site audit | ||
| On-page optimization | ||
| AI search visibility | — | — |
Moz
Pros
- Domain Authority and Page Authority are industry-standard, client-friendly metrics unique to Moz
- Genuinely beginner-friendly interface plus strong free learning via Moz Academy and the community
- Permanent free tools (MozBar, limited Keyword Explorer and Link Explorer) let you try before paying
- Site Crawl and On-Page Grader give clear, actionable technical SEO fixes
Cons
- Keyword and backlink databases are smaller than Ahrefs and Semrush
- Rank tracking updates weekly rather than daily
- Crawl limits get restrictive on large or e-commerce sites
- Pricing is steep for solo makers relative to the data depth offered
- Fewer content-optimization and PPC tools than all-in-one competitors
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Semrush
Pros
- Most comprehensive feature set — covers more channels than any competitor
- Competitive intelligence across organic, paid, and social is unmatched in breadth
- Content Marketing Toolkit is genuinely useful for content strategy planning
- Generous limits on most plans (3,000+ keyword reports/day on Pro)
Cons
- Price is high — $139.95/month entry point is steep for early-stage startups
- Breadth can be overwhelming — many features go underutilized by smaller teams
- Backlink database, while large, is not as comprehensive as Ahrefs'
- Some advanced features require add-on subscriptions ($40-200/mo each)
What Users Say
Moz
“Great UI with a wide range of tools to improve SEO, responsive and easy to setup and track keywords. But the SERP analysis data and rankings are not as accurate as your industry leaders like ahrefs and semrush.”
— Angus A. (Director, Broadcast Media) · Capterra source
Semrush
“I've been using Semrush since 2020, and it's become a must-have tool for my business… Semrush has helped me win new clients by showing the tools and process I use.”
— Jose M. · Capterra source