At a glance
| Ahrefs | Semrush | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Freemium | Freemium |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Starting price | $29/month | $139/month |
| Category | Marketing | Marketing |
| Best for | Freelance SEOs and consultants researching keywords and backlinks for clients | SEO specialists researching keywords and tracking rankings |
Prices come from each official site and can change. Check the official pricing pages before subscribing.
Key features
Ahrefs
- Site Explorer for backlink, organic traffic and competitor analysis
- Keywords Explorer with search intent, clusters and AI suggestions
- Site Audit crawler with always-on technical SEO auditing
- Rank Tracker for monitoring keyword positions
- Brand Radar to track brand mentions in AI search prompts
- API and MCP server access on Lite and higher plans
- Report Builder, Web Analytics and Looker Studio integration (Advanced)
Semrush
- Keyword research and competitor traffic analysis
- Position Tracking for daily keyword rankings, including mobile data
- Site Audit for technical SEO issues
- Backlink analysis and digital PR tools
- AI visibility tracking across ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Google
- Brand sentiment monitoring in AI answers
- Semrush MCP and API access for AI assistants and integrations
Pros
Ahrefs
- Large proprietary web index and over 10 years of historical data
- Covers keyword research, backlinks, audits, rank tracking and AI visibility in one tool
- Ahrefs Free gives verified site owners limited Site Explorer and Site Audit access
- API and MCP access included from the Lite plan
Semrush
- Covers keyword research, rank tracking, audits and backlinks in one platform
- AI search visibility tracking is built into its SEO plans
- Free plan with 10 reports per day and no credit card
- Annual billing saves up to 17%
Cons
Ahrefs
- Expensive for small users: core plans start at $129/month with one user
- No free trials or discounts, and refunds are generally not issued
- Lower tiers have tight limits, such as 750 tracked keywords and 6 months of history on Lite
- Content Kit, Brand Radar AI and Traffic Analytics are paid add-ons
Semrush
- Paid plans start at $139/month, expensive for freelancers and hobbyists
- Free plan is limited to one demo project and 10 reports per day
- Additional users cost extra, starting at $45/month
- The breadth of tools brings a real learning curve
Which one should you choose?
Choose Ahrefs if you need
- Freelance SEOs and consultants researching keywords and backlinks for clients
- In-house marketing teams tracking rankings and competitor content
- Website owners auditing their own sites with the free plan
- Agencies building client reports and monitoring multiple projects
Choose Semrush if you need
- SEO specialists researching keywords and tracking rankings
- Agencies auditing client sites and building reports
- Marketers benchmarking competitors' organic traffic and backlinks
- Brands monitoring how AI assistants mention and describe them
Ahrefs vs Semrush: FAQ
Is Ahrefs better than Semrush?
Neither is better for everyone. Ahrefs: We help marketers drive visibility across AI search, SEO, content, and social – with the largest AI and search databases online. Semrush: All-in-one marketing platform for SEO, content, competitor research, and online visibility. Pick Ahrefs for freelance SEOs and consultants researching keywords and backlinks for clients, and Semrush for sEO specialists researching keywords and tracking rankings.
Which is cheaper, Ahrefs or Semrush?
Ahrefs's paid plans start at $29/month, compared with $139/month for Semrush, based on each official pricing page at the last update. Limits differ between plans, so compare what each tier includes.
Do Ahrefs and Semrush have free plans?
Yes, both offer free access with usage limits. Paid plans raise those limits and add features.