COMPARISON
Semrush is a powerful all-in-one SEO platform, but do you really need to pay $140/month when you only need a backlink audit? Here is how the two compare for toxic link detection and disavow file generation.
| Feature | Disavow | Semrush |
|---|---|---|
| Toxic backlink detection | 4-layer Smart Risk Engine | Toxic Score (single metric) |
| Disavow file generation | One-click export | Available in Backlink Audit |
| Import existing disavow file | Yes — merge analysis | Yes |
| Spam score per link | Yes | Yes (Toxic Score) |
| Domain authority metric | DA Score (0-100) | Authority Score (0-100) |
| New/lost backlink tracking | Yes (7-30 day window) | Yes |
| Anchor text analysis | Yes — 7 categories | Yes |
| Trusted domain whitelist | 100+ verified domains | No whitelist system |
| Ease of use | Built for beginners | Complex — SEO expertise required |
| Focus | Backlink audit specialist | All-in-one SEO suite |
| Free plan | Yes — 500 backlinks | Limited trial only |
| Starting price | $39/month | $139.95/month |
| Keyword research | No | Yes (full suite) |
| Site audit (on-page) | No | Yes |
| Rank tracking | No | Yes |
If you need a comprehensive SEO suite with keyword research, rank tracking, site audits, and competitive analysis, Semrush is an excellent choice — and its backlink audit feature is solid.
But if your primary need is finding toxic backlinks and generating disavow files, Disavow does that one job better and at a fraction of the cost. Our 4-layer Smart Risk Engine provides more nuanced classification than Semrush's single Toxic Score, our Trusted Domain Shield prevents false positives on high-authority domains, and the entire experience is designed for people who are not SEO experts.
At $39/month versus Semrush's $140/month, you save over $1,200 per year while getting a more focused, more accurate backlink audit tool.
Choose Semrush if you are an SEO agency or professional who needs the full suite: keyword research, on-page audits, rank tracking, competitive analysis, and backlink monitoring all in one platform. The price is justified when you use all the features daily.
Choose Disavow if you are a website owner, small business, or marketing team that needs to audit backlinks, find toxic links, and generate disavow files — without needing to become an SEO expert or pay for features you will never use. Our free tier lets you try with zero risk.
Try Disavow free — no credit card needed
Scan up to 500 backlinks for free, classify toxic links, and see exactly which domains are risky. Upgrade to Pro at $39/month for unlimited backlinks and disavow file export.
Start Free Audit →