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SEO & AI toolsBest SEO tools for small businesses
By Cathy Riddell · Prices checked 31 Oct 2026 · Last updated 31 Oct 2026
How this page was made: I compared each vendor’s official pricing and feature pages on 31 Oct 2026. Hands-on test notes are added only after I’ve used the product on a real account; until then they’re marked as pending. My review method.
SE Ranking
The SEO tool I’d start most small businesses on
- Core: US$129/mo, or US$103.20/mo billed annually (official page, as of Oct 2026)
- 2,000 keywords tracked daily across 10 projects
- Site audits plus keyword, competitor and backlink research
- Local marketing tools and AI visibility tracking included on Core
- 14-day free trial, no credit card required
Quick picks by need
How do the best SEO tools compare at a glance?
| Tool | Best for | Price (official page) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top pickSE Ranking | Small businesses wanting the most tracking room on an entry plan | Core US$129/mo, or US$103.20/mo billed annually; Growth US$279/mo, or US$223.20/mo billed annually (official page, checked 31 Oct 2026) | Visit SE Ranking |
| Semrush | Teams wanting a free plan to start and a broad SEO + AI search toolkit | Free plan; SEO plan US$139/mo, or US$117.33/mo billed annually; Starter US$199/mo; Pro+ US$299/mo (official page, checked 31 Oct 2026) | Visit Semrush |
| Ahrefs | Site owners who want a free account for their own site, then paid research | Lite US$129/mo; Standard US$249/mo; Advanced US$449/mo (paying annually saves up to 17%) (official page, checked 31 Oct 2026) | Visit Ahrefs |
| Moz Pro | Single-site owners wanting the lowest entry price | Entry plan US$49/mo for a single website; Standard US$99/mo, or US$79/mo paid yearly (official page, checked 31 Oct 2026) | Visit Moz Pro |
| Ubersuggest | Solo owners wanting simple keyword ideas with a free trial | Check current pricing on the official Ubersuggest pricing page | Visit Ubersuggest |
What should a small business look for in an SEO tool?
- Keyword tracking: how many keywords you can track daily, across how many sites.
- Site audit: how many pages the tool will crawl to find technical problems.
- Research: keyword, competitor and backlink research.
- Local SEO: if you serve a local area, map rankings and business listings matter.
- A way to try it: a free plan or free trial before you commit.
SE Ranking: best overall for small business
On the official subscription page (as of Oct 2026), SE Ranking’s Core plan is US$129/mo, or US$103.20/mo billed annually (the page says annual billing saves 20%). Core includes 10 projects, 1 manager seat, 2,000 keywords tracked daily and 250,000 pages a month in site audits. It also lists keyword, competitor and backlink research, on-page audits, Google Analytics and Search Console integrations, local marketing (3 locations, a local and map rank tracker and listing management) and AI visibility tracking.
Growth is US$279/mo, or US$223.20/mo billed annually, with 30 projects, 3 manager seats, 5,000 daily keywords and historical data across the life of a project.
The 14-day free trial needs no credit card and includes up to 10 projects and 750 tracked keywords a day. Annual subscribers get free assisted migration from another tool.
Trade-offs: Core includes one manager seat (extra seats from US$16), and payments are non-refundable except where the service wasn’t delivered as promised, per SE Ranking’s FAQ.
Try SE Ranking free for 14 days
Semrush: best for a free plan and a broad toolkit
Semrush has a Free plan (no credit card; 1 demo project and 10 reports a day) and a 7-day free trial on paid plans. Its SEO plan is US$139/mo, or US$117.33/mo billed annually, and covers 5 websites and 500 keywords tracked daily, with keyword research, competitor analysis, position tracking, site audits and AI search tracking. Starter (US$199/mo) and Pro+ (US$299/mo) add AI visibility tools, and Pro+ raises the limits to 15 websites and 1,500 keywords (official page, Oct 2026).
Trade-off: at the entry level you track fewer keywords than SE Ranking’s Core plan, and extra users start at US$45/mo.
Ahrefs: best for a free account on your own site
Ahrefs’ paid plans start with Lite at US$129/mo (750 tracked keywords and 6 months of historical data), then Standard at US$249/mo and Advanced at US$449/mo. Paying annually saves up to 17%. Ahrefs says it never runs discounts or free trials, but website owners can sign up for Ahrefs Free, which gives limited access to Site Explorer and Site Audit for your own site (official page, Oct 2026).
Moz Pro: lowest entry price for one website
Moz lists an entry-level plan at US$49/mo for individuals managing a single website. Its Standard plan is US$99/mo, or US$79/mo paid yearly, with 1 user, 3 tracked sites and 300 tracked keywords. Moz offers a free trial and a free Moz Community account with limited access to MozBar, Keyword Explorer and Link Explorer (official page, Oct 2026).
Ubersuggest: simple keyword research for solo owners
Ubersuggest, from Neil Patel, offers a 7-day free trial and sells monthly, yearly and one-off lifetime plans. When I checked its pricing page it was running a countdown offer on lifetime plans, so I haven’t quoted a price; see the official pricing page.
How do I choose?
- Count the sites and keywords you need to track, then compare entry plans on that basis.
- If you serve a local area, check the local SEO features (SE Ranking lists them on Core).
- Use a free trial or free plan on your own site before paying.
[Cathy to add: hands-on notes from a real SE Ranking, Semrush and Ahrefs account: plan tested, date, what was set up, screenshots]
Frequently asked questions
What is the best SEO tool for a small business?
For most small businesses, SE Ranking. Its Core plan tracks 2,000 keywords a day across 10 projects and includes audits, research and local SEO tools, with a 14-day free trial (official page, Oct 2026).
Is there a free SEO tool?
Yes. Semrush has a Free plan (1 demo project, 10 reports a day), Ahrefs Free gives website owners limited Site Explorer and Site Audit access, and Moz has a free Community account (official pages, Oct 2026).
How much does SE Ranking cost?
SE Ranking Core is US$129/mo, or US$103.20/mo billed annually; Growth is US$279/mo, or US$223.20/mo billed annually (official subscription page, Oct 2026).
Does Ahrefs have a free trial?
No. Ahrefs says it never runs discounts or free trials, but site owners can use Ahrefs Free.
Cathy is an Adelaide-based digital agency founder who sets up and runs small-business software for real clients. She writes every BizStacked guide and keeps the prices on each page dated and sourced. How I review →
Related guides
Sources
- https://seranking.com/subscription.html: SE Ranking official pricing page, checked 31 Oct 2026
- https://www.semrush.com/prices/: Semrush official pricing page, checked 31 Oct 2026
- https://ahrefs.com/pricing: Ahrefs official pricing page, checked 31 Oct 2026
- https://moz.com/products/pro/pricing: Moz Pro official pricing page, checked 31 Oct 2026
- https://ubersuggest.com/en/pricing: Ubersuggest official pricing page, read 31 Oct 2026; it was showing a countdown “special offer” on lifetime plans, so no price is quoted
Prices are in USD unless stated and come only from the official vendor pages above. Vendors change prices and run promotions often, so confirm on the official page before you buy. Star ratings aren’t published until hands-on testing is complete.