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SEO · head to head

Clearscope vs SEMrush

Clearscope logo

Clearscope

SEO

Content optimization platform that grades drafts against top-ranking search results

From
$129/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
SEMrush logo

SEMrush

SEO

Do SEO, content marketing, competitor research, PPC and social media marketing from just one platfor

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only SEMrush has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Clearscope entry-level Essentials plan is priced above many competing content-optimization tools, which may deter smaller teams.; SEMrush free tier limited to 10 reports per day across all tools
  • They diverge on capability: Clearscope covers Content grading, SEMrush covers Keyword research.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Clearscope and SEMrush actually diverge.

Attributes where Clearscope and SEMrush differ
AttributeClearscopeSEMrush
Starting price$129/monthFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformswebWeb, Mobile app
FoundedUnknown2008

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), user rating (Not yet rated), category (SEO).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Clearscope

  • Content grading
  • Tracked prompts
  • Topic exploration
  • AI drafts
  • Google Docs integration
  • Crawler whitelisting

Only in SEMrush

  • Keyword research
  • Site audit
  • Competitor analysis
  • Backlink analytics
  • Rank tracking
  • Content marketing
  • PPC research
  • Social media tools

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Clearscope

  • Optimizing blog drafts against top-ranking competitor contentnot SEMrush
  • Tracking content visibility in AI search resultsnot SEMrush
  • Agencies producing client content at scalenot SEMrush
  • Editorial teams standardizing on-page SEO coveragenot SEMrush

SEMrush

  • SEO keyword research and competitor analysisnot Clearscope
  • Website performance tracking and auditingnot Clearscope
  • Content marketing optimizationnot Clearscope
  • PPC advertising researchnot Clearscope

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Clearscope

  • Entry-level Essentials plan is priced above many competing content-optimization tools, which may deter smaller teams.
  • Additional pages and drafts beyond plan limits incur per-unit add-on charges rather than being unlimited.
  • Enterprise-only features like SSO and crawler whitelisting are gated behind custom pricing rather than being available on lower tiers.

SEMrush

  • Free tier limited to 10 reports per day across all tools
  • Keyword tracking capped at 500 per month on entry tiers (SEO and Starter plans)
  • Additional users cost £45/month per user above base subscription
  • Most advanced features require Advanced plan (£455.67/month), making entry cost significant for small teams

Pricing, plan by plan

Clearscope

$129/month
  • Essentials$129/month
    • 50 tracked prompts
    • 50 pages
    • 20 monthly topic explorations
  • Business$399/month
    • 300 tracked prompts
    • 300 pages
    • 50 monthly topic explorations
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Custom credits and agreements
    • Crawler whitelisting
    • Single sign-on (SSO)

SEMrush

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 1 demo project with basic features
    • No credit card required
    • For trying out the platform
  • SEO Plan$117.33/month
    • Annual billing ($1407.96/year)
    • Monitor 5 websites
    • Track 500 keywords daily
  • Starter Plan$165.17/month
    • Annual billing ($1982.04/year)
    • 5 websites, 500 keywords tracked daily
    • MCP access with 50 AI prompts tracked across search platforms
  • Pro+ Plan$248.17/month
    • Annual billing ($2978.04/year)
    • 15 websites, 1,500 keywords daily
    • 100 AI prompts tracked

Which should you pick?

Choose Clearscope if

  • You need content grading.
  • You work on web.
  • You also want tracked prompts.
Clearscope review

Choose SEMrush if

  • You need keyword research.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile app.
  • You also want site audit.
SEMrush review

Questions people ask

Is Clearscope or SEMrush better?
Neither clearly leads. Clearscope starts at $129/month and SEMrush at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Clearscope or SEMrush?
SEMrush has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $129/month for Clearscope and Free for SEMrush.
Does Clearscope or SEMrush run on more platforms?
Clearscope runs on web. SEMrush runs on Web, Mobile app.
Can I use SEMrush for free?
Yes. SEMrush has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Clearscope starts at $129/month.
What is Clearscope best used for?
Clearscope is most often used for optimizing blog drafts against top-ranking competitor content, tracking content visibility in ai search results, agencies producing client content at scale, editorial teams standardizing on-page seo coverage. Of those, optimizing blog drafts against top-ranking competitor content and tracking content visibility in ai search results are not what SEMrush is typically brought in for.
What can Clearscope do that SEMrush cannot?
Clearscope covers Content grading, Tracked prompts, Topic exploration, AI drafts. SEMrush covers Keyword research, Site audit, Competitor analysis, Backlink analytics.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Clearscope: What does Clearscope cost?

Plans start at Essentials for $129/month and Business for $399/month, with a custom-priced Enterprise tier adding SSO and crawler whitelisting.

Source
SEMrush: How much does Semrush cost?

Semrush starts at $117.33/month for the SEO Plan with annual billing and goes up to $455.67/month for the Advanced Plan. A free tier is available with 1 demo project and basic features. Prices increase with monthly billing instead of annual.

Source
Clearscope: Is there a free trial?

Clearscope offers a 14-day free trial with no commitment required before subscribing to a paid plan.

Source
SEMrush: What does each Semrush plan include?

Plans scale from 5 to 40 websites monitored, 500 to 5,000 keywords tracked daily, and include progressively more features like MCP access and API access at higher tiers. Advanced Plan includes dedicated support.

Source
Clearscope: Can I cancel my plan anytime?

Monthly plans have no minimum contract, so users can cancel anytime without penalty or hassle.

Source
SEMrush: Are there add-on options for Semrush?

Yes, additional users cost $45/month, and reporting features range from $10-$20/month. Enterprise plans with unlimited projects and dedicated support are available with custom pricing.

Source
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