Moz vs Semrush
Moz and Semrush are the two titans of SEO, but they serve different users. Moz gives you trusted authority metrics and foundational knowledge. Semrush delivers serious data scale and integrated competitive marketing toolkits. Choosing one depends entirely on your team size and overall marketing scope.
Comprehensive SEO Research, High Learning Value
Moz maintains a position as a foundational SEO platform due to its trusted proprietary metrics and excellent educational resources like Moz Academy. We observe that core functionality is strong, but the recurring complaints about billing practices and inconsistent customer support are concerning. Overall, this is a strong platform for learning SEO fundamentals and site auditing, provided you check the free trial terms carefully.
Pros
- Trusted proprietary metrics like Domain Authority (DA) and Page Authority (PA).
- Excellent foundational SEO materials provided through Moz Academy courses.
- MozBar is a valuable tool, especially the free browser extension, for quick insights.
- Moz Local is highly rated as a robust tool for managing business listings efficiently.
Cons
- Significant user complaints about automatic recurring billing after free trials.
- Customer support responsiveness can be inconsistent regarding complex billing issues.
- Some users feel the service has gone downhill and that the strategies are outdated.
Powerful data, challenging user experience.
We found Semrush to be an undeniably powerful, AI-driven platform for comprehensive competitive research and SEO strategy at scale. It offers immense infrastructure with vast keyword and backlink data, supporting advanced enterprise needs like dedicated API access. Overall, users must carefully navigate the automated subscription and cancellation requirements, as widespread billing issues severely detract from the software’s technical strength.
Pros
- AI-powered platform provides precise competitive insights.
- Massive database featuring 43 trillion backlinks and 27 billion keywords.
- Offers integrated toolkits for SEO, Content, Social, and Advertising.
- Suitable for large organizations; Business Plan includes API access.
Cons
- Widespread reports of hidden auto-renewal fees and unexpected charges.
- Cancellation process is intentionally complicated and difficult to find.
- Customer support is consistently reported as unresponsive and unhelpful.
- Fees are charged for adding every new website or project.
AboutMoz
Moz offers a comprehensive suite of digital marketing and SEO solutions. Over 500,000 brands and agencies trust their data and tools every day.
They offer distinct platforms for specific needs. Moz Pro provides the essential all-in-one SEO toolkit. STAT handles large-scale rank tracking for high-volume users. Moz Local takes care of managing your business listings and reputation across many locations.
Moz also offers proprietary metrics, like Domain Authority and Brand Authority, which have shaped the SEO industry since 2004. You get clear data and insights that help you achieve measurable results. ✅
AboutSemrush
Semrush is the leading AI-Powered Marketing Platform trusted by the world’s leading brands. It provides specific toolkits for nearly every marketing task, from Local optimization to AI PR. It helps 10 million marketing professionals manage their digital strategy effectively. This platform is truly the growth engine for Enterprises, offering critical, actionable data backed by immense scale. ✅
Highlights
Feature Comparison
Features Overview
We highlight the main differences and pick a winner for each feature.
Core SEO Metrics
Moz invented Domain Authority (DA); Semrush uses its own Authority Score.
Moz's DA and PA are foundational metrics trusted by the SEO industry for years. They predict ranking power based on specific link signals. Semrush uses its proprietary Authority Score derived from its vast competitive data set. This score covers a wider proprietary analysis. Moz gives you industry-standard metrics, ensuring easier external reporting and validation. Semrush metrics are potent but may require more context for clients or partners.
Data Scale and Depth
Semrush accesses far more keywords and backlinks than Moz's already impressive data pool.
Semrush boasts access to a staggering 27 billion keywords and 43 trillion backlinks globally. This massive scale supports intensive, broad competitive analysis needs efficiently. Moz provides highly specific, high-quality data from 44.8 trillion indexed links. Moz focuses heavily on the quality and authority of its proprietary metrics. However, for sheer data volume and global competitive breadth, Semrush provides unmatched figures. If scaling insights across many global regions is critical, Semrush should be your pick.
Full Marketing Integration
Semrush is a 360-degree platform; Moz is focused on core SEO and authority building.
Semrush integrates tools for SEO, Content, Social media, Advertising, and PPC strategy. It provides a cohesive, single-platform marketing workflow. Moz focuses its efforts on core SEO tasks: keyword research, link analysis, and site auditing. Moz provides Moz Local as a specialized add-on product. Semrush allows agencies to manage almost all digital marketing efforts from one efficient dashboard. This integration is ideal for unified marketing teams.
Local SEO Capability
Moz offers deep, dedicated Local SEO; Semrush integrates local tools into its platform.
Moz Local is a specialized product highly praised for managing listings and reputation efficiently. It simplifies managing 1 to 10,000 physical locations from one dashboard. Semrush provides a Local toolkit feature to optimize Google Business Profiles quickly. It gets your business listed easily in top online directories. Moz provides greater dedicated specialization and robust review management for local presence. If local optimization is the priority, choose Moz Local.
API and Integration
Moz offers API access on all plans; Semrush locks API usage behind its highest tier.
Moz allows API access across its Pro plans for deeply customized data solutions and dashboards. You can easily integrate Brand Authority data into internal developer tools cost-effectively. Semrush reserves API access exclusively for customers on the Business plan, which costs $499 monthly. Teams needing automated data integration on a budget will find Moz far more accessible. Moz provides essential data integration without the enterprise price tag.
User and Cost Scaling
Moz charges per user seat; Semrush uses consumption limits to scale pricing.
Moz adds a fixed $49/month fee for every additional user seat needed for your team. This structure can raise costs quickly for large marketing departments. Semrush pricing scales solely based on consumption limits like projects and keywords tracked. Semrush is better suited for managing large teams where many members might access reports but fewer run heavy analyses. Moz tracks teams more strictly via discrete user fees.
Our Verdict
Choosing between Moz and Semrush is a crucial strategic step for any marketing team. While Moz offers powerful foundations, Semrush provides the winning comprehensive suite for scale. If you are starting small or prioritizing local, Moz is likely the right fit. For agencies and large enterprises, Semrush delivers the needed volume and breadth. Moz’s superpower centers on trust, education, and foundational reputation. Domain Authority (DA) is still an industry standard critical for measuring link-building success. If you need specialized tracking for physical locations, Moz Local is the superior dedicated option. Moz Academy is also an unrivaled resource for upskilling your entire department. Semrush dominates through sheer data volume and wide integration. It pulls data from 27 billion keywords and 43 trillion backlinks for unmatched competitive insight. While Moz focuses only on SEO, Semrush includes tools for Content, PPC, Social, and AI visibility. This 360-degree view helps marketing teams unify their strategy seamlessly. The deciding factor is often the entry price and breadth of focus. Moz starts cheaply, ideal for solo consultants needing trusted DA scores. Semrush starts much higher, but its integrated toolkits save money on external subscriptions. If you need enterprise-level competitive intelligence across multiple channels, you need Semrush’s data scale. Choose Moz if you are an SEO beginner or run a specialized local business. Pick Semrush if you manage dozens of complex projects and need a powerful, integrated marketing machine. Regardless of your choice, proceed cautiously; review cancellation terms thoroughly for both Moz and Semrush.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which has the larger set of keywords and backlink data, Moz or Semrush?
Semrush has the clear advantage in raw data volume and breadth. Semrush indexes 27 billion keywords and 43 trillion backlinks. Moz also utilizes immense data but Semrush offers greater competitive scale.
Is Moz or Semrush better for beginners learning SEO?
Moz is generally considered better for new SEO professionals. Moz Academy provides excellent foundational education and trusted resources. Semrush is more complex due to its massive feature breadth and scale.
Which tool is best for managing physical business listings (Local SEO)?
Moz Local is a dedicated, highly effective tool for handling local SEO needs. Semrush offers a capable local toolkit, but Moz provides unmatched specialization and robust reputation management.
Does Moz charge extra users, unlike the pricing structure of Semrush?
Yes, Moz charges $49/month for each additional user seat on base plans. Semrush pricing is usage-based, focusing on project and keyword limits instead of discrete user seats.
Which platform is better for optimizing PPC and running ad campaigns?
Semrush is superior for integrated paid media strategy. Semrush includes dedicated toolkits for optimizing Google and Meta ads. It also helps you uncover competitor ad strategies easily.
Which tool offers API access on the lower-tiered plans?
Moz offers API access across its less expensive Pro plans for custom data integration. Semrush reserves API access exclusively for its highest-tier, the expensive Business plan.
Ready to Choose?
Both tools have their strengths. Choose based on your specific needs.