Search Atlas vs. Semrush (2025): Tested & Compared
written by
Victoria Kurichenko
posted on
March 11, 2025
Let’s talk about Search Atlas and Semrush.
If you’ve been in the SEO space for a while, you’ve definitely come across Semrush. When I started doing SEO back in 2015, there were a few big names that dominated the industry, and Semrush was one of them.
Semrush is an all-in-one online marketing tool packed with over 55 features, covering everything from SEO and PPC to content management, social media, and even agency tools. It’s a go-to platform for many marketing teams.
According to Semrush’s 2024 financial report, they had around 117,000 paying customers by the end of the year—an 8% increase from the year before. So, Semrush isn’t just a big company. It’s getting bigger.
Now, what about Search Atlas?
I first spotted this tool on Facebook in 2024, and then suddenly, their ads were everywhere. Their bold marketing message, “Cancel Ahrefs and Semrush,” definitely got my attention.
Digging deeper, I found that Search Atlas markets itself as an AI-powered SEO automation platform for agencies and offers a more budget-friendly alternative to the industry giants.
I’m usually hesitant to switch from my go-to best SEO tools because they’ve worked well for me and my clients for years.
But when I test new SEO tools, I focus on a few key questions that matter to every SEO and website owner:
- Does the tool actually deliver on its promises?
- Are the SEO metrics accurate?
- How does it compare to other, possibly cheaper, alternatives?
That’s it. Everything else is nice to have but not a dealbreaker.
In this article, I’ll break down Search Atlas vs. Semrush, compare their features, and see how their SEO metrics measure up.
Semrush vs. Search Atlas: quick comparison
Before diving into the details, let me give you a quick overview of what these tools offer to their users.
I put together this table using the data from the Search Atlas’ website and Semrush’s stats and facts page.
| Criteria | Semrush | Search Atlas |
|---|---|---|
| The reported number of features | 55+ | 40+ |
| Keyword database | 26.4 billion | 5 billion |
| Backlinks database | 43 trillion | 100 trillion |
| Geo databases | 142 countries | 200 countries |
| Domain profiles | 808 million domains | 500 million domains |
| AI tools | Over 60 apps in the App Center, including AI SEO Writing Assistant ContentShake AI AI Marketing Strategy | OTTO SEO AI automated internal linking AI Content Writer |
| Pricing starts at | $139.95/month for 1 user seat and 5 domains | $99/month for 2 user seats and 5 domains |
Semrush might look like the clear winner at first glance, but that’s mainly because it’s been around since 2008, constantly expanding and updating its massive database.
Here’s how Semrush gathers its data:
“We use third-party data providers to pull actual Google search results for hundreds of millions of popular keywords. From there, we track the top 100 ranking websites, analyzing both organic and paid search results to give you a full picture of a site’s visibility on Google.”
Semrush also mentions:
“The keywords in each of our global databases are refreshed with updated ranking data every month.”
This is important to know after all, what’s the point of using an SEO tool if its data isn’t reliable?
I’ve been using Semrush for years, and from my experience, its keyword data and ranking tracking have been solid. So, I trust it.
Now, let’s take a look at where Search Atlas gets its data.
I tried finding something similar to Semrush’s “Stats” page, even asked ChatGPT for help. Eventually, I came across an interesting comment under one of their Facebook ads…
First, it’s great that the Search Atlas team tracks brand mentions and responds to people. This is a big advantage I haven’t seen often when using various tools.
But what it also tells me is that Search Atlas likely pulls data from your Google Search Console account to track your website’s performance and provide improvement recommendations. If I stumble upon more insights about their data sources, I’ll add them to this post.
Now, let me quickly review and compare the main features you’ll likely be using whether you decide to go with Semrush or Search Atlas.
You’ll also notice that Search Atlas’ user interface is somehow similar to Semrush and Ahrefs. So, it won’t take time to get used to a new tool.
Keyword research
Both Semrush and Search Atlas offer a bunch of tools to help you conduct niche keyword research for your website.
Here’s a quick breakdown:
Semrush:
- Keyword Overview
- Keyword Magic Tool
- Keyword Gap
- Keyword Strategy Builder
- Organic Research
- Organic Traffic Insights
Search Atlas:
- Keyword Researcher
- Keyword Magic Tool
- Keyword Gap Analysis
- Content Planner
Depending on the tool, you’ll be able to analyze keywords, quickly find new keywords based on your topic ideas, and find competitor top tools.
If you’ve read my Semrush review, you already know I’m a big fan of their Keyword Magic Tool. It’s great for finding thousands of keyword ideas from just one seed keyword. It looks like Search Atlas has taken inspiration from this tool and included something similar in its keyword research toolkit.
Let me walk you through how the keyword research dashboards compare so you know what to expect.
Here’s a look at Semrush’s Keyword Explorer. It gives you a deep keyword overview, showing details like search volume, difficulty, intent, related terms, and cost-per-click.
I rely on this report whenever I need to evaluate a keyword’s potential.
Now, let me highlight a few differences between Semrush vs. Search Atlas reports.
One key difference is how they classify the search intent for the keyword “SEO books.” Search Atlas says it’s informational, but that’s only partly true. My article on SEO books ranks on the first page of Google and consistently brings in ebook sales. That tells me the intent isn’t just informational—it’s a mix of informational and transactional. In this case, Semrush seems to be more accurate.
Now, let’s talk search volumes.
Here’s how Semrush and Search Atlas estimate global monthly searches for “SEO books”:
- Semrush: 10.6k
- Search Atlas: 4.4k
For comparison, here are the organic impressions my blog post received in February 2025 while ranking on Google’s first page (based on Google Search Console data):
- “SEO books” – 1,903 impressions
- “SEO book” – 1,112 impressions
- “Books on SEO” – 490 impressions
- “Book on SEO” – 435 impressions
- Total impressions: 23.8k
My page got 50 organic visits in February while ranking between positions 5 and 8 (based on Google Analytics data).
According to Search Engine Journal, the 8th position typically gets about a 3.2% click-through rate (CTR). If that’s accurate, all websites ranking for “SEO books” might have received around 1,563 total views in February.
Of course, this isn’t a perfect comparison, but it suggests that the real search volume might be lower than what the tools estimate. Plus, we have to consider all the related keywords that also drive organic impressions.
Bottom line? Keyword metrics are just estimates, so take them with a grain of salt when doing keyword research or planning an SEO strategy.
Rank tracking
I’ve used different SEO tools to track my website’s rankings over time, including Semrush and Ubersuggest.
One of my favorites is Semrush’s Position Tracking tool because it gives a clear picture of my site’s performance. It shows overall organic visibility, estimated traffic, and the average position for each tracked keyword. I also get weekly ranking updates, so I always know where my site stands.
Here’s a look at Semrush’s Position Tracking dashboard with ranking updates for the U.S. market in early March. If you’re on Semrush’s free plan, you can track up to 8 keywords.
Let me give you a quick look at the Keyword Rank Tracker in Search Atlas.
Below, you can see how my tracked keywords rank in the USA. Search Atlas updates ranking data daily for organic desktop, organic mobile, and local search. It also shows if any SERP features are influencing the results.
I used the exact same keywords to compare rankings, and both tools seemed to provide solid results for my target keywords.
Organic traffic estimates
Let me show you how well Semrush and Search Atlas can estimate organic traffic.
I took my best-performing page, AI SEO tools, which brings in thousands of visits every month and ranks for hundreds of keywords. To compare accuracy, I checked its organic traffic in February 2025 using Semrush, Search Atlas, and Google Search Console.
Here’s what I found for both my top-ranking page and my overall website:
| Organic traffic, February 2025 | Google Search Console | Semrush | Search Atlas |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI SEO tools page | 4,003 | 4,800 | 5,167 |
| My website | 7,004 | 8,600 | 7,069 |
From my experience, both tools do a solid job of estimating organic traffic. And it’s not just my site. I’ve tested them on a few client websites, too, and the numbers were relatively close.
Nevertheless, remember that all SEO tool metrics are just estimates. They’re great for spotting trends, but they shouldn’t be taken as exact numbers!
Semrush vs. Search Atlas: Pricing
Most SEO tools are pricey, and Semrush and Search Atlas are no different.
The best tool for you depends on your business goals. You can choose one of these or go for a cheaper option.
I bought Ubersuggest for my own use, but for bigger SEO projects, I still prefer Semrush, Search Atlas, or Ahrefs.
How much does Search Atlas cost?
The cheapest plan is $99 a month. It includes everything a freelancer, startup, or small SEO agency needs for up to five websites.
You can try it free for seven days, but you’ll need to enter your credit card details. You won’t be charged unless you keep using it after the trial.
I started and canceled my trial easily without contacting support. So if you’re curious, you can join Search Atlas’ 7-day free trial and test it out without any risk.
What I like about Semrush is that you can run daily searches, even on the free plan. It has some limits, but it’s enough for hobbyists or anyone who just wants to try it out.
If you need more features, Semrush Pro starts at $139.95 per month. It lets you track up to 500 keywords, analyze five domains, and dig into keyword, domain, and backlink data.
Usually, Semrush only offers a 7-day free trial. But since I’m a partner (and yes, I’m upfront about it), I can give my audience exclusive access to a 14-day free trial of Semrush Pro.
My verdict
I’ve been using Semrush since 2015, and more recently, I’ve been testing out Search Atlas for the past few months.
I’m still exploring some of the Search Atlas features, like OTTO SEO, so I’ll update this article once I have more insights to share.
Both tools are solid and do what they promise.
The right choice really depends on your business goals and budget.
Semrush is a great all-in-one SEO tool that covers everything from PPC and social media marketing to content creation.
If you’re into content SEO, you might find their ContentShake AI tool helpful (I recently published my in-depth ContentShake AI review). Plus, Semrush offers agency kits and a powerful market research toolkit, making it a strong option for businesses that need a full-featured SEO platform. Join Semrush Pro’s 14-day free trial and see how it works for you.
Search Atlas, on the other hand, is a newer and more affordable alternative with a strong SEO toolkit. It’s a solid pick for agencies looking for a powerful tool, and they seem to be expanding fast and updating their keyword and backlink databases regularly.
One standout feature is how Search Atlas integrates AI into its SEO toolkit to offer personalized on-page and technical SEO recommendations.
While Search Atlas doesn’t offer a free plan, there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee, and you can test it out with a 7-day free trial.
I’m still digging into both tools, so I’ll keep updating this article with more insights. Stay tuned, and feel free to drop any questions in the comments!
Hello there!
My name is Victoria.
I am an SEO expert, Medium top writer, solopreneur, and the founder of Self Made Millennials. I help companies create optimized content and attract potential customers through organic search results. In addition, I share how content creators can monetize their writing skills.
Take a look at my solopreneur journey
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