The Best Semrush API Alternatives in 2026 — A Comparison of SE Ranking, Ahrefs, Majestic, and Serpstat

SEO professionals often look for a convenient and affordable alternative to the Semrush API for collecting data on keywords, rankings, and backlinks. We’ll highlight the key features, pricing plans, and real-world use cases for each Semrush alternative so you can choose the right Semrush API competitor and set up automated data collection.

TL;DR: The Best Semrush API Alternative

According to our data, the best Semrush API alternative is the SE Ranking API. It offers a wide range of data (AI visibility, rankings, organic traffic, backlinks, technical audits, etc.), a transparent credit system, and a reasonable starting plan ($159/month for 1 million credits if you have the Core or Growth plan). The SE Ranking API is easy to integrate with dashboards and already includes a free 14-day trial with 100,000 credits.

Semrush API Alternatives Comparison Table

Tool	Key Data & Features	Price & Limits	Features & Applications
SE Ranking API	Keyword rankings, AI visibility, organic statistics, search queries, technical SEO audits, backlink reports, Domain Trust. Supports global and local databases (country and city-level SEO).	From $159/month for 1M credits if you have a Core or Growth plan. Annual plan: $318/month. 14-day trial (100K credits). Credits can be expanded.	Full SEO dataset, AI visibility, flexible credit system, integrations (Google Sheets, Looker, etc.), strong for agencies and reporting automation.
Majestic API	Global backlink index (Fresh Index updated daily, Historic Index from 2006). Trust Flow, Citation Flow, anchor text data, link history, Clique Hunter, link graph tools.	€379.99/month (~$380) for 100M analysis units (5 users). Lite/Pro plans ($49.99–$94.99) do not include API access.	Deep backlink analysis, raw backlink exports, backlink history tracking. Best for large-scale link research.
Ahrefs API	Site Explorer data (backlinks, referring domains, organic keywords, traffic), SERP overview (top 100 results), Keywords Explorer (volume, difficulty).	Enterprise plan only: $1,499/month. ~2M API units/month. Extra units available.	High-quality dataset, strong competitor analysis, enterprise-grade SEO systems. Expensive and long-term commitment required.
Serpstat API	7.11B keywords, ~1T links. Keyword suggestions, competitor analysis (organic + ads), semantic gaps, backlink sources, SERP by location, technical SEO audits.	Team plan: $129/month (annual billing). API pricing: $100–$180 per 1M rows. 10 requests/sec. Credits roll over.	Balanced SEO suite (keywords + backlinks + audits). Good for SMBs, quick start, scalable usage.

 

SE Ranking API

Key features of the SE Ranking API:

• Complete set of SEO data: keyword rankings, AI visibility tracking, organic traffic, SEO recommendations (Keyword Suggestions, semantic expansion), backlink reports, and Domain Trust.

• Technical audits: The API returns information about a website’s technical issues and recommendations for fixing them.

• Global and local databases: Databases for various countries and cities are supported, with daily data updates.

• Flexible credit system: Payment is made using credits; simple queries are inexpensive, while complex ones are more expensive.

• Integration: Can be used with Google Sheets, Looker Studio, and BI systems. A code stack for a quick start is available on the website.

• User experience: Quick registration, technical support, demo. Customers note the accuracy of the data and the ease of use of the API.

Pros and cons of the SE Ranking API

Pros:

• Free 14-day trial (100,000 credits)

• Flexible pricing plans (1 million credits for $159/month if you have a Core or Growth subscription)

• Fair model — you pay for what you use

• Well-suited for regular report automation

Cons:

• To handle large volumes, you need annual or advanced (enterprise) plans

• The basic plan can quickly exhaust credits for large-scale checks.

• You can’t do without some development skills (though there are sample scripts).

 SE Ranking API pricing

• Minimum plan: 1,000,000 credits for $159/month if you have a Core or Growth plan.

• Packages are available up to 500 million credits; you can purchase additional credits beyond your plan.

• 14-day trial period — 100,000 free credits.

The API can be connected as a standalone product or as an add-on to a SE Ranking subscription. In the latter case, the limits correspond to the tools used. If used separately, there are no restrictions other than the purchased credits.

Best use cases of SE Ranking API

• Small agency or startup with a limited budget: pay only for the queries you need, without overpaying.

• Automated reporting: collect rankings, algorithm updates, and competitor behavior in a single API.

• Integration of SEO data into BI and CRM: for example, importing keyword rankings from SE Ranking into a dashboard.

• New niche research: quickly get a full set of metrics for any domain or keyword (rankings, ads, traffic).

• Cross-reports: combining visibility and ad analysis (SE Ranking integrates SEO and SEA).

Majestic API

Key features of the Majestic API:

• Largest link database: a historical index with data collected since 2006 and a fresh index (updated daily).

• As of April 2026, the Fresh Index contains hundreds of billions of unique URLs, while the Historic Index contains over 21 trillion URLs.

• Link quality metrics: Trust Flow, Citation Flow (domain/page authority). Anchor text analysis and link rankings (Site Explorer).

• Advanced tools: Clique Hunter (search for the most influential pages), Backlink History, Link Graph, Index Merger, Raw Data Exports. You can create your own OpenApps.

• Proactive analytics: Email notifications about new/lost links, site comparison (compare), campaigns to track link-building progress.

• Automation via API: Access to premium data (flows, Topical Trust) is available, and reports can be downloaded directly via the API.

 Pros and cons of the Majestic API

Pros:

• The most comprehensive dataset regarding links.

• A unique historical index allows you to dig deeper than other services.

• Suitable for link profile analysis and link audits.

• Excellent detail (you can download absolutely all backlinks for a domain).

• Simple hourly access via API to analysis units.

Cons:

• Very expensive.

• No data on keyword rankings or traffic—only links.

• If you only need a small volume, most units go to waste.

• The API interface is designed for experienced users: complex setup (OAuth, OpenApps) and no free trial period.

Majestic API pricing

• API (Full API) – €379.99/month (≈$380) for 5 users, 100 million analysis units. Annual equivalent — €316.66/month. Includes everything from PRO + full API.

• Lower-tier plans (Lite, Pro) do not provide API access (API is available only starting from the API tier).

• Units (AnalysisResUnits) are used to process backlink data. The monthly limit in the API plan is 100 million units; you can purchase additional units (100 million, 300 million, 1 billion).

Best use cases of Majestic API

• Agencies and SEO specialists who focus on link building and link analysis. Especially when a deep history is important (for example, to understand profile changes over the years).

• Large-scale monitoring of competitors’ links and your own websites (millions of links).

• Marketing research requiring the construction of link graphs, for example, when analyzing thematic clusters of websites.

• Assessing the quality of link donors for link building (Trust Flow/CF) and link portfolios during audits.

Ahrefs API

Key features of the Ahrefs API:

• Access to Ahrefs data: Site Explorer (backlink history, traffic, and site keywords), Keywords Explorer, SERP Overview (SERP Overview).

• The main API methods return: a list of backlinks with detailed information (DR, URL Rating, anchor text), a list of referring domains, the site’s organic keywords, search volumes, and keyword difficulty.

• SERP Overview API: allows you to retrieve the top 100 search results for a keyword and their metrics (visibility, traffic).

• Historical data support: provides access to historical traffic and keyword data (up to 5 years for Enterprise).

• B Batch processing: Most API calls are “single-unit”—each operation consumes one API unit (minimum of 50 units per request). You can cache and pre-purchase units.

• Interfaces: REST API v3 with Bearer token authentication; documentation available for all endpoints.

 Pros and cons of the Ahrefs API

Pros:

• One of the largest databases (Ahrefs has consistently outperformed competitors in active crawling).

• High-quality, constantly updated data.

• A good tool for analyzing competitors by traffic and backlinks.

Cons:

• Access is only available on the Enterprise plan (the most expensive).

• You cannot purchase the API separately—a minimum of $1,499/month is required (with annual billing).

• The pay-per-unit model is inconvenient for small users (a minimum of 50 units per query, even for simple ones).

• Ahrefs API does not offer a free plan or trial period.

• Despite its power, there are no SEO audit tools or ADS data.

• It specializes entirely in SEO and backlinks.

 Ahrefs API pricing

• The API is available only for the Enterprise plan — $1,499/month (when paid annually ≈ $1,249). Includes approximately 2,000,000 API units per month.

• You can purchase additional API units (pay-as-you-go), but they are valid for 3 months. Prices per unit/record are not published, but the minimum charge is 50 units per query.

• The Enterprise plan also includes unlimited access to data history for the past 5 years.

Best use cases of Ahrefs

• Large enterprises or SaaS projects where every piece of Ahrefs data matters. For example, tools for competitor analysis or real-time keyword research.

• Companies that already pay for Ahrefs and want to integrate the data into their own products without significant additional investment.

• Projects requiring maximum accuracy of backlinks and key metrics.

Serpstat API

Key features of the Serpstat API:

• Extensive data coverage: search for keyword suggestions and queries, competitor analysis (organic and paid search traffic), identification of semantic “gaps” between websites. Search for sources of the best backlinks and a comprehensive link database. SERP results based on specified keywords and geolocation.

• Large index: proprietary database of ~7.11 billion keyword phrases, as well as ~1 trillion indexed backlinks. Data is updated daily.

• Technical SEO: The API returns a report on the site’s technical health (Site Audit) and recommendations for fixing errors (Health Score).

• Flexible credit system: You pay only for the data you receive. If a query returns no results, no credits are deducted. You can set filters and pagination to save credits.

• Additional services: keyword clustering (Keyword Clustering API), Brand Monitoring.

Pros and cons of the Serpstat API

Pros:

• There is a separate plan exclusively for high-throughput API (up to 10 requests/sec).

• Convenient for those combining SEO and advertising tasks.

• Guaranteed carryover of unused credits.

Cons:

• In reality, the volume of SEO data (7 billion keywords, 1 TB of backlinks) is inferior to Ahrefs and Majestic.

• Serpstat isn’t the best known outside the CIS—fewer connector integrations.

• Some confusion with billing—a mix of US dollars and symbolic credits, but everything is transparent to calculate.

• For heavy workloads, an annual contract and an agreement with a manager are required.

Serpstat API pricing

• The basic “Team” plan – $129/month provides access to all SEO tools, including the API.

• A separate API Plan requires a separate contract: $180 per 1 million rows of data (for small volumes) and up to $100 per 1 million rows for high usage. Minimum contract and speed of 10 requests/sec. Credits roll over to the next month if unused.

• A 7-day free trial with full API capabilities is available upon registration.

Best use cases of Serpstat

• SEO agencies and freelancers who need a balance of price and features. Convenient for generating keyword clusters, competitive analysis, and link checking.

• Integrators: easily export data to Excel, 1C, or BI thanks to an intuitive API and credit preservation.

• Marketers for quick analysis before and after campaign launches. For example, a mass check of website technical health and keyword rankings.

• Combining SEO and PPC tasks: Serpstat also includes paid campaigns (Ads API), so gather information from all sources.

How to Choose an SEO API

Choosing the right Semrush API alternative depends on your goals and budget. According to our data, the first step is to answer the question: what exactly do you want to achieve? If you need comprehensive analytics (rankings + traffic + backlinks + audit), it’s better to choose SE Ranking, which offers many “all-in-one” features. If backlinks are your priority, Majestic or Ahrefs will provide more backlink metrics. For flexibility in payment and data variety (including reviews, maps, and sales statistics), it’s wiser to choose Serpstat.

Next, compare the pricing model. First: those with a credit system (SE Ranking, Serpstat) — you pay based on the number of queries.

Ahrefs and Majestic operate on expensive fixed-rate plans. Our analysts note that the larger your project (databases with millions of records), the more cost-effective a full subscription becomes; for smaller tasks, it’s better to pay as you go.

It’s also important to assess technical limitations: review the documentation regarding query frequency limits, packet sizes, and response delays. For example, Serpstat has a public queue (you may have to wait up to 5 minutes), while SE Ranking provides responses almost in real time. Send test requests: check the ease of API requests, response formats (JSON/CSV), and the availability of an SDK or code examples.

Finally, consider support and data reliability. Review developer feedback on accuracy and stability. You can verify any doubts about quality using small pilot samples.

Note: “Based on our observations, Majestic’s database offers the most comprehensive link coverage, but SE Ranking update their data more frequently and is more focused on API integration”.

Conclusion

When selecting an alternative to the SEMrush API, compare not only general features but also pricing details and documentation. Large budgets can afford comprehensive licenses (Ahrefs, Majestic), while smaller projects will appreciate the flexibility of SE Ranking. Regardless of your choice, modern SEO APIs allow you to take analytics to a new level of automation and accuracy.

FAQ

What are Semrush API alternatives and why are they needed?

These are other services that provide APIs for obtaining SEO data (rankings, keywords, backlinks, etc.), similar to the Semrush API. They are needed if the Semrush API is too expensive for you or does not provide the data you need. For example, the SE Ranking API is often mentioned among Semrush API alternatives for its good “price-to-functionality” ratio.

What is the cheapest Semrush API alternative?

Among subscription-based options are Serpstat (starting at $129/month) and SE Ranking (starting at $159/month if you have a Growth or Core plan). Majestic and Ahrefs start at approximately $380 and $1,499, respectively.

Which Semrush API competitors are best suited for backlink analysis?

The main competitor here is the Majestic API, which has a massive historical link index.

Can SE Ranking be used as the best alternative to the Semrush API for small projects?

Yes, SE Ranking is suitable for small and medium-sized projects. It has a low entry barrier (there’s a free trial period) and includes all the essential data (AI visibility, rankings, audits, backlinks). According to our data, the best alternative to the Semrush API in this price segment is often SE Ranking, thanks to its price and the comprehensiveness of its data.

What is the difference between an alternative to the Semrush API and the Semrush API itself?

The Semrush API alternative is simply a different service. Functionally, they are similar (they retrieve SEO metrics from search engines), but the differences lie in the details. For example, Semrush requires a Business subscription plus the purchase of credits, while alternatives may offer flexible plans, fewer or more data points, and other limitations. It’s always helpful to pay attention to specific parameters: what reports the API generates, how requests are billed (credits, units), whether there’s a trial period, and so on. In summary, Semrush API competitors differ in their pricing models, data volume, and update frequency.