We may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. Sponsored placements are labeled. This does not change our picks. Affiliate disclosure.
Competitor research for small agencies
Last checked: Oct 16, 2026. AI-assisted research. We have not tested these tools hands-on yet.
Competitor research tells you which keywords, pages and ads drive a rival's traffic, so you can build a plan for the client.
Options
| Tool | Why consider it | Published facts | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| SE Ranking Competitor Research | SEO and PPC competitor data in one place | Competitor keywords with volume, difficulty and CPC; ad history; historical data back to February 2020; AI search visibility; Core from $103.20 USD/month billed annually, Growth from $223.20 USD/month billed annually; 14-day trial | Try SE Ranking |
| Mangools (SERPChecker, LinkMiner, SiteProfiler) | Lighter competitor checks | See vendor page for SiteProfiler; SERPChecker 45+ metrics per URL | See Mangools plans |
| Semrush | Broad research suite | See vendor page | Semrush pricing |
How to do the job
- List the 3 to 5 domains that rank for the client's main keywords.
- Pull their top keywords and pages, and find keywords they rank for that the client does not.
- Check their backlinks (see our backlink research page).
- If they run ads, review ad history for messages that worked.
Which to pick
- Agencies doing SEO and PPC for clients: SE Ranking.
- Freelancers who just need a quick look: Mangools.
FAQ
How far back does SE Ranking's competitor data go? SE Ranking says back to February 2020.
Sources (checked Oct 16, 2026)
- SE Ranking Competitor Research: https://seranking.com/competitor-research.html
- SE Ranking pricing: https://seranking.com/subscription.html
- Mangools SERPChecker: https://mangools.com/serpchecker
- Semrush prices: https://www.semrush.com/prices/