Moz vs Semrush
A side-by-side look at 2 Marketing tools for 2026 — the verdict, pricing, ratings, features, and what readers think.
Approachable SEO software with Domain Authority metrics.
Visit MozAll-in-one SEO, content, and competitive research suite.
Visit SemrushOur take
Semrush wins for teams who need more than SEO — covering PPC, content, social, and local search under one roof. Moz wins for individuals and smaller teams who want reliable core SEO data in a friendlier, less overwhelming interface. If your world is SEO and education, Moz delivers great value. If you need a full digital marketing command centre, Semrush is the stronger pick.
Pricing compared
Head to head
| Moz | Semrush | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ||
| Starting price | $49/mo | $139.95/mo |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Free trial | 30 | 7 |
| Founded | 2004 | 2008 |
| HQ | Seattle, WA, USA | Boston, MA, USA |
| Team size | 200–500 | 1000+ |
Pros & cons
- Highly beginner-friendly interface
- Trusted Domain Authority and Page Authority metrics
- MozBar free browser extension
- Generous 30-day free trial
- Excellent educational content and community
- Affordable entry-level pricing
- Smaller keyword database than Semrush or Ahrefs
- No PPC, social media, or content marketing tools
- Slower backlink index updates
- Limited reporting features
- All-in-one platform: SEO, PPC, content, social
- Massive keyword database
- Powerful competitor research tools
- Robust reporting and white-label options
- Mobile apps available
- Live chat support
- Expensive for individuals and small teams
- Can be overwhelming for beginners
- Some data freshness issues vs Ahrefs
Similarities & differences
- Both include keyword research, rank tracking, and site audit tools
- Both offer backlink analysis and link building features
- Both have large keyword databases covering global markets
- Both integrate with Google Search Console and Google Analytics
- Both provide on-page SEO recommendations
- Semrush covers PPC, social media, content, and local SEO; Moz is SEO-focused
- Moz is known for Domain Authority (DA) and Page Authority (PA) metrics; Semrush uses its own Authority Score
- Semrush starts at $139.95/mo; Moz Pro starts at $49/mo
- Moz has a 30-day free trial; Semrush offers a 7-day trial
- Semrush has a much larger keyword database than Moz
- Moz offers MozBar, a free browser extension; Semrush does not
- Moz is generally considered more beginner-friendly
Who should choose which
Choose Moz if you want approachable SEO software with strong educational resources and a gentler learning curve
Choose Semrush if you need an all-in-one marketing platform covering SEO, PPC, content, and social
Features compared
| Moz | Semrush | |
|---|---|---|
| Plans & pricing | ||
| Free tier | ✗ No | ✓ Yes |
| Free trial | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Pricing model | Per seat, annual or monthly subscription | Per seat, annual or monthly subscription |
| Money-back guarantee | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Platforms & access | ||
| Web app | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Mobile apps | ✗ No | ✓ Yes |
| Desktop app | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Self-hosted option | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Offline mode | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Integrations & extensibility | ||
| Public API | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Webhooks | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Native integrations | Google Analytics, Search Console, Zapier, HubSpot | Google Analytics, Search Console, Zapier, Semrush App Center |
| Automation (Zapier/Make) | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Security & compliance | ||
| SSO / SAML | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Two-factor auth | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| SOC 2 | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| GDPR compliant | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Encryption at rest | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Collaboration | ||
| Team workspaces | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Real-time collaboration | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Role-based permissions | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Guest access | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Support | ||
| Email support | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Live chat support | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Phone support | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Knowledge base | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
Frequently asked questions
Is Moz cheaper than Semrush?
Yes, significantly. Moz Pro starts at $49/mo (billed annually), while Semrush starts at $139.95/mo. Moz is one of the most affordable full-featured SEO tools on the market. If budget is a primary concern and you primarily need SEO (not PPC or social), Moz offers considerably better value.
Which tool has better keyword research?
Semrush has a larger keyword database and more advanced keyword research features, including detailed PPC data, keyword magic tool, and topic clustering. Moz's keyword research is solid and easier to use, but its database is smaller. For professional keyword research at scale, Semrush is the stronger choice.
What is Domain Authority and is it reliable?
Domain Authority (DA) is a score created by Moz that predicts how likely a website is to rank in search results. It ranges from 1 to 100. While it's widely referenced in the SEO community, it is a third-party metric and not a direct Google ranking factor. It's useful as a relative benchmark when comparing sites, but should not be treated as a definitive measure of ranking potential.
Does Moz have a free plan?
Moz does not have a permanent free plan, but it offers a generous 30-day free trial of Moz Pro. It also provides MozBar, a free browser extension that surfaces Domain Authority, Page Authority, and other metrics directly in your browser. These free tools make Moz accessible for occasional users or those evaluating the platform.
Which is better for beginners?
Moz is widely considered the more beginner-friendly SEO tool. Its interface is cleaner, its documentation is thorough, and its educational resources — including the Moz Blog and Whiteboard Friday series — are some of the best in the industry. Semrush has a steeper learning curve due to its breadth of features, though it also has extensive help documentation.