SEO APIs are key if you want to automate repetitive tasks and quickly access large volumes of digital marketing data. You can integrate SEO functionality into your own software or website and track SEO metrics like keyword data, competitor analysis, rank tracking, etc.
Semrush API is one of the key players in the industry. Without leaving your website, you can use SEMrush API to retrieve SEO data like competitor analysis– top-performing keywords, backlinks, traffic sources, etc.
SEMrush is also a trusted API for creating custom reports, dashboards, and tools for your marketing team.
But, the tool has limits of 10 requests per second, extra charges for additional API units, and monthly caps on tools like Trends API can turn even simple tasks into a headache.
In this guide, we’ll go through 7 Semrush API alternatives to help you achieve your SEO strategy.
5 Key Factors to Consider When Choosing an SEO API
Not all APIs deliver the same results. Some struggle with flexibility and data accuracy. Others lack features like real-time insights or strong documentation.
The SEO API you choose can either deliver smooth, data-driven campaigns or frustrating roadblocks.
1. Scalability & Pricing
When selecting an SEO API, scalability and pricing are key considerations. Your SEO strategy must be able to grow alongside your site. It's essential to choose an API that can handle increased traffic, content, and complexity without compromising performance.
For instance, if you’re managing multiple campaigns across global markets. A restrictive API capped at 10 requests per second slows everything down. Worse, you’ll end up paying extra for more API units just to get by.
You need APIs that offer unlimited requests or pay-as-you-go pricing to scale affordably.
2. Features Offered
Choose an SEO API that covers keyword analysis, backlink data, site audits, etc. You want a tool that enables you to track performance, identify opportunities, and spot and address technical SEO issues.
A versatile tool like Bishopi API provides SERP analysis and competitor research and even tracks the value of different domain names over time.
3. Ease of Integration and Documentation Quality
Your SEO API must integrate seamlessly with your tech stack. Smooth integration saves time, reduces errors, and ensures a faster setup.
In addition, good documentation offers clear endpoints, sample code, and troubleshooting tips to make implementation easy for developers.
For example, Ahrefs API integrates with Google Data Studio and Zapier. Their documentation stands out with step-by-step instructions and real-world examples, making it simple to set up workflows.
4. Customer Support and Reliability
The API you go for should have a 99.95% uptime. Reliable performance ensures your tools work smoothly without frequent interruptions.
Most importantly, reliable APIs have strong support teams and resources like forums and FAQs to resolve your issue quickly.
5. Data Requirements (volume, accuracy, granularity)
The best SEO APIs give you vast, reliable, and detailed data. Analyzing millions of keywords or backlinks gives you the power to spot trends faster.
Accuracy ensures your marketing decisions are based on facts, ensuring you’re working towards success.
You also need granularity– An API that breaks volumes down by device or geography, helping you fine-tune campaigns to target the right audience at the right time.
For example, with an international SEO checklist, you can use keyword intent data to tweak campaigns for different regions.
7 Semrush API Alternatives You Must Know in 2025
Now that you know what to look for in an SEO API, let’s look at the best Semrush API alternatives.
1. Google Search Console API – The Best Free Web Search API
The Search Console API lets developers pull data straight from Google. You can use it in custom tools or apps to track performance and manage key SEO metrics easily.
In fact, in January 2025, Google rolled out hourly data exports, giving you near real-time insights. This makes it easier to spot trends and adapt quickly to changes so that you can stay ahead in the game.
Key Features
- Google Search Console API is free, whereas Semrush charges you extra API units.
- Search Console lets you have multiple properties like subdomains.
- You can fix sitemap errors and indexing issues for free.
- Much better than Semrush’s page speed and interactivity metrics.
Pros
- Access Google’s search data - a reliable benchmark for SEO performance.
- Automation reduces manual work, freeing up time for strategic tasks.
- Integrates easily into tools and dashboards
Cons
- Lacks backlinks, traffic breakdowns, or detailed competitor analysis.
- A 2–3 day delay in data makes it less useful for real-time decisions.
- Hard caps on rows (50,000 per call) and query rates (1,200 per minute) can limit use for large websites.
Pricing
- Free forever!
2. Bishopi API – Affordable SEO API
The Bishopi API offers advanced SERP analysis, backlink tracking, and domain insights. It provides reliable SEO data, competitive analysis, and actionable insights.
What makes Bishopi unique is its AI-powered technology. You get real-time market data and notifications you can trust.
Whether you’re analyzing domains, tracking keywords, or backordering domains, you get the right tools to make smarter decisions.
Key Features of Bishopi API
- Bishopi API helps you compare website rankings, analyze keywords & competitor strategies, and find growth opportunities easily.
- You can access over 20 endpoints to gather insights on keywords, SERPs, and competitors.
- Allows you to create detailed reports on backlink profiles, including link quality and anchor text.
- Filter your data instantly by search engine, location, or language for precise targeting.
- Integrate perfectly with your existing platforms, saving time and cutting costs.
Pros
- Offers affordable SEO insights compared to Ahrefs and Semrush
- Have versatile endpoint options, making it easy to tailor to your specific needs.
- Provides real-time data for competitive analysis and faster decision-making.
Cons
- Remaining API credits don’t roll over to the next month.
- No refunds after the free trial
Bishopi Pricing
- $39-$349 month depending on the paid plan (free 7-day trial available)
3. MOZ API – User-Friendly SEO API
Moz API is a trusted solution for developers and businesses looking to integrate reliable SEO data into their apps.
With over 20 years of SEO expertise, Moz delivers reliable metrics like Domain Authority, Page Authority, and Brand Authority.
Moz focuses on simplicity and affordability. Starting at just $5, they did a good job making their advanced SEO tools accessible for everyone.
Key Features
- Uses trusted metrics like Domain Authority (DA) and Page Authority (PA) to help you assess site credibility, outsmart competitors, and find link-building opportunities.
- Measures how your brand stands out in search results with Brand Authority scores keeps you ahead of competitors while tracking PR wins.
- Gets keyword insights like search volume, difficulty, and organic CTR allowing you to create impactful content strategies.
- Has over 45.5 trillion links across 1 billion domains to help you refine outreach, discover backlinks, and grow your niche effectively.
Pros
- Sets SEO industry-standard metrics like DA and PA
- Easy integration and beginner-friendly support can get you started within minutes
- Flexible plans help you grow as you scale.
Cons
- At MozCon 2024, Moz avoided comparing its database size to competitors like Ahrefs or Semrush. Instead, they highlighted strengths like AI-powered features and affordable pricing. Makes you wonder, right?
- The API updates data periodically, so it may not show the most recent changes in search rankings or backlinks.
- Lacks advanced backlink analysis compared to Majestic or Ahrefs.
Pricing
- $5–$75/month based on data rows used
4. Ahrefs API – Backlink Data API
Ahrefs API is one of the best APIs for SEO backlink report data. The tool offers comprehensive data on backlinks, keyword rank tracker, and domain metrics that serve as the backbone of many advanced SEO strategies.
Ahrefs has a database with over 35 trillion backlinks. You also get detailed metrics like anchor text, link type, and referring domain authority. These insights help you create strategies that focus on what matters most.
Key Features
- You can fetch the top 100 SERP results for any query to help you identify ranking gaps and gain competitive insights.
- Provides detailed stats, historical charts, backlink data, and traffic insights to improve your SEO efforts.
- You can build custom dashboards, streamline workflows, and integrate Ahrefs data into your applications, saving a lot of time.
- Provides up to 60 requests per minute and monitors via the admin dashboard, keeping your workflow efficient
Pros
- Combines backlinks, keywords, SERP APIs, and site audits in one tool.
- Customizable with dynamic cURL commands and endpoints.
- Country-specific keyword research tools with enough volume to refine local SEO strategies.
- Scalable with admin dashboard for advanced monitoring.
Cons
- Full API features are limited to Enterprise plans and credit-based system
- High costs for large-scale operations due to Ahrefs credit-based system
- Limited to 60 requests per minute
- Additional throttling during high system load messes up with your workflows
Pricing
- $500–$10,000/month depending on plan
5. Majestic API – Backlink Analysis SEO API
The Majestic API helps developers integrate Majestic's backlink data into their applications.
It provides a full view of link data and website performance.
Unlike other APIs, such as Moz, which offer a broader range of SEO tools, Majestic specializes in delivering in-depth insights into backlink profiles.
This specialization allows users to gain a deeper understanding of their website's link equity and identify opportunities for improvement. Majestic's API is particularly beneficial for developers and advanced users seeking to customize their SEO tools with robust backlink data.
Key Features
- Offers access to Fresh Index for real-time link data and the Historic Index for five years of backlink trends.
- Allows you to drill into referring domains, IPs, subnets, and specific links to get a complete link profile for deeper insights.
- You can test integrations in a sandbox environment, saving costs and refining workflows.
- You can queue and batch requests to help you analyze data without hitting resource limits.
Pros
- Has trust Flow and Citation Flow that provide deep insights into link quality and authority.
- Its large backlink database allows for long-term trend analysis and planning.
- Advanced features like Clique Hunter help you create actionable backlink strategies.
Cons
- Lacks strong keyword and traffic data compared to Ahrefs or Semrush.
- Requires technical expertise to set up and optimize.
- Strict limits on analysis and retrieval units could increase costs for high-volume users.
- Historic Index data is extensive but may miss real-time trends.
Pricing
- $399.99/month
6. BrightLocal API – Local SEO API
If local SEO is your focus, the BrightLocal API is a game-changer.
It helps businesses and agencies track local search rankings, manage listings, and track reviews—all in one platform.
This API provides granular, location-specific insights. You can track rankings in Google Local and manage NAP data across 100+ directories. BrightLocal’s API is built to deliver actionable data for hyper-local optimization.
Key Features
- Pulling review data from 80+ platforms, including Google and Yelp
- Tracking local rankings on Google Local and Bing Local gives you targeted data
- Auditing and monitoring NAP data across 100+ directories ensure consistency for your SEO campaign
- Retrieving domain-level SEO metrics, like link counts and authority, gives you insights to boost your strategy.
Pros
- Offers granular, location-specific insights for hyper-local SEO strategies.
- Flexible pricing scales with your needs, making it cost-efficient for businesses of any size.
- Simplifies client reporting and management with easy-to-use tools.
- Well-documented API reduces setup time for agencies and developers.
Cons
- Limited access to lower-tier plans may restrict smaller businesses.
- Requires technical expertise to maximize its potential.
- Primarily focused on local SEO, limiting broader SEO applications.
Pricing
- Starts at $0.01 per request (custom pricing available for high volume)
7. SimilarWeb API – Traffic Analysis API
The SimilarWeb API gives access to web traffic and market intelligence data. It helps you analyze website performance, track trends, and gain competitive insights.
It also lets businesses integrate SimilarWeb's data into their applications. You can get insights into website traffic, audience demographics, and competitive analysis.
From real-time analytics to large-scale data extraction, it’s built for many use cases and ideal for data-driven decisions.
Key Features
- Gives you real-time web analytics data with the REST API for instant insights.
- You can submit batch jobs to process historical data and analyze trends.
- Allows you to automate workflows and create custom reports helping you focus on key metrics that matter.
- Scaling data access enables you to manage both small queries and enterprise-level datasets.
Pros
- Perfect for large-scale data analysis and competitive research across various websites
- Tailored reporting features save time by focusing only on relevant metrics.
- Developer-friendly documentation makes integration simple.
Cons
- The data credit system requires careful monitoring to avoid overspending
- Limited access for smaller budgets making it less ideal for startups
- Needs technical expertise for integration and proper use
Pricing
- $199–$449/month
Which API Should I Begin with?
Choosing the best SEO API is all about finding one that fits your strategy.
Ahrefs, BrightLocal, and SimilarWeb have their strengths. However, Bishopi API stands out with AI-powered insights and instant data delivery.
Bishopi gives you AI-powered insights, instant data delivery, and precision targeting across search engines, locations, and languages– giving you the edge you need to optimize your campaigns effectively.
Originally published at: bishopi.io
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