Comparison Guide
BaaDigi vs Semrush AI Toolkit
Both BaaDigi and the Semrush AI Toolkit help you see whether AI search engines like ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, and Perplexity mention your business. But they are built for different users. Semrush is a powerful, established SEO platform whose AI Visibility Toolkit is a $99/month add-on aimed at brands, agencies, and in-house marketers tracking prompts, sentiment, and competitors across major AI engines. BaaDigi is a free, instant AI Search Visibility Checker built specifically for local and service businesses that want to know if they show up when someone asks an AI assistant for a contractor "near me" — with no signup and an optional done-for-you service.
By Ryan Goering, CEO & Founder, BaaDigi
Last updated July 2026
The Short Answer
The Semrush AI Toolkit is a paid ($99/month) add-on to the Semrush platform, built for brands and agencies to track AI visibility, prompts, sentiment, and competitors across ChatGPT, Google AI, Gemini, and Perplexity. BaaDigi offers a free, instant AI Search Visibility Checker built for local "near me" contractor queries with no signup, plus an optional done-for-you service. Choose Semrush if you want a full SEO platform and prompt-tracking dashboards; choose BaaDigi if you want a fast, free, local-focused check or a team to handle the work.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Semrush (AI Toolkit) | BaaDigi | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | $99/mo add-on (billed annually); not in core plans (Pro $139.95, Guru $249.95, Business $499.95/mo) | Free instant checker. Optional done-for-you service $297–$3,997/mo |
| Built for | Brands, agencies, and marketers on an SEO platform | Local & service businesses (contractors) |
| Local / "near me" focus | General brand & prompt tracking; not purpose-built for local "near me" | Purpose-built for geo-aware local "near me" queries by city |
| Free tier | No free trial (demo reports only) | Yes — free checker, unlimited use |
| Signup required | Yes — Semrush account + paid add-on | No signup to run the free check |
| Best for | Teams wanting prompt/sentiment/competitor dashboards in a full SEO suite | Contractors wanting a fast local answer, plus optional hands-off help |
Semrush AI Toolkit
Visit sitePricing: $99/mo AI Toolkit add-on (per domain, monthly equivalent billed annually); 1 domain + 25 prompts included; core Semrush plans Pro $139.95, Guru $249.95, Business $499.95/mo. No free trial.
Pros
- Backed by Semrush, a large, established, trusted SEO platform
- Tracks AI visibility across ChatGPT, Google AI (AI Mode / AI Overviews), Gemini, and Perplexity
- Reports include Visibility Overview / AI Visibility Score, prompt tracking, competitor research, brand performance (sentiment), and an AI Search Site Audit for AI crawlability
- Integrates with the wider Semrush SEO toolset if you already use it
Cons
- Paid add-on at $99/mo that is not included in core Semrush plans, and priced as a monthly equivalent billed annually
- Base package covers one domain and 25 tracked prompts (50 for Guru/Business users); extra prompts and domains cost more
- No free trial of the toolkit (demo reports only)
- Built for brands and marketers rather than local "near me" contractor queries
Best for: Brands, agencies, and in-house marketing teams that want prompt, sentiment, and competitor tracking inside a full SEO platform.
What is the Semrush AI Toolkit?
The Semrush AI Toolkit (also called the AI Visibility Toolkit) is a paid add-on to the Semrush platform that tracks how your brand appears across AI search engines. It monitors ChatGPT, Google AI (AI Mode and AI Overviews), Gemini, and Perplexity, and includes reports such as a Visibility Overview with an AI Visibility Score, prompt tracking, competitor research, brand performance with sentiment analysis, and an AI Search Site Audit that checks your site for AI crawlability.
It costs $99/month (billed as a monthly equivalent on an annual plan) and is not included in core Semrush subscriptions. The base package covers one domain and 25 tracked prompts (50 for Guru and Business plan users), with extra prompts and domains available at additional cost. There is no free trial of the toolkit, though Semrush offers demo reports.
How is BaaDigi different for local businesses?
BaaDigi's free AI Search Visibility Checker is built specifically for local and service businesses. Instead of a platform you have to learn, you enter your business and city and instantly see whether ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, and Perplexity recommend you for "near me" style queries. It is geo-aware, requires no signup, and is free to use.
For businesses that want more than a check, BaaDigi offers an optional done-for-you service ($297–$3,997/mo) where a team works to fix and grow your AI and local search visibility — so a contractor can stay on the tools instead of becoming a marketer.
Which should you choose?
Choose the Semrush AI Toolkit if you are a brand, agency, or marketing team that wants prompt-level dashboards, sentiment tracking, and competitor analysis inside a full SEO platform, and you are comfortable paying for and managing the tools yourself.
Choose BaaDigi if you are a local contractor or service business that wants a fast, free answer about your visibility in your city — with the option to hand the work to a team rather than run software.
The BaaDigi Alternative: Own Your Pipeline
Instead of renting leads from platforms, we build a marketing system you own — one that generates exclusive leads and gets cheaper over time.
Does AI recommend your business — or your competitor?
More people ask ChatGPT and AI search “who's the best contractor near me?” every day. See if AI names you — or sends the job to someone else. No email to run it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the Semrush AI Toolkit cost?
The Semrush AI Toolkit (AI Visibility Toolkit) costs $99/month as an add-on, priced as a monthly equivalent billed annually. It is not included in core Semrush plans (Pro $139.95/mo, Guru $249.95/mo, Business $499.95/mo). The base package covers one domain and 25 tracked prompts (50 for Guru/Business users), with extra prompts and domains available at additional cost. There is no free trial.
Does Semrush track AI visibility?
Yes. Through its AI Toolkit add-on, Semrush tracks AI visibility across ChatGPT, Google AI (AI Mode and AI Overviews), Gemini, and Perplexity. It reports an AI Visibility Score, tracks prompts, compares competitors, analyzes brand sentiment, and runs an AI Search Site Audit for AI crawlability. This is a separate paid add-on rather than part of the standard Semrush plans.
Is there a free alternative to Semrush for AI visibility?
Yes. BaaDigi offers a free AI Search Visibility Checker with no signup required. It checks whether ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, and Perplexity recommend your business for local "near me" queries in your city. Unlike the Semrush AI Toolkit, which is a $99/month paid add-on with no free trial, BaaDigi's checker is free to run instantly, with an optional done-for-you service if you want ongoing help.
Is Semrush or BaaDigi better for a local contractor?
For a local contractor, BaaDigi is usually the faster fit because it is free, requires no signup, and is purpose-built for geo-aware "near me" queries. Semrush is a powerful platform built for brands and marketing teams; its AI Toolkit is capable but priced for ongoing self-serve use and not tailored to local service queries. Contractors who want hands-off help can use BaaDigi's optional done-for-you service ($297–$3,997/mo).
Which AI engines do these tools check?
The Semrush AI Toolkit tracks ChatGPT, Google AI (AI Mode and AI Overviews), Gemini, and Perplexity. BaaDigi's free AI Search Visibility Checker checks ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, and Perplexity recommendations, focused on local "near me" queries for your business and city.

Ryan Goering
CEO & Founder, BaaDigi
U.S. military veteran and digital marketing strategist who built BaaDigi to help contractors generate predictable leads and revenue. 15+ years in SEO, PPC, and AI-powered marketing automation.
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