SpyFu vs Surfer
SpyFu
SurferWe may earn a commission from links on this page, at no extra cost to you. It never changes our picks. How we make money.
Quick verdict
SpyFu edges it overall, winning 1 of 4 rating categories. SpyFu is cheaper to start ($39 vs $59).
Choose SpyFu if…
You’re small businesses and PPC marketers researching competitors cheaply. Competitor keyword and PPC research on a budget: see the keywords and Google Ads competitors rank and bid on, with 10+ years of history on Pro.
Visit SpyFuChoose Surfer if…
You’re content teams writing SEO articles. A content-optimization tool: it scores your article against top-ranking pages and guides keyword use, structure and length, with an AI writer.
Visit SurferSide by side
| SpyFu | Surfer | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 4.3/5 | 4.2/5 |
| Value | 4.5/5 | 3.8/5 |
| Features | 4.2/5 | 4.3/5 |
| Ease of use | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Output quality | 4.1/5 | 4.2/5 |
| Category | SEO | SEO |
| Free plan | Limited free searches; 30-day money-back | No: 7-day money-back |
| Cheapest paid plan (monthly) | $39/mo | $59/mo |
| Same plan billed yearly | $29/mo | $49/mo |
| Top plan | Team/Agency: $249/mo | Peace of Mind: $359/mo |
| Seats | 1 user (5 on Team) | Multiple seats on higher plans |
| Trial / refund | 30-day money-back guarantee | 7-day money-back guarantee |
| Platforms | Web | Web, Google Docs & WordPress add-ons |
| Best for | Small businesses and PPC marketers researching competitors cheaply | Content teams writing SEO articles |
SpyFu: pros & cons
- Cheapest serious competitor-research tool
- Strong Google Ads history
- Unlimited searches on Pro
- Smaller backlink data than Ahrefs or Semrush
- US/UK-focused data
Surfer: pros & cons
- Clear, actionable content scores
- Integrates with Google Docs and WordPress
- AI writing built in
- Not a full SEO suite
- Monthly billing is pricey
Questions from readers
Still deciding between these two? Ask a question and we will answer it here.