Semrush Writing Assistant vs Surfer:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Semrush Writing Assistant had more branded searches than Surfer among SEO content optimization platforms worldwide. Semrush Writing Assistant had about 140 branded searches, while Surfer had 10. Semrush Writing Assistant made up 1.3% of all SEO content optimization platform searches we track, and Surfer accounted for 0.09%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about SEO content optimization platforms, both Semrush Writing Assistant and Surfer appeared in all five answers. Surfer was mentioned before Semrush Writing Assistant in every answer.
Who do people search for more?
Semrush Writing Assistant, about 14 searches for every 1 for Surfer
Who does AI mention more?
Both are mentioned in every answer we collected.
Who does AI recommend more?
Surfer, named ahead of Semrush Writing Assistant in every answer
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Top SEO content optimization platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, both Semrush Writing Assistant and Surfer showed up in all five answers. Surfer was listed before Semrush Writing Assistant in every answer.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
- Surfer1st
Clearscope2nd
Frase3rd- Semrush Writing Assistant4th
MarketMuse5th
NeuronWriter6th
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Clearscope5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Semrush Writing Assistant5 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
- MarketMuse3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- NeuronWriter1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about SEO content optimization platforms
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which SEO content optimization platform should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best SEO content optimization platforms?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best SEO content optimization platform for content optimisation?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“content optimization software”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“seo content tool”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.
Is Semrush Writing Assistant or Surfer more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Semrush Writing Assistant and Surfer by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all six SEO content optimization platforms we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Semrush Writing Assistant, Surfer. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | NeuronWriter | Frase | Clearscope | MarketMuse | Semrush Writing Assistant | Surfer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 38.8% | 10% | 27.6% | 22.5% | 1% | 0.1% |
| Nov 2025 | 47.8% | 10.1% | 22.4% | 18.7% | 1% | 0.05% |
| Dec 2025 | 45.9% | 9.1% | 21.8% | 22% | 1.2% | 0.06% |
| Jan 2026 | 38.7% | 11% | 22.4% | 27% | 0.81% | 0.05% |
| Feb 2026 | 45.8% | 13.1% | 22% | 18% | 1.2% | 0.06% |
| Mar 2026 | 42.6% | 10.6% | 24.6% | 20.1% | 2.1% | 0.05% |
| Apr 2026 | 40.6% | 14.2% | 24% | 19.2% | 2% | 0.06% |
| May 2026 | 40.3% | 23.9% | 19.2% | 15.6% | 0.86% | 0.06% |
| Jun 2026 | 38.8% | 23.6% | 22.2% | 14.4% | 1% | 0.07% |
| Jul 2026 | 40.9% | 25.8% | 19.5% | 12.9% | 0.83% | 0.08% |
| Aug 2026 | 42.2% | 21.8% | 20.2% | 13.3% | 2.5% | 0.08% |
| Sep 2026 | 40.6% | 23% | 19.3% | 15.7% | 1.3% | 0.09% |
How has the Semrush Writing Assistant and Surfer comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Semrush Writing Assistant was ahead of Surfer in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Semrush Writing Assistant’s share of searches among SEO content optimization platforms worldwide moved from 1% to 1.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 210 to 140.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Surfer’s share of searches among SEO content optimization platforms worldwide moved from 0.1% to 0.09%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 20 to 10.
How did search popularity change for SEO content optimization platforms worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Semrush Writing Assistant lost share of searches among SEO content optimization platforms worldwide, from 2.5% to 1.3%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Surfer worldwide fell 50% over 12 measured months, from 20 to 10 in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Semrush Writing Assistant’s and Surfer’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.
Semrush Writing Assistant
1 branded search term
- semrush writing assistant
Surfer
1 branded search term
- surfer content optimization
Other head-to-heads among SEO content optimization platforms
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