Clearscope vs Semrush:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Semrush had more branded searches than Clearscope among AI SEO tools worldwide. Semrush had about 673,000 branded searches, while Clearscope had 2,090. Semrush made up 68.6% of all AI SEO tool searches we track, and Clearscope accounted for 0.21%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about AI SEO tools, Semrush appeared in all five answers and Clearscope in four. Semrush was mentioned before Clearscope in three out of five answers.
Who do people search for more?
Semrush, about 322 searches for every 1 for Clearscope
Who does AI mention more?
Semrush, mentioned in every answer we collected
Who does AI recommend more?
Semrush, named ahead of Clearscope in 3 of 5 answers
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Top AI SEO tools in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Semrush appeared in all five answers. Clearscope was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Semrush was listed before Clearscope in three out of five answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Surfer1st
Semrush2nd
Clearscope3rd
Frase4th
Ahrefs5th
MarketMuse6th
Screaming Frog7th
WriterZen–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
Semrush5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Surfer5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Frase4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Clearscope4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Ahrefs3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Screaming Frog2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
MarketMuse1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
WriterZen0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about AI SEO tools
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which AI SEO tool should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best AI SEO tools?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best AI SEO tool for content optimisation?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“ai seo tools”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“content optimisation tool”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 20, 2026.
Is Clearscope or Semrush more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Clearscope and Semrush by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all eight AI SEO tools we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Semrush, Clearscope. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Semrush | Ahrefs | Frase | Clearscope | MarketMuse | WriterZen | Screaming Frog | Surfer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 63.9% | 35% | 0.16% | 0.45% | 0.36% | 0.12% | <0.01% | <0.01% |
| Nov 2025 | 68.4% | 30.6% | 0.17% | 0.39% | 0.32% | 0.16% | <0.01% | <0.01% |
| Dec 2025 | 72.3% | 26.4% | 0.17% | 0.41% | 0.42% | 0.2% | <0.01% | <0.01% |
| Jan 2026 | 63.8% | 34.9% | 0.22% | 0.44% | 0.53% | 0.15% | <0.01% | <0.01% |
| Feb 2026 | 64% | 35% | 0.22% | 0.37% | 0.3% | 0.12% | <0.01% | <0.01% |
| Mar 2026 | 68.4% | 30.6% | 0.17% | 0.39% | 0.32% | 0.11% | <0.01% | <0.01% |
| Apr 2026 | 68.5% | 30.6% | 0.19% | 0.32% | 0.26% | 0.13% | <0.01% | <0.01% |
| May 2026 | 64% | 35% | 0.37% | 0.3% | 0.24% | 0.12% | <0.01% | <0.01% |
| Jun 2026 | 68.4% | 30.6% | 0.33% | 0.31% | 0.2% | 0.13% | <0.01% | <0.01% |
| Jul 2026 | 68.5% | 30.6% | 0.35% | 0.26% | 0.17% | 0.1% | <0.01% | <0.01% |
| Aug 2026 | 68.5% | 30.6% | 0.28% | 0.26% | 0.17% | 0.1% | <0.01% | <0.01% |
| Sep 2026 | 68.6% | 30.7% | 0.25% | 0.21% | 0.17% | 0.09% | <0.01% | <0.01% |
How has the Clearscope and Semrush comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Semrush was ahead of Clearscope in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Clearscope’s share of searches among AI SEO tools worldwide moved from 0.45% to 0.21%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 5.8K to 2.1K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Semrush’s share of searches among AI SEO tools worldwide moved from 63.9% to 68.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 823K to 673K.
How did search popularity change for AI SEO tools worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes

Estimated monthly branded searches for Clearscope worldwide fell 63.8% over 12 measured months, from 5.8K to 2.1K in September 2026.

Estimated monthly branded searches for Semrush worldwide fell 18.2% over 12 measured months, from 823K to 673K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
4 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Clearscope’s and Semrush’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Clearscope
3 branded search terms
- clearscope
- clearscope ai
- clearscope.io
Semrush
1 branded search term
- semrush
Other head-to-heads among AI SEO tools

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