Quick answer: Semrush is used for SEO, keyword research, competitor analysis and tracking how your brand appears in AI search. Marketers use it to find keywords, audit websites, monitor rankings and study competitors’ traffic and ads. Founded in 2008 and now part of Adobe, Semrush has 28 million users, with paid plans from $139 a month.
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What Is Semrush?
Semrush is an online visibility platform for SEO, content, paid ads and AI search. Oleg Shchegolev and Dmitry Melnikov founded it in 2008, and it grew into one of the most widely used marketing toolsets in the world.
In April 2026, Adobe completed its acquisition of Semrush, a deal announced at about $1.9 billion. Semrush now operates as “Semrush, an Adobe company” and reports more than 28 million users.
Who Runs Semrush?
Bill Wagner leads Semrush as CEO. Adobe plans to connect Semrush data with its own marketing products, such as Adobe Experience Manager and Adobe LLM Optimizer.
What Is Semrush Used For?
Semrush packs dozens of tools into one account. These are the six jobs our readers use it for most.
1. Keyword Research
Keyword Magic Tool shows search volume, difficulty, intent and related questions for millions of keywords. It helps you pick topics that people actually search for and that you can realistically rank for.
2. Spying on Competitors
Enter any domain to see its top keywords, best pages, backlinks and estimated traffic. For dropshippers and affiliate marketers, this is the fastest way to find what already works in a niche.
3. Tracking AI Search Visibility
Semrush now tracks how often your brand is mentioned in ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews and other AI answers. This is the core of GEO, or generative engine optimization, and it is quickly becoming as important as Google rankings.
4. Auditing Your Website
Site Audit scans your site for broken links, slow pages, crawl errors and missing tags. Each issue comes with a clear explanation and a priority level.
5. Monitoring Rankings
Position Tracking checks your keyword rankings daily by country, city and device. You see exactly when a page moves up or drops after an update.
6. Planning Content, Ads and Backlinks
- Content tools: Topic research, SEO writing briefs and AI-assisted drafts.
- Ad research: See competitors’ Google Ads copy and estimated spend.
- Backlink tools: Analyze link profiles and find outreach opportunities.
- Local SEO: Manage Google Business Profile listings and local rankings.
Semrush Pricing Range (2026)
Semrush now sells an SEO plan plus Semrush One plans that combine SEO and AI search tracking. Annual billing saves about 16%.
| Plan | Monthly | Billed annually | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | $0 | Testing: 10 reports per day, 1 project |
| SEO | $139/mo | $117.33/mo | Classic SEO for up to 5 sites |
| Semrush One Starter | $199/mo | $165.17/mo | SEO + AI visibility for 5 sites |
| Semrush One Pro+ | $299/mo | $248.17/mo | 15 sites, 1,500 keywords, historical data |
| Advanced | Custom | Custom | Teams and agencies with 40+ sites |
Prices checked October 2026 in USD. Paid plans come with a 7-day free trial, and you can cancel anytime.
Who Is Semrush Best For?
Semrush serves everyone from solo bloggers to Fortune 500 marketing teams. It pays off most when search traffic is a real growth channel for your business.
A Great Fit If You Are
- A blogger or affiliate marketer who lives on organic traffic and needs solid keyword data.
- A dropshipper or ecommerce owner researching niches, competitors and product demand.
- A marketer focused on AI search who needs to track brand mentions in ChatGPT and AI Overviews.
- A MarTech or agency team running audits, rank tracking and reports for many sites.
- A PPC specialist who wants to study competitors’ ad copy and keywords.
Look Elsewhere (or Mix and Match) If You
- Are on a very small budget: Free tools like Google Search Console and Google Keyword Planner cover the basics.
- Only need backlink data: A backlink-focused tool may cost less for that one job.
- Need first-party analytics: Semrush estimates traffic. For your own exact numbers, use GA4.
Semrush Pros and Watch-Outs
- Pro: One of the largest keyword and backlink databases available.
- Pro: Early, strong tools for AI search visibility.
- Pro: Covers SEO, content, ads, local and social in one login.
- Pro: Free plan and 7-day trial let you test before paying.
- Watch-out: Pricing is high for solo users who only need a few features.
- Watch-out: Traffic numbers are estimates, not exact data.
- Watch-out: The number of tools can feel overwhelming at first.
Helpful Reads From the Semrush Blog
Semrush publishes some of the most data-driven SEO content online. These are the guides we recommend most for our readers:
- What is agentic SEO? 8 workflows run on a live site How AI agents are changing day-to-day SEO work.
- What is llms.txt & should you use it? A clear take on the new file for AI crawlers.
- AI Overviews are expanding across commercial intent search What the data says about AI answers on buying searches.
- How to do keyword research in 2026 Six methods plus a simple framework.
- Link building for SEO: What works in 2026 Practical tactics that still earn links.
- What is competitive analysis? How to do one Includes a free template you can copy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Semrush used for?
Semrush is used for SEO, keyword research, competitor analysis, site audits, rank tracking and AI search visibility. Marketers also use it to research competitors’ ads and plan content.
Is Semrush free?
Semrush has a free plan with 10 reports per day and one project. Paid plans start at $139 per month and include a 7-day free trial.
How much does Semrush cost?
The SEO plan costs $139 per month, Semrush One Starter $199 and Pro+ $299. Annual billing lowers the price by about 16%.
Who owns Semrush?
Adobe owns Semrush. The acquisition was completed in April 2026, and Semrush now operates as an Adobe company.
Is Semrush good for beginners?
Yes, but expect a learning curve. Start with Keyword Magic Tool, Site Audit and Position Tracking, then add other tools as you grow.
Can Semrush track AI search like ChatGPT?
Yes. Semrush One plans track brand mentions and visibility in AI answers, including ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews.
Is Semrush traffic data accurate?
It is a reliable estimate for comparing sites and spotting trends. For exact numbers on your own site, check GA4 or Google Search Console.
Get Started With Semrush
Search is changing fast, and the brands that win are the ones that understand both Google and AI answers. Semrush gives you the data to see where you stand today and where your competitors are already ahead.
Start with a free account or a 7-day trial, run your first site audit and keyword research, and build your strategy on real data instead of guesswork.
