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In this post I explain the key differences between the ‘Semrush One’ plans and its ‘SEO Classic’ offering, and show you how to get an exclusive, double-length Semrush One free trial.
The two types of Semrush
If you’re considering using Semrush for SEO or digital marketing work, you’ve probably noticed that there are now two distinct versions of the platform available: Semrush SEO Classic and the new, expanded Semrush One suite.

In this guide, I’m going to walk you through the differences between the two versions of Semrush, and their free trials.
Let’s start with a quick overview of what Semrush One is.
What is Semrush One?
Semrush One is the company’s new flagship subscription tier — a bundle that goes beyond the SEO-focused feature set that long-time Semrush users will be familiar with.
This new version was recently unveiled by Semrush at its Spotlight conference in Amsterdam — and comes as a response to the shift toward AI-generated answers, zero-click search, conversational discovery, and the more fragmented digital landscape that marketeers find themselves working in.
While Semrush SEO Classic is focused largely on improving traditional serach engine results, Semrush One is designed to help you understand — and optimize — your visibility across a much broader range of platforms. This means highlighting when — and how — you’re showing up in answers provided by ChatGPT Search, Google’s AI Mode and Google AI Overviews.

Semrush One includes two main components:
1. The main SEO features
This is the long-running, industry-standard suite that includes keyword research, rank tracking, site auditing, backlink analysis, competitive intelligence, on-page SEO guidance, etc.
2. The AI Visibility Toolkit
This is a new suite of AI-related features that that help you understand:
- how often your brand appears in AI-generated answers
- which pages AI systems are citing
- what topics and prompts trigger AI references
- how your visibility compares with competitors
- how your brand is perceived by different AI platforms
In effect, Semrush One combines everything into one package. Instead of choosing between an SEO and an AI focus, you subscribe to a single “all-in-one” version of Semrush.
What is Semrush SEO Classic?
Semrush SEO Classic — sometimes referred to simply as the ‘standard Semrush suite’ or ‘the original Semrush toolkit’ — is the traditional, SEO-first version of the platform. It lets you:
- perform keyword research
- track search positions
- analyze domain quality
- analyze and build backlinks
- conduct SEO audits on websites
It does not include the new AI Visibility features that you get in Semrush One.

In short, SEO Classic is for users who mainly want to rank higher on Google, and Semrush One is for people who want to understand visibility across search results and LLMs.
Extended free trials for Semrush One and SEO Classic
As an affiliate partner of Semrush, we’re able to offer exclusive, extended free trials for both versions of the platform. These are 14-day trials — double the length of the regular ones.
Just click the relevant link below to access your preferred trial:
As you might expect, the Semrush One free trial includes access to all the AI visibility features and SEO tools that I discussed above, while the SEO Classic trial only provides access to its SEO features.
Which Semrush free trial should you start with?
If you’re simply looking for a keyword research tool, SEO Classic is adequate — but for most businesses, I’d argue that Semrush One is now the better trial option.
That’s because:
- traditional search is no longer the only visibility channel
- AI-generated answers are rapidly becoming discovery drivers
- Semrush One offers a more complete picture of brand visibility
- the trial unlocks every toolkit, not just SEO
Given the direction the search ecosystem is heading, starting with a Semrush One trial makes it easier to assess whether the platform can support your needs as they evolve.
You can access double-length trials of either version of Semrush by following the links below:
You can learn more about Semrush One and its pros and cons in my full Semrush One review.
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