Moz was one of the first SEO tools we ever used at DemandSage. Back when domain authority was the buzzword and link-building was mostly about directories, Moz gave us a head start.
But fast forward to 2025, SEO is much more than that. Faster crawlers, smarter keyword tools, real-time competitor tracking, and cross-channel visibility are now the norm.
While Moz still holds value in specific use cases, it falls short when it comes to deeper insights, broader data sets, and all-in-one execution.
We’ve tested, used, and broken down 9 Moz alternatives across dozens of SEO campaigns, from local keyword tracking to enterprise-level audits. And below, you’ll find our honest take on the best tools available right now.
9 Moz Alternatives To Try In 2025 (Tested & Reviewed)
We’ve personally tested each of the following tools across various SEO campaigns. Here’s a quick overview to help you compare them at a glance:
| Tool | Pricing (Starting) | Free Trial/Plan | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Semrush | $139.95/month | 14-day trial | All-in-one SEO + content + ads |
| Ahrefs | $129/month | No | Backlink audits + keyword gap analysis |
| SE Ranking | ~$65/month | 14-day trial | Budget-friendly rank tracking + local SEO |
| SEO PowerSuite | $299/year | Free plan | Deep technical audits + desktop SEO |
| Ubersuggest | $29/month (or $290 lifetime) | 7-day trial | Beginner-friendly SEO & content research |
| Similarweb | ~$125/month | Free version available | Market + traffic insights |
| SpyFu | $39/month | 30-day money-back | Historical keyword & ad spying |
| Morningscore | €49/month | 14-day trial | Gamified SEO + task-based workflow |
| Raven Tools | $39/month | 7-day trial | White-label reporting for agencies |
Now, we will share our detailed review of each Moz alternative and help you pick the perfect match for your SEO and digital marketing needs.
1. Semrush — Best for Data-Rich SEO and Marketing Integrations
We’ve been using Semrush for over three years at DemandSage, and if you’re looking for a powerful, all-in-one upgrade from Moz, we’d recommend it first.
Semrush offers far more than just keyword tracking or backlink data. The real difference lies in how deep and interconnected the features are. From technical SEO to content planning, PPC campaigns, local SEO, and now even AI-powered content guidance, Semrush has built a truly enterprise-grade ecosystem around search visibility.
Unlike Moz, which feels boxed and limited in scope (especially for competitive intel), Semrush makes it incredibly easy to spot competitor gaps, monitor daily rank changes, research SERP features, and launch full-scale audits — all from a single dashboard. You can check our side-by-side comparison of Semrush vs Moz to find out where Moz lags the most.
With the rollout of the new Toolkit system, you can now choose specific modules like SEO, Local, Content, Advertising, or Social, and each comes packed with focused tools. Plus, the 14-day free trial on the SEO Toolkit (via DemandSage’s exclusive partnership) gives you full access to everything, with no feature limitations.
Why do we prefer Semrush over Moz?
- Real-time keyword intent classification
- Backlink audits with toxic score logic
- AI features like Keyword Strategy Builder and Copilot AI
- Visual competitor traffic breakdowns (organic + paid)
- Daily position tracking at the ZIP code level
- Looker Studio integration & white-label PDF reports (Guru & above plans)
If Moz feels like a good beginner suite, Semrush is the pro-level suite that actually scales with your SEO goals, whether you’re managing 1 site or 100.
Pricing: Semrush plans start at $139.95/month (Pro). Guru ($249.95) adds historical data and content tools. If you are planning to invest in your preferred plans, you can check out Semrush discounts to save up to 17%.
2. Ahrefs — Best for Backlink & Content Gap Analysis
Along with Semrush, we also use Ahrefs. Both tools are top-notch, but they feature different sets of tools and datasets. You can check the differences here.
When it comes to link data accuracy, Ahrefs has long been the benchmark — and frankly, this is where Moz begins to show its limits. While Moz Pro’s Link Explorer is fine for top-level metrics like DA or spam score, Ahrefs gives you complete link profiles: dofollow/nofollow splits, anchor texts, link growth timelines, and disavow file exports — all in one dashboard.
We’ve used Ahrefs to reverse-engineer top-performing blog content, and its Content Explorer has become an essential tool for our daily SEO needs. You type in a topic, and it shows you the most linked-to and shared content across the web.
Moz lacks anything remotely close to this. Plus, Ahrefs’ Site Explorer allows detailed domain-level tracking — not just who links to your site, but why and how well that link performs.
Ahrefs is also great at keyword gap analysis. Unlike Moz’s more simplified keyword tools, Ahrefs will show you every single term your competitors rank for, but you don’t. That’s real actionability.
Why prefer Ahrefs over Moz?
- Vastly superior backlink data
- Unique tools like Content Explorer
- Powerful gap analysis for both keywords and links
- Much faster link index updates
Pricing: Starts at $129/month for Lite (10K rows/report, 5 projects). Standard ($249) adds more history and reports. Free version – Ahrefs Webmaster Tools (limited site audit & backlinks) is also available for beginners.
3. SE Ranking — Best Budget-Friendly Pick with Strong Local SEO Tools
If your agency or team works on multiple smaller clients, especially local businesses, SE Ranking hits the sweet spot between usability, features, and cost. It’s not trying to be as massive as Semrush or Ahrefs, but it nails the SEO essentials with surprising polish.
We’ve found SE Ranking’s Rank Tracker to be dead-simple and accurate — you can monitor keyword performance across Google (desktop + mobile), Bing, Yahoo, and even Google Maps. Their Local Marketing Tool (GMB audit + citation checker) is something Moz surprisingly lacks in their core offering, which limits its appeal for local-heavy clients.
SE Ranking also includes white-label reporting and Looker Studio integration — again, these are features you don’t get in Moz unless you go premium. Even its Site Audit tool goes beyond surface-level checks, covering core vitals, mobile-friendliness, and JS rendering issues.
Check the complete SE Ranking vs Moz comparison and find out which one offers the best value for money.
Why prefer SE Ranking over Moz?
- Stronger local SEO features out-of-the-box
- Easier UI, especially for junior team members
- More generous keyword and domain tracking limits
- Flexible pricing based on keyword volume
Pricing: Starts at $65/month for Essential (500 keywords, 10 projects). Pro ($119/mo) unlocks full API, white-label tools. 14-day full-featured trial available.
4. SEO PowerSuite — Best Desktop-Based Toolkit for Technical SEO
SEO PowerSuite is the only non-cloud-based tool on this list, and that actually works in its favor, especially for SEOs who want budget-friendly options, full data ownership, and ultra-deep audits. It’s made up of four programs: Rank Tracker, WebSite Auditor, SEO SpyGlass (backlinks), and LinkAssistant (outreach).
We’ve used SEO PowerSuite when we needed raw, technical insight, especially for massive sites where cloud-based crawlers like Moz often throttle or time out.
The WebSite Auditor is brutal — it’ll check everything from XML sitemap issues to indexation logic, plus advanced things Moz skips (like Hreflang tag validation or crawl depth analysis).
Its backlink database (SEO SpyGlass) isn’t as vast as Ahrefs, but you can hook it up with Google Search Console and Majestic to create your own unified link dataset — something Moz can’t do.
Why prefer SEO PowerSuite over Moz?
- No recurring cost (one-time license option)
- Much deeper audits and crawling flexibility
- Custom link-building workflows
- Ideal for technically complex SEO sites
Pricing: Free version available (limited export), Professional ($59.70/month), and Enterprise ($139.70/month). They used to offer a lifetime license, but not anymore. However, you can check SEO Powersuite discounts to get up to 79% off.
5. Ubersuggest — Best for Beginners and Content-Driven SEO
Ubersuggest (by Neil Patel) is often underestimated, but it’s a very practical Moz alternative — especially for bloggers, freelancers, and small teams who focus on content SEO and keyword planning, not deep technical tasks. Also, its keyword research capability is almost as powerful as Semrush – check our detailed tests in our Semrush vs Ubersuggest comparison.
It offers a clean dashboard with keyword suggestions, backlink data, domain overviews, and even basic AI writing tools. We recommended it to content marketers who just want quick insights without overwhelming complexity — Moz can sometimes feel academic and outdated, while Ubersuggest keeps things direct.
One standout feature is Keyword Visualization — a tree-based UI that shows topical clusters, helping writers build content hubs. Its daily rank tracking is solid too, and the traffic estimations for domains are often closer to Ahrefs than you’d expect for this price point.
That said, it’s not ideal for technical audits or agencies needing white-label. But for small teams or those upgrading from free tools? Ubersuggest does the job beautifully.
Why prefer Ubersuggest over Moz?
- Much more affordable and easier to use
- Strong keyword clustering and idea generation
- Light content planning + AI writer tools
- Surprisingly useful domain traffic stats
Pricing: Starts at $20/month or lifetime access at $200 (rare). 7-day free trial available. Shared plans available for teams (with workspaces).
6. Similarweb — Best for Market & Traffic Intelligence
Similarweb isn’t a traditional SEO tool like Moz, but it deserves its place here — especially if you need to go beyond keywords and understand your competitors’ traffic sources, audience behavior, and top referral sites.
Since our basic foundation is stats and data, we often investigate niche trends, benchmark against competitors, and map out media-buying strategies with Similarweb. While Moz shows you how a site ranks, Similarweb shows how it gets its traffic — search, paid, social, display, or direct. That’s gold when you’re planning cross-channel SEO + PPC campaigns.
Its Keyword Competitor Analysis is solid, though not as deep as Semrush, according to our in-depth Semrush vs Similarweb testing.
But it’s Top Pages + Referral Data? Far more actionable than anything Moz offers. You’ll instantly see where your competitor’s backlinks are coming from and whether those links actually drive traffic, not just vanity metrics like DA.
Why prefer Similarweb over Moz?
- Unmatched visibility into competitor traffic sources
- Real user behavior metrics (bounce rate, visit duration)
- Clearer media strategy insights
- Ideal for SEO + PPC crossover campaigns
Pricing: The Free version gives traffic snapshots. Paid plan (Starter) starts around $199/month. Enterprise pricing scales based on volume and data exports.
7. SpyFu — Best for Competitor Keyword Research & Historical PPC Insights
SpyFu is the tool we often recommend when someone’s entire SEO strategy is competitor-first. It doesn’t try to do everything. Instead, it zeroes in on what keywords your competitors rank for, what they bid on in Google Ads, and how those campaigns evolved over time.
In our testing, we compared SpyFu with Semrush. The results show it excels in historical visibility. You can track a domain’s rankings and paid ad positions for over a decade, which makes it a fantastic tool for uncovering long-term trends or evaluating why your competitor is surging in a niche.
Its Kombat tool is a smart addition. It visually compares keyword overlaps between you and your top rivals. This helps immediately identify low-hanging opportunities. The keywords they rank for, but you don’t. While Moz has some keyword overlap features, it lacks SpyFu’s competitive depth and PPC alignment.
The UI is fast and lean, ideal for SEOs who want quick insights and sharp competitor snapshots. However, it’s not strong for technical audits or link-building.
Why prefer SpyFu over Moz?
- Exceptional historical keyword/ad data
- Clear competitive insights + overlapping keyword finder
- One-click PPC campaign modeling
- Simpler pricing with unlimited search volumes
Pricing: Basic at $39/month (unlimited searches, 5 projects). Professional plan at $79/month adds API access and deeper exports. No free trial, but 30-day money-back guarantee.
8. Morningscore — Best for Gamified SEO and Task Management
Morningscore is a different kind of SEO tool. It’s built like a game, and for certain teams, that’s a huge productivity unlock. You get all the core SEO data: rankings, backlinks, health audits, traffic — but it’s wrapped in a gamified dashboard with “missions,” “health points,” and a unified SEO score.
We used Morningscore with one of our content-focused clients who often ignored SEO tasks until deadlines. The platform turned that behavior around. It broke tasks down into bite-sized, actionable steps (like “fix 404 errors,” “optimize five low-ranking pages,” or “earn 3 new backlinks this month”) and assigned them point values. Think Asana + SEO.
Its UI is ultra-clean and ideal for beginners or small in-house teams who need focus without the overwhelm of enterprise dashboards. Moz, in comparison, feels rigid and dated, especially when onboarding new hires or non-technical content folks.
Why prefer Morningscore over Moz?
- Action-based SEO system with progress tracking
- Highly visual, gamified dashboard
- Prioritizes tasks by ROI and effort
- Makes SEO accessible to teams beyond just SEOs
Pricing: Starts at €49/month (~$53). Business plan at €149/month supports multiple domains and API access. 14-day full-access free trial available.
9. Raven Tools — Best for SEO Reporting & Agency Use
Raven Tools has been around for years, and it’s still one of the most comprehensive platforms for white-label SEO reporting. If you’re an agency managing multiple clients and need to consolidate data from various sources (GA4, GSC, Bing, Facebook Ads, etc.), Raven Tools is a better fit than Moz.
Raven is best for weekly SEO + PPC dashboards with email summaries. Their drag-and-drop report builder pulls from rank tracking, site audits, backlink checks, and ad performance — and turns them into polished PDFs or interactive dashboards.
Its Site Auditor covers over 20 technical SEO categories and assigns clear health scores. Unlike Moz, Raven lets you track social and ad metrics alongside organic SEO, making it a good all-in-one marketing reporting tool. But it’s not ideal if you want deep backlink or keyword research. It relies on third-party integrations for that.
Why prefer Raven Tools over Moz?
- Best-in-class reporting automation
- White-label client dashboards + scheduling
- Unified data from SEO, PPC, social, and analytics
- Affordable for small and mid-sized agencies
Pricing: Starts at $39/month (small agency). Grow plan at $139/month scales to 80 domains. 7-day free trial available.
Top 3 Moz Alternatives (Our Recommendations)
After extensively testing all the major SEO tools over the past few years, we’ve narrowed down our top 3 Moz alternatives that consistently deliver better data accuracy, broader features, and more actionable insights, especially for agencies and growing SEO teams.
1. Semrush
Semrush is the tool we reach for first — whether it’s keyword funnel mapping, ad competitor research, or auditing a site before onboarding. The breadth and accuracy of its data surpass Moz on nearly every front: 26.3 Billion keyword index, better SERP tracking, and actual content optimization tools. Seamless GA4, GSC, and Looker Studio integrations make it a full-funnel SEO + marketing suite.
2. Ahrefs
When your campaign relies on backlink audits, broken link building, or content gap analysis, Ahrefs delivers where Moz can’t. Its Content Explorer, top pages report, and site-wide link movement give you a granular look at what’s working — and why. Moz’s Link Explorer doesn’t come close in speed or scale.
3. Similarweb
Unlike Moz, Similarweb doesn’t limit itself to search data. It shows how competitors acquire traffic (organic, paid, referral, display, social) and how they convert. Perfect for SEO teams working closely with PPC or content strategy, this tool bridges the gap between SEO and broader digital intelligence.
Conclusion: Semrush And Ahrefs Are The Top Moz Alternatives To Try In 2025
Moz helped define modern SEO. But in 2025, we’ve outgrown its limits.
For our team at DemandSage, most daily workflows now demand richer data, better integrations, and more flexible reporting, things Moz simply doesn’t deliver at the depth we need.
Here’s how we recommend choosing the right Moz alternative:
- Choose Semrush if you want an all-in-one platform that ties together SEO, content, advertising, and reporting, with unbeatable keyword depth.
- Pick Ahrefs if backlinks, content gaps, and competitor research are your primary SEO levers.
- Use Similarweb when you need a bird’s-eye view of your market, competitors’ acquisition strategies, and channel-level insights beyond just organic search.
For freelancers, small agencies, or local SEO pros, tools like SE Ranking, Ubersuggest, or Morningscore offer practical, affordable value without the complexity.
Moz isn’t obsolete. But it’s no longer leading the pack. If your SEO strategy is evolving, your toolkit should evolve too, and these alternatives are where you should start. Its better to start with the free plans and trials available on the tools to asses their key capbilties before going directly for a paid plan.
The post Top 9 Moz Alternatives for SEO in 2025 (Free & Paid) appeared first on DemandSage.