Head-to-head · Backlink Analysis Tools

Ahrefs vs Moz Link Explorer

Updated Nov 2026
Both researched from official sources
6 checks side by side

Higher score Ahrefs #1 in Backlink Analysis Tools 9.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 5 features Visit Ahrefs

Moz Link Explorer #4 in Backlink Analysis Tools 8.6/10 Paid ✓ 5 of 5 features Visit Moz

Ahrefs leads on 1 check, Moz Link Explorer on 0, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 6 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

Highest scoreAhrefs · 9.4/10
Free planonly Ahrefs
Most featuresMoz Link Explorer · 5 of 5

Ahrefs scores higher on our rubric for backlink analysis tools: 9.4 against 8.6 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #4.

Ahrefs offers free plan; Moz Link Explorer doesn't.

Ahrefs is the better fit for all-round backlink and SEO teams. Moz Link Explorer is the better fit for straightforward backlink reporting.

Ahrefs fits best
All-round backlink and SEO teams
Moz Link Explorer fits best
Straightforward backlink reporting

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Side by side

Show only differences

Feature	Ahrefs 9.4/10 Visit ↗	Moz Link Explorer 8.6/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.4	8.6
Ranking	#1 in Backlink Analysis Tools	#4 in Backlink Analysis Tools
Best for	All-round backlink and SEO teams	Straightforward backlink reporting
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Paid
Starting price	$29/mo	—
Free plan	✓ (best)	—
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Cloud, Browser extension	Cloud
Platforms	Web, Chrome extension	Web
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Ahrefs 0/5 · Moz Link Explorer 5/5
Historical backlink data	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
New and lost links	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Anchor text report	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Competitor comparison	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Link intersection	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Specs
Referring domains	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Backlink rows	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Backlink, referring-domain, competitor, and organic-traffic analysis Site Audit, rank tracking, keyword research, and Content Explorer API access, scheduled reports, PDF exports, and Data Studio connectors	Covers links, linking domains, authority metrics, and follow status Tracks discovered and lost linking domains with 12-month trends Exports links, linking domains, and top-page data to CSV
Cons	The free plan provides only limited Site Explorer and Site Audit access Higher tiers increase sharply from $129 to $1,499 per month Annual pricing requires contacting support rather than showing published amounts	Web-only access limits platform coverage No verified integrations are listed Higher quotas require paid Moz Pro subscriptions
Our verdict	Ahrefs is a web-based SEO and marketing platform for website owners, marketers, agencies, and SEO teams. Its core tools cover backlink and referring-domain analysis, keyword research, competitor research, rank tracking, technical site… Read the review →	Moz Link Explorer is a backlink analysis tool for individuals and teams reviewing the link profiles of websites, domains, subdomains, and individual pages. It brings inbound-link and linking-domain analysis together with Domain Authority,… Read the review →

AhrefsBacklink Analysis Tools 9.4Free plan
Moz Link ExplorerBacklink Analysis Tools 8.6Paid

Compare the top tools in

Strengths and trade-offs

Ahrefs — where it wins
- Backlink, referring-domain, competitor, and organic-traffic analysis
- Site Audit, rank tracking, keyword research, and Content Explorer
- API access, scheduled reports, PDF exports, and Data Studio connectors
Where it doesn't
- The free plan provides only limited Site Explorer and Site Audit access
- Higher tiers increase sharply from $129 to $1,499 per month
- Annual pricing requires contacting support rather than showing published amounts
Moz Link Explorer — where it wins
- Covers links, linking domains, authority metrics, and follow status
- Tracks discovered and lost linking domains with 12-month trends
- Exports links, linking domains, and top-page data to CSV
Where it doesn't
- Web-only access limits platform coverage
- No verified integrations are listed
- Higher quotas require paid Moz Pro subscriptions

Ahrefs9.4/10 · Free plan
A broad SEO suite with strong backlink analysis, auditing, reporting, and API coverage.
Visit Ahrefs Full verdict →
Moz Link Explorer8.6/10 · Paid
A focused backlink reporting tool with useful link metrics, trends, exports, and a free plan.
Visit Moz Full verdict →