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Keysearch vs Semrush: cheap keyword tool or full SEO suite?

Traditional SEO suites · Verified · By Joonas Rotko

Keysearch logo

Keysearch

Hands-on

From Starter, billed annually

$20/mo

$24/mo billed monthly

Semrush logo

Semrush

Hands-on

From SEO, billed annually

$117.33/mo

$139.95/mo billed monthly

Quick answer

If you mainly need keyword research and rank tracking, Keysearch Pro ($48/month billed monthly) tracks 200 keywords for far less than Semrush SEO ($139.95/month billed monthly). If you also want AI search visibility, client reports or more than a few sites, I'd pick Semrush: its SEO plan tracks Google AI Overviews, and Keysearch doesn't list AI search tracking on either plan. Prices verified 1 Oct 2026.

Across the three setups below: Semrush in 3 of 3 scenarios.

Which one fits you?

  1. Small business owner, one website

    Semrush logo

    Semrush

    My pick

    $117.33/mo billed annually

    This brief asks for AI search visibility as well as keyword tracking, and Semrush SEO ($139.95/month billed monthly) covers both: 500 tracked keywords and Google AI Overview tracking on one site. Keysearch Pro ($48/month billed monthly) tracks 200 keywords, which is enough for this brief, but it doesn't list AI Overview or AI prompt tracking.

    Why this pick, and when to skip it

    Semrush wins on the brief as written: it's the only one of the two that lists AI search tracking. Drop that requirement and Keysearch Pro is the cheaper fit.

    Skip it if you only want keyword research and rank tracking and AI search can wait. Keysearch Pro does that for much less, and it's the plan I'd look at first on a tight budget.

    See Semrush plans

  2. Solo marketer or consultant, 3 client sites

    Semrush logo

    Semrush

    My pick

    $117.33/mo billed annually

    Three client sites with reports fit Semrush SEO at $139.95/month billed monthly: it allows 5 projects, 500 tracked keywords and 3 reports. Keysearch Pro tracks 200 keywords, which is short of three sites at about a hundred keywords each, and it doesn't list a project count.

    Why this pick, and when to skip it

    Semrush wins by default: Keysearch's tracked keyword limit is below what three sites need.

    Skip it if your clients are tiny and you track fewer than 200 keywords in total. Then Keysearch Pro, which lists team sharing and report generation, can do the job for less.

    See Semrush plans

  3. Small agency, about 10 clients

    Semrush logo

    Semrush

    My pick

    $608.17/mo billed annually

    Ten clients with white-label reports and AI prompts need Semrush Pro+ at $299/month billed monthly, plus a Pro Report add-on per client and two extra seats, which comes to $659/month billed monthly in total. Keysearch's top plan tracks 200 keywords, far below the thousand keywords this brief needs, and it doesn't list AI prompt tracking, white label or a seat count.

    Why this pick, and when to skip it

    Semrush wins by default: Keysearch has no plan that reaches this brief's keyword count.

    Skip it if you can cut the brief to a handful of clients. Keysearch tops out well below this keyword count, so it only works if most of those clients are dropped.

    See Semrush plans

Neither fits? See the alternatives, or take the 2-minute recommendation.

How are Keysearch and Semrush really different?

  • Entry price

    Keysearch
    Flat per plan: Pro at $48/month billed monthly, with a cheaper Starter below it
    Semrush
    SEO $139.95/month billed monthly, with add-ons and extra seats sold on top

    Keysearch is the low-cost option for keyword research and rank tracking, and its two plans are simple to choose between. Semrush costs more to start but scales further.

  • AI search tracking

    Keysearch
    Not listed. Its AI credits (15,000 a month on Pro) power an AI content assistant, not AI search tracking
    Semrush
    Google AI Overview tracking on every paid plan; AI prompt tracking from Starter (50 prompts)

    If seeing how you show up in AI search is part of the job, Semrush lists it on every paid plan and Keysearch doesn't list it on either.

  • Room to grow

    Keysearch
    Pro: 200 tracked keywords and 5,000 audited pages a month
    Semrush
    SEO: 500 tracked keywords, 5 projects and 100,000 crawled pages a month

    One small site fits either. Several sites, a bigger keyword list or a large site audit outgrow Keysearch quickly, and Keysearch doesn't list a project count.

  • Reports and team access

    Keysearch
    Pro lists team collaboration and report generation; no white label or seat count listed
    Semrush
    3 reports included; white label through the Pro Report add-on at $20/month per report; extra users $45/user per month

    For client work, Semrush has a clear, priced route to white-label reports. Keysearch is the one to check with the vendor before you rely on it for clients.

What will Keysearch or Semrush cost for your setup?

The cheapest plan that covers each setup, add-ons included. Prices exclude VAT.

Small business owner, one website

1 site · 100 tracked keywords · AI search visibility: Google AI Overview tracking or AI prompt tracking (10 prompts) · 1 user

ToolMonthlyYearly, per month

Keysearch

Fit unconfirmed
Fit unconfirmed

Pro is priced, but sites limit isn't published

Semrush

My pick
$139.95
$117.33

SEO

Above 5 sites: Pro+ (+$130.84/mo, billed annually).

See Semrush plans
Usage, limits and billing

Keysearch

The plan's price is published, but a limit this setup needs isn't, so the fit can't be confirmed.

Semrush

  • Uses 1 of 5 sites, 100 of 500 tracked keywords.
  • AI visibility covered by Google AI Overview tracking.
  • On monthly billing: $1,679.40 a year.
  • On annual billing: $1,407.96 a year.
  • Above 500 tracked keywords: Pro+, $130.84/mo more.

Solo marketer or consultant, 3 client sites

3 sites · 300 tracked keywords · client reports · 1 user

ToolMonthlyYearly, per month

Keysearch

No plan fits
No plan fits

No plan covers it: tracked keywords: 300 needed, plan allows 80, no add-on sells more

Semrush

My pick
$139.95
$117.33

SEO

Above 5 sites: Pro+ (+$130.84/mo, billed annually).

See Semrush plans
Usage, limits and billing

Keysearch

No published plan fits this setup.

Semrush

  • Uses 3 of 5 sites, 300 of 500 tracked keywords.
  • On monthly billing: $1,679.40 a year.
  • On annual billing: $1,407.96 a year.
  • Above 500 tracked keywords: Pro+, $130.84/mo more.

Small agency, about 10 clients

10 sites · 1,000 tracked keywords · 100 AI prompts · 10 white-label reports · client reports · 3 users

ToolMonthlyYearly, per month

Keysearch

No plan fits
No plan fits

No plan covers it: tracked keywords: 1,000 needed, plan allows 80, no add-on sells more

Semrush

My pick
$659
$608.17

Pro+ with 10 x Pro Report and 2 extra users

Above 15 sites: Advanced with 10 x Pro Report (+$247.50/mo, billed annually).

See Semrush plans
Usage, limits and billing

Keysearch

No published plan fits this setup.

Semrush

  • Uses 10 of 15 sites, 1,000 of 1,500 tracked keywords, 100 of 100 AI prompts, 10 of 10 white-label reports.
  • On monthly billing: $7,908 a year.
  • On annual billing: $7,298.04 a year.
  • Above 1,500 tracked keywords: Advanced with 10 x Pro Report, $247.50/mo more.
  • Above 100 AI prompts: Pro+ with AI Visibility Toolkit (Base) and 10 x Pro Report, $99/mo more.
How I calculated this

For each tool I price every current plan plus the add-ons a setup needs, from the vendor's published prices only, and take the cheapest. Monthly and annual billing are priced separately. When a limit or price isn't published, the tool shows as not fitting instead of a guess.

  • Small business owner, one website: One site and about 100 keywords, enough for your core service and location terms. For AI search, either Google AI Overview tracking or 10 tracked AI prompts counts. One login.Keysearch, monthly billing: Pro is priced, but sites limit isn't published. Sites limit isn't published. Google AI Overview tracking limit isn't published.Keysearch, annual billing: Pro is priced, but sites limit isn't published. Sites limit isn't published. Google AI Overview tracking limit isn't published.
  • Solo marketer or consultant, 3 client sites: Three client sites at about 100 keywords each, with client reports. One person does the work.Keysearch, monthly billing: No plan covers it: tracked keywords: 300 needed, plan allows 80, no add-on sells more. Tracked keywords: 300 needed, plan allows 80, no add-on sells more. Sites limit isn't published. Client reports limit isn't published.Keysearch, annual billing: No plan covers it: tracked keywords: 300 needed, plan allows 80, no add-on sells more. Tracked keywords: 300 needed, plan allows 80, no add-on sells more. Sites limit isn't published. Client reports limit isn't published.
  • Small agency, about 10 clients: Ten clients at about 100 keywords and 10 AI prompts each, with a white-label report for every client. Google AI Overview tracking alone doesn't count here, since clients ask about ChatGPT too. Three people log in.Keysearch, monthly billing: No plan covers it: tracked keywords: 1,000 needed, plan allows 80, no add-on sells more. Tracked keywords: 1,000 needed, plan allows 80, no add-on sells more. Sites limit isn't published. AI prompts limit isn't published. White-label reports limit isn't published. Client reports limit isn't published. Users limit isn't published.Keysearch, annual billing: No plan covers it: tracked keywords: 1,000 needed, plan allows 80, no add-on sells more. Tracked keywords: 1,000 needed, plan allows 80, no add-on sells more. Sites limit isn't published. AI prompts limit isn't published. White-label reports limit isn't published. Client reports limit isn't published. Users limit isn't published.

Keysearch vs Semrush side by side

I compare SEO suites on: Real cost for your setup, both billing bases; AI search visibility: which engines, how many prompts, which plan; Sites and tracked keywords per plan; Client reporting and white label; Users and seat price; Ease of setup for a non-specialist.

Keysearch and Semrush compared on the main buying criteria
Real cost for your setup, both billing basesPro: $48/mo monthly, $40/mo annuallySEO: $139.95/mo monthly, $117.33/mo annually
AI search visibility: which engines, how many prompts, which planNot listed on either plan; AI credits are for the content assistantGoogle AI Overviews on every paid plan; prompts from Starter (50)
Sites and tracked keywords per plan200 keywords on Pro, 80 on Starter; no project count listed5 sites, 500 keywords on SEO
Client reporting and white labelReport generation listed on Pro; white label not listed3 base reports; white label through Pro Report, $20/month per client report
Users and seat priceTeam collaboration listed on Pro; seat count and extra seat price not listed1 user included; extra seats $45/user per month
All details, including automation and AI workflows
All compared details for Keysearch and Semrush
Ease of setup for a non-specialistTwo flat plans, no add-ons; monthly plans cancel any timeFree plan, then a 7-day trial with a card
Real cost for your setup, both billing bases (full detail)Starter: $24/month billed monthly or $20/month billed annually. Pro: $48/month billed monthly or $40/month billed annually.Free: $0/month billed monthly. SEO: $139.95/month billed monthly or $117.33/month billed annually. Starter: $199/month billed monthly or $165.17/month billed annually. Pro+: $299/month billed monthly or $248.17/month billed annually. Advanced: $549/month billed monthly or $455.67/month billed annually.
AI search visibility (full detail)Keysearch lists AI credits (5,000 on Starter, 15,000 on Pro) for its AI content assistant. It doesn't list Google AI Overview tracking or AI prompt tracking.Google AI Overview citation tracking is on every paid plan. Custom AI prompt tracking starts at Starter: 50 a day, then 100 on Pro+ and 200 on Advanced, across Google Search, ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini & more.
Site audit and crawl depth2,000 audited pages a month on Starter, 5,000 on Pro100,000 pages crawled a month on SEO, up to 1,000,000 on Advanced
Keyword research and rank tracking volume200 keyword searches a day on Starter, 500 on Pro; 80 and 200 tracked keywords. Rank check frequency isn't listed.500 tracked keywords on SEO, up to 5,000 on Advanced, tracked daily
Client reporting and white label (full detail)Pro lists team collaboration: share projects, assign tasks and generate reports. White label isn't listed.3 base reports on every plan; white label and branding go through the Pro Report add-on at $20/month per report.
Trial, cancellation and automationMonthly plans carry no long-term commitment. Annual billing is priced at two months free. Keysearch's terms give a 30-day refund window. It doesn't list an API or MCP.7-day trial with a card. Money-back for 7 days, on annual initial purchases only. MCP access is included; API access starts at Advanced.

Who should pick Keysearch, and who should pick Semrush?

Keysearch logo

Keysearch

Hands-on

Keysearch is a flat-priced keyword research and rank tracking tool, from $24/month billed monthly for Starter and $48/month billed monthly for Pro. It suits a small site that needs keyword data and a rank tracker at a low price. It does not publish AI prompt tracking, white label reports or a project count.

Best for: Keyword research and rank tracking on a small budget.

Strengths

  • Two plans only, with Pro at $48/month billed monthly.
  • Pro tracks 200 keywords and allows 500 keyword searches a day.
  • Annual billing takes the Starter price to $20/month billed annually.

Limits

  • Keysearch doesn't publish AI prompt tracking, so AI search visibility isn't covered.
  • Starter tracks 80 keywords.
  • Keysearch doesn't publish a seat count, extra seat price or white label option.

Skip it if you need AI search tracking, white label client reports or several client projects in one plan.

Keysearch reviewKeysearch pricingKeysearch alternatives

Semrush logo

Semrush

Hands-on
  • Best for small business owners
  • Best for consultants managing a few sites
  • Best for small agencies

Semrush tracks Google AI Overviews from the SEO plan up, but AI prompt tracking starts at Starter ($199/month billed monthly). It suits teams already reporting from Semrush and agencies that need white label reports through the Pro Report add-on.

Best for: Agencies that want white label reports through the Pro Report add-on.

Strengths

  • A limited free plan to look around first.
  • White label reports through the Pro Report add-on, $20/month per report.
  • MCP access on the SEO, Starter, Pro+ and Advanced plans.

Limits

  • No AI prompt tracking on the SEO plan.
  • The SEO and Starter plans each stop at 5 sites and 500 keywords.
  • Refunds only on annual plans, first 7 days.

Skip it if you want AI prompt tracking on the SEO plan, which has none.

Semrush reviewSemrush pricingSemrush alternatives

My pick: Semrush in 3 of 3 scenarios.

See Semrush plansSee Keysearch plans

Neither Keysearch nor Semrush? Try these

  • Mangools logo

    Mangools

    From $37.70/mo billed annually

    Pick it if you want a similarly priced keyword tool that bundles AI prompt tracking and white-label ranking reports, which Keysearch doesn't list.

    Mangools reviewMangools alternatives

  • SE Ranking logo

    SE Ranking

    From $103.20/mo billed annually

    Pick it if you want AI search tracking and client reporting at a lower entry price than Semrush, without Keysearch's tight tracked keyword limits.

    SE Ranking reviewSE Ranking alternatives

  • Seobility logo

    Seobility

    From €47.92/mo billed annually

    Pick it if site audits are the main job: it's a lower-cost suite that also tracks Google AI Overviews.

    Seobility reviewSeobility alternatives

Switching between Keysearch and Semrush

Neither tool lists a one-click migration from the other, so plan to re-enter your tracked keywords and projects by hand. Keysearch's monthly plans have no long-term commitment, so you can run both side by side for a month and cancel the one you don't need.

What would change my pick?

  • Keysearch listing AI Overview or AI prompt tracking would put it level with Semrush's SEO plan for a small business, at a much lower price.
  • Keysearch publishing a project count, white-label reports and a seat count would make it a real option for consultants.
  • A price change on either side. The picks recalculate on their own.

Keysearch vs Semrush: questions people ask

Is Keysearch cheaper than Semrush?

Yes. Keysearch Pro is $48/month billed monthly and Starter is $24/month billed monthly, against $139.95/month billed monthly for Semrush SEO. The gap comes with less room: Keysearch Pro tracks 200 keywords, Semrush SEO tracks 500.

Does Keysearch track AI search visibility like Semrush?

Keysearch doesn't list it. Its AI credits power an AI content assistant, not AI search tracking. Semrush tracks Google AI Overviews on every paid plan and adds AI prompt tracking from Starter.

Which is better for a small business, Keysearch or Semrush?

Semrush if AI search visibility is part of the job, since its SEO plan tracks Google AI Overviews at $139.95/month billed monthly. If you only need keyword research and rank tracking for around a hundred keywords, Keysearch Pro at $48/month billed monthly is the cheaper fit.

Can I track client sites with Keysearch?

Keysearch doesn't list a project count or white-label reports. Pro lists team collaboration and report generation, with 200 tracked keywords. For three client sites at around a hundred keywords each, Semrush SEO ($139.95/month billed monthly) fits more comfortably.

Is Keysearch a good alternative to Semrush?

For keyword research and rank tracking on a small budget, yes. It isn't a like-for-like swap: Keysearch doesn't list AI search tracking, white-label reports or a seat count, and Semrush crawls far more pages a month.

Which is better for an agency, Keysearch or Semrush?

Semrush. A ten-client brief with white-label reports and AI prompts needs Pro+ at $299/month billed monthly plus add-ons, $659/month billed monthly in total, and Keysearch's keyword limits don't reach that scale.

How I verified this

Every price and limit here comes from the vendors' own pages, last checked . Keysearch: hands-on. Semrush: hands-on.

Sources and changelog

51 facts from 9 source pages, oldest checked 29 Sep 2026.

  • : New page. Semrush is the pick in all three setups; Keysearch is the cheaper fit for keyword research and rank tracking alone.
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