Head-to-head · facts checked 13 Sept 2026
Keyword Insights vs SE Ranking
SE Ranking uniquely has 3 features.
From
$58/mo (Basic)
Free plan
No — Pay As You Go available via $1 trial
From
$129.00/mo (Core plan)
Free plan
No
The verdict
Keyword Insights or SE Ranking?
Section 01
Pricing, plan by plan
Every plan each vendor publishes, monthly and yearly where both are offered.
Keyword Insights
Basic
$58/mo · Save 20% annually
10,000 credits/mo, 1 user seat, 5 workspaces, AI Agent support
Professional
$99/mo · Save 20% annually
20,000 credits/mo, 3 user seats, 10 workspaces, team sharing
Premium
$299/mo · Save 20% annually
50,000 credits/mo, 5 user seats, 25 workspaces, live chat support
Enterprise
Custom
Custom credits, custom seats/workspaces, priority support, demo & onboarding
Pay as you go
$0.01/credit
They can be used only for keyword clustering, They cannot be used for content briefs, the AI Writer Agent, or other features, The selected credit amount is enough to cluster only 1 keyword without search-intent analysis and 0 keywords with search intent, Stored data is deleted after 30 days, Unused PAYG credits expire 30 days after the last purchase.
SE Ranking
Core
$129/mo · $1,238/yr
Repeatable SEO + GEO delivery, rank tracking across engines, unlimited keyword & comp. research, Data Studio / Matomo / GA / GSC
Growth
$279/mo · $2,680/yr
Multi-client SEO + GEO workflows, all Core features, project lifetime historical data, API access with 100K credits
Agency Pack (add-on)
$69/mo (up to $129/mo)
Add-on for agency workflows and white label features, (30 to 100 prompts)
AI Search (add-on)
$89/mo (up to $345/mo) · $854.4/yr (up to $3,312/yr)
Add-on for AI search and GEO tracking capabilities, (200 to 1,000 prompts)
API (add-on)
$45/mo (up to $555/mo) annual billing only
Add-on for extended API access, (3 million to 60 million credits)
Section 02
Pros and cons
From each tool's full review, written from the same checked facts.
Keyword Insights
Pros
- SERP-overlap-based keyword clustering groups keywords by actual Google ranking data, not just semantic similarity, making it more accurate for content planning.
- Reddit and Quora integration pulls real forum discussions into brief-building, aligning content with sources AI search answers increasingly cite.
- The clustering tool clearly identifies which keywords can share a page versus which ones need separate URLs, saving agencies significant planning time.
- Built specifically for SEO agencies and content marketing teams working on topical authority at scale, making it purpose-fit rather than generic.
- V3 launched in August 2023 and the product has continued to ship updates, showing active development and responsiveness to user needs.
- Search Console integration and one-off rank checks sit alongside content tools, reducing the need to switch between multiple platforms.
- G2 reviewers in SEO roles consistently cite the keyword clustering as the feature that justifies the subscription cost.
Cons
- Briefs and AI writing support 13 languages, a limitation for teams working in markets outside that list.
- The pricing structure requires careful scrutiny and takes some squinting to understand, suggesting it may not be straightforward or predictable.
- As a young tool founded in 2021, it lacks the track record and maturity of more established SEO platforms.
- The tool's focus is narrower than full-suite SEO platforms, meaning users likely need additional tools for a complete workflow.
- The keyword research functionality itself is not a differentiator, with the value concentrated specifically in the clustering and brief-building features.
SE Ranking
Pros
- SE Ranking's pricing undercuts major competitors like Clearscope and MarketMuse by a meaningful margin, offering strong value for budget-conscious teams.
- The May 2025 content editor overhaul introduced a fully rebuilt Content Editor with an integrated AI Writer, significantly expanding the platform's capabilities.
- The platform combines brief builder, NLP keyword layer, SERP analysis, competitor outline review, and AI Writer into a single unified workflow.
- Google Docs integration is available with live content scoring that persists in real time as you write, benefiting teams already working in Docs.
- SE Ranking has a longer track record than most competitors, having been around since 2013 with over a million platform users.
- The content editor workflow pulls organic competitor data from the SERP to generate word count targets, heading structures, and competitor references automatically.
- The gap between what SE Ranking claims and what it actually delivers is narrower than expected, indicating honest product positioning.
- The platform covers keyword research, site auditing, backlink checking, and on-page SEO in addition to content editing, making it a true all-in-one suite.
Cons
- SE Ranking started as a rank tracker and the content editor is one module inside a larger suite, meaning it may not feel as purpose-built as dedicated content tools.
- The platform has real feature gaps despite its broad coverage, and is not described as a perfect solution for all content workflows.
- The claimed one million users figure refers to the full platform, not the content editor specifically, making it difficult to gauge adoption of that module.
- Whether the execution of the content editor architecture matches its ambitious design is noted as an open question requiring deeper evaluation.
- The tool's breadth may overwhelm users who only need a standalone content grader rather than a full SEO suite.
Side by side
| Company | ||
| Founded | 2021 | 2013 |
| HQ | London, United Kingdom | San Francisco, USA |
| AI model | Proprietary (NLP + ML models with Information Gain) | Proprietary |
| User base | — | 1M+ users (SE Ranking platform overall) |
| Platforms | Web | Web, Google Docs integration |
| Languages | 13 languages for briefs and writing; 100+ for clustering | 8 fully supported in Content Editor |
| Pricing | ||
| Pricing model | Subscription | Subscription |
| Free plan | No — Pay As You Go available via $1 trial (5,000 one-time credits) | No |
| Free trial | Yes — $1 for 7 days with access to all features and 5,000 credits | Yes — free trial available |
| Starting price | $58/mo (Basic) | $129.00/mo (Core plan) |
| Enterprise | Custom pricing — request a demo | Custom (contact sales) |
| All plans | Basic — $58/mo Professional — $99/mo Premium — $299/mo Enterprise — Custom Pay as you go — $0.01/credit per credit | Core — $129/mo Growth — $279/mo Agency Pack (add-on) — $69/mo (up to $129/mo) AI Search (add-on) — $89/mo (up to $345/mo) API (add-on) — $45/mo (up to $555/mo) annual billing only |
| Positioning | ||
| Best for | SEO agencies, content marketers, and enterprise teams building topical authority | SEO specialists, content marketers, and copywriters seeking full-cycle AI-assisted content creation and optimization |
| Differentiator | Clusters keywords by SERP similarity using NLP to reveal exact pages to build and topical gaps, plus surfaces Reddit/Quora/YouTube mentions to influence AI search answers. | SE Ranking Content Editor combines full-cycle brief creation, NLP keyword analysis, real-time SEO scoring, grammar/readability checks, and competitor outline review in one platform with native Google Docs integration at a significantly lower price than Semrush or Ahrefs. |
| Competitors | Semrush, Ahrefs, Surfer SEO, Clearscope, MarketMuse, Frase | Surfer SEO, Clearscope, MarketMuse, Semrush Writing Assistant, Frase |
| Features | ||
| AI Copywriting | ✓ | ✓ |
| Backlink Analysis | ✕ | ✓ |
| Content Brief | ✓ | ✓ |
| Content Editor | ✓ | ✓ |
| GSC Integration | ✓ | ✓ |
| Keyword Clustering | ✓ | ✓ |
| Keyword Research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Long Form Writing | ✓ | ✓ |
| On Page SEO | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rank Tracking | ✕ | ✓ |
| SERP Analysis | ✓ | ✓ |
| Topic Clusters | ✓ | ✓ |
| Integrations | ||
| API Access | ✓ | ✓ |
| Chrome Extension | ✕ | ✕ |
| CMS | WordPress | Google Docs and WordPress confirmed; others not publicly stated |
| Google Docs | ✕ | ✓ |
| Key Integrations | Google Search Console, WordPress, Public API | Google Docs, Google Search Console, Google Analytics, Data Studio, Matomo, SE Ranking API |
| Wordpress | ✓ | ✓ |
Section 03
Keyword Insights vs SE Ranking: common questions
Is Keyword Insights or SE Ranking cheaper?
Keyword Insights's cheapest paid plan is $58/mo (Basic) and SE Ranking's is $129.00/mo (Core plan). Compare what each plan includes below before going on price alone.
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