Source: freepik
Ahrefs is one of the biggest names in SEO. It has a great reputation — no doubt about it. But it is also known for being a budget-killer. I mean, paying more than $1,000 a year just to get access to the basic plan isn’t exactly affordable. Not to mention, you have to pay more to add your team.
The question arises: Are you actually paying for the tool or the name?
The good news is that there are plenty of all-in-one SEO platforms that are equally as good as Ahrefs – if not better. Let’s explore some of the top Afrefs alternatives for SEO. We’ll give you tools that offer smarter features without costing a fortune.
Top Ahrefs Alternatives
The following SEO tools are great alternatives to Ahrefs:
Ubersuggest
Ubersuggest is the ultimate alternative to Ahrefs. What began as a free, simple tool designed to scrape Google Autocomplete data evolved into a full-blown SEO platform when it was acquired by Neil Patel in 2017. Ubersuggest now offers advanced keyword analysis, domain analysis, and backlinking features.
Best For: Small to medium-sized enterprises that want to enhance keyword research and gain a competitive edge through backlinking.
Key Strengths:
- Extensive keyword research. Ubersuggest users can give insights into keyword difficulty, search volume, and CPC (cost-per-click).
- Streamlined competitor analysis. Users can see how well their competitors are doing and what keywords they are ranking for.
- Complete SEO audit. Ubersuggest can perform SEO audits and give recommendations to improve your site’s structure, speed, and content.
- Generate content. Ubersuggest can generate content ideas based on popular questions and trends in your industry.
- Intuitive and easy-to-use platform. Ubersuggest’s dashboard is user-friendly, allowing users to navigate different tools without stress.
SEMRush
After Ubersuggest, SEMRush is the closest alternative to Ahrefs. It was founded in 2008 by two lifelong friends, Oleg Shchegolev and Dmitry Melnikov, who were inspired by emerging web technologies.
Understanding the importance of SEO in the coming year, Shchegolev and Melnikov created a tool to make online competition transparent. Soon after, the founders turned it into a freemium platform for keyword, rank, and ad intelligence.
Now, SEMRush has become one of the most sought-after names in the SEO industry. Whether you’re a marketer or a blogger, chances are you’ve heard of the Keyword Magic Tool or the Site Audit tool.
Best For: Enterprise-level marketers and agencies who want to manage multiple client projects and need an all-in-one, robust platform.
Key Strengths:
- All-in-one marketing suite. SEMRush has tools for all forms of digital marketing, including PPC, SEO, content marketing, and social media management.
- Comprehensive database. SEMRush can track nearly 43 billion backlinks globally, giving users access to extensive competitor information.
- Advanced keyword research. SEMRush’s Keyword Magic Tool provides thousands of keyword suggestions and even mentions the difficulty level and search volume.
One of the main drawbacks of SEMrush is the cost.
SpyFu
SpyFu allows users to “spy” on competitors’ digital marketing techniques. It is a competitive intelligence platform for SEO and PPC marketers. You can learn through your competitors’ mistakes and find gaps.
Although this SEO suite was launched in 2005, it was mainly used for keyword research. Over time, marketers and business owners realised the importance of competitor analysis, leading to the addition of several new tools to the platform’s portfolio.
Best For: Marketers, business owners, and freelancers seeking to gain an edge over competitors in SEO and PPC marketing.
Key Strengths:
- Pay-per-click (PPC) analysis. With SpyFu, users can see every keyword a competitor bought on Google Ads. You can view their ad history, estimated clicks, and budgets. This will help you budget campaigns.
- In-depth SEO analysis. SpyFu lets you take a deep dive into your competitors’ websites. You can see which keywords they are ranking for, which of their pages are ranking organically, and which backlinks they have acquired.
- Domain comparison. With advanced tools, you can compare your domain against up to three competitors.
- Google Search Console integration. SpyFu can be seamlessly integrated to provide deeper insights into a site’s performance.
Serpstat
If you’re looking for an Ahrefs alternative that specifically helps with content creation, Serpstat is the tool you need. It features additional content-creation tools that Ahrefs and several other alternatives simply do not offer. You can expect features like:
- Rank tracking
- Website auditing
- Competitor ranking analysis
- Keyword analysis
Best For: Content creators and experts who want to optimise content as per best SEO practices.
Key Strengths:
- Powerful keyword clustering. Serpstat’s keyword clustering feature automatically groups thousands of keywords by thematic similarity.
- Technical SEO audit. The tool can perform comprehensive site crawls to detect technical issues, such as indexability, redirects, and page speed.
- Cost-effective. Serpstat is more affordable for entry-level users compared to competitors. Users can scale to more extensive features and benefits as their content requirements evolve.
How We Evaluated These Ahrefs Alternatives
Not every SEO platform is the same. But how exactly did we find alternatives to the highly sought-after Ahrefs?
Here’s what sets these alternatives apart:
- Advanced core features. It’s clear that every SEO platform offers basic tools, such as backlink analysis, keyword research, and site auditing. But the way a tool approaches SEO makes all the difference. The above-mentioned alternatives give results based on extensive databases.
- In-depth competitor analysis. We prioritised platforms that provide comprehensive details on a competitor’s backlinks and content strategies.
- Usability and interface. We listed Ahrefs alternatives that feature easy-to-navigate platforms and intuitive navigation.
- Affordability and pricing. We evaluated subscription costs against feature sets before ranking the top alternatives.
Overall Methodology: Our alternative listing drew from third-party client testimonials and direct analysis of the service offering. Rankings emphasise technical depth and real-world digital marketing impact, prioritising tools that indicate innovation in this age of AI.
Which Ahrefs Alternative is Best for You?
There is no definitive answer. The best Ahrefs alternative depends on your specific SEO needs and preferred approach. If you want all the top features of Ahrefs but at a more affordable price, Ubersuggest is just the tool you need. But if you’re more focused on competitor analysis and content creation, SpyFu and Superstat are both great options.
