Ahrefs vs Semrush
Ahrefs
ahrefs.com
Semrush
semrush.comSide by side
| Figure | Ahrefs | Semrush |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $29/mo | $10/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 10 | 13 |
| Spec score · Competitor SEO Tools | 9.1 (#1) | 8.5 (#6) |
| Spec score · SEO tools | 9.2 (#7) | 9.1 (#10) |
| Spec score · SEO Analytics Software | 9.1 (#1) | 8.5 (#6) |
| Spec score · AI SEO Software | 9.2 (#1) | 8.4 (#7) |
| Spec score · Search Engine Optimization Software | 9.1 (#1) | 8.5 (#7) |
| Spec score · Backlink Analysis Tools | 9.2 (#1) | 8.5 (#6) |
| Spec score · SEO APIs | 9.2 (#1) | 8.5 (#3) |
| Spec score · SEO Reporting Software | 9.1 (#1) | 8.5 (#3) |
| Spec score · AI Search Visibility Software | 9.2 (#1) | 8.3 (#2) |
| Spec score · Paid Search Intelligence Software | 9.1 (#1) | 8.6 (#2) |
| Spec score · Website Optimization Tools | 9.1 (#3) | 8.4 (#12) |
| API access | API access is included in paid plans, with uncapped access for Enterprise. | Yes |
| Backlink analysis | Yes | Yes |
| Competitor research | Yes | Yes |
| Founded | 2010 | 2008 |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Headquarters | Singapore | Boston, Massachusetts, United States |
| Integrations | Ahrefs offers native Ahrefs integration, Looker Studio integration, and connections to AI chatbots. | Report plans integrate with Google Analytics, Google Search Console, and third-party services. |
| Keyword database | Ahrefs tracks 41.9 billion keywords and filters 28.7 billion keywords. | Semrush reports 28 billion keywords. |
| Keyword research | Yes | Yes |
| Platforms and apps | The platform includes web marketing tools, AI assistants, APIs, and MCP access. | Semrush offers toolkits and standalone apps through the Semrush App Center. |
| Rank tracking | Rank Tracker monitors search rankings and tracks keywords by plan. | Yes |
| Site audit | Yes | Yes |
Plans
Ahrefs
- Ahrefs FreeFree
- Starter$29 a month
- Lite$129 a month
- Standard$249 a month
- Advanced$449 a month
- Enterprise$1,499 a month
- Basic prompt package$50 a month
- Growth prompt package$100 a month
- Brand Radar$199 a month
- Scale prompt package$250 a month
Semrush
- FreeFree
- FreeFree
- SEO$117.33 a month
- StarterPrice not published
- Pro+Price not published
- AdvancedPrice not published
- Base Report$10 a month
- Pro Report$20 a month
- Additional Users$45 a month
- Lead Generation$90 a month
In their own words
Ahrefs
Ahrefs is a web and API platform for SEO research, including keyword research, rank tracking, site audits, backlink analysis and competitor research. It also provides content tools, AI assistants and MCP access. Content Explorer can find web mentions and link prospects, while AI Content Helper supports content improvement. The free plan provides site data and fixes with limited access to Site Explorer and Site Audit. Paid plans start with Starter at $29 a month. Lite costs $129 a month and includes five projects, 750 tracked keywords, 100,000 monthly crawl credits and one user; its Site Audit allowance has a 25,000-page project maximum. Annual payment saves up to 17%. Enterprise costs $1,499 a month and requires an annual commitment; it includes SSO, two-factor authentication, ISO27001 certification, access management, audit logs and unlimited additional users. Ahrefs says its web index contains 170 trillion pages, tracks 41.9 billion keywords and filters 28.7 billion keywords; AhrefsBot crawls 8 billion pages daily. Founded in 2010, the company is headquartered in Singapore. Multilingual support is available five days a week.