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Comparison

Semrush vs HubSpot

A scannable side-by-side view, then plain advice on when to choose each.

Prices for directory tools were checked in October 2026 and change often; confirm on each vendor’s site. Other rows mix product facts and our editorial view, not our own benchmark tests.

Category

Semrush
Marketing & SEO
HubSpot
Sales & Customer Support

Best for

Semrush
Marketers and agencies doing serious SEO work
HubSpot
Growing businesses that want CRM, marketing and support together

Not ideal for

Semrush
Small hobby sites that only need basic keyword ideas
HubSpot
Teams that only need a simple email tool

Free plan

Semrush
Yes
HubSpot
Yes

Paid plans from

Semrush
$139/mo
HubSpot
$20/mo

Trial

Semrush
Free plan (limited); 7-day free trial of paid plans
HubSpot
Free CRM, no time limit

Experience level

Semrush
Intermediate, Advanced
HubSpot
Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

Strengths

Semrush
  • Broad SEO toolkit in one place
HubSpot
  • Free CRM that grows into marketing and service tools

Limitations

Semrush
  • High starting price: $139 a month
  • Large interface takes time to learn
  • Data is estimated, not exact traffic
HubSpot
  • Costs jump sharply at higher tiers
  • Can be more than a small team needs
  • Some features are split across separate hubs

Key features

Semrush
  • Keyword research and difficulty data
  • Site audit for technical SEO issues
  • Competitor traffic and keyword analysis
  • Backlink analysis and position tracking
HubSpot
  • Free CRM for contacts, companies and deals
  • Email tracking and meeting scheduling
  • Marketing, sales and service hubs
  • Help desk and ticketing tools

When to choose each

Editorial judgment, not test results.

Choose Semrush
  • It suits: marketers and agencies doing serious SEO work.
  • Pick it for: broad SEO toolkit in one place.
Choose HubSpot
  • It suits: growing businesses that want CRM, marketing and support together.
  • Pick it for: free CRM that grows into marketing and service tools.

Pricing at a glance

SemrushChecked October 2026
  • SEO$139/mo
  • Starter$199/mo
  • Pro+$299/mo
Full pricing
HubSpotChecked October 2026
  • Free$0
  • Starter$20/seat/mo
  • ProfessionalFrom $90/seat/mo
Full pricing

Limitations to weigh

Semrush
  • High starting price: $139 a month
  • Large interface takes time to learn
  • Data is estimated, not exact traffic
HubSpot
  • Costs jump sharply at higher tiers
  • Can be more than a small team needs
  • Some features are split across separate hubs

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Want a different pair?

Pick any two or three tools and see where they differ, with the catch spelled out.