Scavio, Ahrefs, SEMrush, Moz and SE Ranking are the best SEO platforms in 2026. Scavio leads for structured SERP data via API ($0.0086 per search). Ahrefs has the deepest backlink index. SEMrush covers the most features in one dashboard. Moz is the most approachable starting point, and SE Ranking is the most affordable at $52/month.
We build Scavio, so read this with that bias in mind. Every Scavio figure comes from our own pricing page. Competitor prices were checked against each vendor's published pricing in October 2026.
Quick comparison
| Platform | Best for | Starting price (Oct 2026) | Free option |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scavio | SERP data API for apps, agents and automations | $30/mo (Growth, 7,000 credits) | 50 credits free |
| Ahrefs | Backlink analysis and competitive research | $129/mo (Lite) | Starter at $29/mo (limited) |
| SEMrush | All-in-one SEO suite with content and PPC tools | $139.95/mo (Pro) | 7-day free trial |
| Moz | Domain authority metrics and beginner-friendly interface | $99/mo (Standard) | Starter at $49/mo |
| SE Ranking | Budget-friendly rank tracking with agency features | $65/mo (Essential) | 14-day free trial |
The SEO platform landscape in 2026
SEO platforms split into two categories. Dashboard tools (Ahrefs, SEMrush, Moz, SE Ranking) give you a browser interface for rank tracking, keyword research, site audits and backlink analysis. They are built for SEO professionals who work in a browser. API-first tools (Scavio) return raw SERP data as JSON, built for developers, data teams and AI agents that need search results inside their own systems. Some dashboard tools offer APIs (Ahrefs at $7 per 100 rows, SEMrush's API on Business plans), but their pricing models are designed for dashboard use, not high-volume programmatic access.
1. Scavio: SERP data as a structured API
Scavio returns Google search results as structured JSON. A single POST to the Google endpoint returns organic results, knowledge panels, featured snippets, People Also Ask, local packs, shopping results and more, each as typed fields. There is no HTML to parse.
Pricing: the Growth plan is $30/month for 7,000 credits. A Google search costs 2 credits. At the Growth-yearly rate, that is $0.0086 per search. Signup includes 50 free credits, no card. Beyond Google Search, the same API key covers Google Maps, Google News, Google Shopping, Google Trends, and 40+ other platforms.
Integrations: MCP server for AI agents, Python SDK, JavaScript SDK, LangChain, n8n.
What it does not do: Scavio does not track keyword rankings over time, analyze backlink profiles or run site audits. It returns the data. You build the tracking, analysis or automation on top.
2. Ahrefs: backlink analysis and competitive research
Ahrefs is the industry standard for backlink data. Its crawled index is one of the largest, and the Site Explorer tool shows referring domains, anchor text distribution and link growth over time. Keyword Explorer covers Google, YouTube, Amazon and Bing.
Pricing: Starter at $29/month (limited, monthly only), Lite at $129/month ($108 annual), Standard at $249/month ($208 annual), Advanced at $449/month ($374 annual). Enterprise starts at $1,499/month. Lite includes 5 projects and 750 tracked keywords. Standard bumps to 20 projects and 2,000 keywords. API access is available on Standard and above at $7 per 100 rows.
Best for: SEO teams that need the deepest backlink data and competitive analysis in a browser interface.
3. SEMrush: the all-in-one suite
SEMrush covers SEO, PPC, content marketing and social media in one platform. The Keyword Magic Tool, Position Tracking and Site Audit modules are the core of the SEO offering. The Content Marketing Toolkit (Guru and above) adds topic research, SEO writing assistant and content audit.
Pricing: Pro at $139.95/month ($117.33 annual), Guru at $249.95/month ($208.33 annual), Business at $499.95/month ($416.66 annual). Pro includes 5 projects and 500 tracked keywords. Guru adds 15 projects, 1,500 keywords and the Content Marketing Toolkit. API access requires the Business plan.
Best for: agencies and marketing teams that want SEO, PPC and content tools in one subscription.
4. Moz: domain authority and beginner-friendly tools
Moz created the Domain Authority metric that the SEO industry adopted as a shorthand for link strength. Moz Pro offers keyword research, rank tracking, site crawl and on-page optimization. The interface is simpler than Ahrefs or SEMrush, which makes it a common starting point.
Pricing: Starter at $49/month ($39 annual), Standard at $99/month ($79 annual), Medium at $179/month ($143 annual), Large at $299/month ($239 annual). Standard includes 3 sites, 300 tracked keywords and 400,000 crawl pages per month. Unlike SEMrush, Moz does not charge overage fees.
Best for: small teams and in-house SEOs who want a straightforward interface and rely on Domain Authority as a link metric.
5. SE Ranking: budget-friendly rank tracking
SE Ranking offers rank tracking, keyword research, backlink monitoring and site audit at a lower price point than Ahrefs or SEMrush. Its white-label reporting and client management features target agencies.
Pricing: Essential at $65/month ($52 annual), Pro at $119/month ($95.20 annual), Business at $259/month ($207.20 annual). Essential includes 1 seat, 5 projects and 500 keywords. Pro adds 3 seats and 2,000 keywords. Annual billing saves 20%. Note: some sources report SE Ranking restructured its plans in 2026; check their pricing page for the current names.
Best for: freelancers and small agencies that need rank tracking and reporting at a lower budget.
Pick by how you use SERP data
If you need Google search results inside an application, AI agent or automation pipeline, Scavio's API returns structured JSON at $0.0086 per search with 50 free credits to start. If you need a browser-based dashboard for keyword research, rank tracking and backlink analysis, Ahrefs ($129/month) has the deepest link data, SEMrush ($139.95/month) covers the most features in one tool, Moz ($99/month) is the simplest starting point, and SE Ranking ($65/month) is the most affordable.
Get 50 free Scavio credits, no card | Google Search API docs | Playground
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on your workflow. For raw SERP data inside applications and AI agents, Scavio's API returns structured Google results at 2 credits per search ($30/month for 7,000 credits). For a browser-based all-in-one SEO dashboard, SEMrush ($139.95/month) covers the most features, Ahrefs ($129/month) has the strongest backlink data, Moz ($99/month) is the simplest, and SE Ranking ($65/month) is the most affordable.
Entry-level plans range from $29/month (Ahrefs Starter) to $139.95/month (SEMrush Pro). Moz Standard is $99/month, SE Ranking Essential is $65/month, and Scavio's Growth plan is $30/month for 7,000 API credits. Annual billing typically saves 15-20% across all platforms. Enterprise tiers with custom pricing exist for large teams.
Yes. Scavio's Google endpoint returns organic results, featured snippets, knowledge panels, People Also Ask, local packs and shopping results as structured JSON with a single POST request. Each search costs 2 credits. The same API key covers Google Maps, News, Shopping, Trends and 40+ other platforms. Ahrefs and SEMrush also offer APIs, but their API pricing is designed for supplementing dashboard use, not high-volume programmatic access.
Moz Pro ($99/month Standard) has the most straightforward interface and does not charge overage fees, making it a common starting point. SE Ranking ($65/month Essential) is the most affordable option with a 14-day free trial. For developers who prefer working with data programmatically, Scavio's API has a lower learning curve than traditional SEO dashboards, with 50 free credits and Python/JavaScript SDKs.
Ahrefs has a larger backlink index and is generally considered stronger for link analysis and competitive research. SEMrush covers more ground in one subscription, adding PPC research, content marketing tools and social media management alongside its SEO features. Ahrefs Lite starts at $129/month and SEMrush Pro at $139.95/month. Choose Ahrefs for link-focused SEO work and SEMrush if you want one tool for SEO, PPC and content.