semrush-sensor vs mozcast
SEMrush Sensor vs MozCast — features, pricing, and which to choose for your SEO workflow in 2026.
Quick Verdict
Both SEMrush Sensor and MozCast serve the same fundamental purpose: alerting SEOs when Google's algorithm changes might be affecting search results. These free tools became essential after Google stopped announcing most algorithm updates, leaving SEOs to detect changes through SERP volatility tracking. The choice between them often comes down to how you prefer your data presented and what additional context you need.
While MozCast pioneered the concept with its weather metaphor in 2012, SEMrush Sensor launched in 2016 with a more data-driven approach. Both tools are completely free, making this comparison about functionality rather than budget constraints.
Feature Comparison
SEMrush Sensor provides volatility scores from 0-10 across 20+ industries, letting you drill down into specific sectors like travel, finance, or e-commerce. You can view historical data going back several years and see volatility spikes correlated with known algorithm updates. The tool also includes mobile vs desktop breakdowns and allows you to filter by country, though the primary focus remains on US search results. MozCast presents SERP temperature as a weather forecast, where higher "temperatures" indicate more volatility. It tracks 1,000 keywords across desktop results and includes features like "Feature Forecast" showing changes in SERP features (snippets, local packs, etc.). The weather metaphor makes it immediately intuitive — a stormy day means Google's algorithm is active, while calm weather suggests stable rankings. Both tools update daily and provide historical context, but SEMrush Sensor offers more granular industry breakdowns while MozCast focuses on SERP feature changes alongside basic volatility tracking.
Pricing Comparison
Both tools are completely free with no registration required. This makes the comparison purely about functionality and user experience rather than cost considerations. Neither tool offers paid tiers or premium features — they exist as lead generation tools for their respective parent companies' paid SEO platforms.
Best For
SEMrush Sensor works better for agencies and in-house teams managing clients across multiple industries. The industry-specific volatility scores help you quickly determine if ranking changes in travel, healthcare, or finance might be algorithm-related rather than site-specific issues. The more detailed historical data and country filters also make it valuable for international SEO campaigns. MozCast suits individual site owners and SEOs who want quick, intuitive volatility checks. The weather metaphor makes it immediately clear when something significant is happening, and the SERP features tracking helps identify when Google is testing new result types that might affect your visibility.
The Verdict
SEMrush Sensor wins for most professional SEO use cases. The industry breakdowns, historical depth, and international options provide more actionable insights for client work and campaign management. While MozCast's weather interface is charming and easy to understand, SEMrush Sensor's data granularity makes it more useful for actually diagnosing ranking changes and timing SEO decisions around algorithm volatility.