SE Ranking ($129/mo) and Mangools (free tier) offer cheaper ways to track rankings. Switch from Ahrefs if the $29 Starter plan limits your keyword tracking volume.
Independently verified metrics. Sources: Vendor feature pages, independent SEO research. Verified 2026.
| Tool | Keyword DBB | Backlink DBT | Crawl SpeedURL/s | Data Refreshdays |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ahrefs (this) | 22.3 | 0.3 | 6,000 | 15 |
| SE Ranking | 5 | - | 300 | 14 |
| Semrush | 25.6 | 0.0 | 700 | 7 |
| Moz Pro | 1.3 | 0.0 | 200 | 30 |
Alternatives are not always the right move. Ahrefs remains strong in these scenarios.
7 alternatives evaluated by features, pricing, and real-world use cases.
Expert Take
Ahrefs works well when you need deep backlink analysis and click-metric keyword research. The friction starts when the credit-based system consumes limits on every search and filter action, leading to unexpected overages and high costs for small teams. Before buying, compare vs SE Ranking, a competitor that offers more predictable pricing without restrictive per-action credit consumption.
Oleh KemFounder & Lead AnalystAn all-in-one SEO platform for rank tracking, site audits, keyword research, and client reporting at an affordable price. Rated 4.9/5 vs 4.7/5 for Ahrefs.
A powerful desktop website crawler that finds and audits technical SEO issues like broken links, redirects, and duplicat. Priced higher at $279/mo vs $29/mo.
SEO tool suite with KWFinder for keyword research, SERPChecker for SERP analysis, and SiteProfiler for backlinks.. Priced higher at $30.5/mo vs $29/mo.
An all-in-one suite for SEO, content marketing, competitor research, PPC, and social media marketing.. Ahrefs edges it on ratings (4.7 vs 4.6/5).
Competitor keyword research tool showing every keyword a domain has ranked for organically or purchased in Google Ads.. Priced higher at $39/mo vs $29/mo.
An SEO analytics platform using its proprietary Visibility Index to track and benchmark organic search performance over . Ahrefs edges it on ratings (4.7 vs 4.5/5).
An all-in-one SEO software suite for tracking rankings, analyzing backlinks, and optimizing on-page content with proprie. Ahrefs edges it on ratings (4.7 vs 4.4/5).
Link building, backlink audit, and competitor link gaps
Site audit, Core Web Vitals, and crawl analysis
Ahrefs compared against all 7 seo tools alternatives. Pricing, free plan availability, rating, and seo tools-specific capabilities.
Choose SE Ranking if you need best value seo tool on the market
Choose Screaming Frog SEO Spider if you need industry standard for technical seo audits
