ScoutBrief vs Similarweb

Similarweb is one of the first tools people find when they search for competitor research. It's a strong product, but it answers a specific question, and it's worth checking whether that's the question you actually have before paying for it.

What Similarweb actually does

Similarweb estimates how much traffic a website gets, where that traffic comes from (search, social, ads, referrals) and how visitors behave on the site. For an online business competing on the web, that's genuinely useful: you can see which competitor sites are growing and which channels bring them visitors.

What it costs

There's a free version with limited data. According to third-party pricing trackers, paid plans start at roughly $125 a month billed annually, or around $199 month to month, and team and enterprise plans go well into five figures a year. Prices change, so check their site for the current numbers.

Where it falls short for a small business

Traffic estimates are much less reliable for small websites, and many local businesses (a bakery, a salon, a mechanic) barely have a website at all. Their real competition happens on Google Maps, in reviews and on Instagram, which traffic data doesn't show. Similarweb also doesn't tell you what a competitor charges, what their customers complain about, or what you should do next.

When Similarweb is the right call

If you run an online business, your competitors have sizeable websites, and your main question is "where do they get their traffic?", Similarweb is worth trying. Marketing teams that plan paid and SEO budgets get a lot out of it.

When ScoutBrief makes more sense

If your question is "who am I up against, what do they charge, where do they fall short and what should I do about it?", ScoutBrief answers that in a couple of minutes, including for local businesses without big websites. You can see your 3 closest competitors free with the no-signup snapshot, and your first full report is free too.