dotmap vs Semrush
Semrush is a full SEO suite; dotmap does one job, the page-by-page audit, more deeply. Semrush Site Audit runs rule-based checks, including site-wide AI search checks such as llms.txt and AI crawler access, alongside keyword research, rank tracking, backlinks and AI visibility tracking. dotmap has a model read every page and score its content and whether an AI engine could quote it, which rule-based checks cannot judge.
~3 s
to audit 50 pages
~$0.005
model cost for 50 pages, shown live
1,000
pages per signed-in crawl
12 + 18
model judgments and technical checks per page
side by side
dotmap and Semrush, feature by feature.
Semrush is a paid SEO and marketing suite. Its Site Audit tool checks a site against a long list of technical and on-page rules, and since July 2025 includes an AI Search category. A free account can audit up to 100 pages.
| dotmap | Semrush | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it runs | In the browser, nothing to install | In the browser |
| Free option | Free during beta | Free account audits up to 100 pages; more needs a paid plan |
| Content judged by a model on every page | Yes: twelve judgments per page, including content depth, search-intent match and readability | Site Audit uses rule-based checks; content scoring lives in separate writing tools |
| AI answer readiness | Scored per page: does the page answer first, and could a passage be quoted | Site-wide AI Search checks, such as llms.txt and AI crawler access |
| Technical checks | Eighteen checks, plus Google Lighthouse scores and a Bing readiness estimate | A broad rule-based audit, part of a larger suite |
| Keywords, rankings and backlinks | No | Yes, a core strength |
| Brand mentions in AI answers | A five-question check per site for signed-in users | Yes, through its AI visibility tools |
| Sites you can audit | Any public website, no verification | Any public website |
| AI assistant access (MCP) | Included, free | Yes, with a Business plan and API access |
Details about Semrush come from its public pages as of October 2026. Check them before you buy.
dotmap's benefits
Where dotmap is better
- Each page is read by a model and scored for content depth, search-intent match and whether a passage could be quoted, not only checked against rules.
- Up to 1,000 pages free during beta, against 100 on a free Semrush account.
- A focused report that lists the weakest pages first with the fix for each.
- MCP access included for free.
to be fair
Where Semrush is better
- Keyword research, rank tracking, backlinks and competitor data in one place.
- AI visibility tracking across many prompts.
- Mature reporting and team features for large marketing teams.
good fit
Choose dotmap if
- You want to know which pages are weak and why, page by page.
- You care about whether AI answer engines can quote your content.
- You want a fast, free audit to run after every change.
also good
Choose Semrush if
- You need keyword research, rank tracking and backlinks.
- You want one subscription for a whole marketing team.
- You need to track hundreds of AI prompts.
faq
dotmap vs Semrush: common questions
- Is dotmap a Semrush alternative?
- For the site audit part, yes. dotmap does not replace Semrush's keyword, rank or backlink data. It replaces the question of which pages are weak for search and AI answer engines, and answers it more deeply by having a model read every page.
- Does Semrush check AEO and GEO?
- Partly. Semrush Site Audit has an AI Search category with site-wide checks such as llms.txt and AI crawler access, and Semrush sells AI visibility tracking. It does not score each page on whether an AI engine could quote it, which is what dotmap does.
- Can I use dotmap and Semrush together?
- Yes. A common setup is Semrush for keywords and rankings, and dotmap to find and fix the pages that are weak for search and AI answers.
ready
Run both on your own site.
Compare what dotmap finds with what Semrush finds. The first audit takes seconds and needs no account.