25/12/2023 13 min readContents:
In the realm of digital marketing analytics, Ahrefs often springs to mind as a leading tool, akin to Apple in the smartphone industry. Renowned for its reliability and comprehensive features, Ahrefs is the go-to for many seeking a classic, proven solution. However, it's not without its limitations, including taste preferences and budget constraints. Ahrefs might not be the ideal choice for everyone.
Originally, Ahrefs offered a basic plan at $20 per month, which subsequently increased to $49 and now stands at $99. This places Ahrefs on the pricier end of SEO tools, making it less accessible for businesses needing extensive user capabilities and credits to achieve optimal results.
Ahrefs users often find themselves constrained by credit limits, which can detract from focusing on their actual work. To address this, we've compiled a list of outstanding Ahrefs alternatives. These alternatives offer varied benefits, from simpler interfaces to more advanced features, providing valuable insights to help you decide if Ahrefs is right for you and how to avoid overspending.
| Feature | Ahrefs | SEMrush | SE Ranking | Mangools | Ubersuggest | BuzzSumo | Majestic | SEO Power Suite | Moz | SpyFu | Seobility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing (Starting Plan) | $99/month | $130/month | $37/month | $30/month (annual) | $29/month | $99/month | $50/month | $299/year | $99/month | $39/month | Free |
| Keyword Research | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Limited | Limited | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Content Marketing | Yes | Yes | Limited | Limited | Limited | Yes | Limited | Limited | Limited | Limited | Limited |
| Social Media Tools | Yes | Yes | Limited | Limited | Limited | Limited | Limited | Limited | Limited | Yes | Limited |
| Backlink Analysis | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Competitor Analysis | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| PPC Analysis | Limited | Advanced | Limited | Limited | Limited | Limited | Limited | Limited | Limited | Advanced | Limited |
| Free Trial | No | 7 days | 14 days | 10 days | Limited free mode | 30 days | 7-day money-back | Limited | 30 days | No | Free plan available |
This one is probably only a little bit less famous than Ahrefs, but it can be the only full-pack Ahrefs competitor from many users’ point of view. Both of them are focused on keyword research, content marketing, and social media. Also, the strong point of SEMrush is its clearly organized statistics base, which gives you an upper hand in market research and competitor analytics.
SEMrush’s main trick and advantage lie in more equipped pay-per-click options, which extends PPC compared to Ahrefs and gives access to competitors’ PPC strategies. While SEMrush’s interface differs from Ahrefs, many people tend to consider SEMrush SEO service superior for a local level.
Worth noticing that the price of packages stays at the same level, compared to how much does Ahrefs cost:
Pro version starts from $130 per month, while SEMrush provides a 7-days free trial period (credit card required).
Ok, we think, we didn’t really surprise you with SEMrush, but what about another Ahrefs alternative. Are there any SEMrush and Ahrefs free alternatives? Well, not completely free, but starting only from $37 a month. SE Ranking is a great tool that can be opposed to these “all-in-one giants”, as it is one of the best examples of getting a service worth its price.
SE Ranking is best to guide small business PPC strategies. You have to know that they provide a limited number of data that you can track, but it is more than enough for a little organization. Besides, SE Ranking still manages the same issues like backlinks checking, surveying keywords, and competitor analytics.
Coming back to the pricing question, it is evident that the more features you are utilizing, the higher fee will be asked. Also, the cool factor is that SE Ranking invites you to try their free version for 14 days long (no credit card required).
Here, we will continue to talk about free Ahrefs alternatives, and now it is Mangools' turn. The best phrase that can describe this tool is “user experience”. We are sure that it was exactly when Mangools was created, as you will see from the first minutes of working with it. Mangools is officially recognized as the number one tool for beginners. They captivate with simplicity and clarity of use, so both seniors and newcomers will value it.
Mangools also has all of the classical Ahrefs functions like keyword research, SERP, and SEO analysis (which sometimes may be even better). Still, once again, as straightforwardness becomes a priority for Mangools, that means you won’t find many of the complex features from Ahrefs in it.
In terms of cost per month, Mangools is in the same price category as SE Ranking starting from only $29.90. However, pay attention, it means you have to make an annual subscription. Also, there is a 10-day free trial (no credit card needed).
The next stop of our discussion is Ubersuggest. Beginning from this one, we will talk about the more particularly concentrated tools on one option. Well, Ubersuggest is something that balances between both extremes. What does it mean? From the general point of view, Ubersuggest is just another Ahrefs alternative, as it contains keyword and SEO audit and has a topic research possibility trick. On the other hand, Ubersuggest has a particular slant into keyword research.
So, basically, if one of your main goals is to find the perfect keywords to build your own strategy, Ubersuggest is here for you. Moreover, it comes up with information about the user’s age and juxtaposes the number of clicks on PPC and SEO.
On top of all, Ubersuggest is one of the few sites like Ahrefs, which is working in free mode. Of course, you should understand that this version is quite limited, but the paid plan also starts from $29 per month.
Now, let’s take a look at BuzzSumo. To begin with, this site can’t be listed among Ahrefs competitors, just because it is something completely different. BuzzSumo is mostly concentrated on your content marketing strategy and its improvement. That means that in BuzzSumo, you won’t find many SEO additions, like in Ahrefs, but not because it is a wrong tool, but because SEO is not the main point of interest here.
Instead, BuzzSumo will give you many stats like mention tracking and content tracking with things like engagement and shares. Also, it provides you with the ability to search for influencers who will correspond to the topic of your campaign. Additionally, BuzzSumo is a perfect archive, which can deliver analytics up to five years back.
BuzzSumo can’t be related to cheap sites as their less pricey package starts from $99 per month, which is basically the same as Ahrefs. Additionally, there is a 30-day free trial (only need to verify via Facebook or SMS). The trick is in what you are searching for, and if it is content development, BuzzSumo is for you.
We have already mentioned many extraordinary tools vital in SEO and general social media analytics. So, what can Majestic offer to you that other sites can not? In fact, it is an extremely extended system of database and backlinks checkers. But Ahrefs can propose to me all the same things, you will say. And, actually yes and no, at the same time. Majestic focuses on a specific analysis of your backlinks and your competitors, and due to that, it becomes the best in what they do.
Among the Majestic cool features, you can find:
A lite Majestic plan starts from $49.99, and you can even receive a 7-day money-back warranty.
As it comes from the name, SEO Power Suite is an SEO tool. Also, we prevent you that it is not an Ahrefs pricing alternative, as it is pretty expensive, but we will talk about it later. What really matters here is that SEO Power Suite runs directly on your desktop (both on Mac and PC). Of course, it is about what you prefer personally, but Ahrefs is a web-based tool, which means you pay for additional cloud-based storage. In SEO Power Suite, you will have most of your data on your PC, and won’t be limited in your searching, project managing, or tracking.
However, pay attention that some may find SEO Power Suite a bit outdated, and they will be right for a reason. Take, for instance, the general interface, which is definitely not very appealing. Furthermore, this tool is heavily packed with advanced stuff, meaning you have to be a senior working with it.
Coming back to prices, the annual plan is $299, but as we already said, you will receive access to everything at once. Also, SEO Power Suite has a free limited version (you won't be able to save your projects).
SpyFu might not be as renowned as Ahrefs, but for many, it stands as a formidable rival, especially when considering the full spectrum of features it offers. Both platforms cater to the needs of digital marketing professionals, focusing on areas like keyword research, content marketing, and social media strategies. SpyFu distinguishes itself with its neatly arranged data repositories, which are invaluable for in-depth market analysis and tracking competitor movements.
The ace up SpyFu's sleeve is its superior capabilities in the realm of pay-per-click (PPC) advertising. This aspect of SpyFu extends beyond what Ahrefs offers, providing users with detailed insights into their competitors' PPC tactics. While SpyFu's user interface sets it apart from Ahrefs, many users find its SEO tools particularly effective for local market strategies.
It's noteworthy that SpyFu's pricing is competitive when compared to Ahrefs. The basic plan for SpyFu starts at a more accessible price point of $39 per month, making it a more budget-friendly option. Additionally, SpyFu offers a wealth of historical data and API access across all its plans, features that Ahrefs reserves for its higher-tier subscriptions.
And now, let's turn our attention to Seobility. It's not the flashiest tool out there, especially when stacked against some of the giants we've discussed earlier. However, it stands as a solid, reliable option, particularly for those seeking an alternative to Ahrefs' pricing.
So, what does Seobility bring to the table? Its primary offering is the on-page SEO audit, a thorough tool that meticulously examines your website, identifying any optimization issues or errors. This feature is particularly useful for beginners in SEO, providing a clear picture of where improvements are needed. Additionally, Seobility includes a TF*IDF tool for content optimization, enhancing your content creation efforts.
But that's not all. Seobility also offers backlink analysis and link-building tools, essential for understanding and enhancing your site's backlink profile. Plus, its rank tracking feature keeps you updated on your website's position in search results.
When it comes to pricing, Seobility is quite competitive. The basic plan is free, allowing analysis of up to 1000 web pages per crawl, and includes other features like keyword analysis and external link checks. For those looking for more, the Premium plan is priced at $50 per month, tailored for small to mid-sized businesses, and there's even a free trial available. The Agency plan, at $200 per month, caters to larger businesses and agencies.
And last but not least - Moz. You should know that it is not the most extraordinary tool, compared to many of which we had talked about before. Still, it is a good level app, which many people can find as a real Ahrefs pricing alternative.
So, what exactly can I give to you? First of all, it is Keyword Explorer, Moz’s keyword tool, which works with long-tail propositions. Also, the other great news is Domain Analysis Tool, which shows you the data about the page’s authority and metrics to have a vision about your ranking performance. Going further, Moz makes an audit of all possible faults and even can give you some advice to improve your rankings on the field.
Talking about the Ahrefs price and Moz price is the same thing, actually - $99. It is the cheapest plan, and it goes up to $599 monthly. However, paying earlier, you will have a 20% discount. There is a 30-day free trial, but a credit card is required.
I'd been a loyal Ahrefs customer since 2015 but switched to an alternative due to the new pricing policy.
Since I run a website and manage multiple client websites, I sought a similar tool to cover all my needs. I researched the topic and tried a few SEO tools before choosing Semrush.
The following few factors were decisive for me:
1. Semrush has the biggest keyword and backlink database compared to any other tool on the market. It means it can discover and track more keywords and backlinks.
2. I also save time and money using Semrush since it has features dedicated to SEO writers, like the SEO Writing Assistant and Content Template. It lets me create and optimize content without switching between multiple tools.
Victoria Kurichenko, SEO Expert and Content Writer, Self Made Millennials
Ahrefs is the best, but if asked for an alternative, I recommend SpyFu. SpyFu specializes in competitive analysis and helps you uncover your competitors' keyword strategies. It also provides PPC insights and keyword tracking.
Bhavik Sarkhedi, Growth Head and CMO, Content Whale
Although it truly depends on your need for the tool, one of the best alternatives to Ahrefs is Majestic. Majestic is a tool that pulls and crawls all backlinks to your site at different levels. In addition, it gives you a Trust Flow, which is a number on a scale of 1-100, indicating the quality of the backlink and whether it is trustworthy and high-quality.
Joe Acosta, Digital Marketing Manager, BBQ Galore
In terms of keyword analysis, I feel that MarketMuse is a better tool. Sure, you can get broad/basic information from Ahrefs, but to understand the context of the keyword, you need a topic tool like MarketMuse. I believe it is a better solution for those who are engaged in enterprise-level SEO.
Jason Vaught, Director of Content, SmashBrand
If you're looking for a tool that really nails content marketing and social media analytics, I strongly recommend BuzzSumo. Discovering popular content and trends in one's niche, keeping tabs on brand mentions, and analyzing top-performing material for any topic or rival are all made easier with its support. This tool is very useful for content creators and marketers who want to improve their content strategy and engagement on social media networks.
Tim Allen, Director, Oberheiden P.C.
If you read this article - you have already tried Ahrefs, and regardless of all its pluses, you are looking for more. Well, these tools have their own pros and cons, but you definitely have where to choose from.
In any case, the final choice will depend on budget, segment, and particular attributes needed. Also, if you are really at the beginning and don’t know what you want, you can try free versions of each of the proposed tools and identify the most suitable for you.
