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Software · head to head

SEMrush vs Zeplin

SEMrush logo

SEMrush

Software

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zeplin logo

Zeplin

Software

Design handoff and developer collaboration

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: SEMrush free tier limited to 10 reports per day across all tools; Zeplin the free plan is limited to 1 project and 100 screens and works only in a personal workspace
  • They diverge on capability: SEMrush covers Keyword research, Zeplin covers Design specs.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which SEMrush and Zeplin actually diverge.

Attributes where SEMrush and Zeplin differ
AttributeSEMrushZeplin
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
PlatformsWeb, Mobile appWeb, Desktop, Mobile
Founded20082014

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Zeplin

  • Design specs
  • Asset export
  • Code snippets
  • Design tokens
  • Comments
  • Version control
  • Handoff workflow
  • Accessibility checks

Both cover

  • Trello
  • SOC2

What people use each for

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

SEMrush

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

Zeplin

  • Handing off design specs from Figma or Sketch to developersnot SEMrush
  • Sharing screens, assets and style guides with an engineering teamnot SEMrush
  • Reviewing and commenting on design versionsnot 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

Zeplin

  • The free plan is limited to 1 project and 100 screens and works only in a personal workspace
  • Free plan AI reviews are capped at 3 per week
  • Role based permissions require the Advanced plan or higher
  • Single sign on, multi factor authentication, activity logs and invoiced billing are Enterprise only
  • Priority 24 hour support is Enterprise only
  • Basic plan caps screens at 1,000 per project and is priced per project rather than per seat
  • Enterprise pricing is by quote with no published rate

Pricing, plan by plan

SEMrush

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the SEMrush review.

Zeplin

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 1 project
    • 1 workspace
    • Basic specs
  • Starter$19/month
    • Unlimited projects
    • Multiple workspaces
    • Advanced specs
  • Professional$49/month
    • Everything in Starter
    • Team collaboration
    • Admin controls

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 Zeplin if

  • You need design specs.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Desktop, Mobile.
  • You also want asset export.
Zeplin review

Questions people ask

Is SEMrush or Zeplin better?
Neither clearly leads. SEMrush starts at Free and Zeplin at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, SEMrush or Zeplin?
SEMrush starts at Free and Zeplin at Free.
Does SEMrush or Zeplin run on more platforms?
SEMrush runs on Web, Mobile app. Zeplin runs on Web, Desktop, Mobile.
Can I use SEMrush for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 Zeplin is typically brought in for.
What can SEMrush do that Zeplin cannot?
SEMrush covers Keyword research, Site audit, Competitor analysis, Backlink analytics. Zeplin covers Design specs, Asset export, Code snippets, Design tokens. Both handle Trello, SOC2.
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