Shortlist by what you need
Start here if you know why you are leaving Ahrefs.
Want the closest match?
SE RankingMost similar to Ahrefs in what it does, its category and its price.
Visit (opens SE Ranking in a new tab)Need a free plan?
SemrushHas a free plan, rated 4.5 out of 5. Ahrefs has none.
Visit (opens Semrush in a new tab)Want to pay less than Ahrefs?
UbersuggestFrom $29/mo, against from $129/mo for Ahrefs.
Visit (opens Ubersuggest in a new tab)Want the best rated?
NightwatchRated 4.4 out of 5 in our review, against 4.6 for Ahrefs.
Visit (opens Nightwatch in a new tab)
At a glance
Green means better than Ahrefs, red means worse. Prices are starting prices per month.
| Tool | Our rating | Starts at | Free plan | Best for | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 AhrefsBaseline | 4.6 | $129/mo | No | A comprehensive, long-established SEO suite built around one of the largest backlink indexes | |
| SE Ranking | 4.6Same | $103/mo$26 less | No | A comprehensive SEO suite priced below the category's largest platforms | vs Ahrefs |
 Serpstat | 4.2−0.4 | $50/mo$79 less | No | Comprehensive SEO suite priced for smaller teams than the category's biggest names | vs Ahrefs |
| Semrush | 4.5−0.1 | $139/mo$10 more | YesAhrefs has none | One of the category's largest platforms, extending well beyond SEO into a full marketing suite | vs Ahrefs |
 WebCEO | 3.6−1.0 | Not listed | No | A long-established SEO suite covering rank tracking, keyword research, site audit, backlinks and toxic link detection, with white-label reports for agencies. | vs Ahrefs |
| Ubersuggest | 4.0−0.6 | $29/mo$100 less | YesAhrefs has none | Neil Patel's accessible, accessible entry point into SEO tooling | vs Ahrefs |
| Nightwatch | 4.4−0.2 | $39/mo$90 less | No | Rank tracking with white-label reporting built specifically for agencies | vs Ahrefs |
 Mangools | 4.4−0.2 | $37.7/mo$91.3 less | YesAhrefs has none | A bundle of five simpler, more accessible SEO tools for smaller sites | vs Ahrefs |
 Moz Pro | 4.2−0.4 | $49/mo$80 less | No | The oldest tool in this category, and the originator of Domain Authority | vs Ahrefs |
The alternatives in detail
In order of how closely each one matches Ahrefs.
SE Ranking
4.6$103/mo
vs Ahrefs$26 lessSame
A comprehensive SEO suite priced below the category's largest platforms.
- 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
Comprehensive feature scope at a lower price than the category's largest platforms
No free plan to test before committing
Serpstat
4.2$50/mo
vs Ahrefs$79 less−0.4
Comprehensive SEO suite priced for smaller teams than the category's biggest names.
- Comprehensive SEO suite: keyword research, rank tracking, backlinks, audits
- Free tier for limited use
- Operating since 2013
Comprehensive feature scope at a more accessible price point
Overlaps closely with SE Ranking, worth a direct side-by-side comparison
Semrush
4.5$139/mo
vs Ahrefs$10 more−0.1Free plan
One of the category's largest platforms, extending well beyond SEO into a full marketing suite.
- Broader marketing suite extending beyond SEO into paid ads and social
- One of the largest, most recognized platforms in this category
- Free tier for limited use
Broader marketing scope connects SEO to paid and social strategy directly
Among the higher prices in this category for full access
WebCEO
3.6Not listed
vs Ahrefs−1.0
A long-established SEO suite covering rank tracking, keyword research, site audit, backlinks and toxic link detection, with white-label reports for agencies.
- Rank tracking and keyword research
- Site audit and internal link analysis
- Backlink checker, toxic link checker and competitor backlink spy
Covers the full SEO discipline rather than one slice
Breadth over depth against specialists like Ahrefs or Semrush
Ubersuggest
4.0$29/mo
vs Ahrefs$100 less−0.6Free plan
Neil Patel's accessible, accessible entry point into SEO tooling.
- Keyword research, site audits, backlink data, and content ideas
- Genuinely usable free tier with daily search limits
- Backed by Neil Patel's broad digital-marketing brand recognition
Free tier is genuinely usable, not just a limited trial
Less data depth than specialist tools like Ahrefs or Semrush
Nightwatch
4.4$39/mo
vs Ahrefs$90 less−0.2
Rank tracking with white-label reporting built specifically for agencies.
- Keyword rank tracking across search engines and locations
- White-label reporting built specifically for agency use
- No free plan, paid access only
White-label reporting suits agency client presentation specifically well
No free plan to test before committing
Mangools
4.4$37.7/mo
vs Ahrefs$91.3 less−0.2Free plan
A bundle of five simpler, more accessible SEO tools for smaller sites.
- Five separate, simplified SEO tools bundled under one subscription
- KWFinder, SERPWatcher, SERPChecker, LinkMiner, and SiteProfiler
- Operating since 2014
Approachable, task-focused tools reduce the learning curve for newcomers
No free plan to test before committing
Moz Pro
4.2$49/mo
vs Ahrefs$80 less−0.4
The oldest tool in this category, and the originator of Domain Authority.
- Domain Authority, a widely referenced third-party ranking-strength metric
- Operating continuously since 2004, the oldest tool in this category
- Keyword research, site audits, and rank tracking
Domain Authority remains a widely referenced industry metric
No free plan to test before committing
FAQ
Questions people ask
Is Ahrefs free?
Ahrefs does not list a free plan. Paid plans start from $129/mo.
What is the best free alternative to Ahrefs?
Semrush is the highest-rated alternative here with a free plan (4.5 out of 5). Other free options: Mangools, Ubersuggest.
What is the cheapest alternative to Ahrefs?
Among paid plans, Ubersuggest has the lowest starting price (from $29/mo). If you need it free, start with Semrush.
How did you pick these alternatives?
We match tools on what they do, their category and their price, using the details in our directory. Ratings come from our reviews and reader reviews.