Profound vs Semrush: Complete Comparison 2025
Choosing between Profound and Semrush can be challenging. Both are solutions, but they have distinct differences. In this comprehensive comparison, we'll analyze features, pricing, and use cases to help you make the best decision.
An enterprise-focused GEO / Answer Engine Optimization platform that measures how a brand shows up in AI answers (visibility, share of voice, sentiment, citations), surfaces opportunities (high-volume prompts, influential sources), and helps create/optimize AI-ready content through workflows and automation.
- Multi-platform AI tracking (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, Gemini)
- Google AI Overviews tracking
- Brand mention tracking
An all-in-one marketing suite focused on SEO and competitive intelligence: keyword research, competitor analysis, technical audits, rank tracking, backlinks, content workflows, reporting, and newer 'AI visibility / AI search' modules (e.g., AI Visibility Toolkit, AI Search Visibility Checker).
- Multi-platform AI tracking (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, Gemini)
- Google AI Overviews tracking
- Brand mention tracking
Key Features Comparison
Here's a detailed breakdown of features offered by each platform:
| Feature | Profound | Semrush |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-platform AI tracking (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, Gemini) | ||
| Google AI Overviews tracking | ||
| Brand mention tracking | ||
| Citation and source tracking | ||
| AI visibility score/metrics | ||
| Sentiment analysis | ||
| Competitive benchmarking / Share of voice | ||
| Actionable recommendations | ||
| AI content optimization suggestions | ||
| Historical tracking and trends | ||
| CSV exports | ||
| AI crawler/bot analytics | ||
| Team collaboration / Workspaces | ||
| SSO / Enterprise security | ||
| Free plan available | ||
| Automated reporting | ||
| API access | ||
| Keyword research | ||
| Website/technical audit | ||
| AI content writer/generator |
Pricing Analysis
Profound is more affordable at $99/month, offering a 400.95 dollars savings compared to its competitor.
Pros and Cons
Profound
- Very complete stack: analytics (visibility/citations/sentiment) + demand (Prompt Volumes) + crawl/attribution (Agent Analytics) + content ops (Workflows)
- Broad multi-engine coverage with data captured from real front-end experiences
- Strong enterprise posture (SOC2, SSO, support) and ability to track many engines / multiple entities on Enterprise
- Action-oriented: insights plus integrated content creation/optimization tooling
- Historically enterprise-leaning positioning: access can be more sales-led depending on context
- Starter/Growth are tightly scoped around prompt counts and platform coverage
- If you only need basic prompt tracking, the platform may be broader than necessary
Semrush
- Very broad coverage: one platform for most SEO workflows (technical, content, backlinks, competitive, reporting)
- Agency/team-friendly: multi-projects, reporting, exports, templates
- Strong competitive intelligence datasets (domain/keyword/backlink research)
- Growing 'AI search / AI visibility' layer (dedicated toolkit + free checker/benchmarks)
- Rich ecosystem (App Center, add-ons, API by plan) to fit into a marketing stack
- Modular pricing: multiple toolkits/add-ons and plan limits can make total cost grow quickly
- Packaging changes over time (e.g., newer bundles like Semrush One), so comparisons require a clear scope
- Steep learning curve: very feature-dense UI and many reports
- AI visibility features may sit outside the core SEO toolkit (dedicated toolkit), adding extra cost/ops
Best Use Cases
Each platform excels in different scenarios:
ProfoundBest for
- 1GEO / LLMO: track visibility, SOV, sentiment, and citations across multiple answer engines
- 2Content teams: create and optimize citation-winning content via templates + workflows
- 3PR & Brand: monitor perception/accuracy and narratives associated with the brand
- 4Tech/SEO: diagnose AI crawlability, understand AI-driven traffic impact, and prioritize fixes
- 5E-commerce: improve product presence in ChatGPT Shopping (placement, attributes, sentiment)
- 6Enterprise: governance, security (SSO/SOC2), dedicated support, and expanded coverage (10 platforms)
SemrushBest for
- 1Full-stack SEO operations: keywords -> technical audit -> on-page -> backlinks -> rank tracking
- 2Competitive analysis: who ranks, for what, with which pages and strategies
- 3Content teams: topic ideation/briefs and optimize existing content with recommendations
- 4Agencies: client reporting standardization (dashboards, exports, templates) and multi-project management
- 5AI search/GEO: benchmark AI-answer visibility, track prompt-level visibility, and find optimization opportunities
Feature Comparison
| Criteria | Profound | Semrush |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | ||
| Starter Price | $99/mo | $139.95/mo |
| Standard Price | $399/mo | $249.95/mo |
| Pro Price | - | $499.95/mo |
| Number of Features | 15 | 12 |
Conclusion
Both Profound and Semrush are excellent solutions. Profound is ideal for geo / llmo: track visibility, sov, sentiment, and citations across multiple answer engines, while Semrush excels at full-stack seo operations: keywords -> technical audit -> on-page -> backlinks -> rank tracking. Your choice should depend on your specific needs and budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better: Profound or Semrush?
It depends on your specific needs. Profound is better for geo / llmo: track visibility, sov, sentiment, and citations across multiple answer engines, while Semrush excels at full-stack seo operations: keywords -> technical audit -> on-page -> backlinks -> rank tracking. Consider your priorities and budget before making a decision.
Is Profound more expensive than Semrush?
Profound is more affordable at $99/month, offering a 400.95 dollars savings.
What is the main difference between Profound and Semrush?
The main difference lies in their focus. Profound offers Citation and source tracking, while Semrush stands out with Automated reporting. Profound targets geo / llmo: track visibility, sov, sentiment, and citations across multiple answer engines, whereas Semrush is designed for full-stack seo operations: keywords -> technical audit -> on-page -> backlinks -> rank tracking.
Which one is easier to use for beginners: Profound or Semrush?
Both platforms are designed to be user-friendly. Profound very complete stack: analytics (visibility/citations/sentiment) + demand (prompt volumes) + crawl/attribution (agent analytics) + content ops (workflows), while Semrush very broad coverage: one platform for most seo workflows (technical, content, backlinks, competitive, reporting). We recommend trying the free version of each to see which interface suits you better.
Which offers the best value for money: Profound or Semrush?
Profound offers the most competitive pricing at $99/month. However, the best value depends on which features you actually need. If you require multi-platform ai tracking (chatgpt, perplexity, claude, gemini), Profound might be worth the investment. For multi-platform ai tracking (chatgpt, perplexity, claude, gemini), Semrush could be the better choice.
Can I switch from Profound to Semrush easily?
Yes, migrating between Profound and Semrush is generally possible. Most platforms offer export features that allow you to transfer your data. We recommend exporting your content before switching and checking the import options available on the new platform.
Which is better for small businesses: Profound or Semrush?
For small businesses, Profound at $99/month is often the most practical choice due to budget constraints. However, Profound excels at geo / llmo: track visibility, sov, sentiment, and citations across multiple answer engines, while Semrush is ideal for full-stack seo operations: keywords -> technical audit -> on-page -> backlinks -> rank tracking. Consider your specific business requirements before deciding.
Are there free alternatives to Profound and Semrush?
Both Profound and Semrush offer free plans with limited features. These free versions are great for testing or light usage. For more advanced needs, the paid plans unlock additional features and higher usage limits.
Can I use both Profound and Semrush together?
Yes, many users combine both tools to leverage their unique strengths. Profound can handle geo / llmo: track visibility, sov, sentiment, and citations across multiple answer engines, while Semrush takes care of full-stack seo operations: keywords -> technical audit -> on-page -> backlinks -> rank tracking. This approach can maximize productivity if budget allows.
What are the pros and cons of Profound compared to Semrush?
Profound's strengths include very complete stack: analytics (visibility/citations/sentiment) + demand (prompt volumes) + crawl/attribution (agent analytics) + content ops (workflows), but it has limitations like historically enterprise-leaning positioning: access can be more sales-led depending on context. Semrush offers very broad coverage: one platform for most seo workflows (technical, content, backlinks, competitive, reporting), though modular pricing: multiple toolkits/add-ons and plan limits can make total cost grow quickly. The best choice depends on which trade-offs matter most to you.
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