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Software · head to head

SEMrush vs SpyFu

SEMrush logo

SEMrush

Software

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
SpyFu logo

SpyFu

Software

Competitor keyword research tool for SEO and PPC campaigns

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only SEMrush has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: SEMrush free tier limited to 10 reports per day across all tools; SpyFu entry-level Basic plan caps search results and data exports at 10,000 rows, limiting deep research.
  • They diverge on capability: SEMrush covers Keyword research, SpyFu covers Competitor Keyword Research.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which SEMrush and SpyFu actually diverge.

Attributes where SEMrush and SpyFu differ
AttributeSEMrushSpyFu
Starting priceFree$29/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Mobile appweb, api
Founded20082005

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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 SEMrush

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

Only in SpyFu

  • Competitor Keyword Research
  • Ad History
  • Rank Tracking
  • Backlink Analysis
  • RivalFlow AI
  • Automated Reporting
  • API Access

What people use each for

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

SEMrush

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

SpyFu

  • Researching a competitor's paid search strategynot SEMrush
  • Finding organic keyword gapsnot SEMrush
  • Tracking weekly keyword rank changesnot SEMrush
  • Building white-label SEO/PPC reports for clientsnot SEMrush

Where each one falls short

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

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

SpyFu

  • Entry-level Basic plan caps search results and data exports at 10,000 rows, limiting deep research.
  • API access is only available on the top Team/Agency tier, unlike some competitors that offer it at lower price points.
  • Additional user seats cost an extra $30 per user per month even on paid plans.
  • Weekly rank tracking refresh is less frequent than some competitors offering daily updates.

Pricing, plan by plan

SEMrush

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the SEMrush review.

SpyFu

$29/month
  • Basic$29/month
    • 10k row search results and data exports
    • 5,000 weekly tracked keyword rankings
    • 10 automated reports
  • Pro + AI$89/month
    • Unlimited search results and data exports
    • 15,000 weekly tracked keyword rankings
    • 100 automated reports
  • Team/Agency$187/month
    • Unlimited data exports and reports
    • 50,000 weekly tracked keyword rankings
    • RivalFlow AI (5 sites)

Which should you pick?

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

Choose SpyFu if

  • You need competitor keyword research.
  • You work on web, api.
  • You also want ad history.
SpyFu review

Questions people ask

Is SEMrush or SpyFu better?
Neither clearly leads. SEMrush starts at Free and SpyFu at $29/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, SEMrush or SpyFu?
SEMrush has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for SEMrush and $29/month for SpyFu.
Does SEMrush or SpyFu run on more platforms?
SEMrush runs on Web, Mobile app. SpyFu runs on web, api.
Can I use SEMrush for free?
Yes. SEMrush has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. SpyFu starts at $29/month.
What is SEMrush best used for?
SEMrush is most often used for seo keyword research and competitor analysis, website performance tracking and auditing, content marketing optimization, ppc advertising research. Of those, seo keyword research and competitor analysis and website performance tracking and auditing are not what SpyFu is typically brought in for.
What can SEMrush do that SpyFu cannot?
SEMrush covers Keyword research, Site audit, Competitor analysis, Backlink analytics. SpyFu covers Competitor Keyword Research, Ad History, Rank Tracking, Backlink Analysis.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

SpyFu: What does SpyFu cost?

SpyFu has three plans: Basic at $29/month (billed annually) or $39/month, Pro + AI starting around $89/month annually (or $59 for the first month, then $119/month), and Team/Agency at $187/month annually or $249/month.

Source
SpyFu: What's included in the Basic plan?

Basic includes 10,000-row search results and data exports, 1 Live Site tracking project, 5,000 weekly tracked keyword rankings, 10 automated reports, and 1 user seat.

Source
SpyFu: What extra do Pro + AI and Team/Agency add?

Pro + AI adds unlimited search results and exports, 10 tracking projects, 10+ years of historical data, 15,000 weekly rank checks, and 100 reports. Team/Agency adds unlimited projects and reports, 50,000 weekly rank checks, and 5 user seats.

Source
SpyFu: Do all plans include AI features?

Yes, all plans include the RivalFlow AI tool, ChatGPT integration, AI Brand Monitoring, Google Ads campaign tools, Google Search Console integration, white-label reporting, and API access, though limits vary by tier.

Source
SpyFu: Is extra usage or extra users available beyond the base seats?

Yes, additional user seats can be added to Pro + AI and Team/Agency plans for $30 per additional user beyond the included seat count.

Source
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