FreeAgent vs Semrush
A detailed, side-by-side comparison of FreeAgent and Semrush. We compare features, pricing, ease of use, and value for money to help you make the right choice in 2026.
Reviewed by the Ikaroa team · Last updated: March 2026
Quick Verdict
Semrush edges ahead overall with a rating of 4.5/5. However, FreeAgent (4.2/5) may be the better fit if you prioritise UK freelancers, contractors, and NatWest business banking customers. Read on for the full breakdown.
FreeAgent vs Semrush at a Glance
FreeAgent
★ 4.2FreeAgent is a UK accounting platform beloved by freelancers, contractors, and small business owners. Owned by NatWest Group, it is offered free to NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland, and Ulster Bank business account holders. It handles invoicing, time tracking, expenses, tax, and project management with a focus on making accounting approachable.
Starting from: £24/month
Best for: UK freelancers, contractors, and NatWest business banking customers
Read full review →Semrush
★ 4.5Semrush is the most comprehensive SEO and digital marketing toolkit on the market. It offers keyword research, site audits, competitor analysis, backlink tracking, content marketing tools, and PPC research. Used by agencies and in-house marketing teams worldwide as their primary SEO platform.
Starting from: £100/month
Best for: Agencies and marketing teams wanting the most comprehensive SEO and digital marketing toolkit
Read full review →FreeAgent vs Semrush Feature Comparison
Here is how FreeAgent and Semrush compare across the features that matter most. We have tested both platforms extensively across client implementations.
| Feature | FreeAgent | Semrush |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan Available | No | No |
| Starting Price | £24/month | £100/month |
| Best For | UK freelancers, contractors, and NatWest business banking customers | Agencies and marketing teams wanting the most comprehensive SEO and digital marketing toolkit |
| Our Rating | 4.2/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Mobile App | Limited | Limited |
| Email Marketing | No | No |
| Automation | Limited | Limited |
| Reporting | Basic | Yes |
| Integrations | Limited | Limited |
| API Access | Limited | Limited |
| Ikaroa Exclusive Discount | N/A | N/A |
FreeAgent vs Semrush Pricing
Pricing is often the deciding factor. Here is a full breakdown of what each platform charges at every tier:
FreeAgent Pricing
FreeAgent
£24/month
- ✓Unlimited invoices
- ✓Unlimited users
- ✓Expense management
- ✓VAT returns
- ✓Self-assessment
Free with NatWest
£0/month
- ✓All features included
- ✓Free for NatWest/RBS/Ulster Bank business customers
Semrush Pricing
Pro
£100/month
- ✓5 projects
- ✓500 keywords to track
- ✓10,000 results per report
- ✓SEO, PPC, and research tools
Guru
£190/month
- ✓15 projects
- ✓1,500 keywords
- ✓30,000 results per report
- ✓Content marketing toolkit
Business
£350/month
- ✓40 projects
- ✓5,000 keywords
- ✓50,000 results per report
- ✓API access
Not sure which to pick?
Our team has implemented both FreeAgent and Semrush for clients. We can help you decide based on your specific needs.
FreeAgent Pros and Cons
✓Pros
- •Free for NatWest/RBS business banking customers
- •Excellent for freelancers and contractors
- •Built-in self-assessment tax filing
- •Time tracking and project management included
- •Clean, friendly interface
✗Cons
- •Only one pricing tier (can be expensive if not a NatWest customer)
- •Limited inventory management
- •Fewer integrations than Xero
- •Not ideal for larger or more complex businesses
- •Reporting is basic compared to QuickBooks
Semrush Pros and Cons
✓Pros
- •Most comprehensive SEO toolkit available
- •Excellent keyword research database
- •Strong competitor analysis tools
- •Content marketing features included
- •Regular feature updates and improvements
✗Cons
- •Expensive, especially for individuals
- •Per-user pricing adds significant cost
- •Can be overwhelming for beginners
- •Some data can be less accurate for UK-specific searches
- •Learning curve for the full toolkit
Our Verdict: FreeAgent vs Semrush
Both FreeAgent and Semrush are solid options, but they serve different needs. Having implemented both for multiple clients, here is our recommendation:
Choose FreeAgent if you need UK freelancers, contractors, and NatWest business banking customers. With a starting price of £24/month and a rating of 4.2/5, it offers free for natwest/rbs business banking customers.
Choose Semrush if you need Agencies and marketing teams wanting the most comprehensive SEO and digital marketing toolkit. Starting at £100/month with a 4.5/5 rating, it excels at most comprehensive seo toolkit available.
Still not sure? Talk to the Ikaroa team. We have helped hundreds of businesses make this exact decision, and we are happy to point you in the right direction.
🎁 Get either product at a discount through Ikaroa Partners
Consider Open Doors Instead
Why choose between FreeAgent and Semrush? Open Doors gives you the best features of both in one platform, for less. It is an all-in-one CRM with email marketing, SMS, funnels, booking, invoicing, automation, and more, starting at just £97/month with unlimited contacts.
Need implementation help?
Ikaroa can set up FreeAgent or Semrush for your business, migrate your data, and train your team. We have done it dozens of times.
Free consultation. No obligation.