Ahrefs
The industry-standard SEO suite, best known for the largest live backlink index in the business.
Ahrefs is one of the two SEO suites almost every serious practitioner ends up choosing between. Its backlink index is widely considered the best available, and Site Explorer, Keywords Explorer, and Site Audit cover nearly every organic search workflow: competitor research, keyword discovery, content gap analysis, rank tracking, and technical audits.
The trade-off is cost. Credit-style usage limits on the cheaper plans frustrate heavy users, and the price climbs quickly as your needs grow. The free Ahrefs Webmaster Tools tier is a genuinely useful way to audit and monitor your own verified sites before paying.
Best for
Pros
- + Best-in-class backlink index and link intelligence
- + Fast, polished UI that experienced SEOs move quickly in
- + Keywords Explorer covers Google plus YouTube, Amazon, and Bing
- + Free Webmaster Tools tier for your own sites
Cons
- − Expensive, and usage credits sting on lower plans
- − No meaningful free trial
- − Rank tracker updates are slower than dedicated trackers
Ahrefs pricing
Full pricing breakdownThe Starter plan at $29/mo is heavily limited. Full plans run from $129/mo (Lite) to $449/mo (Advanced). Ahrefs Webmaster Tools is free for sites you own.
Starter
$29/mo
Limited daily credits, one project, core tools.
Lite
$129/mo
5 projects, 6 months of history, standard limits.
Standard
$249/mo
20 projects, 2 years of history, content gap and batch analysis.
Advanced
$449/mo
50 projects, 5 years of history, higher limits across the board.
Our take
If backlinks and competitor intelligence drive your work, Ahrefs is the safest money you can spend on SEO software. Smaller sites should start on Webmaster Tools plus the Starter plan and upgrade only when the limits actually hurt.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ahrefs free?
No. Ahrefs is a paid tool with plans starting at $29/mo.
How much does Ahrefs cost?
Paid plans start at $29/mo. The Starter plan at $29/mo is heavily limited. Full plans run from $129/mo (Lite) to $449/mo (Advanced). Ahrefs Webmaster Tools is free for sites you own.
What is Ahrefs used for?
The industry-standard SEO suite, best known for the largest live backlink index in the business. Common use cases include backlink analysis, competitor research, keyword research.
What are the best Ahrefs alternatives?
Popular Ahrefs alternatives include Semrush, Moz Pro, SE Ranking. The right pick depends on your budget and use case.
Compare Ahrefs
Ahrefs alternatives
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The best value all-in-one SEO platform: 90 percent of the big suites at half the price.