Best Ahrefs Alternatives in 2026
The top Ahrefs alternatives are Semrush, Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools: 15 SEO tools our editors would look at instead of Ahrefs, in our ranking order.
Ahrefs: A broad SEO suite with a free plan and paid tiers for growing workflows. Where it falls short: starter limits tracking to 50 keywords and includes 200 monthly credits.
Switching from Ahrefs? For most seo tools buyers the best Ahrefs alternative is Semrush, built for teams needing broad SEO and PPC intelligence. Serpstat offers the most tracked keywords (10000 keywords).
Why People Look for an Ahrefs Alternative
- Starter limits tracking to 50 keywords and includes 200 monthly credits
- Advanced and Enterprise pricing rises to $449 and $1,499 per month
- Enterprise requires an annual commitment
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallSemrush9.4
Teams needing broad SEO and PPC intelligence
Visit Semrush - Lowest priceSpyFu8.5
Paid plans from $29/mo
Visit SpyFu - Best free optionSemrush9.4
Has a free plan
Visit Semrush - Most tracked keywordsSerpstat8.1
10000 keywords
Visit Serpstat
All 15 Ahrefs Alternatives, Ranked
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
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Best forTeams needing broad SEO and PPC intelligence
- Better than Ahrefs:
- Editor score 9.4 vs 9.3
Broad SEO and PPC intelligence with tracking, audits, competitor research, and API access.
- Backlink analysis
- API access
- Competitor research
9.4/10★★★★★Visit Semrush -
Best forFree Google search performance monitoring
Free, first-party Google Search performance data with indexing and site issue tools.
- Backlink analysis
- API access
- Site audit
9.2/10★★★★★Visit Search Console -
Best forFree Bing-focused SEO measurement
A free Bing-focused toolkit for SEO reporting, research, audits, and indexing.
- Backlink analysis
- API access
- Competitor research
9.1/10★★★★★Visit Bing Webmaster -
Best forTechnical SEO crawling specialists
A deep desktop crawler for technical SEO audits, but not a complete keyword or rank-tracking suite.
- Backlink analysis
- API access
- Site audit
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit Screaming Frog -
Best forWordPress sites needing on-page SEO controls
A broad WordPress SEO toolkit with a capable free plan and scalable paid tiers.
- Competitor research
- Site audit
- Keyword research
8.9/10★★★★☆Visit Rank Math -
Best forWordPress site owners needing on-page SEO controls
A capable WordPress SEO foundation, with Premium features for linking and redirects.
- API access
- Keyword research
- Rank tracking
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit Yoast SEO -
Best forSmall teams wanting approachable SEO research
An approachable SEO suite with broad research coverage and a free starting point.
- Backlink analysis
- API access
- Competitor research
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit Mangools -
Best forAgencies needing broad SEO workflows
A broad SEO workspace for agencies, with strong reporting, integrations, and API access.
- Backlink analysis
- API access
- Competitor research
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit SE Ranking -
Best forBudget-conscious competitor research
A broad, budget-conscious toolkit for competitor SEO and PPC research.
- Backlink analysis
- API access
- Competitor research
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit SpyFu -
Best forTeams wanting established SEO fundamentals
A broad SEO toolkit for teams that want established search fundamentals.
- Backlink analysis
- Competitor research
- Site audit
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit Moz Pro -
Best forSmall sites needing affordable technical SEO
A broad SEO toolkit for small sites, with limited integration options.
- Backlink analysis
- API access
- Competitor research
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit Seobility -
Best forDesktop users wanting a full SEO suite
A broad desktop SEO suite with a useful free edition and scalable annual plans.
- Backlink analysis
- API access
- Competitor research
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit SEO PowerSuite -
Best forHigh-volume keyword and rank tracking
A broad SEO suite for high-volume keyword research and rank tracking.
- Backlink analysis
- API access
- Competitor research
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit Serpstat -
Best forVisibility and competitor analysis
A broad SEO analytics suite for teams that need visibility and competitor analysis.
- Backlink analysis
- Rank tracking
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit SISTRIX -
Best forAgencies needing broad rank tracking
Broad SEO coverage for agencies, with tiered limits and extra Agency Unlimited scanning fees.
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit WebCEO
Ahrefs Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to Ahrefs?
Semrush: #1 in our SEO Tools ranking, with an editor score of 9.4 out of 10. Broad SEO and PPC intelligence with tracking, audits, competitor research, and API access.
Is there a free alternative to Ahrefs?
Yes. Semrush, Google Search Console, Bing Webmaster Tools, Screaming Frog SEO Spider and Rank Math SEO have a free plan or a free tier (11 of the 15 alternatives on this page).
What is the cheapest paid alternative to Ahrefs?
Of the alternatives here that publish a price, SpyFu starts lowest, at $29/mo.
Why do people look for Ahrefs alternatives?
Starter limits tracking to 50 keywords and includes 200 monthly credits; Advanced and Enterprise pricing rises to $449 and $1,499 per month; Enterprise requires an annual commitment.
Which Ahrefs alternative has the most tracked keywords?
Serpstat, with 10000 keywords.
How do I switch from Ahrefs?
Export your data from Ahrefs (most tools have an export in their settings). Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Ahrefs.
How to Switch from Ahrefs
- Export your data from Ahrefs (most tools have an export in their settings).
- Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one.
- Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on.
- Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Ahrefs.
Ahrefs vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Keyword research | Rank tracking | Site audit | Backlink analysis | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Ahrefs | Yes | $29/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.3 |
| 1 | Semrush | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.4 | |
| 2 | Google Search Console | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.2 |
| 3 | Bing Webmaster Tools | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.1 |
| 4 | Screaming Frog SEO Spider | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.0 | |||
| 5 | Rank Math SEO | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.9 | ||
| 6 | Yoast SEO | Yes | $118.80/site/yr | Yes | Yes | 8.8 | ||
| 7 | Mangools | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.7 | ||
| 8 | SE Ranking | No | $103.20/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.6 |
| 9 | SpyFu | Yes | $29/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.5 |
| 10 | Moz Pro | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.4 | |
| 11 | Seobility | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.3 | |
| 12 | SEO PowerSuite | Yes | $349/yr | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.2 |
| 13 | Serpstat | Yes | $50/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.1 |
| 14 | SISTRIX | No | €119/mo | Yes | Yes | 8.0 | ||
| 15 | WebCEO | No | $32/mo | 7.9 |
Head-to-Head
- Ahrefs vs Semrush
- Ahrefs vs Google Search Console
- Ahrefs vs Bing Webmaster Tools
- Ahrefs vs Screaming Frog SEO Spider
- Ahrefs vs Rank Math SEO
- Ahrefs vs Yoast SEO
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update