10 Best Tools for SEO Competitor Analysis

At your disposal, there are a couple of SEO competitor analysis tools that can make a big difference in understanding how you stack up against your competitors. Below, I present the most powerful ones.

With these competitor analysis SEO tools, you can easily monitor metrics like:

• website traffic,
• backlinks,
• website performance,
• content quality,
• email marketing strategies, and
• social media activities

of your biggest market rivals. And you definitely should do that regularly, unless you don’t mind being outrun in the SERPs. So, let’s take a look at the best SEO competitor analysis tool you can give a try today.

Please note that the SEO competitor analysis tools listed below are arranged in no particular order.

#1: WooRank

💳 Cost: from $89.99 to $199.99 per month / $53.25 to $133.25 when billed yearly

WooRank is an SEO competitor analysis tool that helps you get a quick look at what your market rivals are doing online. If you’re after a fast and basic analysis of a competitor’s website, WooRank can give you what you need in less than a minute. Just enter your rival’s website URL, and WooRank will generate an SEO report for you.

source: woorank.com

Why pick WooRank as your SEO competitor analysis tool?

• Quick results. Generates a detailed report quickly, showing how your competitor’s website is performing.
• Broad coverage. Covers a lot of ground, including content quality, mobile-friendliness, backlinks, and social media presence.
• Easy to use. The interface is straightforward, making it simple for anyone to understand the reports, with clear recommendations on what to do next.
• Gives you what you need to know. Find out about your competitor’s SEO keywords, how they handle their SEO, and what makes their website tick.
• Helpful insights. Despite being easy for beginners, it also has plenty of insights that more experienced marketers can act on.

WooRank is especially useful if you don’t want to get too technical but still want a comprehensive view. Just keep in mind that while this SEO competitor analysis tool is good for an overview, it won’t rather provide you with all the technical SEO specifics.

Also, some users find its mobile optimization and pricing could be better. Yet, for getting accurate keywords, understanding competitor analysis, and easy reporting, WooRank has a lot to offer.

#2: Ahrefs

💳 Cost: from $99.00 to $399 per month / from $83.00 to $333.000 when billed yearly

Ahrefs is a must-have for anyone doing SEO or keeping tabs on their competition. This tool is packed with features that agencies and marketers around the globe rely on. From tracking where your competitors get their web traffic to understanding the backlinks pointing to their websites, Ahrefs has it all.

source: ahrefs.com

Why pick Ahrefs as your SEO competitor analysis tool?

• Backlink tracking. Easily see who’s linking to your competitors.
• Traffic details. Find out the keywords bringing visitors to your competitors’ websites and see how much traffic they’re getting.
• Solid search data. Ahrefs gives you accurate info on how well your and your competitors’ websites perform in Google searches.
• Easy to use. Even with all its features, Ahrefs is user-friendly, so you can get started quickly.
• Packed with features. Whether it’s checking domain authority or analyzing ads, Ahrefs has the tools you need.

While Ahrefs is a top choice for digging into SEO and competitor analysis, keep in mind it’s a bit pricey compared to some alternatives. Also, it’s worth noting that while Ahrefs excels in SEO analytics, its PPC data might not always be up-to-the-minute.

The free version offers limited access, but if you’re all in on SEO, Ahrefs could be worth the investment for its detailed insights and backlink data.

📌 TIP: Remember, however, it’s not the number of backlinks that matter, but their quality. Therefore, when analyzing your competitor’s backlinks, pay special attention to their Domain Rating (DR) and URL Rating (UR). The higher the DR, the more valuable the backlink.

#3: Majestic

💳 Cost: from $49.99 to $399.99 per month

Majestic stands out as a specialized SEO tool focusing on the ins and outs of backlink analysis. It can be your go-to for uncovering who’s linking to your competitors, giving you access to thousands of links for detailed examination. Majestic goes beyond just counting links – it introduces unique SEO metrics like Trust Flow and Citation Flow to gauge the quality and quantity of these backlinks.

source: majestic.com

Why pick Majestic as your SEO competitor analysis tool?

• Trust Flow & Citation Flow. These metrics offer insight into the quality of websites linking back to you and the volume of these links.
• Topical analysis. Understand the industries most linked to certain websites, helping you identify relevant and authoritative domains in your niche.
• Competitor backlink tracking. Keep an eye on your competitors’ backlinks, spotting opportunities they’re going for that you might be missing.
• Social signals tracking. Majestic also helps you monitor social mentions, adding another layer to your SEO strategy.

While Majestic is a powerful tool for backlink analysis, it’s worth noting some users find its data on fresh backlinks not always up-to-date. Additionally, the interface might feel a bit dated to some.

Despite these points, Majestic’s unique metrics and comprehensive link analysis make it invaluable for those focused on building a strong backlink profile and outpacing competitors in the SERP.

#4: SpyFu

💳 Cost: $39.00 per month or $33.00 per month if billed annually

SpyFu is all about helping you get more visitors to your website quickly, especially through pay-per-click (PPC) advertising. Even if you’re worried about the cost, PPC can be a smart move for boosting leads and cash flow, but you’ve got to know which keywords to hit. That’s where SpyFu comes in. Type in a competitor’s web address, and it’ll show you what keywords they’re paying for and what they’re ranking for organically.

source: spyfu.com

Why pick SpyFu as your SEO competitor analysis tool?

• See competitors’ keywords. Find out the paid and organic keywords your competitors are using.
• Get the full picture fast. Check out your competitors’ backlinks, how they rank, and their SEO strategy in no time.
• Easy to understand data. SpyFu breaks down important info like top keywords, clicks, and backlinks, so you can see what’s working.
• No-fuss trial. They let you try it out and easily cancel if this SEO competitor analysis tool is not for you, making it low-risk to test their features.

Keep in mind that sometimes SpyFu’s data isn’t perfect, and it mainly focuses on Google, so information from other search engines might not be as detailed. Also, it doesn’t track trends over time, which could be a downside for some.

But for a direct look at what keywords to target and what your competitors are up to in SEO and PPC, SpyFu is a solid choice. Plus, the free plan is pretty handy for starting out with competitor checks.

#5: SEMrush

💳 Cost: from $129.95 to $499.95 per month / $108.33 to $416.66 per month if billed annually

Semrush is a go-to for anyone working on SEO and wanting to figure out what their competitors are up to. Right from the start, even if you don’t know who your competitors are, Semrush will show you who’s ranking high for the same keywords as you. It gives you the lowdown on their website traffic, how visible they are on Google, and their top-ranking keywords.

source: semrush.com

Why pick Semrush as your SEO competitor analysis tool?

• Easy competitor discovery. Helps you spot your search rivals without any hassle.
• Loads of useful info. Offers detailed stats on competitors’ traffic and keyword success.
• Try before you buy. There’s a 7-day free trial to see if it fits your needs.
• More than just keywords. Get insights on how your content stacks up against competitors, and learn about your top-performing pages.

The main drawbacks are its price, which might be a bit much for smaller businesses or individuals just starting out, and that it can be tricky to learn all its features right away. Some users find the tutorials and guides out there aren’t quite enough to get the most out of Semrush.

But for a tool that gives you a comprehensive look at SEO, backlink analysis, and what your competition is doing, Semrush is still a great choice.

📌 TIP: If you’re just at the beginning of your SEO adventure and your Google visibility is extremely low, Semrush will most likely not show you real competitors. This is due to the fact that you don’t appear in Google search results on a significant number of keywords yet.

source: semrush tool

#6: Feedly

💳 Cost: from $1,200 to $2,400 per month, billed annually

Despite not being an actual SEO competitor analysis tool, Feedly is perfect for those who want to keep a close watch on their market rivals’ content. It’s simple: sign up, choose the competitors or the specific topics you’re tracking, and Feedly will alert you whenever there’s new content from these sources. This means you can easily spot what your competitors are publishing, from blog posts to news articles, without having to manually check their websites every day.

source: feedly.com

Why pick Feedly as your SEO competitor analysis tool?

• Direct updates. Get notified as soon as your competitors release new content.
• Focus on competitors. Adjust Feedly’s settings to monitor exactly who you’re competing against.
• Save for later. Found something interesting but too busy to read? Hit save and come back to it later.
• Easy additions. Quickly add new competitors or topics you want to track.
• Start for free. The free version lets you follow a fair number of sources, perfect for keeping an eye on key competitors.

Users who focus on competitor content analysis find Feedly invaluable. It’s a simple way to make sure you’re always informed about the latest moves in your industry without being overwhelmed.

While the free version has some limitations, like a slight delay in updates, it’s still incredibly useful for getting started. Plus, upgrading to premium is an option if you need broader tracking capabilities. If staying ahead of the competition is your goal, giving Feedly a try could be a smart move.

#7: Google Alerts

💳 Cost: free

Google Alerts is another user-friendly SEO competitor analysis tool that keeps you in the loop about any new content related to your chosen topics or market rivals. Simply set up an alert for the topics or names you’re interested in, and Google will send you an email notification whenever new content is published. It’s that easy!

source: google.com/alerts

Why pick Google Alerts as your SEO competitor analysis tool?

• Instant updates & convenient delivery. Receive email notifications as soon as content matching your alerts is posted.
• Customizable frequency. Choose how often you want to get these updates – daily, weekly, or monthly.
• Broad coverage. Tracks a wide range of content across web pages, articles, research, and blogs.

While Google Alerts is an excellent tool for keeping tabs on competitors or any topic of interest, it’s worth noting that sometimes the alerts may include content that’s not exactly what you were looking for. Additionally, it might miss some content, like press mentions.

Despite these occasional limitations, Google Alerts is a fantastic, no-cost way to ensure you never miss out on important updates related by your competitors.

#8: SimilarWeb

💳 Cost: from $149.00 to $399.00 per month or from $125.00 to $333.00 per month when billed yearly

SimilarWeb gives you a clear picture of how much traffic your competitors are getting. Just type in their website address, and you’ll see data like total visits, how engaged users are, where the traffic comes from, and even which countries visitors are from. The best part? All this information comes in easy-to-read graphs.

source: similarweb.com

Why pick SimilarWeb as your SEO competitor analysis tool?

• See traffic details. Get numbers on how many people visit competitor websites and how long they stay.
• Learn about traffic sources. Figure out whether competitors get their visitors directly, from search engines, social media, or somewhere else.
• Compare websites. You can put your website side by side with competitors’ to see how you stack up (more comparisons are available if you pay).
• Easy to use. The data is presented in easy-to-comprehend graphs.

People in various industries find SimilarWeb useful for checking out competitors and seeing where they stand. It’s got a Chrome extension that makes accessing this data easier.

However, remember that the data might not always be spot-on, and it’s good to check other sources too. Also, if you want to fish out more detailed info or track more websites, it can get pricey. Some users think it’s a bit complicated because of all the features it offers. But if you’re looking to get a solid overview of your competitors’ traffic, SimilarWeb can do the job.

#9: BuzzSumo

💳 Cost: from $199.00 to $999.00 per month

BuzzSumo is great for anyone wanting to add more to their company blog or just keep an eye on what kind of content is hitting it big in their industry. It shows you what your competitors are writing about and what topics are catching people’s attention.

source: buzzsumo.com

source: BuzzSumo app

Why pick BuzzSumo as your SEO competitor analysis tool?

• Find what competitors are up to. See the topics and articles your competitors are focused on.
• Learn what people like. Check out which articles are getting the most shares and likes.
• Keep track of mentions. Get alerts when your brand or specific keywords are mentioned.
• Try it for free. You can use a 30-day trial to see if you like the tool.

The main downside is BuzzSumo’s cost, which might not be doable for smaller businesses. Also, some users think its design could be better, but the reports it generates do the job well.

Despite the price, BuzzSumo’s features like content analysis and monitoring mentions can really help you improve your content strategy and keep tabs on the competition. If you’re looking to get a leg up on creating popular content, BuzzSumo can help, if you can swing the cost.

#10: Owler

💳 Cost: from $0.00 to $39.00 per month when billed annually

Owler is a tool that does the heavy lifting in competitor analysis for you. It figures out who your closest market rivals are and sends you updates on big companies in your industry every day. This means you’re always in the know without having to search for information yourself.

source: owler.com

Why pick Owler as your SEO competitor analysis tool?

• Finds your competitors. Automatically identifies who you’re up against.
• Daily news updates. Sends you the latest on your industry and competitors right to your inbox.
• Loads of company info. Provides detailed stats on companies, like how much money they make and how many people work there.
• Easy to use. Simple to navigate, making it easy to find what you’re looking for.
• Helps with outreach. Lets you track companies and contact people with the right message at the right time.

Some people find Owler’s design a bit awkward and think it could be more straightforward. But its ease of setup and the convenience of getting updates emailed directly make it popular.

Owler is all about giving you a quick, hassle-free way to keep an eye on competitors and improve your business strategies with the latest data. If you want to stay updated with minimal effort, Owler is worth checking out.

Let’s be honest about this – most SEO tools for analyzing competitors come with a price tag. Many offer limited free features or a trial period to let you test them out before committing to a paid plan. This approach helps you figure out if the SEO competitor analysis tool suits your needs without immediately investing money. Here’s a breakdown of which SEO tools are available for free and which ones require payment.

These are 10 SEO competitor analysis tools that I think are the most useful for checking out what your market rivals are doing and figuring out their marketing moves. Sure, there are lots more SEO tools out there – which ones work best for you will depend on what you need, what you’re hoping to achieve, and how much you’re willing to spend.

If you’re looking for some expert advice on how knowing your competition can help you do better in SEO, just get in touch – we’re ready to talk about how we can help your website. Do you have any go-to SEO tools for keeping an eye on the competition? Let us know below!

This is an updated version of the article published first in 2020.