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Kritano vs Semrush - Website Audit Comparison

TL;DR: Semrush is the better choice for keyword research and backlink analysis. Kritano is the better choice for comprehensive website auditing across SEO, accessibility, security, performance, and content quality.

Semrush is one of the most popular SEO platforms in the world, used by over 10 million marketers. Its Site Audit tool checks 120+ technical SEO issues and is part of a broader suite that includes keyword research, backlink analysis, and rank tracking. Kritano takes a different approach - it focuses exclusively on website auditing across six dimensions: SEO, accessibility, security, performance, content quality, and structured data.

Feature Comparison

SEO Auditing

Feature Kritano Semrush
Technical SEO checks 100+ rules 120+ issues
Metadata analysis Yes Yes
Broken link detection Yes Yes
Structured data validation Yes Basic
Core Web Vitals Yes Yes
Internal linking analysis Yes Yes

Accessibility

Feature Kritano Semrush
WCAG 2.2 testing Yes No
Colour contrast checking Yes No
Screen reader compatibility Yes No
Keyboard navigation audit Yes No
EAA compliance reporting Yes No

Security

Feature Kritano Semrush
Security header analysis Yes No
HTTPS configuration Full audit Basic check
Exposed file detection Yes No
Cookie security Yes No

Content & AI

Feature Kritano Semrush
Content Quality Score Yes No
E-E-A-T analysis Yes No
AEO (Answer Engine Optimisation) Yes No
Readability scoring Yes Via SEO Writing Assistant

Beyond Auditing

Feature Kritano Semrush
Keyword research Coming soon Yes
Backlink analysis Coming soon Yes
Rank tracking Coming soon Yes
Competitor analysis Coming soon Yes
PPC/advertising tools No Yes

Pricing Comparison

Kritano

Free forever plan. Starter $19/mo, Pro $49/mo, Agency $99/mo. No contracts.

Semrush

Pro $139.95/mo, Guru $249.95/mo, Business $499.95/mo. Annual billing saves ~17%.

Verdict

Kritano is significantly cheaper for website auditing. However, Semrush includes keyword research, backlink analysis, and rank tracking that Kritano does not offer. If you only need auditing, Kritano is the clear value choice. If you need a full SEO marketing suite, Semrush's higher price includes more tools.

Who Should Choose What

Choose Kritano if...

  • Teams that need accessibility, security, and content quality auditing alongside SEO
  • Agencies wanting affordable multi-site auditing with white-label exports
  • Businesses focused on website health rather than keyword research
  • Anyone who wants to audit first before committing (free tier)

Choose Semrush if...

  • SEO professionals who need keyword research and rank tracking
  • Marketing teams running PPC campaigns alongside SEO
  • Agencies that need backlink analysis and competitor research
  • Teams already invested in the Semrush ecosystem

Our Verdict

These tools serve different primary needs. Semrush is a full SEO marketing platform where site auditing is one feature among many. Kritano is a dedicated website auditing platform that goes deeper across more dimensions - particularly accessibility, security, and content quality, which Semrush does not cover at all. If your main goal is to understand and improve your website's overall health, Kritano is the better fit. If you need keyword research, backlink analysis, and rank tracking, Semrush is the better fit. Many teams use both.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Semrush check website accessibility?
No. Semrush's Site Audit focuses on technical SEO issues. It does not test against WCAG 2.2 or check for accessibility issues like colour contrast, keyboard navigation, screen reader compatibility, or ARIA attributes. Kritano covers all of these.
Is Kritano a Semrush replacement?
Not entirely. Kritano replaces and improves on Semrush's site audit functionality, and adds accessibility, security, content quality, and structured data analysis. However, Kritano does not offer keyword research, backlink analysis, or rank tracking. Many users run both tools.
Which is better value for website auditing?
Kritano. The free plan includes SEO, security, and content checks. The Pro plan at $49/mo covers all six audit dimensions with unlimited audits. Semrush's cheapest plan with site audit access is $139.95/mo, and it only covers SEO.
Can Kritano do everything Semrush does?
No. Kritano focuses exclusively on website auditing and health monitoring. It does not include keyword research, backlink analysis, rank tracking, or PPC tools. Kritano goes deeper on auditing (6 pillars vs 1) while Semrush goes wider across marketing.

See What Others Miss

Start auditing your website across all six pillars - SEO, accessibility, security, performance, content quality, and structured data. Free forever plan available.

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