shouldiuse.io

Comparison

Backlinko vs Semrush

Backlinko lands on Worth it, and Semrush lands on Depends.

Backlinko versus Semrush
CompareBacklinkoSemrush
VerdictWorth itDepends
Best forDIY founders learning SEOSEO agencies and consultants
Who it's not forTeams needing actual backlink data or rank trackingHobby sites and side projects
PrivacyNo known public vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed.⁸One CSRF CVE in its WordPress Content Toolkit plugin; no platform breach reported, but scammers heavily impersonate Semrush.
Public sentimentPractitioners on Reddit and Quora have long treated Backlinko as required-reading SEO material, with recent chatter noting its Semrush ownership.⁷Reviewers consistently praise its data depth but split hard on whether the price and billing practices justify it.
Biggest gotchaGuides funnel you toward paid Semrush plans; budget for that separately7-day money-back guarantee reportedly honored inconsistently; one user charged $21113

Pick Backlinko when

  • DIY founders learning SEO
  • Solo marketers and bloggers
  • Content teams wanting link-building playbooks
  • Beginners needing structured checklists

When Backlinko is not a fit

  • Teams needing actual backlink data or rank tracking
  • Anyone wanting software support, SLAs, or onboarding
  • Buyers seeking a tool to replace Ahrefs or Semrush
  • Enterprises needing audited, SOC2-style vendors

Pick Semrush when

  • SEO agencies and consultants
  • In-house teams running SEO full-time
  • Brands tracking AI search visibility
  • Multi-site enterprises

When Semrush is not a fit

  • Hobby sites and side projects
  • Anyone needing only basic keyword lookups
  • Teams that will use two features max
  • Small businesses without dedicated SEO staff

Sources

  1. Backlinko homepagebacklinko.com
    official
  2. The Complete SEO Checklistbacklinko.com
    official
  3. Free Reddit SEO Opportunity Toolbacklinko.com
    official
  4. How Brian Dean sold Backlinko, with 500K monthly visitorstheygotacquired.com
    news
  5. Backlinko is acquired by SEMRush (Reddit)reddit.com
    news
  6. Trustpilot reviews of backlinko.comtrustpilot.com
    review
  7. Who here reads Backlinko.com? (Reddit r/bigseo)reddit.com
    review
  8. Backlinko security pagebacklinko.com
    security
  9. Foglift website report: backlinko.com scored 77/100foglift.io
    security
  10. I'm Brian Dean, founder of Backlinko and Exploding Topics (AMA)reddit.com
    review
  11. Semrush Reviews 2026: G2, Trustpilot, Capterra, Pricingpiperocket.digital
    review
  12. Semrush Review (2026): We Tested It on Three Real Sitesgeotoolbox.ai
    review
  13. I DO NOT recommend Semrush . money-back guarantee complaintreddit.com
    review
  14. Semrush New Prices from 139 to 199reddit.com
    review
  15. Semrush Pricing 2026: New Plans & Cost Breakdowndemandsage.com
    official
  16. Semrush Pricing: Does It Make Sense in 2026?explodingtopics.com
    official