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SE Ranking Review: Is it The Best SEO Tool in 2025?

by Emily Gertenbach
February 3, 2025

SE Ranking is a reliable all-in-one SEO tool. Its affordable pricing structure makes it a favorite of freelancers, agencies, and digital marketing pros.

As a longtime SEO writer and consultant, I’ve used SE Ranking extensively. It's one of my favorite tools, along with Semrush, for exploring search engine results pages.

But SE Ranking isn’t perfect. It’s missing a few features that I find myself needing when I use the tool.

Let's take a closer look at what you can expect when using SE Ranking for SEO.

SE Ranking Pros and Cons

In my opinion, SE Ranking’s strengths as an SEO tool outweigh its cons.

However, the interface can be a little cumbersome. Some common SEO tasks are simply easier and faster when using an SE Ranking competitor like Ahrefs or Semrush.

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What I Like About SE Ranking

  • All plans and add-ons are reasonably priced (SE Ranking pricing plans start at $55 per month when billed annually)
  • There’s a “favorites” bar where I can pin my most-used functions
  • The color-coded charts, graphs, and website audit results
  • It’s easy to organize keywords into lists
  • You can manage your social media accounts and Google Business Profiles through the SE Ranking dashboard
  • It’s easy to see how many times your site appears in an AI Overview answer
  • You can customize reports with SE Ranking data and your own notes
  • The customer support team is responsive

What I Don't Like About SE Ranking

  • The app’s multiple menu tiers expand and collapse, making it hard for me to find what I’m looking for
  • I have to buy extra credits to use the Keyword Grouper tool
  • It lacks a keyword gap analysis tool
  • Content Editor briefs require a lot of tweaks to generate an accurate score
  • The billing portal is difficult to navigate and can be confusing

What Do SE Ranking Plans Include?

Essential PlanPro PlanBusiness Plan
Keyword rank tracking tools
Historical keyword data
Insights reports
AI Overviews rank tracker
Website SEO audit tools
PPC Advertising tools
Backlink checker
Trend forecasting tools
Unlimited reports
White-label reporting add-on
Content marketing suite
Local marketing tools
Social media management pack
API access

Organic and Competitor Research With SE Ranking

You can use SE Ranking to assess your organic traffic and see how well your competitors are ranking in search results.

Organic Performance and Rank Tracking

The SE Ranking Insights report collects data from a connected Google Search Console account and combines it with metrics from the platform's SERP analysis tools.

The SE Ranking keyword cannibalization report shows changes on Google and Bing.

The resulting breakdown is easy to read, and its recommendations are helpful.

You can find the bulk of this information for free in your Google Search Console and Google Analytics accounts, though. I wouldn’t base my purchase of the SE Ranking platform on the Insights feature alone.

I like the platform’s AI Results Tracker report. This is an easy and straightforward way to see which AI Overview results list your site as a source.

A blue and purple line graph shows AI Overview ranking changes

It's simple to track your website ranking in the regular SERP results, too. The platform's keyword tracker sorts keywords by position and highlights which ones are “low-hanging fruit”—i.e. keyword suggestions that can be easy to improve rank for.

You can even see what the typical content quality score is for that SERP, which is nice.

Competitor Analysis With SE Ranking

SE Ranking also provides you with access to some top-level competitive research tools.

Website competitors are listed in three columns of URLs and favicons.

You can see information about:

  • Your top competitors and their visibility in the SERP
  • How those competitors perform in SERPs
  • The keywords that drive the most traffic to a competitor
  • Which competitors have the largest share of voice

This information will be enough for most people to get a basic understanding of the competitive landscape.

Circles plotted on a chart show how competing websites capture search traffic.

The verdict: If you need a straightforward way to track AI Overviews mentions, then SE Ranking is a nice option. Its other competitor metrics are fine, but not particularly notable when compared to similar SEO tools.

Organic Keyword Research With SE Ranking

After you’ve established who your SERP competitors are, it’s important to do a keyword gap analysis.

This lets you spot potential opportunities for improvement—but it’s kind of hard to do with SE Ranking.

First, I have to run a competitor website report, then look at the keyword ranking report. If any of these stand out to me as a potential target for my own content, I can add it to a list. But then I’ll need to repeat this process again for the next competitor … and the next.

A blue, white, and green list of organic keywords in SE Ranking.

It works, but it’s clunky. I prefer the Keyword Gap analysis tool in Semrush, as it lets me compare multiple competitors at once. This saves time.

keyword-gap-report-min.webp

The standard keyword analysis tool in SE Ranking is very good, though.

It delivers all of the information you expect to see—including competition score, search volume, and related keywords—in an easy-to-read dashboard.

An SE Ranking overview page shows keyword metrics in colorful charts.

I’ve always found it simple to explore a SERP, find similar terms, and create keyword lists for further analysis when using SE Ranking.

Tip: SE Ranking and other keyword tracking tools show you historical information about keyword popularity. To get an idea of how interest in a topic will change in the future, you’ll want to add trend forecasting capabilities, like those found in Exploding Topics, to your SEO toolkit!

In SE Ranking, it's difficult to see data about whether an AI overview appears for a specific keyword—and what sites it references. This is disappointing, as SE Ranking nicely tracks when your site is mentioned in an AI Overview.

Ultimately, I prefer how Semrush presents AI Overview SERP data:

Semrush SERP results show AI Overview links

The verdict: If your work requires you to do a lot of competitor keyword analysis or find new AI Overviews to target, use Semrush. If you’re primarily interested in exploring organic results in the traditional SERP, then SE Ranking works well.

Is SE Ranking Good for In-Depth Backlink Analysis?

The number of backlinks you can audit per report varies based on subscription type, but even users on the cheapest SE Ranking plan can still get a good snapshot of any site’s link profile.

The platform shows you metrics like:

  • Number of referring domains
  • Total number of backlinks
  • Top backlink locations
  • Anchor text
  • Link toxicity
  • Number of broken backlinks
  • Changes in backlinks compared to traffic fluctuations

A multicolored line graph shows backlink changes in SE Ranking.

The reports include a few color-coded charts but are mostly displayed in rows and columns.

A table of data shows information about alt text on backlinks.

If you plan to export the results of a backlink audit and explore the data in a spreadsheet, then you’ll probably be happy with the SE Ranking backlink checker.

But if (like me) you’re someone who prefers to explore data through charts, then you may prefer the detailed reports available via the Semrush Backlink Analytics instead.

Blue and green charts illustrate backlink data in Semrush.

Nearly every metric on the Semrush report includes a graph or image to help you understand the data. These include:

  • Referring domain line graphs
  • New and lost backlink bar charts
  • Top anchor text word clouds

I really like the interactive Network Graph feature that lets me see how all of the sites linking back to mine interconnect. Each dot, or node, on the chart represents a site that links back to me.

A web of interconnected dots acts as a visual backlink representation.

The verdict: SE Ranking is a trustworthy way to learn more about a site’s backlink profile. If you want ready-made charts and graphs to view or share with others, though, you’ll be better served by a tool like Semrush.

SE Ranking For Technical SEO: Website Auditing Tool

Setting up an SEO audit in SE Ranking is straightforward.

You can choose how you’d like to crawl a site, specify URLs to include or exclude, and enable or disable client-side JavaScript rendering.

A drop-down list of multiple crawlers available in the SE Ranking site audit tool.

The finished site audit reports contain all of the key metrics that you may need to assess a site’s technical SEO, including:

  • Number of pages crawled
  • Website health score
  • Core Web Vitals metrics
  • Indexable and non-indexable pages
  • HTTP status codes
  • Page depth
  • Orphan pages

Red, yellow, green, and blue charts show site audit data in SE Ranking.

The report also includes a summary of top issues broken into notices, warnings, and errors. This helps you prioritize which actions to take first when updating your site.

Users on the SE Ranking Pro plan can also analyze single webpages using the On Page SEO Checker.

When you run an on page report, you’ll see an issue and warnings roundup similar to the one provided during a site audit.

This is a nice feature. I’d use this before revamping the content on an underperforming webpage, as it could help me better understand if I simply need to improve the text—or if there are bigger on page SEO issues at play.

I do wish, though, that SE Ranking gave me the ability to crawl a site that’s in production. The Semrush Site Audit tool allows me to do this by providing my login credentials.

A purple and white pop-up window displays Semrush site audit settings.

The verdict: If you’ll be paying for the Pro plan, access to the On Page SEO Checker may make SE Ranking the best choice for you. Otherwise, though, SE Ranking’s Site Audit tool isn’t different enough from the competitors to make it a top deciding factor when choosing an SEO tool.

Content Marketing Tools in SE Ranking

There are two dedicated content marketing tools in SE Ranking: a Content Idea finder and a Content Editor.

The Content Idea tool generates topic clusters related to your starting keyword. It’s similar to the Semrush Keyword Strategy Builder, though I find the Semrush version to be a bit more robust.

The Content Editor is similar in function to Clearscope and the Semrush SEO Writing Assistant. You can use it to:

  • Create content briefs
  • Find semantic keywords
  • Get real-time feedback on content optimization

A multicolored table shows competitor options when using SE Ranking Content Editor.

Clearscope and the Semrush SEO Writing Assistant are pretty easy to use: you plug in a keyword; the program produces a SERP overview and connected text editor.

The SE Ranking Content Editor is a bit more complex. Whenever I’ve used the tool for content optimization, I find that I have to manually adjust several parameters in order for the brief (and therefore, the content grading tool) to be accurate.

You can add and remove keywords, specify internal and external links, assign a target paragraph or image count, and more.

This is great if you’re creating briefs for other writers and you want to have granular control over the end result. But it can be frustrating if you just want to get a quick SERP overview and some initial feedback on semantic keyword use.

The Verdict: Personally, I’d be hesitant to have an inexperienced SEO writer use the SE Ranking Content Editor without the guidance of a more seasoned pro. I find Clearscope or Semrush to be better choices in those situations. I see SE Ranking tool being best suited for larger agencies or marketing departments with an established content briefing process.

How Good is SE Ranking for Local SEO?

I like SE Ranking’s local SEO reports. They’re chock-full of colorful graphs and easy-to-read charts—great for sharing with others.

Colorful, circular charts display key metrics about local SEO in SE Ranking

The platform’s local SEO overview includes metrics like:

  • Ranking distribution in local search results
  • A site audit-style assessment of issues and errors related to your business profiles
  • Google Business Profile views, searches, messages, click-to-call actions, and more
  • A breakdown of how frequently your listing appears in mobile and desktop maps vs. search results
  • A business review summary including frequently used words

You can manage your connected Google Business Profiles through SE Ranking, too.

The Verdict: SE Ranking’s local SEO capability is just what I expect to see from an SEO platform of this caliber. As with the Site Audit feature, I wouldn’t treat this local SEO tool as the most important factor when deciding between SE Ranking and a competitor. But if you like SE Ranking’s other capabilities, you’ll likely be pleased with the local SEO tool, too.

SE Ranking for PPC Ads

Pay-per-click (PPC) ads are a great complement to organic SEO efforts, so many platforms offer tools to help users with both kinds of digital marketing.

The Semrush PPC Toolkit is a great example of this. You can manage and improve your ad campaigns in the same spot you conduct your organic research.

A blue-and-white chart shows changes in paid ad traffic in Semrush.

SE Ranking doesn't offer PPC tools. You can see average cost-per-click (CPC) prices for the keywords you research, but that's about it.

The Verdict: If PPC is a part of your SEO strategy, you'll want to choose a different platform.

Usability: Is SE Ranking Beginner-Friendly?

SE Ranking is a good tool for intermediate to experienced marketers and SEO practitioners.

The platform’s reports are relatively easy to read, and I like how all of its charts and graphs are always colorful.

That said, I find the platform to be hard to navigate—and I’ve been using SEO tools for a long time!

SE Ranking uses a collapsing, multi-tiered menu system. It looks very clean when it’s closed: there’s just a row of icons along the left.

Unfortunately, I find myself continually forgetting where certain reports are, even after more than a year of use. It's not the most user-friendly interface for beginners.

 SE Ranking menus are dark gray and expand in two levels.

I rely heavily on the favorites at the top, which allows me to pin my most frequently used reports and access them in one click.

Personally, I prefer the always-open menus in Ahrefs and Semrush. I also like that Semrush provides tips for how to use the tool throughout the user interface.

The Semrush Keyword Strategy builder landing page with tips for use.

The Verdict: I don’t think SE Ranking is the best choice for first-time marketers and SEOs, though more experienced practitioners will be able to find everything they need within the platform.

Does SE Ranking Have Good Customer Support?

SE Ranking’s customer service is one of the best things about the company.

The support team is quick to respond, helpful, and will actually implement your requests in a timely fashion.

For example, after the SE Ranking Content Editor tool rolled out, I had trouble getting it to pick up on keywords that were clearly in my text. I realized that it wasn’t catching plural words. I emailed the SE Ranking Support team to see if they could update the tool, and they did within a matter of days.

And while I do find the SE Ranking billing and subscription portal to be confusing, their support staff is always helpful about pointing me where I need to go or taking care of my problem for me.

The Verdict: SE Ranking has a great support team—if that’s important to you, they’re definitely a platform worth considering.

What Do Other Users Think About SE Ranking?

SE Ranking gets very positive reviews across the board. Many reviewers highlight the platform’s ease of use, customer service, keyword research tools, and reporting features as its best pros.

Reviewers’ concerns about SE Ranking include platform limitations, accuracy, data organization, and difficulty understanding how to use the tool.

ReviewerSE Ranking Review Rating
G25 out of 5 stars
Gartner4.8 out of 5 stars
Trustpilot3.6 out of 5 stars
Capterra4.7 out of 5 stars
Gizmodo4.2 out of 5 stars
Average Review4.5 out of stars

Is SE Ranking Worth It?

If SE Ranking is the best fit for your marketing budget, then it's a great choice. The platform offers a lot of functionality to entry-level users and its features, like unlimited reporting, can help you scale up your business operations.

However, if you're a beginner or have more budget flexibility, I recommend testing out other alternatives before committing to SE Ranking. While I do genuinely like SE Ranking for organic research, its lack of PPC tools and complicated Content Editor can slow down your workflow.

Semrush is a great place to start when exploring SE Ranking alternatives. (There's even a free plan you can do a lot with!)

No matter which SEO tool you choose, though, I highly recommend pairing it with Exploding Topics for even better insights. As well as historical data on trends, it helps you to understand what will trend in the future. That future insight gives you an incredible competitive edge that the users of other SEO tools simply don't have.

Grab our exclusive Semrush coupon code for a 14-day free trial, and take Exploding Topics Pro for a spin at the same time—it's just $1 for your first two weeks.