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Marketing · head to head

Moz vs Surfer SEO

Moz logo

Moz

Marketing

SEO software for smarter marketing

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Surfer SEO logo

Surfer SEO

SEO & Website Optimization

AI search optimization and visibility

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Moz has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Moz smaller keyword database with only 500M+ keywords compared to 25 billion for Semrush; Surfer SEO entry Discovery plan at $49 per month limits users to a single seat and 120 documents

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Moz and Surfer SEO actually diverge.

Attributes where Moz and Surfer SEO differ
AttributeMozSurfer SEO
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
Free tierYesNo
CategoryMarketingSEO & Website Optimization
Founded2004Unknown

Identical on both: platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Moz

  • Keyword Explorer
  • Link Explorer
  • Site Crawl
  • Rank Tracking
  • Page Optimization
  • Competitive research
  • Local SEO tools
  • Fresh Web Explorer

Only in Surfer SEO

Nothing recorded that Moz does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

Moz

  • SEO auditsnot Surfer SEO
  • Keyword researchnot Surfer SEO
  • Link buildingnot Surfer SEO
  • Local SEOnot Surfer SEO
  • Competitive analysisnot Surfer SEO

Surfer SEO

No use cases recorded yet. See the Surfer SEO review.

Where each one falls short

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

Moz

  • Smaller keyword database with only 500M+ keywords compared to 25 billion for Semrush
  • Unreliable competitive analysis for B2B companies with niche competitor sets
  • Weekly rank tracking on lower plans creates bottlenecks versus daily updates on competitors

Surfer SEO

  • Entry Discovery plan at $49 per month limits users to a single seat and 120 documents
  • AI prompt tracking is excluded on the Discovery plan and capped at 25 prompts weekly on Standard, 50 daily on Pro
  • Unlimited documents on the Peace of Mind plan are subject to a fair usage policy rather than being truly unlimited

Pricing, plan by plan

Moz

Free
  • Starter$39/month
    • Limited keyword tracking
    • Basic site audit
  • Standard$99/month
    • Enhanced keyword tracking
    • Competitive analysis

Surfer SEO

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Surfer SEO review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Moz if

  • You need keyword explorer.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want link explorer.
Moz review

Choose Surfer SEO if

Nothing in the data separates Surfer SEO from Moz on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Surfer SEO review

Questions people ask

Is Moz or Surfer SEO better?
Neither clearly leads. Moz starts at Free and Surfer SEO at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Moz or Surfer SEO?
Moz has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Moz and On request for Surfer SEO.
Does Moz or Surfer SEO run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Moz for free?
Yes. Moz has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Surfer SEO starts at On request.
What is Moz best used for?
Moz is most often used for seo audits, keyword research, link building, local seo. Of those, seo audits and keyword research are not what Surfer SEO is typically brought in for.
What can Moz do that Surfer SEO cannot?
Moz covers Keyword Explorer, Link Explorer, Site Crawl, Rank Tracking.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Moz: What are Moz's main weaknesses compared to Semrush and Ahrefs?

Moz has a smaller keyword database (500M+ keywords vs Semrush's 25B), weaker competitive analysis tools for B2B niches, weekly rank tracking on lower plans, and limited local SEO features compared to modern competitors.

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