Ahrefs vs Semrush
Updated onCompare Ahrefs and Semrush side-by-side. See how they stack up on features, pricing, and target market.
Ahrefs
Comprehensive SEO platform known for its large backlink index, site explorer, rank tracker and related tools.
Starts at $29 / month
vs
Semrush
Full-featured digital marketing platform offering keyword research, competitive analysis, site audits, and an SEO Chrome extension.
Starts at $129.95 / month
Has a free trial
Which should you choose?
Ahrefs
You primarily want deep backlink analysis and straightforward, SEO‑first tooling at a lower entry cost.
Semrush
You need an all‑in‑one marketing suite that combines SEO with PPC, content, social, local, and reporting for multi‑channel teams.
Typical cost comparison
Scenario: 1 user on each entry plan, billed monthly
Ahrefs
$29 per month
Semrush
$129.95 per month
Ahrefs saves you $100.95 per month in this scenario.
Key differences
| Category | Ahrefs | Semrush | Why? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Backlink Data Quality | Ahrefs is widely regarded for deep and frequently updated backlink data and link analysis workflows, while Semrush is strong but less specialized here. | ||
| Ease of Use | Ahrefs’ narrower scope typically makes onboarding and day‑to‑day SEO tasks simpler, whereas Semrush’s broader suite can feel heavier for solo users. | ||
| Feature Depth | Semrush spans multiple toolkits across SEO, PPC/Advertising, Content, Social, Local, and market intelligence, whereas Ahrefs focuses mainly on SEO with newer AI and brand‑visibility features. | ||
| Integrations | Semrush provides broader third‑party integrations and an app marketplace for extended use cases, while Ahrefs’ newer integration options are more limited. | ||
| Pricing | Ahrefs offers a lower‑cost entry tier plus a free Webmaster Tools plan, while Semrush’s entry plan and common add‑ons generally cost more. |
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