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SEO · head to head

SISTRIX vs SpyFu

SISTRIX logo

SISTRIX

SEO

German SEO toolbox built around a domain Visibility Index measured weekly since 2008

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
SpyFu logo

SpyFu

SEO

Competitor keyword research tool for SEO and PPC campaigns

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: SISTRIX coverage is deepest in German-speaking Europe and thinner in the United States and Asia, so international teams still need Ahrefs or Semrush alongside it.; SpyFu entry-level Basic plan caps search results and data exports at 10,000 rows, limiting deep research.
  • They diverge on capability: SISTRIX covers Visibility Index, SpyFu covers Competitor Keyword Research.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which SISTRIX and SpyFu actually diverge.

Attributes where SISTRIX and SpyFu differ
AttributeSISTRIXSpyFu
Starting priceOn request$29/month
Pricing modelquotesubscription
PlatformsWeb, REST APIweb, api
FoundedUnknown2005

Identical on both: free tier (No), 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 SISTRIX

  • Visibility Index
  • Competitor discovery
  • SERP feature tracking
  • Link module
  • Optimizer
  • Country coverage

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.

SISTRIX

  • Reporting search visibility to a board in Germany where the Visibility Index is the expected metricnot SpyFu
  • Comparing a domain against competitors over years, including before you started tracking anythingnot SpyFu
  • Due diligence on an acquisition target where you need visibility history you did not collect yourselfnot SpyFu
  • Diagnosing whether a traffic drop coincided with a core update by comparing against the whole measured marketnot SpyFu

SpyFu

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

Where each one falls short

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

SISTRIX

  • Coverage is deepest in German-speaking Europe and thinner in the United States and Asia, so international teams still need Ahrefs or Semrush alongside it.
  • The Visibility Index is domain-level, so a dramatic chart movement can come entirely from pages that carry no commercial value and requires drilling down before it means anything.
  • The link index is smaller than the market leaders, which matters if backlink discovery rather than visibility measurement is your main use.
  • Modules are priced individually, so a team that needs SEO, links and the Optimizer pays a multiple of the entry price for one module.
  • Documentation, community material and support are German-first, and while English is available the depth of the two is not equal.

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

SISTRIX

On request
  • SISTRIX Toolbox$undefined/month
    • Sold as monthly modules rather than one bundled plan
    • Additional countries and Optimizer projects priced on top
    • Monthly term without long commitment

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 SISTRIX if

  • You need visibility index.
  • You work on Web, REST API.
  • You also want competitor discovery.
SISTRIX 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 SISTRIX or SpyFu better?
Neither clearly leads. SISTRIX starts at On request and SpyFu at $29/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, SISTRIX or SpyFu?
SISTRIX starts at On request and SpyFu at $29/month.
Does SISTRIX or SpyFu run on more platforms?
SISTRIX runs on Web, REST API. SpyFu runs on web, api.
What is SISTRIX best used for?
SISTRIX is most often used for reporting search visibility to a board in germany where the visibility index is the expected metric, comparing a domain against competitors over years, including before you started tracking anything, due diligence on an acquisition target where you need visibility history you did not collect yourself, diagnosing whether a traffic drop coincided with a core update by comparing against the whole measured market. Of those, reporting search visibility to a board in germany where the visibility index is the expected metric and comparing a domain against competitors over years, including before you started tracking anything are not what SpyFu is typically brought in for.
What can SISTRIX do that SpyFu cannot?
SISTRIX covers Visibility Index, Competitor discovery, SERP feature tracking, Link module. SpyFu covers Competitor Keyword Research, Ad History, Rank Tracking, Backlink Analysis.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

SISTRIX: What is the Visibility Index actually measuring?

Rankings for a large fixed keyword set per country, weighted by expected traffic, measured weekly. It is not your keyword list, which is what makes it comparable.

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
SISTRIX: Can it replace Ahrefs or Semrush?

For German-language visibility reporting and competitor history, yes. For global keyword research and backlink analysis it is a complement rather than a replacement.

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
SISTRIX: How far back does the data go?

To 2008 for the earliest supported countries, which is longer than any rank tracker can offer on your own keyword list.

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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