Best 15 Ahrefs Alternatives for SEO & Keyword Research

Search engine optimization has become the backbone of modern digital growth, helping businesses compete for visibility, traffic, and conversions in an increasingly crowded online marketplace. While Ahrefs is widely recognized as a powerful SEO tool, it may not always suit every marketer’s needs due to pricing, feature limitations, usage caps, or specific workflow preferences. As a result, many professionals actively explore alternative platforms that offer competitive keyword databases, backlink analysis, technical audits, and performance tracking-often at different price points or with specialised strengths.

With the SEO industry evolving rapidly, numerous tools now provide innovative features such as AI-driven insights, competitor intelligence, automated reporting, and multi-channel analytics. Choosing the right solution can significantly impact search rankings, content strategy, and overall digital marketing performance.

In this blog, we will explore the 15 Best Ahrefs Alternatives.

Why Do People Look for Ahrefs Alternatives?

• Expensive to Use: Ahrefs is costly to many users, particularly startups, freelancers, and small enterprises that have limited digital marketing budgets.
• Lack of Free Accessibility: Ahrefs has limited features that are free and compels users to pursue other tools with more liberal free services or trial access.
• Limit Use of Credit: Credit limits through monthly data usage and search limits may limit the heavy users who have many projects or huge websites under their management.
• Specific Feature Gaps: There are a few marketers who require more powerful PPC tools, local search tracking, or built-in content optimization features that are not offered by Ahrefs.
• Easier Interface: Basic users are more attracted to easier to use dashboards that do not need more training or technical SEO skills.
• Enhanced Backlink Database: Sometimes users will compare the indexes of links and select those platforms with more recent or region based backlink information.
• More Powerful Reporting Solutions: The agencies might require more powerful white-label reporting and client-ready dashboards that are not provided by Ahrefs.
• All-in-One Marketing: Companies that need to integrate SEO and social media, as well as PPC and content marketing, consider expanding in wider digital marketing platforms.

Quick Comparison

Name	Best For	Best of Use	Pricing
SEMrush	Enterprises, agencies, and advanced marketers needing full-suite SEO and PPC intelligence	Moderate to Advanced	Starts at $199/month
SE Ranking	Agencies and growing businesses seeking affordable all-in-one SEO	Easy to Moderate	Starts at $129/month
Ubersuggest	Beginners, bloggers, and small businesses on a budget	Very Easy	Starts at ₹1,135/month
Moz	Businesses prioritizing domain authority metrics and structured SEO workflows	Easy	Starts at $49/month
Mangools	Freelancers and small teams focused on keyword research	Very Easy	Starts at $30.50/month
Serpstat	Growth marketers and teams needing keyword clustering	Moderate	Starts at $69/month
Majestic	SEO professionals focused heavily on backlink analysis	Moderate	Starts at $49.99/month
SpyFu	Competitive SEO and PPC research	Easy	Starts at $39/month
SEO PowerSuite	Consultants and agencies managing multiple SEO projects	Moderate	Starts at $29.10/month
Screaming Frog	Technical SEO audits and website crawling	Moderate to Advanced	$279 per year
Google Search Console	Monitoring website performance directly from Google data	Easy	Free
Similarweb	Market intelligence and traffic benchmarking	Easy to Moderate	Starts at $199/month
Raven Tools	Agencies focused on automated reporting and client dashboards	Easy	Starts at $49/month
CognitiveSEO	Penalty recovery and advanced backlink audits	Moderate	Starts at $129.99/month
WooRank	Small businesses needing quick SEO audits and recommendations	Very Easy	Starts at $19.99/month

List of 15 Best Ahrefs Alternatives

1. SEMrush

Website: https://www.semrush.com/

SEMrush is a highly potent all-in-one digital marketing tool in the modern market and a competitive option to Ahrefs. It provides full-fledged features of key word research, backlinking, competition monitoring, PPC research, content optimization, and a special audit of technical SEO. 

Enterprise team and agencies, as well as businesses, use its extensive key word database and sophisticated analytics to identify opportunities of growth. SEMrush also has AI-based content recommendations and brand monitoring. 

Its powerful reporting, integrations and global data coverage assists marketers to make informed and data-driven decisions to enhance visibility, traffic, and total search results in an effective manner.

Key Features:

• Extensive keyword research database
• Backlink analytics and toxic link detection
• Technical SEO site audit tool
• PPC and advertising research
• Content marketing toolkit
• Competitive domain comparison

Pros:

• Comprehensive all-in-one platform
• Highly accurate keyword data
• Advanced competitor insights
• Strong reporting and integrations
• Suitable for agencies and enterprises

Cons:

• Premium pricing tiers
• Steep learning curve for beginners
• Limited credits on lower plans

Pricing:

• Starter- $199/mo
• Pro+- $299/mo
• Advanced- $549/mo

2. SE Ranking

Website: https://seranking.com/

SE Ranking is an online SEO tool aimed at agencies, startups, or in-house marketing departments that want to get a cheap, yet potent alternative to Ahrefs, making it one of the best Ahrefs Alternatives.

It offers precise tracking of rankings in various search engines, comprehensive website analysis, competition analysis, and monitoring of backlinks. It also provides Keyword Research services, along with features like keyword suggestions, on-page optimization, and white label reporting for agencies.

Its user-friendly system allows even an amateur user to perform high-level SEO analysis. SE Ranking enables businesses to track search performance, diagnose technical problems, and implement long-term strategic improvements to grow organically using flexible pricing and scalable features.

Key Features:

• Accurate keyword rank tracking
• Website audit and issue monitoring
• Competitor analysis dashboard
• Backlink tracking and monitoring
• White-label reporting tools
• Marketing plan checklist

Pros:

• Affordable pricing structure
• Beginner-friendly interface
• Flexible subscription plans
• Good agency features
• Multi-search engine tracking

Cons:

• Smaller backlink database
• Fewer advanced analytics than premium tools
• Data limits on lower tiers

Pricing:

• Core- $129.00/mo
• Growth- $279.00/mo

3. Ubersuggest

Website: https://neilpatel.com/ubersuggest/

Ubersuggest is a free and easy to use SEO tool created by Neil Patel and commonly known as a cheaper substitute to Ahrefs. 

It provides a simplified interface and is offered with keyword research, domain analysis, backlink data, site audits, and content idea suggestions. It is the best platform that small business, bloggers, and other digital marketers can use to get actionable SEO information without complicated dashboards. 

Ubersuggest gives competitive information, traffic insights, and difficulty scores of keywords to direct strategy. Through its cheap life-time plans and tutorial support, it helps users to rank higher, learn new opportunities and enhance their general web presence.

Key Features:

• Keyword ideas and difficulty scores
• Domain overview analytics
• Backlink data insights
• SEO site audit reports
• Content topic suggestions
• Traffic estimation tools

Pros:

• Budget-friendly pricing
• Easy-to-use interface
• Lifetime plan options
• Suitable for beginners
• Clear actionable insights

Cons:

• Smaller database compared to competitors
• Limited advanced features
• Data refresh rate can be slower

Pricing:

• Individual- ₹1,135 /month
• Business- ₹1,890 /month
• Enterprise / Agency- ₹3,785 /month

4. Moz

Website: https://moz.com/

Moz is an established company that provides search engine optimization software including Moz Pro, a complex package that competes efficiently with Ahrefs and is considered one of the best Ahrefs Alternatives.

It offers keyword research, rank tracking, backlink analysis, and site auditing services that are driven by its own Domain Authority metric. The intuitive features of Moz assist marketers in identifying link opportunities, analyzing competition, and making the use of on-page features more efficient.

It is also user-friendly for beginners and professionals since it contains useful educational resources and community support. With quality data and frequent updates, Moz helps enterprises strengthen search results and build long-term, sustainable SEO strategies.

Key Features:

• Keyword Explorer tool
• Domain Authority metric
• Link research platform
• Rank tracking system
• On-page optimization suggestions
• Technical SEO audits

Pros:

• Trusted industry reputation
• Strong educational resources
• Reliable authority metrics
• User-friendly dashboards
• Active SEO community

Cons:

• Higher pricing plans
• Limited historical data depth
• Backlink index smaller than Ahrefs

Pricing:

• Starter- $49USD / mo
• Standard- $99USD / mo
• Medium- $179USD / mo
• Large- $299USD / mo

5. Mangools

Website: https://mangools.com/

Mangools is a simple SEO toolkit with a visually appealing interface, which makes it a viable alternative to Ahrefs. 

It comes with some of the most widely used tools like KWFinder to research keywords, SERPWatcher to track the ranks, and LinkMiner to analyse backlinks and SiteProfiler to understand domains. As a product with a freelancer and small business focus, Mangools gives simple metrics that are not bombarded with complex data. 

The competitor insights and accurate keyword difficulty scores would aid the marketer to see realistic ranking opportunities. Mangools has affordable prices and easy navigation that makes it an attractive solution to individuals who would like to have dependable SEO functions with low learning level.

Key Features:

• KWFinder keyword research
• SERPWatcher rank tracking
• LinkMiner backlink analysis
• SiteProfiler SEO metrics
• SERP analysis tool
• Localized keyword research

Pros:

• Clean and simple interface
• Affordable plans
• Accurate keyword difficulty scores
• Great for freelancers
• Quick learning curve

Cons:

• Limited advanced features
• Smaller backlink database
• Not ideal for enterprise SEO

Pricing:

• Mangools Basic- $30.50/ mo
• Mangools Premium- $40.50/ mo
• Mangools Agency- $70.50/ mo

6. Serpstat

Website: https://serpstat.com/

Serpstat is a growth hacking and SEO tool that contains a combination of tools to examine keyword research, backlink monitoring, site analysis, and competitor analysis, making it one of the popular Ahrefs Alternatives.

It is also a cheaper substitute for Ahrefs and still provides good data coverage of worldwide markets. Serpstat additionally proposes PPC examination, content promotion devices, and API access for higher users. Its clustering and keyword grouping features enable marketers to assist in organizing big lists of keywords effectively.

Serpstat is a tool to make enhanced visibility, optimize campaigns, and develop data-based SEO strategies with certain levels of confidence, with detailed analytics, customizable report options, and the possibility of collaboration within a team.

Key Features:

• Keyword clustering tool
• Site audit and optimization
• Backlink monitoring
• Competitor domain analysis
• PPC keyword research
• API access options

Pros:

• Competitive pricing
• Useful keyword grouping
• All-in-one dashboard
• Multi-regional data coverage
• Team collaboration features

Cons:

• Interface can feel dense
• Smaller backlink index
• Occasional data inconsistencies

Pricing:

• Individual- $69/mo
• Team- $209/mo
• Agency- $499/mo

7. Majestic

Website: https://majestic.com/

Majestic specializes in backlink intelligence and is widely respected for its extensive link index database. 

As an Ahrefs alternative, it focuses primarily on link analysis, offering proprietary metrics such as Trust Flow and Citation Flow to measure authority and quality. SEO professionals use Majestic to evaluate link profiles, identify toxic backlinks, and discover new outreach opportunities. 

The platform provides historical and fresh index data, enabling users to analyze link growth trends over time. While it emphasizes backlinks more than all-in-one SEO features, Majestic remains a powerful solution for link-building and competitive research strategies.

Key Features:

• Trust Flow and Citation Flow metrics
• Extensive backlink index
• Fresh and historic link data
• Link context analysis
• Bulk backlink checker
• Campaign tracking tools

Pros:

• Strong backlink specialization
• Proprietary authority metrics
• Detailed link insights
• Reliable historical data
• API availability

Cons:

• Limited keyword research features
• Interface less beginner-friendly
• Focused mainly on backlinks

Pricing:

• LITE- $49.99 Monthly
• PRO- $99.99 Monthly

8. SpyFu

Website: https://www.spyfu.com/

SpyFu is a competitive intelligence platform designed to uncover competitor SEO and PPC strategies. As one of the leading Ahrefs Alternatives, it excels in providing historical keyword data, ad copy insights, and domain comparisons.

Marketers can analyze which keywords competitors rank for, view paid advertising campaigns, and track ranking changes over time. SpyFu also includes backlink analysis and reporting tools to enhance strategic planning.

Its straightforward pricing model and unlimited search capabilities make it attractive for agencies and businesses seeking long-term competitor insights. SpyFu helps users make smarter marketing decisions backed by comprehensive historical data.

Key Features:

• Competitor keyword tracking
• PPC ad research
• Historical ranking data
• Backlink analysis tools
• Domain comparison tools
• Unlimited search exports

Pros:

• Strong competitor intelligence
• Affordable pricing
• Unlimited search results
• PPC insights included
• Long-term historical data

Cons:

• Smaller backlink database
• Interface feels outdated
• Limited technical SEO tools

Pricing:

• Basic- $39/month
• Pro- $119/month
• Team / Agency- $249/month

9. SEO PowerSuite

Website: https://www.link-assistant.com/

SEO PowerSuite is a desktop-based SEO toolkit offering four core applications: Rank Tracker, Website Auditor, SEO SpyGlass, and LinkAssistant. It competes with Ahrefs by delivering in-depth keyword tracking, backlink analysis, technical audits, and outreach management features. 

Unlike many cloud tools, SEO PowerSuite operates locally, allowing extensive data processing without strict usage limits. It supports customizable reporting and integration with Google Analytics and Search Console. 

Suitable for agencies and consultants, SEO PowerSuite provides scalable solutions for managing multiple projects, improving website performance, and executing effective link-building campaigns efficiently.

Key Features:

• Rank Tracker software
• Website Auditor tool
• SEO SpyGlass backlink checker
• LinkAssistant outreach manager
• Customizable reporting
• Local desktop processing

Pros:

• No strict usage limits
• One-time license options
• Deep technical analysis
• Multi-project management
• White-label reports

Cons:

• Desktop-only software
• Requires manual updates
• Interface less modern

Pricing:

• Professional- $29.10/mo
• Enterprise- $49.95/mo
• Max- $74.95/mo

10. Screaming Frog

Website: https://www.screamingfrog.co.uk/seo-spider/

Screaming Frog is best known for its SEO Spider tool, a powerful website crawler used for technical SEO audits and is widely considered one of the top Ahrefs Alternatives.

As an alternative to Ahrefs, it focuses on identifying on-page issues such as broken links, duplicate content, missing metadata, redirect chains, and crawl errors. The tool integrates with Google Analytics and Google Search Console for enhanced data analysis.

While primarily desktop-based, it delivers highly detailed technical insights trusted by SEO professionals worldwide. The free version supports up to 500 URLs, making it accessible for small sites. Screaming Frog excels in deep technical optimization and website health analysis.

Key Features:

• Website crawling tool
• Broken link detection
• Metadata analysis
• XML sitemap generation
• Redirect chain audits
• GA and GSC integration

Pros:

• Excellent technical SEO tool
• Free version available
• Detailed crawl reports
• Trusted by professionals
• Fast processing

Cons:

• Desktop-based only
• Limited keyword research
• Can be complex for beginners

Pricing:

• $279 Per Year

11. Google Search Console

Website: https://search.google.com/search-console/about

Google Search Console is a free tool provided by Google that offers direct insights into website performance within Google Search results. 

Although not a full Ahrefs replacement, it delivers valuable data on search queries, impressions, clicks, indexing status, and crawl errors. Website owners can submit sitemaps, monitor manual penalties, and analyze mobile usability issues. 

Its Performance and Coverage reports help identify optimization opportunities and technical problems affecting rankings. Since the data comes directly from Google, it is highly reliable. Google Search Console remains an essential foundational tool for monitoring and improving organic search visibility.

Key Features:

• Search performance reports
• Index coverage monitoring
• Sitemap submission
• Mobile usability checks
• Core Web Vitals data
• Security issue alerts

Pros:

• Completely free
• Direct Google data
• Essential for SEO
• Reliable performance metrics
• Easy integration

Cons:

• Limited competitor insights
• No backlink outreach tools
• Basic reporting interface

Pricing:

• Free

12. Similarweb

Website: https://www.similarweb.com/

Similarweb is a digital intelligence platform offering traffic analytics, competitor benchmarking, and market research insights. As an Ahrefs alternative, it provides detailed information about website traffic sources, audience behavior, referral channels, and engagement metrics. 

Businesses use Similarweb to analyze competitor performance, identify growth opportunities, and refine marketing strategies. Its global data coverage and industry benchmarking tools make it valuable for enterprises and agencies. 

While it emphasizes broader digital analytics beyond SEO alone, Similarweb complements keyword and backlink tools by offering comprehensive competitive visibility into overall online market positioning.

Key Features:

• Traffic analytics dashboard
• Competitor benchmarking
• Audience insights
• Referral source analysis
• Market intelligence tools
• Industry ranking data

Pros:

• Strong market insights
• Broad digital analytics
• Enterprise-ready features
• Global data coverage
• Clean reporting interface

Cons:

• Expensive enterprise plans
• Less SEO-specific focus
• Limited free features

Pricing:

• Competitive Intelligence- $199 per month
• Competitive Intel & SEO & AEO- $399 per month
• Competitive Intel, SEO & AEO & Ads- $649 per month

13. Raven Tools

Website: https://raventools.com/

Raven Tools is a cloud-based SEO and marketing reporting platform designed primarily for agencies and consultants, making it one of the popular Ahrefs Alternatives in the SEO tools market. It provides site audits, backlink monitoring, rank tracking, and competitor research capabilities similar to Ahrefs.

One of its strongest features is customizable, automated reporting that integrates data from multiple marketing channels, including social media and PPC campaigns. The platform helps streamline campaign management and client communication with professional white-label reports.

Raven Tools also offers keyword research and technical analysis features, making it a practical and organized solution for managing comprehensive digital marketing strategies.

Key Features:

• Automated marketing reports
• Site auditor
• Backlink monitoring
• Rank tracking
• Competitor research
• Multi-channel integrations

Pros:

• Excellent client reporting
• Agency-focused tools
• White-label capabilities
• Easy campaign management
• Integrates multiple data sources

Cons:

• Limited backlink depth
• Fewer advanced analytics
• Smaller keyword database

Pricing:

• Small Biz- $49/mo
• Starter- $109/mo
• Grow- $199/mo
• Thrive- $299/mo
• Lead- $479/mo

14. CognitiveSEO

Website: https://cognitiveseo.com/

CognitiveSEO is an advanced SEO platform specializing in backlink analysis, content optimization, and penalty recovery. As an Ahrefs alternative, it provides in-depth link audits, unnatural link detection, and competitive research features. 

Its content optimization tool uses semantic analysis to help improve on-page performance based on top-ranking competitors. Marketers appreciate its visibility tracking and historical data comparisons for monitoring long-term trends. 

CognitiveSEO is particularly valuable for identifying algorithmic penalties and cleaning toxic link profiles. With detailed analytics and actionable insights, it supports sustainable search growth and strategic content improvement initiatives.

Key Features:

• Backlink audit and cleanup
• Unnatural link detection
• Content optimization tool
• Rank tracking
• Competitive analysis
• Visibility trend monitoring

Pros:

• Strong penalty recovery tools
• Detailed link insights
• Semantic content optimization
• Historical data tracking
• Good competitor comparison

Cons:

• Higher pricing tiers
• Interface can feel complex
• Limited free access

Pricing:

• Starter- $129.99 /mo
• Premium- $199 /mo
• Elite- $499 /mo

15. WooRank

Website: https://www.woorank.com/

WooRank is a website review and digital marketing analysis platform offering SEO audits, keyword tracking, and competitive research features. It serves as a practical Ahrefs Alternatives option for small businesses and agencies seeking clear, actionable insights.

WooRank evaluates technical performance, usability, mobile friendliness, and backlink quality while providing prioritized recommendations. Its intuitive dashboard simplifies complex SEO data into understandable reports.

The platform also includes lead generation tools for agencies and integration capabilities for streamlined workflows. WooRank helps businesses identify weaknesses, enhance optimization strategies, and improve overall website visibility effectively.

Key Features:

• Website SEO reviews
• Keyword tracking
• Technical audit reports
• Competitive analysis
• Mobile optimization checks
• Lead generation tools

Pros:

• Easy-to-understand reports
• Great for small businesses
• Actionable recommendations
• Agency lead tools
• User-friendly interface

Cons:

• Limited advanced features
• Smaller backlink database
• Fewer integrations

Pricing:

• Lite- $19.99 per month
• Pro- $89.99 per month
• Premium- $199.99per month

Ending Thoughts 

Choosing the right SEO tool can significantly influence your website’s search visibility, competitive positioning, and long-term digital growth. While Ahrefs remains a powerful and respected platform, it is not the only solution available. As we’ve explored, several strong Ahrefs Alternatives offer comparable keyword research, backlink analysis, site auditing, and competitor intelligence features—often with different pricing models, usability levels, or specialized strengths.

The ideal choice ultimately depends on your business size, budget, technical expertise, and specific marketing goals. By carefully evaluating features, data accuracy, reporting capabilities, and scalability, you can select a tool that aligns perfectly with your strategy. Investing in the right SEO platform ensures smarter decisions, better rankings, and sustainable online success.

FAQs

Why Should I Consider An Alternative To Ahrefs?

You may consider an alternative if Ahrefs’ pricing, feature limits, or workflow structure does not align with your budget or SEO requirements.

Are Ahrefs Alternatives As Accurate As Ahrefs?

Many leading SEO platforms offer highly competitive keyword databases and backlink indexes, providing reliable and actionable data for strategic decisions.

Which Ahrefs Alternative Is Best For Beginners?

Tools with simpler dashboards, guided recommendations, and affordable pricing plans are generally more suitable for beginners and small businesses.

Do these Alternatives Offer Backlink Analysis Tools?

Yes, most reputable SEO platforms provide backlink monitoring, competitor link analysis, and link quality evaluation features.

Can I Use Multiple SEO Tools Together?

Absolutely. Many marketers combine different SEO tools to leverage unique strengths, improve data accuracy, and create comprehensive optimization strategies.