CoStar
Semrush
| Feature | CoStar | Semrush |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Contact sales | Free / from $139.95/mo |
| Free Plan | ✗ No | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.1 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 |
| Best For | commercial-brokers, property-investors, asset-managers, appraisers | digital-marketers, agencies, enterprise, ppc-managers |
| Founded | 1987 | 2008 |
| Property Data | ✓ | ✗ |
| Market Analytics | ✓ | ✗ |
| Tenant Information | ✓ | ✗ |
| Comparable Sales | ✓ | ✗ |
| Mapping | ✓ | ✗ |
| Forecasting | ✓ | ✗ |
| Alerts | ✓ | ✗ |
| Keyword Research | ✗ | ✓ |
| Site Audit | ✗ | ✓ |
| Rank Tracking | ✗ | ✓ |
| Competitor Analysis | ✗ | ✓ |
| Ppc Tools | ✗ | ✓ |
| Content Marketing | ✗ | ✓ |
| Social Media | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ CoStar Pros
- Most comprehensive commercial real estate database
- Detailed property and tenant information
- Advanced analytics and market forecasting
- Verified data with dedicated research teams
✗ CoStar Cons
- Very expensive subscription costs
- Primarily focused on commercial real estate
- Steep learning curve for new users
✓ Semrush Pros
- Most comprehensive marketing toolkit
- Excellent PPC and advertising tools
- Content marketing platform included
- Social media management built-in
✗ Semrush Cons
- Very expensive for small businesses
- Interface can feel overwhelming
- Some data less accurate for non-US markets
The Verdict
CoStar is built for commercial brokers and property investors, with a focus on property-data and market-analytics. Semrush targets digital marketers and agencies and leads with keyword-research and site-audit.
CoStar uses custom enterprise pricing, while Semrush starts at $139.95/mo — a tangible advantage for teams with a fixed budget.
Semrush has a free plan, which gives it a meaningful edge for individuals and small teams exploring their options. CoStar requires a paid subscription from day one.
Semrush edges out on user ratings (4.6 vs 4.1). While both are well-regarded, that gap reflects real differences in user satisfaction worth considering.
Bottom line: Semrush has a slight overall edge — but if most comprehensive commercial real estate database matters most to you, CoStar may still be the right call.