Best SEO Software 2021

SpyFu Competitors & Alternatives

Are you considering purchasing SpyFu to support your online marketing efforts? Before making the purchase, it's best to learn about SpyFu's top competitors. The six best alternatives are listed below, along with details on their features and pricing.

SpyFu is one of the most popular search marketing tools. Thousands of marketers use it to improve their online search campaigns and learn about competitor traffic.

Before making the purchase, it's best to understand how SpyFu compares to the top alternatives. We share SpyFu's top competitors below, along with a detailed look at their features and pricing. To fully understand SpyFu, you can also read our in-depth SpyFu review.

Table of Contents

SpyFu Features

SpyFu is a powerful platform with numerous features. The seven most important features that SpyFu offers are described in the table below.

FeatureDescription
Keyword ResearchMarketers use keyword research to identify high volume, low difficulty keywords to target with content & paid ads.
Suggested KeywordsWhen one keyword is added to SpyFu, it returns a set of related keywords to investigate.
Keyword Gap AnalysisSpyFu allows you to use keyword gap analysis to find keywords that work for your competitors, but not for you.
Competitor Search TrafficWith SpyFu, you can get estimates of your competitors' online search traffic.
Competitor Keywords & AdsSpyFu captures the paid ads that competitors are running against specific keywords.
Keyword Rank TrackingMarketers use SpyFu to track their organic keyword rankings in Google SERPs.
Backlink MonitoringSpyFu allows you to see the backlinks that point to any website.

SpyFu Competitor Overview: Pricing & Features

SpyFu is one of the most popular online search tools. As you can see in the chart below, it performs nicely in terms of pricing and features when compared to its top competitors.

SpyFu pricing starts at $39 per month. This makes SpyFu the cheapest option in this group. If you're on a budget, or don't need the advanced features found in SEMrush and Ahrefs, SpyFu is likely your best choice.

The SpyFu platform has most of the main features offered by its competitors. The three tools it does not include are:

  • The ability to see competitor website traffic for all marketing channels
  • A website SEO auditor to identify your website's top SEO issues
  • The ability to manage your business listings in online directories
SpyFu vs. competitors: price and features comparison table

SpyFu Competitors

There are dozens of online marketing tools in the market. We've narrowed it down to the top six SpyFu competitors that you should consider, and ranked them by their features, pricing, and usability.

Semrush
Semrush
Rating 96
Ahrefs
Ahrefs
Rating 95
Ahrefs
Ahrefs
Rating 95
SpyFu
SpyFu
Rating 88
SpyFu
SpyFu
Rating 88
Serpstat
Serpstat
Rating 80
SE Ranking
SE Ranking
Rating 80
SE Ranking
SE Ranking
Rating 80
Serpstat
Serpstat
Rating 80

The top SpyFu competitors are:

  • SEMrush
  • Ahrefs
  • Serpstat
  • SE Ranking
  • KWFinder
  • Moz

#1: SEMrush

SEMrush is our top overall pick in the search software category. This is because it offers the widest range of features at an affordable price. If you're active in all types of search marketing – SEO, paid search ads, content marketing – then SEMrush is probably a worthwhile purchase.

You'll prefer SpyFu if:

  • You only need a solution for keyword research and competitive analysis
  • Backlink analysis is not a priority
  • You want to save $60+ per month
You'll prefer SEMrush if:

  • You want to run SEO audits on your site
  • You want to analyze competitors' complete traffic funnels
  • You want a best-in-class keyword rank tracking tool
Semrush

Semrush

Best Overall SEO Software
Rating: 96
Starting Price: $119.95 per month

Semrush is the best all-in-one search software tool for keyword research, competitive analysis, position tracking, and more. It will save you hours finding new high-volume keywords to target in paid and organic search, give you visibility into your competitors' online marketing tactics, and help you monitor your website's SEO performance.

Pros:
  • Keyword research tool to discover popular search terms for paid campaigns & high-volume keywords to target with SEO
  • Competitive analysis tool to identify your top competitors & spy on their online marketing tactics
  • Excellent keyword rank tracking tool to monitor how well your site is ranking on Google over time
Cons:
  • DeepCrawl and Screaming Frog are superior for on-page SEO auditing
  • Ahrefs is slightly better for backlink analysis
  • More expensive than free tools like Google's Ads Keyword Planner

#2: Ahrefs

Ahrefs is another fantastic all-in-one SEO platform. It competes head-to-head with SEMrush for the best overall tool, and Ahrefs is the best solution for backlink analysis. If you're a content marketer or backlink builder, it's likely you'll prefer Ahrefs over SpyFu.

You'll prefer SpyFu if:

  • You only need a solution for keyword research and competitive analysis
  • You need to see competitor search ads
  • You want to save $60+ per month
You'll prefer Ahrefs if:

  • Your priority is content marketing and backlink analysis
  • You want to run SEO audits on your site
  • You don't need to see competitor search ads
Ahrefs

Ahrefs

Best for Backlink Analysis
Rating: 95
Starting Price: $99 per month

Ahrefs is a powerful all-in-one SEO search software tool that can be used for backlink analysis, keyword research, competitive research, SEO audits and more. It is the best solution for content marketers that are focused on generating backlinks.

Pros:
  • Excellent for backlink analysis
  • Keyword tool helps you keep track of your rankings for various keywords over time
  • Competitive analysis features allow you to see other websites' best performing pages by backlinks and traffic
Cons:
  • Organic search traffic estimates may not be accurate, but this is true for most SEO tools
  • Keyword rank tracker updated less frequently than SEMrush
  • Does not provide traffic analytics for competing domains

#3: Serpstat

Serpstat is another popular all-in-one SEO solution. It contains the same features as Ahrefs and SEMrush, but is slightly less powerful. In return, monthly subscriptions of Serpstat start at $69 per month.

You'll prefer SpyFu if:

  • You only need a solution for keyword research and competitive analysis
  • You don't need a tool for SEO audits
  • You want to save $30+ per month
You'll prefer Serpstat if:

  • You want to run SEO audits on your site
  • You need a more robust backlink analysis tool
  • You can afford the more expensive subscription
Serpstat
Rating: 80
Starting Price: $69 per month

Serpstat is an all-in-one search tool used by over 250,000 marketers to improve their performance in online search. With features like keyword research, backlink analysis, rank tracking, and site auditing, you can optimize your search efforts and maximize your website's traffic and visibility. If price and an ability to track a high volume of keywords is paramount, then Serpstat is an excellent option.

Pros:
  • Includes all major features for keyword research, backlink analysis, rank tracking, and site auditing
  • Competitive analysis feature allows you to discover and analyze your top competitors’ keywords and backlinks
  • Serpstat’s entry plan allows you to track 15,000 keywords vs. 500 keywords in SEMrush
  • About 30% cheaper than Ahrefs and SEMrush
Cons:
  • Backlink analysis reports return a fraction of the data compared to Ahrefs and SEMrush
  • Data visualization for the keyword rank tracker is somewhat confusing
  • Customer support is offline after 2PM EST, but generally responds to ticket in one business day

#4: SE Ranking

SE Ranking is most similar to Serpstat. Both solutions compete with Ahrefs and SEMrush, but are less powerful and cheaper. SE Ranking compares very similarly to SpyFu as Serpstat – the only difference is that SE Ranking and SpyFu cost the same amount.

You'll prefer SpyFu if:

  • You only need a solution for keyword research and competitive analysis
  • You don't need a tool for SEO audits
  • You prefer SpyFu's interface
You'll prefer SE Ranking if:

  • You want to run SEO audits on your site
  • You need a more robust backlink analysis tool
  • You want a more advanced keyword rank tracker
SE Ranking
Rating: 80
Starting Price: $31 per month

SE Ranking is a cloud-based, all-in-one SEO platform used by over 25,000 businesses to improve their online search performance. It includes features that support keyword research and ranking, backlink analysis, competitive analysis and site auditing. It is an ideal solution for smaller companies and businesses on a budget

Pros:
  • $39 entry plan is significantly cheaper than alternatives
  • Comes with all the must-have features that you need to support your online marketing efforts
  • Simpler and less intimidating interface than alternatives
Cons:
  • Keyword and backlink databases are not as large as competitors
  • Missing more advanced features found in tools like Ahrefs and SEMrush
  • Reports are not as comprehensive as in alternatives

#5: KWFinder

KWFinder is a keyword research tool that's ideal for new online marketers. It's more basic than the alternatives listed above, but includes nice to have features that make it very easy to use. The KWFinder subscription includes access to other tools offered by Mangools for keyword rank tracking, SEO audits and SEO insights.

You'll prefer SpyFu if:

  • You want to perform advanced keyword research
  • You want to see competitors' paid search ads
  • You want to analyze competitor traffic
You'll prefer KWFinder if:

  • You only want to perform basic keyword research
  • You find KWFinder easier to use
  • You like other tools offered by Mangools
KWFinder
Rating: 78
Starting Price: $49 per month

KWFinder is an intuitive keyword research tool developed by Mangools that is a great for conducting basic & slightly advanced keyword research. It's a popular alternative to other options on the market, such as Moz and Long Tail Pro, due to its focus on simplicity and its ability to identify long tail keywords that are easy to rank for. KWFinder is a good option at the lower pricing tiers.

Pros:
  • Presents all relevant information needed for keyword analysis in one convenient location
  • Helpful in identifying long tail keywords that are easier to rank for
  • Offers additional SEO tools, including a free browser extension
Cons:
  • Doesn’t support competitor keyword research
  • Lookup and search result restrictions can be restricting
  • Does not include a keyword gap analysis tool

#6: Moz

Moz is a popular, trusted SEO solution with a wide range of tools. It has most of the same features found in SpyFu. However, starting at $99 per month, it is significantly more expensive. Moz does offer many free SEO tools and resources that you can use to get a feel for the platform.

You'll prefer SpyFu if:

  • You want to perform advanced keyword research
  • You want to see competitors' paid search ads
  • You want to save $60+ per month
You'll prefer Moz if:

  • You don't need to research competitor search ads
  • You need a tool to manage your business listings
  • You're familiar with the Moz platform and plug-ins
Moz
Rating: 74
Starting Price: $99 per month

Moz helps streamline several of the key tasks that a business should master to rank well in search engines, such as keyword research, backlink analysis, ranking tracking, site auditing, and page optimization. Moz also provides several proprietary metrics, which can offer important insights that help you better understand your website's current standing in search engines, and identify opportunities for improvement.

Pros:
  • Useful set of features, and large variety of tools for conducting SEO research
  • Continuously updated with new features
  • Cloud-based for easy access from anywhere with an Internet connection
  • 30-day free trial allows you to test the software fully before committing
Cons:
  • Imposes limits on tools to prevent you from exceeding "standard" usage amounts
  • Only provides access to SEO tools; does not actually provide any services or consulting to help you understand the insights gained from those tools
  • UI is less modern, and more difficult to navigate compared to some competitors

Bottom Line

SpyFu is a popular online search tool that thousands of online marketers use to capture more search traffic and "spy" on their competitors. If you're on a budget and need a tool specifically for competitive analysis and keyword research, then it's likely the best solution for you.

However, we recommend evaluating SpyFu against the two best solutions in the market – SEMrush and Ahrefs. These platforms do cost $60+ more per month, but come with a significantly wider range of features and more powerful datasets. Read our reviews to learn more about SEMrush and Ahrefs.

Bruce Hogan

Bruce Hogan is Co-founder & CEO of SoftwarePundit. He leads the team's research and publishes content about software products and trends. Bruce has experience investing at multi-billion dollar private equity firms, leading teams at venture-backed technology companies, and launching new businesses. You can connect with Bruce on LinkedIn.

Bruce is an expert in several software categories including:

  • Dental software
  • Mental health software
  • SEO software
  • Social media software

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