When it comes to searching for the best SEO tools, it can be like searching for a needle in a haystack, all while considering costs that can add up quickly. For several years, Ahrefs was recognised as the best-of-breed solution for all of us, but new changes to their cost structure have certainly raised quite a few eyebrows within the marketing community. With new credit-based plans, users were shocked to find their most beloved tools hidden behind the highest cost barrier imaginable.
Were you aware that businesses actually saw their prices rise dramatically for access to the exact same levels of data access they could formerly enjoy for less? It is not what we need when we’re trying to grow our own websites without spending quite enough on the journey. No matter how complex your needs for backlink research or keyword ideas, there is actually a best-kept secret waiting for you within the crowded marketing scene. In this article, we will walk you through the best Ahrefs alternatives to help you pick the right tool for your specific needs.
Ahrefs and Its Role in SEO
Ahrefs is a great online tool that was founded all the way back in 2010. It initially started off as a tool to analyse backlinks. It has grown over the years into a massive product with a vast number of users. It is famous for its AhrefsBot, which is said to be the second most active crawler on Google. Here is its central role in SEO:
- Site Explorer: Offers a very in-depth look at any given site’s organic traffic and link data.
- Keyword Explorer: It offers thousands of key phrases and ranking difficulty scores.
- Site Audit: This tool allows your site to be scanned by Google for potential SEO-related issues.
- Content Explorer: Aids in discovering the most popular content for a given topic based on social shares and backlinks.
- Rank Tracker: This tool tracks your rankings on both desktop and mobile for specified locations.
However, with these great qualities comes an ever-increasing complexity and cost of the tool. Small business owners have found that they are paying for a whole giant set of tools when they are using just a fraction of them. This is the reason why the market of Ahrefs alternatives is booming at the moment.
Ahrefs Pricing Explained (Why It’s Expensive)
| Plan | Who It’s For | Monthly Cost | What You Get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | Beginners & small sites | ~$29/mo | Basic keyword & backlink data (+ limited tools) |
| Lite | Small businesses & personal projects | ~$129/mo | Essential SEO tools like Site Explorer, Rank Tracker & Site Audit |
| Standard | Freelancers & marketers | ~$249/mo | More keywords, deeper data & advanced analytics |
| Advanced | In-house marketing teams | ~$449/mo | Larger limits, better project support |
| Enterprise | Big teams & agencies | ~$1,499/mo | Highest limits + API access & special features |
Ahrefs has a tiered pricing plan that often comes as a shock to many users, thanks to the “credits” pricing system. Here’s what you might expect to pay:
Why It’s Expensive
- Massive Crawling: A bot that tries to scan the entire web needs an unimaginable amount of server power and resources.
- Data Freshness: They renew their index every few minutes, which is a feature that comes at a very high price.
- Credit System: No longer unlimited searches, now it costs according to how much information you “consume” per click.
- Market Position: Because it is a household name, it can charge a premium price similar to Apple or Adobe.
- Infrastructure: The expense of maintaining petabytes of link data will have to be incurred by the subscribers.
Why People Search for Ahrefs Alternatives
However, despite the potency of Ahrefs, there are some points that compel people to look for other alternatives, as listed below:
- Pricing Structure: The introduction of the credit-based model could lead to you using up your searches quite quickly.
- Free Limitations: They do not provide very much of a functional free version compared to other competitors.
- Learning Curve: The interface may be intimidating if one is looking for merely a simple keyword.
- No Trial: One thing that is well known about them is the fact that they do not offer a free trial, and this makes it difficult to try them before purchasing them.
- Niche Focus: There are people who only require local SEO results or social media information, and what they are looking for isn’t the primary capability of Ahrefs.
Is There A Free Ahrefs Alternative Available?
Yes! Though there isn’t one tool as feature-rich as Ahrefs that is free, you can use a couple. Google Search Console is best for your own website’s information. Google’s Keyword Planner is a valuable tool for research. Ubersuggest is another option with a free version.
How to Choose the Right SEO Tool?
Choosing the right SEO tool can feel confusing, especially if you are just starting out. The good news is, you don’t need the most expensive tool to get results. You just need the one that fits your needs.
First, think about what you want to do. If your main goal is keyword research, pick a tool that makes finding keywords easy. If you want to track rankings or analyze competitors, look for tools that focus on those features.
Next, consider your budget. Many beginners and small businesses don’t need premium tools right away. Several Ahrefs alternatives are affordable or even free and still offer powerful features.
Also, check how easy the tool is to use. A clean dashboard and simple reports are important, especially if you are not an SEO expert. A tool should save you time, not confuse you.
Another important factor is data accuracy. Tools that pull data directly from trusted sources like Google are usually more reliable.
Finally, look for tools that offer free trials, tutorials, or learning resources. These help you understand SEO better while using the tool.
What features should I look for in an SEO tool?
| Feature | Why It’s Important |
|---|---|
| Keyword Research | Helps you find the search terms people use on Google |
| Competitor Analysis | Shows what keywords and strategies your competitors use |
| Site Audit | Finds SEO issues like broken links, slow pages, or errors |
| Rank Tracking | Tracks how your keywords move up or down in search results |
| Backlink Analysis | Shows which websites link to you and your competitors |
| Content Ideas | Helps you discover topics that can rank better |
| Reports & Dashboard | Makes SEO data easy to understand with clear reports |
| Ease of Use | Important for beginners with no technical SEO knowledge |
| Pricing | Should fit your budget; many Ahrefs alternatives are affordable |
Comparison Table: Ahrefs vs Best Alternatives
| Tool | Free Version | Best Features | Best For |
| Ahrefs | Limited | Backlink Index, Site Audit | Pro SEOs, Large Agencies |
| Semrush | Limited | Content Marketing, PPC | Marketing Teams, All-rounders |
| Ubersuggest | Yes (3 searches) | Easy UI, Low Cost | Bloggers, Small Budgets |
| Moz | Yes (10 queries) | Domain Authority, Spam Score | Brand Tracking, Beginners |
| SE Ranking | 14-day Trial | Rank Tracking, B2B features | Agencies, SMBs |
10 Best Ahrefs Alternatives (Free & Paid Tools Compared)
1. Semrush (Top Paid Alternative)
Semrush is generally regarded as one of the best Ahrefs competitors because it has a wide range of applications that extend beyond SEO. This is because it has a vast toolkit that can be applicable when working on social media, PPC, and market research. Also, their keyword magic tool is much easier when it comes to locating gems in long-tail key phrases. Additionally, their writing assistant offers an incredibly lifesaving feature that ensures you deliver content that is optimized for page one. Moreover, it has a ‘Keyword Gap tool’ that can assist you in locating exactly where you’re falling short when it comes to your competitors.
Key Features:
- Keyword Magic Tool: Ability to tap into a gigantic database of more than 25 billion keywords.
- Writing Assistant: Real-time SEO optimization based on the best-performing competitors.
- Keyword Gap Tool: Analyzes how your set of keywords compares to those of up to five competitors to determine gaps.
- Comprehensive Site Audit: Checks for more than 140 technical and on-page SEO problems with fixable recommendations.
Where it can replace Ahrefs:
- All-in-One Data: Replaces Ahrefs as a primary tool for both backlink and keyword research.
- PPC Excellence: Offers much more advertising information, like competitors’ advertising copies and budgets.
- Content Marketing: Provides dedicated functionalities for researching topics and tracking content, which Ahrefs does not offer.
- Social Media: Comes with a social media poster and a social media tracker.
Other Details:
- Pricing: Pro starting at $139.95/month, Guru at $249.95/month.
- Best Suited For: Marketing Agencies, E-commerce sites, Full-stack marketers.
- Website Link: https://www.semrush.com/
2. Ubersuggest
Ubersuggest is developed by Neil Patel, and it is meant to be easy and inexpensive to use, making it a strong ahrefs cheaper alternative no matter whether you are a small or a big organization. This tool is also effective, providing you with the best insights into what your competitors are up to, and all this is offered to you with no scary price tag to break the bank. The interface is also cleaner and easier to use, and this is the best thing if you are not a tech-savvy SEO guru.
They also offer a lifetime deal, which is scarce on the ground in this particular sphere. This tool also comes equipped with a “Content Ideas” area, where it shows you what content is the most shared on social networks. Additionally, the site audit tool offers you a clear “SEO Score,” letting you know what kind of work is needed on your site if you want to turn up in the top searches.
Key Features:
- Content Ideas: Displays the most successful content from your industry based on social shares and backlinks.
- Simplified Site Audit: Provides an “SEO Score” and a to-do list for newbies to work on.
- Keyword Suggestions: Offers long-tail keywords and estimated search volumes for a less expensive fee.
- Chrome Extension: Keyword data and backlink information available right on the Google Search results page.
Where it can replace Ahrefs:
- Budget Research: Essentially a replacement for Ahrefs, Budget Research is catered explicitly to solopreneurs who are looking only for basic-level keyword and competitor information.
- Newbie Friendly: This serves as an alternative to Ahrefs, which has an overwhelming interface.
- Basic Backlink Analysis: Offers necessary link information (DA and number of referring domains).
- Lifetime Access: Allows making payments just once, while Ahrefs requires a monthly subscription.
Other Details:
- Pricing: Individual ($29/mo), Business ($49/mo).
- Best Suited For: Solopreneurs, Small Business Owners, New Bloggers.
- Website Link: https://app.neilpatel.com/en/
3. Google Keyword Planner (Free Keyword Research)
This is a traditional technique that all marketers should employ at some point and is often considered one of the free alternatives to Ahrefs for keyword research. Since the data comes straight from Google, it is very reliable regarding search volume. In addition to that, it’s a free service if you have a Google Ads account. However, the service primarily revolves around paid search.
This means the organic data might sometimes give fairly wide results. In addition to that, the service also enables you to examine the performance capabilities of the search terms you have short-listed in relation to the seasons. The service will also allow you to generate search terms that you would not have discovered if you had merely input the URL of the website.
Key Features:
- Direct Search Volume: Information obtained directly from Google, providing very accurate search volume information.
- Forecasting: It tries to predict how keywords may behave based on future trends.
- Keyword Grouping: This feature automatically groups related keywords for easier planning.
- Ad Spend Estimates: Offers estimated ad spending data for paid search ads.
Where it can replace Ahrefs:
- Keyword Discovery: Replaced the ‘Keywords Explorer’ in generating high-volume, seed keywords.
- Trend Analysis: The trend analysis feature is utilised for finding the peaks of search interest for specific products during certain seasons of the year.
- 100% Free Access: An excellent alternative for those who merely require the key term volume, but don’t have the budget for SEO.
- Local SEO: Provides search volume data at a city or regional level.
Other Details:
- Pricing: 100% Free
- Best Suited For: Those new to the field, advertisers using pay-per-click.
- Website Link: https://business.google.com/en-all/ad-tools/keyword-planner/
4. Google Search Console
If you are interested in learning more about your own site’s performance, there is nothing quite like Search Console. It provides just the information that shows you what keywords are causing visitors to arrive at your pages. In addition to that, it informs you of any index errors discovered by Google. It is one of those tools that is absolutely necessary in the Ahrefs alternatives arsenal because it offers “first-party” data. In fact, it provides information regarding your CTR and position on every single page of your site.
Key Features:
- Performance Reports: Reveals keywords exactly (Queries) that are currently generating traffic to your website.
- URL Inspection: Provides insight into exactly how Google views and indexes pages.
- Sitemap Management: Direct communication with Google to ensure your new content is discovered.
- Core Web Vitals: Tracks your page loading speeds and experience metrics as seen from Google’s side.
Where it can replace Ahrefs:
- Rank Tracking: Replaces the ‘Rank Tracker’ feature offered by Ahrefs with up-to-date first-party rank tracking information.
- Technical Monitoring: Replace ‘Site Audit’ with ‘Indexing’ and ‘Mobile Usability’ error detection.
- CTR Analysis: Reveals actual click-through rates, which Ahrefs can only approximate.
- Security Alerts: It alerts a user to malware and manual penalties and is not visible to third-party tools.
Other Details:
- Pricing: 100% Free
- Best Suited For: Every website owner, web developers, and SEOs.
- Website Link: https://developers.google.com/webmaster-tools/
5. Google Trends
Google Trends is perfect for seeing what is popular right now. It helps you time your content so you hit the peak of interest. In addition, it allows you to compare different topics to see which one is growing faster. It doesn’t give specific volumes, but it shows the “momentum” of a keyword. Furthermore, you can filter results by particular sub-regions to see where your brand is most popular geographically. Also, the “Related Queries” section is excellent for finding breakout topics before they become too competitive.
Key Features:
- Relative Popularity: Measure of the evolution or degeneration of a subject on an index from 0 to 100.
- Regional Interest: Heat maps that indicate regions of interest for specific keywords.
- Associated Queries: Find “Breakout” topics that are increasingly in demand.
- Platform Filters: Compare trends on either YouTube, Google Images, or Google Shopping.
Where it can replace Ahrefs:
- Market Research: Replaced the “Trends” component of keyword research for seasonal planning.
- Topic Discovery: Much better at discovering news-related topics that haven’t been indexed yet compared to Ahrefs.
- Brand Comparison: Great for comparing brand awareness/momentum between you and your competitors.
- Content Timing: Enables you to determine which month to release certain content, taking into account past demand.
Other Details:
- Pricing: 100% Free
- Best Suited For: News portals, bloggers, and seasonal businesses.
- Website Link: https://trends.google.com/trends/
6. Moz
Moz is very experienced in the SEO industry and the maker of the very popular Domain Authority (DA) score, making it one of the best Ahrefs alternatives available today. The Pro variation of Moz is very well-balanced and user-friendly. Apart from that, the link explorer they offer goes in-depth, assisting you in finding good link opportunities.
In addition, their support community and learning resources are second to none. In addition, the “On-Page Grader” will supply a particular list to every page to allow you to boost its visibility. Moreover, the “Spam Score” tool is handy in determining which backlinks to retain and which to steer clear of.
Key Features:
- Domain Authority (DA): The industry-standard measure used to predict how well a website is likely to rank.
- Link Explorer: Link Explorer is an all-in-one solution to search for link-building opportunities and analyze the anchor text.
- On-page Grader: Analyzes your content and offers you a grading score and tips.
- Spam Score: Assists in identifying and filtering out poor-quality “toxic” backlinks.
Where it can replace Ahrefs:
- Link Building: Replaces Ahrefs for researchers who value the importance of DA/PA and measures of the quality of backlinks.
- Technical SEO: It offers a robust website crawler that helps detect dead links and missing tags on a website. It helps improve website loading speed.
- Local SEO: Moz’s emphasis on local search data and local results is a compelling alternative.
- Learning Resources: Their “Academy” and community are also believed to offer a more supportive learning environment for learning SEO.
Other Details:
- Pricing: Starter ($49/mo), Standard ($99/mo), Medium ($179/mo).
- Best Suited For: In-house SEOs, brand managers, and DA-focused researchers.
- Website Link: https://moz.com/
7. SE Ranking
SE Ranking is a gem among Ahrefs competitors and an excellent ahrefs cheaper alternative, offering an unbelievable amount of information for such a low price. This service is especially good at monitoring rankings on various search engines and geographic locations. Moreover, they have B2B tools such as white-label reporting that are second to none for agencies.
In addition, they have a “Marketing Plan” feature that will provide you with a step-by-step guide to optimize your website’s SEO from scratch. Also, they have a “Lead Generator” feature that assists agencies in finding and offering services to new clients via their website.
Key Features:
- Precise Rank Tracking: This includes tracking ranks on a day-to-day basis for Google, Bing, YouTube, and more locations.
- Marketing Plan: It comes with a built-in checklist that helps users implement a comprehensive SEO strategy from scratch.
- White Label Reporting: This feature allows the user to create professional reports with their brand identity, which the agency can then send.
- Lead Generator: A gadget for agencies to provide a complimentary SEO Audit to generate new leads.
Where it can replace Ahrefs:
- Complete Suite Replacement: A one-stop direct competitor offering 90% functionality at half the cost of Ahrefs’ premium.
- Agency Management: Provides superior client tools and sub-accounts at lower pricing levels.
- B2B Tools: A solution that substitutes the need for using Ahrefs by offering service providers the functionality of generating leads as well.
- Social Posting: This feature offers social media management solutions that aren’t included in the Ahrefs system.
Other Details:
- Pricing: Essentials ($52/month), Pro ($95.20/month), Business ($207.20/month).
- Best Suited For: SEO firms and small to mid-sized businesses.
- Website Link: https://seranking.com/
8. Serpstat
Serpstat is a versatile growth hacking tool. It began as a keyword tool but evolved into a comprehensive SEO tool. Moreover, it provides innovative functionalities such as the “Tree View” for word grouping. Additionally, it is very well-liked by people looking for the right blend of data detail and price. Also, the tool provides a function to auto-group thousands of keywords according to their meanings to simplify your life. In addition, its “Batch Analysis” enables the comparison of up to 100 domains on the same report.
Key Features:
- Tree View Grouping: This functionality helps to graphically organize how keywords relate to one another at different levels, making it more straightforward to.
- Batch Analysis: Compare up to 100 domains simultaneously for organic and paid metrics.
- Competitor Graphing: It plots competitors in a graphical form to view the market positioning.
- AI Content Tools: Offers tools that are enabled with artificial intelligence for the creation of descriptions and the task of keyword clustering.
Where it can replace Ahrefs:
- Bulk Data Analysis: Replaces Ahrefs as a tool for power users who want to process large amounts of domain data.
- Growth Hacking: Offers valuable information on PPC and overlaps of keywords.
- Competitive Mapping: Examines competition in a more scannable format than is available in the table format used by other tools like Ahrefs.
- Affordable Scaling: Provides more generous data amounts on the more affordable pricing options compared to the Ahrefs credit system.
Other Details:
- Pricing: Individual ($50/mo), Team ($169/mo), Agency ($410/mo)
- Best Suited For: Digital marketing professionals, data analysts, and freelance SEOs.
- Website Link: https://serpstat.com/
9. Mangools
Mangools is known for having one of the most beautiful and intuitive interfaces in the entire SEO industry, making it one of the best Ahrefs alternatives for both beginners and professionals. Its flagship product, KWFinder, is ideal for discovering low competition keywords. Additionally, its pricing plan is super welcoming to new users. Moreover, you get to enjoy five different applications in just one subscription.
To top it off, it offers exact search volume numbers for more than 50,000 other locations across the globe, making it ideal for local SEO. Plus, its ‘LinkMiner’ tool allows you to see a live preview of the site linking back to you without having to go to every single site.
Key Features:
- KWFinder: One of the best tools used to discover low-competition long-tail keywords.
- LinkMiner: A tool for checking backlinks, which comes equipped with a live website view of the linking page.
- SERPWatcher: A simple rank tracking tool with a visual representation of an ‘Interest’ index for your website.
- SiteProfiler: Offers a rapid summary of any domain’s authority, best content, and audience.
Where it can replace Ahrefs:
- Keyword Specialist: Replaced Ahref’s Keyword Explorer for bloggers who prefer an easier interface.
- SERP Analysis: The SERPChecker offers a more visual analysis of the search results page.
- Entry-Level SEO: The best-value paid alternative for people beginning their very first niche-related site.
- Local Tracking: Capable of tracking rankings for over 50,000 locations with a high level of accuracy.
Other Details:
- Pricing: Entry ($29/mo), Basic ($49/mo).
- Best Suited For: Bloggers, Affiliate Marketers, UI lovers.
- Website Link: https://mangools.com/
10. SpyFu
SpyFu is the gold standard for deep-dive competitor analysis and one of the best Ahrefs alternatives, offering a unique “time machine” perspective that most other tools lack. While Ahrefs shows you what is happening now, SpyFu can show you every keyword a competitor has bought on Google Ads, every ad variation they’ve run, and every organic rank change they’ve experienced over the last 19 years. This makes it an absolute powerhouse for anyone running paid campaigns alongside their SEO.
Furthermore, its “Kombat” feature allows you to overlap three competitors to see the exact keywords they all rank for that you are currently missing. Moreover, unlike Ahrefs’ strict credit limits, SpyFu offers unlimited searches and data exports on its professional plans, giving you total freedom to research without looking at a meter.
Key Features:
- 19-Year History: Enables one to view the ranking and advertising history of a domain over almost two decades.
- SpyFu Kombat: Spots “Core Keywords”, which are all competing keywords that do not include you.
- Ad Copy History: View all the versions of ads that a rival has created and launched and discover the “winning” copy that drives results.
- Unlimited Searches: Most plans come with unlimited searches based on keywords without any credits.
Where it can replace Ahrefs:
- Competitor Intel: Used instead of Ahrefs for in-depth research on the historical growth of a competitor.
- PPC Domination: Beats Ahrefs for users who manage Google Ads and require copying other people’s successful ads.
- Opportunity Discovery: The ‘Kombat’ feature is more intuitive compared to the Ahrefs Content Gap for identifying the missing keywords.
- Unrestricted Research: A preferable option for agencies that need to retrieve a tremendous amount of data in a single session without being limited by the daily limit.
Other Details:
- Pricing: Basic ($39/mo), Pro+AI ($59/mo), Team ($249/mo).
- Best Suited For: PPC managers, growth hackers, and small-to-mid-sized agencies.
- Website Link: https://www.spyfu.com/
Ahrefs vs Semrush: Which Is Better?
| Feature | Ahrefs | Semrush | Which Is Better for Beginners (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Strength | Backlinks and SEO data | All-in-one digital marketing | Semrush (more complete toolset) |
| Keyword Research | Very strong keyword difficulty and backlink-based data | Easier keyword discovery with intent and content ideas | Semrush (simpler and more practical) |
| Backlink Analysis | Best-in-class backlink index | Strong but slightly smaller index | Ahrefs (still the leader) |
| Content Support | Basic content analysis | Built-in SEO writing and content tools | Semrush (better for content-first SEO) |
| Search Intent Data | Limited | Clear intent labels (informational, commercial, etc.) | Semrush |
| Rank Tracking | Accurate but add-on based | Included and easy to set up | Semrush |
| Site Audit | Technical and detailed | Technical + beginner explanations | Semrush |
| PPC & Ads Data | Very limited | Strong Google Ads and competitor ad data | Semrush |
| Social Media Tools | Not included | Included (posting + tracking) | Semrush |
| Ease of Use | Steeper learning curve | More beginner-friendly interface | Semrush |
| Pricing Flexibility | Expensive, strict limits | More plans, more features per plan | Semrush |
| Best For | SEO specialists focused on links | Bloggers, businesses, agencies | Semrush |
| 2026 SEO Fit | Best for link-focused SEO | Best for content, intent, and UX SEO | Semrush |
Choose Ahrefs if:
- Your main focus is backlink analysis
- You already understand SEO basics
- You care more about link data than content tools
Choose Semrush if:
- You want one tool for SEO, content, ads, and tracking
- You are a beginner or small team
- You focus on content, search intent, and conversions (key 2026 trend)
Conclusion
Choosing between the many Ahrefs alternatives depends entirely on your goals and your wallet. If you are a high-end agency that needs the absolute best backlink data, Ahrefs might still be worth the cost. However, for most of us, tools like Semrush offer more features for the price, while Ubersuggest or Mangools are perfect for those starting out.
Don’t be afraid to try the free trials and see which one feels most natural to you. At the end of the day, the best tool is the one you actually use to increase your traffic and grow your business!
FAQs
1. Are there 100% free versions of Ahrefs available?
No, Ahrefs does not provide a free version, though there is “Ahrefs Webmaster Tools,” which costs nothing when used on your own websites.
2. What is behind all the buzz about searching for Ahrefs alternatives lately?
It is mainly due to the new pricing structure, which is now credit-based and significantly costlier for heavy users.
3. Which is the best budget-friendly alternative to Ahrefs?
The best two alternatives to Ahrefs when seeking professional-level data for a fraction of the cost are Ubersuggest and Mangools.
4. Can Semrush perform all the functions of Ahrefs?
Yes, especially when it comes to tracking social and paid ads.
5. Can Google’s Search Console be used solely for SEO?
It is beneficial when analyzing your own website, but it’s of no use if you’re trying to examine your competitors or identify further keywords to use.
6. Do the alternatives possess accurate data?
Yes, the tools Semrush and SE Ranking use very accurate data, and millions of marketers rely on this data.
