The short answer
- For a few keyword-volume checks a month, pay per call: modeled at $2.70 a month instead of $139/mo, a modeled first-year saving of $1,624. the math
- We tested that path on our own site: DataForSEO returned volumes for 9/10 keywords at $0.09 a call (Stackcut's own test, not a customer). our test
- For your own site's queries and positions, Google Search Console is free. For a full suite with a UI and nothing to run, OpenSEO hosted or Moz Standard at $99/mo. recipe
- Keep Semrush if clients report in Semrush's own numbers, or if you live in Position Tracking, backlinks and Site Audit every week. our test
Four ways to stop paying for Semrush
A cheaper vendor
Pay per use Keyword data per call via treg: saves $1,624 in year one (+3 more below)
Open source
An agent skill
Google Search Console MCP (mcp-gsc): saves $1,268 in year one (+2 more below)
Replace with AI
Build it: keyword + rank checker: saves $786 in year one (+1 more below)
The best option of each kind, modeled, not measured: each figure links its math. Keeping Semrush is a valid answer too.
Who should switch, and who shouldn't
Switch if
- You look up keyword volumes a few times a month, and relative volume is enough to decide what to write next. our test
- You mostly watch your own site: Search Console gives queries, clicks and average position for a verified site, with CSV export, for free. support.google.com
- You want a UI plus an MCP server for your coding agent and don't mind running Docker or Cloudflare: OpenSEO is MIT-licensed and bills data per request. github.com
Stay if
- Clients or your team report in Semrush's numbers. Providers disagree: in our test one keyword read 480 in Semrush and 5,400 in DataForSEO. our test
- You rely on Position Tracking, backlink data or Site Audit week to week. Per-call data covers keyword research only. our test
- You need your history. After you cancel, exported CSVs are your record, and there is no bulk project export. semrush.com
What Semrush costs today
List prices from the vendor's pricing page, as stored in the Stackcut catalog. Each price links its source.
| Plan | Billed monthly | Billed yearly (per month) | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Semrush SEO | $139/mo | $117.33/mo | 5 websites, 500 tracked keywords; position tracking, site audit |
| Semrush Starter (SEO + AI Search) | $199/mo | $165.17/mo | 5 websites, 500 keywords; plus 50 AI prompts tracked daily |
| Semrush Pro+ | $299/mo | $248.17/mo | 15 websites, 1,500 keywords; historical data, multi-location |
| Semrush Advanced | $549/mo | $455.67/mo | 40 websites, 5,000 keywords; API access |
- Every plan includes 1 user. Each extra user is an add-on starting at $45 a month. semrush.com
The alternatives, ranked
10 ways out, ranked by modeled saving in the first year after setup and upkeep (6 priced). Modeled, not measured: each figure links the math on the recipe page.
- The recipe models 1 seat and about 300 keyword lookups a month against Semrush SEO at $139/mo. recipe
- Tested by Stackcut: DataForSEO returned volumes for 9 of 10 keywords for $0.09 per call (up to 1,000 keywords) our test
- SE Ranking data measured at about $0.0018 per keyword our test
- Set up in about 5 minutes; the treg CLI shows each endpoint's price before you call it
- Different numbers than Semrush: "delete me review" was 480 in Semrush and 5,400 in DataForSEO. Pick one provider and compare trends
- Coverage gaps in our test: SE Ranking had no data for 4 of 10 keywords, Serpstat for 3
- No UI: CLI, API or agent only
- No rank tracking, backlinks or site audit
- Semrush's own data through treg needs your own Semrush API credential, so it doesn't remove the Semrush bill
- Nothing to host
- Same open-source code: can self-host later
- Usage-based data cost
- 28% markup on data requests
- Smaller dataset UI than Semrush
- No monthly fee: you pay DataForSEO per request
- MCP server and agent skills for Claude Code
- MIT license, runs on Cloudflare's free plan
- You bring and fund a DataForSEO key ($50 minimum deposit) dataforseo.com
- No history import from Semrush projects
- Fewer reports than Semrush (no AI search visibility)
- Exactly the features you use
- Lives in your stack (cron + table + page)
- Data API cost only
- You own bugs and API changes
- No backlink or audit data
Compare a specific alternative
Considering a specific destination? Read its checked comparison before deciding what to move.
- Semrush vs DataForSEO Checked comparison evidence, migration details, public switching accounts.
- Semrush vs Google Search Console Checked comparison evidence, migration details, public switching accounts.
- Semrush vs Moz Pro Checked comparison evidence, public switching accounts.
- Semrush vs OpenSEO Checked comparison evidence, migration details, public switching accounts.
- Semrush vs SE Ranking Checked comparison evidence, migration details.
- Semrush vs treg Checked comparison evidence, migration details.
What keyword lookups cost at real volumes
Semrush and Moz charge a flat monthly price. Per-call data scales with what you look up, so batching matters: one DataForSEO call takes up to 1,000 keywords.
| Keyword lookups a month | 300 | 3,000 | 30,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Semrush SEO today | $139flat, 1 user | $139flat, 1 user | $139flat, 1 user |
| Moz Pro Standard | $99flat, 1 user | $99flat, 1 user | $99flat, 1 user |
| SE Ranking data via treg | $0.54per keyword | $5.37per keyword | $53.70per keyword |
| DataForSEO via treg, 1,000 keywords per call | $0.091 call | $0.273 calls | $2.7030 calls |
| DataForSEO via treg, 10 keywords per call | $2.7030 calls | $27300 calls | $2703,000 calls |
- Coverage differs: in our test SE Ranking had no data for 4 of 10 keywords and Serpstat for 3, so the cheapest provider isn't always the one to use. our test
- Flat plans come with limits of their own: Semrush SEO tracks 500 keywords across 5 websites. semrush.com
How people actually left Semrush
10 public accounts of leaving Semrush: 5 switched, 4 evaluated, 1 went back. Summaries are ours; each links the original, and each was checked against its page before it appeared here.
A DataForSEO-affiliated reviewer tested OpenSEO against Semrush, Ahrefs and direct DataForSEO access; likes the rank tracking and audit crawler but flags the 28% data markup and single-developer risk. Ryan Doser
A developer's Medium post frames OpenSEO as an escape from Semrush/Ahrefs' high prices and cluttered interfaces, praising its pay-as-you-go pricing, MCP integration and self-hosting options. Medium
A 5-star Trustpilot reviewer switched from Semrush to DataForSEO after Semrush's price kept climbing, calling it a cost-effective alternative with comparable functionality. Trustpilot
A blogger who used Ahrefs and Semrush now runs OpenSEO with Claude's MCP for keyword research, preferring it despite a thinner backlink index and no agency-grade support. Lewis Lovelock
A 5-star Trustpilot reviewer says routing an AI agent through DataForSEO's API is faster and more capable than what they got from Semrush. Trustpilot
An 18-month production user (450+ articles/month) reports DataForSEO running 70-97% cheaper than Ahrefs/Semrush subscriptions, with strong accuracy but no built-in dashboard and a real learning curve. NextGrowth
Show 4 more
After 8 months paying $139.95/month for Semrush, the author found Google Search Console free and more accurate for their own site, keeping Semrush only for competitor research. Medium
A longtime Semrush user tried Moz's paid plan and came away underwhelmed, sticking with Semrush as his primary tool while still valuing Moz's free tools. 99signals
A Capterra reviewer who normally relies on Semrush and Ahrefs tried Moz Pro and went back to his previous tools. Capterra
A Capterra reviewer who ran Semrush and Moz Pro simultaneously found Moz's dashboard intimidating and judged Semrush the overall better, easier product. Capterra
How to leave Semrush
Export first, then cancel. Every step links the vendor's own help page, checked on the date shown.
- Run your usual keyword checks in the new tool for a month before you cancel, then compare trends, not absolute numbers. the math
How to leave Semrush
Export first
- Position Tracking (rankings, pages, competitors, devices, featured snippets): Position Tracking → each tab → Export (XLSX, CSV, Google Sheets, PDF). Historical date-range export not verified; SE Ranking can import Semrush ranking history. semrush.com
- Keyword lists (Keyword Strategy Builder, formerly Keyword Manager): Keyword Strategy Builder → list → Export (XLSX, CSV). semrush.com
- Site Audit (crawled pages, issues, compare crawls): Site Audit → Export (PDF, data exports (format not stated)). semrush.com
- Projects as a whole: No bulk project export found: export each tool separately.
What you lose
- Semrush's own keyword and backlink index and its history
- Ads, social, PR and content suites
- Scheduled PDF reports
Cancel
- Export everything you want to keep first (see export).
- Logged in, open semrush.com/cancel (also reachable from Subscription Info → Contact us).
- Choose "All Semrush subscriptions" to cancel everything; add-ons need a separate Contact Form request, apps are cancelled under My Apps → Settings.
- Confirm through the emailed link within 24 hours.
- Check Subscription Info shows "Recurring: Inactive".
- Takes effect
- At the end of the committed term; the account then drops to a free account.
- Refunds
- 7-day money-back guarantee only for initial subscriptions with a term of 12 months or more (and initial add-ons); ask for it in the cancellation form's comment field. No refunds for month-to-month plans.
- Notice
- None beyond cancelling before the renewal date.
- After you cancel
- Website Monitoring folders are kept for a 30-day grace period, then deleted.
Not covered by the paths above, per the recipe: Entire competitive index, Historical parity, All backlink data, Automated full-suite equivalence. If you rely on one of these, keep the incumbent or check the path closely.
Moving your data, destination by destination
What each destination's importer carries over, what it leaves behind, and any help it offers switchers.
To OpenSEO
Official guide github.com · Tools: Docker Compose, DataForSEO API
Doesn't move: keyword lists & tracked rankings; Semrush keyword rankings history; Semrush backlink index; Scheduled PDF reports; Any Semrush/Ahrefs project data - no importer exists as of v0.1.5. github.com
Watch out for:
- No Semrush or Ahrefs importer as of the Aug 2026 v0.1.5 release github.com
- Self-hosted Docker mode ships with authentication disabled by default github.com
- You pay DataForSEO directly in addition to any OpenSEO hosted fee github.com
To DataForSEO
Official guide dataforseo.com · Tools: Postman, DataForSEO Postman collection
Doesn't move: keyword & SERP data; Semrush's historical keyword/backlink index; Any existing Semrush reports or dashboards. dataforseo.com
Watch out for:
- No built-in dashboard - you build your own reporting on top of the API dataforseo.com
- The official guide doesn't mention Semrush; you design the replacement reports yourself dataforseo.com
Switching help: New accounts get an unlimited-duration free trial: $1 of API credit (about 833 SERPs, or 20,000 backlink/keyword lookups) to test before paying. Not switch-specific. dataforseo.com
To Google Search Console
Official guide support.google.com
Doesn't move: Semrush's competitor/backlink data; Historical keyword-volume estimates; Any Semrush report or dashboard layout. support.google.com
Watch out for:
- No Semrush data import exists or is needed - GSC only ever shows Google's own first-party data support.google.com
- Domain properties require DNS access; URL-prefix properties don't support.google.com
To treg
Official guide treg.to
Moves: provider access (partial). treg.to
Doesn't move: Historical Semrush data or reports - treg only proxies live calls going forward. treg.to
Watch out for:
- 'Bring your own key' routing still needs a live Semrush account - treg doesn't hold Semrush's data itself treg.to
- Provider credentials are held server-side by treg, a single point of failure for routed keys treg.to
Switching help: New verified accounts get $1.00 of free credit to test the catalog (about 166 Semrush keyword-volume calls at $0.006 each). A general onboarding credit, not switch-specific. treg.to
To SE Ranking
Official guide seranking.com · Tools: SE Ranking CSV/XLSX importer
Moves: Projects and domains (full); Keyword lists, tags and groups (full); Ranking history (full); Search engine and location settings (full); Competitor tracking foundations (partial). seranking.com
Doesn't move: Custom report layouts; Tool-specific dashboards; Some integrations/connections; Advanced workflows without a direct SE Ranking equivalent; Workspace/team structure. seranking.com
Watch out for:
- Semrush's Export button only appears on Position Tracking's Overview tab - switching tabs can hide it seranking.com
- Multi-search-engine projects need a separate export/import pass per engine seranking.com
From each destination's own migration docs and switching pages, plus community write-ups where no official guide exists, each checked against its page. Confirm terms on the linked page before you rely on an offer.
Open-source and forkable options
- OpenSEO (self-hosted): Founders comfortable with Docker or Cloudflare who want a UI and an MCP server for their coding agent. License: MIT · source code
Open source means no license fee, not free to run: the server, backups and upgrades are yours. Read the license before you fork or resell; several of these are open-core or source-available.
Replace with AI, or hand it to an agent skill
Agent skill Google Search Console MCP (mcp-gsc): Rank and click tracking for your own site from Search Console data, queried by your agent. First year: saves $1,268 (modeled, not measured).
Replace with AI Build it: keyword + rank checker: You only check volumes and your own rankings; want it inside your own dashboard. First year: saves $786 (modeled, not measured).
Agent skill Agent plugin: treg (pay-per-call tools registry): A keyword-research seat used for occasional lookups: the agent calls keyword, SERP and backlink endpoints per call instead. Not priced in the catalog yet.
Agent skill DataForSEO MCP server: Keyword research, SERP and backlink lookups from your agent, paid per request instead of a monthly SEO seat. Not priced in the catalog yet.
Replace with AI Replace with AI: occasional keyword or rank lookups: Build a bounded query interface over licensed APIs; cache results and expose endpoint-specific prices. Not priced in the catalog yet.
- Building means a small query tool over licensed data APIs: a cron job, a table and a page. The recipe's spec keeps backlinks, audits and history out of scope. recipe
Tested by Stackcut
Stackcut's own test, not a customer: we ran the path end to end on one of our own products.
Semrush keyword lookups → pay-per-call keyword data through treg
Question. Can an occasional keyword-volume lookup move from a Semrush seat to per-call data through treg, and do the numbers hold up?
Numbers
- 10 keywords from leakcheckme.com, US volumes
- Coverage: DataForSEO 9/10, Serpstat 7/10, SE Ranking 6/10 (Semrush 10/10)
- Cost: $0.09 per DataForSEO call (up to 1,000 keywords); SE Ranking about $0.0018 per keyword our test
- Biggest gap: "delete me review" 480 (Semrush) vs 5,400 (DataForSEO)
Verdict
Good replacement for occasional keyword-volume lookups (not for rank tracking, backlinks or audits). Use DataForSEO for batches (cheapest per keyword, best coverage here) and expect different absolute numbers than Semrush.
Good fit when
- You look up keyword volumes a few times a month
- Relative volume is enough to prioritise content
Not a fit when
- You need Semrush's own numbers (clients report in Semrush)
- You rely on Position Tracking, backlinks or Site Audit
FAQ
What's the cheapest way to get keyword volumes without a Semrush seat?
Can I get Semrush's own data through an API instead?
Not without a Semrush bill. treg's Semrush endpoints need your own Semrush API credential, and Semrush's API needs its own subscription. The per-call replacement is other providers' data. our test
Will the numbers match what Semrush shows?
No. Providers measure volume differently, and some merge close variants. Pick one provider, stay on it, and compare trends rather than absolute numbers. our test
Do I get a refund if I cancel Semrush?
Month-to-month plans get no refund. The 7-day money-back guarantee applies only to initial subscriptions of 12 months or more, and cancelling takes effect at the end of the committed term. semrush.com
Is there a free option?
For your own verified site, Google Search Console is free: queries, clicks and average position, with CSV export. It has no keyword research or competitor data. support.google.com
Keep reading
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find_alternatives({"vendor": "Semrush", "monthly_spend_usd": 139,
"features_used": ["Keyword research"]})