Ahrefs vs SE Ranking (2026): Pricing, Features & Which to Choose

Who comes out ahead

Based only on the facts in our directory. The right pick still depends on the job you need done.

Lower starting price
SE Ranking
From $103/mo against from $129/mo
Free plan
Tie
Neither has one
Higher rating
Tie
4.6 against 4.6
Same job?
Yes
Both are SEO tools

Side by side

Compared on	Ahrefs	SE Ranking
Our rating	4.6	4.6
Starts at	$129/mo	$103/moBetter
Free plan	No	No
Category	SEO	SEO
Plans	Lite$129/mo Standard$249/mo Advanced$449/mo	Core$129/mo Growth$279/mo
Key features	One of the largest, most frequently updated backlink indexes in the industry Full SEO suite: keyword research, site audits, rank tracking, content exploration Operating since 2010, well established in the category No free plan, paid access only Deep competitive analysis tools	Comprehensive SEO suite: keyword research, rank tracking, audits, and backlinks Priced meaningfully below Ahrefs and Semrush for comparable scope No free plan, paid access only Operating since 2013 White-label reporting available for agency use
Pros	Backlink index depth and update frequency are hard to match Comprehensive suite covers most SEO tasks in one platform Long operating history means a mature, well-tested product	Comprehensive feature scope at a lower price than the category's largest platforms White-label reporting suits agency client work Long operating history since 2013
Cons	No free plan, a real financial commitment before testing thoroughly Among the higher prices in this category Breadth of features adds a learning curve for newcomers to SEO tooling	No free plan to test before committing Smaller brand recognition than Ahrefs, Semrush, or Moz Data depth in some areas may not match the very largest, priciest competitors
Company	Ahrefs, founded 2010	SE Ranking, founded 2013

Prices come from each vendor's pricing page, last checked 20260703. Check the vendor before you buy.

FAQ

Questions people ask

Is Ahrefs better than SE Ranking?

In our reviews Ahrefs scores 4.6 and SE Ranking scores 4.6. The better pick depends on the job. Ahrefs: A comprehensive, long-established SEO suite built around one of the largest backlink indexes. SE Ranking: A comprehensive SEO suite priced below the category's largest platforms.

Which is cheaper, Ahrefs or SE Ranking?

SE Ranking has the lower starting price: from $129/mo for Ahrefs and from $103/mo for SE Ranking.

Do Ahrefs and SE Ranking have free plans?

Neither lists a free plan.

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