# Ahrefs alternatives > Ahrefs is the benchmark for backlink data and keyword research. These alternatives fit tighter budgets, simpler content research or a broader SEO-plus-PPC suite. Ahrefs is expensive because the link index and keyword data are good. The alternatives below are not all cheaper copies: some are broader marketing suites, some are focused link tools, and some are low-cost keyword research for a site that is still early. Choose by the SEO job you actually do every week. - Canonical page: https://rebupl.fun/alternatives/ahrefs - Reviewed: 2026-11-07 - Alternatives listed: 10 ## Alternatives ### Semrush SEO, PPC and competitor research in one suite. Semrush combines keyword research, rank tracking, backlinks, ads and content tools. The breadth is useful for a marketing team; the price is hard to justify for a single side project. - URL: https://www.semrush.com - Category: SEO suite - Pricing: paid — From around $139.95/mo; limited free tier. - Audience: Agencies and in-house marketing teams - Tags: seo, ppc, competitors ### Moz Pro The long-running SEO suite behind Domain Authority. Moz Pro covers rank tracking, site audits and link research with the familiar Domain Authority metric. It is a credible mid-priced alternative to Ahrefs and Semrush. - URL: https://moz.com - Category: SEO suite - Pricing: paid — From around $99/mo; free community tools. - Audience: SEOs who value domain authority and link data - Tags: seo, domain authority, backlinks ### Majestic Backlink history and trust metrics. Majestic focuses on link data: historical backlinks, trust flow and topical trust flow. It is narrower than a full SEO suite and useful when links are the specific problem. - URL: https://majestic.com - Category: Backlink analysis - Pricing: paid — From around $49.99/mo. - Audience: Link builders and technical SEOs - Tags: backlinks, trust flow, seo ### SE Ranking Rank tracking and audits at a mid-market price. SE Ranking covers rank tracking, keyword research, audits and competitor analysis without the enterprise price. The data depth is below Ahrefs, and the value is clear for a small team. - URL: https://seranking.com - Category: SEO suite - Pricing: freemium — From around $59/mo; free trial. - Audience: Small teams and agencies watching budgets - Tags: rank tracking, seo, budget ### Ubersuggest A low-cost keyword and content research tool. Ubersuggest is a beginner-friendly keyword tool with a limited free tier and a low monthly price. It is not a replacement for Ahrefs at scale, but it covers the first year of content research. - URL: https://neilpatel.com/ubersuggest/ - Category: Keyword research - Pricing: freemium — Free searches; paid from around $29/mo. - Audience: Solo founders starting with SEO - Tags: keywords, content, budget ### Mangools Focused keyword research without a suite upsell. Mangools bundles keyword research, SERP analysis, rank tracking and site profiling at a low price. It is best for content-led sites that do not need enterprise backlink data. - URL: https://mangools.com - Category: Keyword research - Pricing: paid — From around $29.90/mo. - Audience: Bloggers and small SEO teams - Tags: keywords, content, seo ### Serpstat SEO, PPC and content research in one dashboard. Serpstat covers keyword research, competitor analysis, audits and rank tracking. It is a practical mid-priced suite when Semrush feels too expensive but the free tools are not enough. - URL: https://serpstat.com - Category: SEO suite - Pricing: freemium — From around $59/mo; free trial. - Audience: Agencies and growing marketing teams - Tags: seo, ppc, keywords ### Screaming Frog Desktop crawler for deep technical audits. Screaming Frog crawls a site like a search engine and exposes redirects, broken links, duplicate titles, canonicals and JavaScript issues. It is a diagnostic tool, not a keyword or backlink suite. - URL: https://www.screamingfrog.co.uk/seo-spider/ - Category: SEO crawler - Pricing: paid — Free up to 500 URLs; paid licence from around $259/yr. - Audience: Technical SEOs and developers - Tags: crawler, technical seo, audit ### SpyFu Competitor keywords and ad history. SpyFu focuses on what competitors bid on and rank for, including historical ads and estimated spend. It is narrower than a full SEO suite and useful when paid search is part of the channel mix. - URL: https://www.spyfu.com - Category: Competitor research - Pricing: freemium — Limited free data; paid from around $39/mo. - Audience: SEO and PPC teams researching competitors - Tags: competitors, ppc, keywords ### Sitebulb A crawler that explains the issues it finds. Sitebulb turns a crawl into prioritised, readable issues with hints and visuals. It is friendlier than a raw crawler export and useful for agencies that need to hand findings to clients. - URL: https://sitebulb.com - Category: SEO crawler - Pricing: paid — From around $13/mo. - Audience: SEOs who want prioritised audits - Tags: crawler, audit, prioritisation ## FAQ ### Is there a cheaper alternative to Ahrefs? SE Ranking, Mangools and Ubersuggest are the usual budget options. Majestic is cheaper if you only need backlink data. If keyword and competitor research are the priority, Semrush is the closest full replacement, at a similar price. ### Do I need Ahrefs as a solo founder? Not at the start. A free keyword tool plus Search Console is enough to learn what queries you already rank for. Buy a paid suite once content is a real channel and you can name the decisions the data will change. ### Which tool has the best backlink index? Ahrefs and Semrush are the two most commonly trusted indexes, with Majestic strong on historical link data. No index is complete. Treat link counts as directional and verify important links manually. ## Links - [HTML page](https://rebupl.fun/alternatives/ahrefs) - [Alternatives index](https://rebupl.fun/alternatives) - [Editorial policy](https://rebupl.fun/editorial-policy)