10 Best Ahrefs alternatives for SEO teams (free & paid)

Ahrefs is a powerhouse for SEO data – from huge backlink indexes to robust keyword research – but it’s not always the perfect fit. Many SEO teams (especially at SaaS startups) find Ahrefs expensive, complex, or lacking in certain areas.

If you’re looking for an Ahrefs alternative that better suits your budget, use-case, or skill level, you’re in the right place. In this article, we’ll break down the best alternatives to Ahrefs – both free and paid – that you can confidently use to grow organic traffic.

Why consider an Ahrefs alternative?

Cost and budget constraints: Ahrefs’ pricing is steep (its credit-based plans can strain a small team’s budget). Many scaling startups seek a cheaper alternative to Ahrefs that offers similar value without the hefty monthly bill.

Limited free usage: Apart from Ahrefs’ own free Webmaster Tools (for site owners) and a few free features, there’s essentially no true free feature within the platform. This pushes teams to explore other tools that have free plans or trials (or even combining multiple free tools).

Complex UI and learning curve: Ahrefs is powerful but can be overwhelming. Some seo professionals find its interface unintuitive or too dense for quick insights. If your team needs a more beginner-friendly SEO tool, an alternative with a simpler UI might save training time.

Missing niche features: Ahrefs excels at backlinks and keywords, but many users find the Ahrefs Rank Tracker limited compared to SE Ranking or ProRankTracker. If daily updates are crucial, alternatives outperform the Ahrefs Rank Tracker in speed and flexibility. For example, it doesn’t natively cluster keywords by intent (unlike Keyword Insights) or offer in-depth content optimization suggestions (unlike Surfer SEO). If your strategy requires these niche functions, a dedicated alternative tool could fill the gap.

Use-case specificity: Every SEO team is different. You might focus heavily on technical seo (site audits), content marketing, or local SEO – areas where another platform could outperform Ahrefs. It makes sense to seek out alternatives tailored to your primary needs rather than paying for features you won’t use.

What are the best Ahrefs alternatives?

Below, we review the best alternatives to Ahrefs, with a focus on tools suited for SEO teams of both enterprise companies and startups. This shortlist covers both premium platforms and lightweight freemium options, so you can find the best Ahrefs alternatives for your exact workflow. For each, we’ll cover what it does, how it compares to Ahrefs, pricing, and who should use it.

1. Semrush – best all-around Ahrefs alternative

Semrush is often the first name that comes up among Ahrefs competitors – and for good reason.

Like Ahrefs, Semrush offers comprehensive seo features: keyword research, backlink analysis, rank tracking, site audits, etc. But it doesn’t stop there – Semrush also includes PPC research, content planning tools, and even social media management. This makes it a more holistic digital marketing tool (great if your SEO team works closely with content or PPC teams).

Comparative strengths:

• Semrush’s data coverage rivals or exceeds Ahrefs in some areas.
• It boasts one of the largest keyword databases globally – the Semrush keyword database contains billions of entries, making it one of the most trusted sources for global keyword coverage.
• Many marketers find Semrush’s metrics (like search volume and traffic estimates) to be highly reliable.
• It also provides robust competitor analysis: e.g. Traffic Analytics module offers a handy overview of any site’s top ranking pages and traffic trends.
• Spotting a competitor’s top-ranking pages helps reverse-engineer what’s driving their growth.

Despite its breadth of features, Semrush’s interface is fairly intuitive after a short learning period. The tool is organized into clear sections (SEO, Advertising, social media management, etc.), and it often surfaces quick insights (like “easy win” keywords), which is helpful for busy content leads.

Pros:

• Extremely robust feature set (truly an SEO toolbox for everything)
• Powerful filters and reporting (users praise Semrush’s flexible filtering options in reports, which can save time finding data)
• Continuous innovation – Semrush frequently adds new tools (for example, an AI writing assistant and local SEO toolkit were recent additions).

Cons:

• Higher pricing for full features – Semrush isn’t cheap, and to unlock features like extensive keyword lists or content optimization, you may need higher-tier plans or add-ons.
• The sheer volume of tools can be overwhelming if you only need a specific function (some teams might feel they’re “paying for a lot of extras” they don’t use, similar to how some feel about Ahrefs).

Pricing

Starts around $120–$140/month for the base plan. Semrush does offer a free trial and some free seo tools. Enterprise plans can get pricey, but for a growing team, the mid-tier “Guru” plan (±$229/mo) is popular.

Tip: If budget is a concern, consider that Semrush can potentially replace multiple other tools (SEO + PPC + content), which might justify the cost.

Ideal for

SEO managers who want a one-stop shop. If you’re handling all aspects of SEO (on-page, off-page, technical) and even dabbling in content marketing or competitor PPC analysis, Semrush is likely the best ahrefs alternative for you.

It’s also fantastic for seo agencies handling diverse clients, because it covers so many bases in one platform. (It’s no surprise many experts call Semrush the “closest competitor” to Ahrefs in capability.)

2. SE Ranking – great option for SEO on a budget

SE Ranking is a rising star that packs a surprising punch given its affordable price point. Compared to Ahrefs, SE Ranking makes rank monitoring its signature strength, while still bundling keyword research, backlink checks, and reporting dashboards.

It may not have the brand prestige of Ahrefs or Semrush, but it checks off most of the SEO must-haves a team needs day-to-day. Agencies often use SE Ranking alongside Majestic or Semrush for broader data coverage.

Comparative strengths:

• SE Rankings offers a full suite of SEO tools similar to Ahrefs: keyword research, rank tracking (the tool’s namesake feature), site auditing, and backlink checking.
• SE Ranking’s interface is clean and easy to navigate, making it beginner-friendly for teams without a dedicated SEO specialist.
• SE Ranking also emphasizes rank tracking and monitoring, with precise keyword position tracking that alerts you when a keyword gains or loses a spot on the SERP.
• It even sends automatic updates and has a slick mobile app for rank tracking on the go.

If keeping daily tabs on keyword rankings is critical for you, SE Ranking excels there

Pros

SE Ranking is widely regarded as a cheaper alternative to Ahrefs that still delivers solid data. It is often the most practical alternative to Ahrefs for companies with smaller budgets needing rank tracking, keyword data, and basic backlink checks.

• Plans start as low as approximately $39/month, which is a fraction of Ahrefs’ cost.
• Despite the lower cost, users get unlimited site audit pages.
• SE Ranking offers a competent backlink index with access to reliable backlink data that can reveal new referring domains daily.
• Customizable pricing allows users to choose their check frequency for rank tracking (e.g., weekly vs daily), providing great budget control.

Cons

• Slightly smaller data indexes compared to Ahrefs, including backlink and keyword databases.
• May have fewer long-tail keywords and less backlink data for obscure sites.
• Some advanced features like in-depth competitor traffic analytics are less developed.
• Lacks a very advanced link intersect tool found in Ahrefs.
• Differences in data depth may be minor for small teams but noticeable for enterprise users.

Pricing

The Pro plan (~$52/month) gives most teams everything they need, including tracking rankings across multiple devices and locations. There’s even a Lite plan near $30 for very small projects. Importantly, SE Ranking offers a fully functional 14-day free trial, so your team can test it hands-on before committing.

Ideal for

Small SEO teams, solo consultants, or startups that need a capable tool without breaking the bank. It’s also a top pick for those primarily focused on rank tracking and basic SEO analysis rather than deep-dive link research.

3. Moz Pro – decent choice for basic SEO analysis

Moz Pro is one of the oldest names in seo software. While it’s not as cutting-edge as some newer tools, it remains a solid Ahrefs alternative for covering the basics.

Comparative strengths:

• Moz Pro offers keyword research (with its well-known Keyword Explorer), backlink analysis (Moz’s Link Explorer index was one of the first major link databases), site audits, and rank tracking.
• In functionality, it overlaps heavily with Ahrefs – you can use Moz to find link opportunities, discover keyword ideas, and audit a site for SEO issues.
• It’s particularly handy for surfacing keyword ideas around niche topics that bigger platforms sometimes overlook.

How it compares to Ahrefs:

Moz’s strength has historically been its user-friendly approach and metrics like “Domain Authority” (DA) that many marketers recognize. In recent tests, Moz’s backlink index is surprisingly close to Ahrefs’ – in one comparison, Moz found almost the same number of links as Ahrefs for a given site. It also reports metrics like spam score, organic CTR predictions, and the number of organic keywords a site ranks for.

However, Moz has fallen behind in innovation. It hasn’t introduced major new features at the pace Ahrefs and Semrush have (for instance, Moz was slower to integrate things like AI insights or expanded SERP feature tracking).

Pros:

• Moz is very welcoming to those newer to SEO, offering a straightforward and easy-to-use interface.
• Moz provides excellent training resources and a supportive community Q&A for learning SEO concepts.
• The keyword database is strong, with useful intent and CTR metrics that help prioritize keywords effectively.
• Page Authority and Domain Authority metrics offer quick insights into site strength.
• Reporting on organic traffic growth allows teams to track how new content is performing.
• Comparing organic traffic alongside link growth gives a comprehensive view of overall performance.

Cons:

• Feature stagnation: Moz Pro isn’t as feature-rich or up-to-date as competitors.
• Missing data points and less refined tools compared to Ahrefs.
• Moz lacks the depth of competitive traffic analytics that Ahrefs offers.
• Basic rank tracker module, less advanced than SE Ranking’s dedicated rank tracker.
• May feel limiting if you need cutting-edge SEO capabilities.

Pricing:

Moz Pro is moderately priced. Plans start at $99/month for the Standard package (which includes 5 campaigns and a decent set of keyword/link allowances). This is cheaper than Ahrefs’ entry plan, and Moz does offer a 30-day free trial – notably longer than most competitors’ trials.

Ideal for:

Teams that need a reliable, baseline seo tool and value simplicity. If your focus is on moderate keyword research and link analysis – and you don’t require ultra-granular data or advanced bells and whistles – Moz Pro gets the job done.

It’s often favored by in-house marketing teams who juggle multiple tasks, because it covers SEO basics without overwhelming the user. (For hardcore SEO specialists, Moz alone may not suffice, but for a content marketer who “also handles SEO,” it’s approachable and effective.)

4. Mangools – user-friendly toolkit for keyword & backlink research

Mangools is actually a bundle of five mini-tools (KWFinder, SERPChecker, LinkMiner, etc.) that together form an easy-to-use SEO suite. Think of it as a simplified Ahrefs that’s perfect for quick insights.

Comparative strengths:

• KWFinder module is a popular keyword research tool with a clean interface.
• Excels at discovering long-tail keywords along with search volume, difficulty, and trend data.
• Provides accurate search volume insights to help content teams evaluate traffic potential.
• LinkMiner tool allows checking backlinks for any domain, showing important metrics like Citation Flow and Trust Flow.
• SERPChecker offers quick analysis of search engine results pages (SERP), aiding understanding of competition.
• SiteProfiler delivers basic site metrics for an overview of domain performance.
• Covers core needs of keyword and backlink research, though on a smaller scale than Ahrefs.
• Includes NLP keyword data to support advanced keyword analysis and content optimization.

Pros:

• Beginner-friendly interface with a clean, uncluttered design, ideal for users who find Ahrefs too dense.
• Visually intuitive tools that allow even newbies to quickly generate keyword ideas without confusion.
• Fast and responsive performance across all sub-tools.
• Each tool specializes in a specific SEO task, such as KWFinder, which focuses on keyword research.
• Offers excellent value for money by bundling five tools into one package.
• Basic plan provides a generous number of keyword lookups per 24 hours and backlink rows, suitable for many small projects.

Cons:

• Not as comprehensive or integrated as all-in-one platforms; requires switching between separate tools like KWFinder, SERPChecker, and LinkMiner.
• Limited advanced features compared to enterprise SEO software.
• Lacks content exploration and technical site crawl capabilities (no full site auditor like Ahrefs’ Site Audit).
• Rank tracking tool (SERPWatcher) is simpler and less advanced.
• NLP keyword data is included but may be less extensive than in more robust SEO suites.

Pricing:

Starts around $30–$40/month (when billed annually for the Basic plan). This plan includes up to 100 keyword lookups per 24 hours, tracking 200 keywords, and 1,000 backlink rows – quite enough for a beginner or small site.

Mangools Premium plan (~$79/mo annual) scales those limits much higher if needed and is still cheaper than most Ahrefs plans. There’s a 10-day free trial (no credit card) to test all features, which is great for teams to evaluate its data versus Ahrefs on their own keywords.

Ideal for:

Beginners and content-focused teams. If you have content writers or junior SEO staff who need to do keyword research and basic link analysis without feeling overwhelmed, Mangools is ideal. It’s also well-suited for bloggers or small business owners doing DIY SEO.

An SEO manager at a startup might use Mangools to quickly supply content teams with keyword targets and do a light backlink check on competitors, all in a friendly user interface.

5. SEO PowerSuite – SEO software with a generous free version

SEO Powersuite is a bit different from the others on this list – it’s a downloadable software (not cloud-based) consisting of four applications (Rank Tracker, WebSite Auditor, SEO SpyGlass, LinkAssistant). Old school? Perhaps. But it’s extremely powerful and can be a cost-effective Ahrefs alternative, especially for those who prefer one-time investments over subscriptions.

Comparative strengths:

• Rank tracking with an unlimited keywords option, allowing extensive monitoring without restrictions.
• On-page and site audits to identify and fix technical SEO issues.
• Backlink analysis through SEO SpyGlass, which crawls its own index and supports importing third-party backlink data for a comprehensive backlink profile.
• Integration capabilities to import data from sources like Ahrefs to enhance backlink analysis.
• A rich keyword rank tracker for Google and YouTube, enabling teams to monitor keyword ranking progress and adjust campaigns efficiently.
• WebSite Auditor for thorough technical SEO assessments.
• LinkAssistant to manage outreach and link building campaigns.
• Utilizes NLP keyword data to support advanced keyword analysis and content optimization.

Pros:

• One-time cost with huge data allowances, making it more affordable long-term compared to cloud-based tools.
• Free version available that supports unlimited keyword tracking, crawling up to 500 URLs for site audits, and checking up to 1,100 backlinks per site.
• Acts as a basic Ahrefs free alternative for small projects.
• Desktop-based software stores data locally, giving users more control over their information.
• Supports integration with APIs like Google Analytics for enhanced insights.
• Unlimited rank tracking without credit constraints, limited only by the PC’s resources.
• Utilizes NLP keyword data to support advanced keyword analysis and content optimization.

Cons:

• Crawling and ranking updates use your computer’s processing power and bandwidth, which can be slow for large tasks or low-spec machines.
• Collaboration is more difficult since data resides on one machine unless projects are exported.
• User interface may feel dated compared to modern web dashboards.
• Some data aspects (like backlink index size or keyword suggestions) are less comprehensive than Ahrefs unless supplemented with other sources.
• Limited integration of NLP keyword data compared to more advanced SEO software.

Pricing:

Free plan available with limitations as mentioned.

Paid licenses come in two tiers: Professional ($299/year) and Enterprise ($499/year), often sold at a one-time price with optional renewals. However, note that to keep receiving software updates and search algorithm updates after the first year, you’d pay a maintenance fee (about 1/3 of the license cost annually).

Ideal for:

Data-heavy SEOs and agencies on a budget. If you love diving deep and want unlimited tracking and crawling without recurring costs, SEO PowerSuite is fantastic.

6. Ubersuggest – best Ahrefs alternative for beginners (freemium)

Ubersuggest has transformed from a simple keyword generator into a lightweight SEO platform. Backed by marketer Neil Patel, it’s positioned as a freemium Ahrefs alternative that covers the basics and is very budget-friendly.

Comparative strengths:

• Keyword research with search volumes, SEO difficulty, and suggested content ideas
• Domain overview stats, including estimated traffic, backlinks, and top pages
• SEO audit tool for on-page optimization fixes
• Simplified keyword difficulty metric suitable for beginners to gauge competition
• Writing assistant and AI content generation for basic content needs
• Provides a comprehensive, accessible, all-in-one tool covering keyword discovery to site performance tracking

Pros:

• Affordable (even free) and easy to use.
• Ubersuggest’s free version is surprisingly robust, allowing a few searches per day to get keyword ideas and see top backlinks.
• Arguably, the top Ahrefs free alternative for very small projects or learners.
• Clean interface with visual charts and tooltips explaining metrics like “Domain Score” for newcomers.
• Generates keyword ideas for new content, showing estimated volume, difficulty, and related terms.
• Integrates unique data, such as Google Trends graphs for keywords.
• Provides demographic insights like age range and gender data for searchers, useful for content targeting.
• Includes a Content Ideas section suggesting popular blog topics based on your keyword, similar to Ahrefs’ Content Explorer, but in a more beginner-friendly format.

Cons:

• Data depth and accuracy issues: Ubersuggest’s data isn’t as deep or reliable as Ahrefs.
• Backlink index relies on third-party data (Moz’s link data), which may affect accuracy.
• Overestimates the number of keywords a site ranks for, leading to inflated traffic estimates.
• Suitable for high-level insights, but numbers may require cross-checking for critical decisions.
• Lacks advanced filtering options found in Ahrefs.
• Missing sophisticated metrics like Ahrefs’ return rate or click distributions.
• Not as sophisticated, which can be limiting for professional SEO users, but acceptable for beginners.

Pricing:

Freemium – many features can be used for free with daily search limits. The paid plans start at around $12–$29/month (which is dramatically lower than Ahrefs). There’s also that one-time lifetime payment option, which has attracted many people (no ongoing subscription is a rarity in this space). For bloggers or small SaaS founders, it’s perfect for basic keyword research before upgrading to enterprise platforms.

Ideal for:

SEO newbies, small business owners, or content teams with no dedicated SEO. If you have felt overwhelmed by Ahrefs or don’t have the volume of work to justify an expensive tool, Ubersuggest will cover your basic needs – from finding blog post keywords to doing a quick site health check.

7. Serpstat – all-in-one platform tailored to SMBs

Serpstat is a feature-rich SEO platform that often flies under the radar (despite being quite popular in Eastern Europe). It’s like a mini-Semrush and makes a strong Ahrefs alternative for small-to-midsize teams who want broad capabilities at a lower price.

Comparative strengths:

• Covers keyword research, competitor analysis, site auditing, rank tracking, and PPC analysis
• Features a powerful keyword clustering tool that groups keywords by SERP similarity automatically, aiding content planning
• Includes an on page SEO checker that flags missing elements like H1 tags and slow-loading assets
• Offers a text analytics tool for on page SEO analysis suggestions
• Provides backlink data including overview of referring domains and new vs lost links, though index size is smaller than Ahrefs
• Supports API access on lower plans compared to Ahrefs, beneficial for data automation and integration

Pros

• Balanced feature set at good value for money
• Offers 80–90% of the functionality of the “big tools” at approximately 50% of the price
• Modern and fairly easy to navigate user interface
• Includes batch analysis option for comparing multiple domains’ SEO metrics side by side, useful for competitor research
• Provides a tree view of a site’s pages with SEO metrics, helping identify pages pulling in the most organic traffic or links
• Strong regional databases, especially for European and CIS country searches, beneficial for SEO teams targeting specific countries or non-English markets

Cons:

• Not top-of-class in any single area; acts as a jack of all trades but master of none.
• Ahrefs and Semrush outperform Serpstat in pure backlink depth and certain analytics.
• Many agencies use both Ahrefs and Semrush alongside SE Ranking or Majestic for specialized tasks.
• User interface can occasionally be sluggish when handling heavy reports.
• Smaller learning resources and community compared to Ahrefs or Moz, requiring reliance on Serpstat’s support for complex issues.
• Some advanced metrics, like granular keyword difficulty scoring and content quality scores, are more basic in Serpstat.
• Covers the basics but lacks many proprietary “wow” metrics beyond standard offerings.

Pricing:

Serpstat is significantly more affordable than Ahrefs for comparable usage. Plans start around $55/month (billed annually) for the base plan, which includes 4,000 queries/day and generous results limits. There’s also a 7-day free trial. Notably, Serpstat often runs lifetime deal offers or discounts, and it allows adding team members at a low cost – meaning an SEO team can collaborate on it without paying an arm and a leg for extra seats.

Ideal for:

Scaling startups and international SEO teams. If you’re an SEO lead at a growing company and need a tool your whole team can use without blowing the budget, Serpstat fits well. It’s also ideal if you target search markets outside the U.S. and want reliable local data. For agencies, Serpstat can serve as a cost-effective secondary tool to double-check data from Ahrefs and Semrush or to use when you’ve hit API limits elsewhere. Overall, it’s a solid “middle-ground” platform: more advanced than the likes of Ubersuggest, but more affordable than the enterprise-grade tools.

8. Majestic – backlinks specialist (great for link builders)

Majestic (formerly Majestic SEO) is a veteran tool focused almost exclusively on link analysis. It’s an excellent Ahrefs alternative if your priority is backlink data and you don’t mind a somewhat old-school interface.

Comparative strengths:

• Extensive link database: Maintains a massive historical backlink index with a “Fresh Index” for recent links and a “Historic Index” covering many years of backlink data.
• Backlink counts: Often matches or exceeds Ahrefs in total backlink counts, sometimes uncovering links missed by other tools.
• Standard backlink metrics: Includes referring domains, anchor text distribution, and proprietary metrics like Trust Flow and Citation Flow scores to assess link quality versus quantity.
• Topical Trust Flow: Categorizes backlinks into topical groups (e.g., Arts, Science, Shopping) to evaluate relevance alongside link quantity.
• Link Graph visualization: Provides a unique visual representation of networks of sites linking to each other, aiding in backlink analysis.
• Focused backlink analysis: Specializes exclusively in backlink data, making it a powerful tool for link building and backlink audits.

Pros:

• Unmatched for deep link analysis, ideal for link builders and backlink audits.
• Allows downloading massive lists of backlinks without restrictive row limits.
• Unique Topical Trust Flow feature categorizes backlinks by topical relevance (e.g., Arts, Science, Shopping).
• Offers a distinctive Link Graph visualization to see networks of sites linking to each other.
• Laser-focused on backlinks, providing superb backlink data and insights.
• Suitable for SEO agencies specializing in link building services.
• Can be a cost-effective alternative to Ahrefs for backlink analysis needs.

Cons:

• Limited to backlinks (and dated UI); not an all-in-one seo tool
• No keyword research or rank tracking features; requires pairing with other seo tools for full coverage
• Interface feels outdated and less user-friendly compared to modern tools
• Unique terminology like “Flow Metrics” can be confusing for new users
• Does not offer a free trial, making it harder to test before purchasing
• No truly free version available for casual use

Pricing:

The lowest plan is about $50/month, which gives fairly generous access to the Fresh Index data for one user. Higher plans (starting ~$100/month) unlock the Historic Index and API access, which heavy users or agencies might need.

Ideal for:

Link building teams and technical SEOs. If your primary concern is analyzing competitors’ backlink profiles, finding link opportunities, or auditing backlinks for penalties, Majestic is a powerful ally. SEO agencies that offer link building services often keep a Majestic subscription handy for its unique insights. For a generalist SEO manager, Majestic alone is not sufficient – but paired with a lighter seo tool or used for its specialty, it’s invaluable.

9. Screaming Frog – technical crawler (free & paid)

Screaming Frog SEO Spider is a desktop program (Windows/Mac/Linux) that crawls websites much like Ahrefs’ site audit or Google’s bots do. It’s not an “ahrefs alternative” for keyword or link data, but for the site auditing and on page seo side of things, Screaming Frog is a must-have tool in many SEO team arsenals.

Comparative strengths:

• Quickly crawls all pages on a website, reporting on essential SEO elements such as status codes, broken links, title tags, meta descriptions, headings, word count, and response times.
• Acts as a powerful site audit tool for technical SEO, offering granular control and data export capabilities by running locally rather than cloud-based.
• Detects technical issues like 404 errors, redirect chains, duplicate content, and missing tags, facilitating on page analysis at scale.
• Free version allows crawling up to 500 URLs, suitable for small sites or spot-checks, serving as a free Ahrefs alternative for site audits.
• Paid version unlocks unlimited URL crawling, saving crawls, custom extraction, and integrations with Google Analytics and Google Search Console.
• Highly configurable and fast, with options to check specific codes, simulate user agents, and integrate PageSpeed Insights API for page speed data.
• Runs behind firewalls, enabling audits of staging sites or intranets that cloud tools cannot access.
• Ideal for technical SEO audits and on page optimization work, widely used by SEO agencies and technical SEOs.
• Provides detailed crawl data but requires user expertise to interpret and prioritize issues; it does not suggest fixes or offer keyword/link analysis.

Pros:

• Extensive crawling on a budget with the free version able to crawl up to 500 URLs, making it a great free Ahrefs alternative for site audits on small sites or spot-checks.
• Extremely fast and configurable; allows checking for specific codes, simulating different user agents, and integrating with PageSpeed Insights API to gather speed data per page.
• Highly reliable and in-depth, making it a favorite among technical SEOs for thorough technical SEO audits.
• Capable of detecting any issue identifiable by crawling HTML, ensuring comprehensive on page SEO analysis.
• Runs behind your firewall, enabling audits of staging sites or intranets that cloud-based tools cannot access.
• Provides detailed crawl data that benefits SEO agencies and in-house teams for on page optimization and site health monitoring.

Cons:

• Steeper learning curve for non-techies due to its utilitarian, spreadsheet-like interface.
• Intimidating for users unfamiliar with raw data and SEO technicalities.
• Requires understanding to interpret data and determine appropriate solutions (e.g., handling 500 error responses).
• Does not directly suggest fixes or prioritize issues by severity; provides comprehensive data without guidance.
• Resource-intensive on your computer’s memory and CPU when crawling large sites with tens of thousands of pages.
• Not a one-stop SEO tool: lacks keyword research and link analysis features.

Pricing:

Free for up to 500 URLs per crawl. The paid license (~$180/year) is one of the best values in seo software, considering what you get – unlimited crawls, free updates (Screaming Frog adds new features annually, like JavaScript rendering, structured data validation, etc.), and the ability to run in headless/batch mode, which advanced users can script. Only one license is needed per user; many teams will have one technical seo or webmaster with a license who can run crawls for the team.

Ideal for:

Technical seo audits and on page optimization work. If part of why you loved Ahrefs was its site audit features, you’ll want Screaming Frog in your toolkit to go even deeper. seo agencies almost universally use Screaming Frog for site audits.

In an in-house team, this tool is best wielded by the technically inclined SEO or developer – but the insights benefit everyone (for example, content teams can get a list of all pages with missing meta descriptions, or all images without alt text, in seconds).

Also, if you’re on a tight budget, you might combine Screaming Frog (for crawling) with a lighter keyword tool to replace much of Ahrefs’ functionality at a far lower cost.

10. Surfer SEO – content optimization companion

Surfer SEO isn’t an Ahrefs replacement for technical or link tasks – but it pairs with other tools to cover a major gap: content optimization. We include it here because many content-focused SEO teams use Surfer alongside a lighter Ahrefs alternative to achieve what Ahrefs alone did not.

Comparative strengths:

• Focuses on on-page SEO for content optimization.
• Analyzes top-ranking pages for a given target keyword.
• Provides data-driven content briefs including ideal content length, keyword usage, related terms, and headings.
• Automates the analysis of top 10 pages for SEO content strategy at scale.
• Uses NLP keywords integration to suggest relevant phrases like “backlink strategy” and “guest post opportunities.”
• Offers a real-time Content Editor that scores content for SEO as you write or paste.
• Includes SERP analysis with snapshots of word count, keyword usage, and page speed.
• User-friendly interface with shareable content editor links for writers without requiring logins.

Pros:

• Makes SEO content optimization straightforward with a smart Content Editor.
• Scores content in real-time as you write or paste, highlighting the need to use NLP keywords like “backlink strategy” and “guest post opportunities.”
• Extremely useful for ensuring coverage of subtopics that competitors include.
• Provides a handy SERP analysis offering a quick snapshot of how your page compares in word count, keyword usage, and page speed.
• Complements off-page data from other SEO tools with detailed on-page SEO analysis.
• Features a very user-friendly interface.
• Allows sharing content editor links with writers, so they don’t need a login to access recommendations.

Cons:

• Niche use-case requiring pairing with other tools for keyword research, link analysis, and rank tracking.
• Recommendations are based on correlation; over-stuffing NLP keywords like “backlink strategy” and “guest post opportunities” can backfire.
• Content may become similar across writers if everyone follows the same suggestions, reducing uniqueness.
• Does not cover most functions that Ahrefs offers on its own.
• Best used as a guide rather than a strict rulebook for content optimization.

Pricing:

Surfer starts at around $49/month for the basic plan (which gives a limited number of content editor credits per month). Higher plans for agencies run $99 and up. They do not currently have a free version, but occasionally offer a $1 trial for a week.

It’s not cheap, but if content is your main SEO growth lever, the ROI can be quickly realized by improved rankings.

One tip: you can use one Surfer account to optimize dozens of pages (just reuse the content editor credits wisely) – some teams share one subscription across multiple writers by exporting the guidelines.

Ideal for

Content marketing teams and on page seo perfectionists. If your seo strategy to beat Ahrefs-equipped competitors is simply to create better content that satisfies search intent and covers topics more thoroughly, Surfer SEO is the secret weapon.

It’s typically used by content leads at SaaS companies to brief writers, or by agencies to scale content optimization. Pair Surfer with a generalist SEO tool (like any of the alternatives above for keywords/links) and you have a formidable combo that covers both off-page and on page optimization.

Other noteworthy Ahrefs alternatives (niche or supplemental)

The SEO tool landscape is crowded, but some consistently stand out as the top SEO tools for SaaS teams. These top SEO tools balance data depth, usability, and value for money. Beyond the major players above, here are a few more “ahrefs alternative” options you might consider for specific needs:

BuzzSumo

A favorite for content research and PR. BuzzSumo isn’t an SEO suite, but it excels at finding the most shared content for a topic and identifying influencers. Many teams combine it with other SEO tools like Ubersuggest or Serpstat to fill gaps that Ahrefs left uncovered.

If Ahrefs’ Content Explorer was your go-to for content ideas and link bait research, BuzzSumo is a great specialized alternative. (Many content marketing teams use Ahrefs + BuzzSumo together; you could pair BuzzSumo with a lighter seo tool to replace a lot of Ahrefs functionality.)

SpyFu

An affordable tool (~$39/month) focused on competitive research, especially for PPC keywords. It lets you “spy” on competitors’ Google Ads, seo keywords, and even shows historical ranking and ad charts. SpyFu’s SEO data isn’t as extensive as Ahrefs, but it provides unique insights like “overlap” diagrams of you vs competitors.

It can be a useful supplement if you’re on a budget – for example, some small businesses use SpyFu for competitor keyword intel alongside Ubersuggest for basic SEO metrics.

KeywordInsights

A specialized tool for keyword clustering and SERP analysis of search intent. This makes it easier to understand whether a keyword deserves a blog post, landing page, or comparison guide. If one of your gripes with Ahrefs was manually sorting hundreds of keywords into groups or figuring out which keywords can be targeted on one page, KeywordInsights automates that.

You feed it a list of keywords (for example, all the terms Ahrefs or another tool spits out), and it groups them by similarity of search engine results pages. This is hugely helpful for content planning at scale (think large content hubs or e-commerce category pages). It’s not a full ahrefs alternative, but as a companion tool it fills a gap Ahrefs doesn’t address deeply.

Google’s Free Toolbox (Google Search Console & Google Analytics)

It may sound obvious, but remember that Google Search Console (GSC) is a free resource that gives you a direct view of the queries people use to find your site, your backlinks (as seen by Google), and site health issues.

While it won’t show competitors’ data, GSC combined with Google Analytics can substitute for parts of Ahrefs (like tracking your own keyword rankings and clicks, or seeing which sites link to you). And for discovering new keywords or content ideas, the venerable Google Keyword Planner and Google Trends are free as well.

Savvy SEO teams on zero budget can employ advanced Google search operators and these free seo tools to approximate some of Ahrefs’ functions – for example, using the site: operator and search queries to find guest post opportunities or using GSC’s performance report as a basic rank tracker. It’s a bit more manual, but it’s free.

Ahrefs Webmaster Tools & free SEO tools

Worth a quick mention: if your issue with Ahrefs is cost but you like the tool, you can use Ahrefs Webmaster Tools (AWT) which is free for verifying your own site. It gives you limited access to site audit and Site Explorer for your site only.

While not comprehensive, this free plan is handy for monitoring your own site, especially when paired with another tool’s free plan like Ubersuggest. Additionally, Ahrefs offers free seo tools like their backlink checker and keyword generator (with limited results). These won’t replace the full platform, but in a pinch, you can use Ahrefs’ own free offerings as a pseudo-“free Ahrefs alternative” for very light tasks.

How to choose the right Ahrefs alternative?

1. Match tool to your goals: First, clarify what you need from an seo tool. Is it backlink analysis, keyword research, rank tracking, or all of the above? Choose a tool that excels in your priority areas. (For example, if content optimization is your focus, an Ahrefs alternative like SurferSEO might be more useful than a pure backlink checker.)
2. Feature comparison: Ensure the alternative covers Ahrefs’ core features that matter to you – e.g., a robust backlink checker, comprehensive keyword database, site audit capability, etc. Look for where it goes further: Does it offer extras like PPC analysis, content ideas, or Google Search Console integration?
3. Data coverage and accuracy: Check each alternative’s data strengths. For example, some offer fresher keyword data and larger indexes. Reliable keyword data is essential for scaling content roadmaps. Some tools have larger regional keyword databases or index more backlinks than Ahrefs in certain markets. If you do international SEO or need very fresh data, consider which platform provides that.
4. Budget and pricing model: Alternatives range from free to enterprise-level. Identify one that fits your budget – whether it’s a free Ahrefs alternative for occasional use or a lower-cost subscription for daily use. (Tip: Many paid tools offer free trials or freemium tiers – take advantage to test them.)
5. Usability and team workflow: A tool is only valuable if your team actually uses it. For teams juggling dozens of SEO tasks daily—from checking rankings to auditing pages—a simpler interface can shave hours of reporting. Consider the learning curve and user interface. A more intuitive, beginner-friendly interface can empower content marketers and junior SEO analysts to get insights faster (versus a complex tool that only one “power user” on the team understands).

1. Integrations and ecosystem: Think about whether the tool plays nice with your stack. For instance, does it export data easily, connect with Google Data Studio, or have an API for your reporting needs? Some Ahrefs alternatives offer API access or integrations that simplify reporting and analysis across your systems.
2. Scalability: Choose a solution that can scale with you. If you anticipate needing more features or higher limits as you grow, consider an alternative with multiple plan options or add-ons. It’s easier to stick with one tool that grows with your needs than to switch again in six months.
3. Community and support: Finally, look at the support and learning resources. An active community, tutorials, or a responsive support team can drastically improve your experience with a new seo tool.

Conclusion

Choosing the right Ahrefs alternative depends on your team’s unique needs and budget. Whether you prefer comprehensive SEO suites like Semrush or specialized tools like Majestic, aligning your choice with your goals is key.

Remember, combining multiple tools can offer complete coverage at a lower cost. Take advantage of free trials to find the best fit for your workflow. Ultimately, success comes from how you apply the insights—link building, content optimization, and keyword research.

Feel free to share your experiences or questions below; your insights could help others navigate their SEO journey.