VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ FINANCIAL TOOLS & SERVICES DIRECTORY ★

PRICE: 5 CENTS

Sunday, October 5, 2025

View AhrefsView ECB Data PortalBack to Home

Head-to-head

Ahrefs vs ECB Data Portal comparison

Compare pricing, supported platforms, categories, and standout capabilities to decide which tool fits your workflow.

Quick takeaways

Ahrefs adds App & Website Traffic coverage that ECB Data Portal skips.

ECB Data Portal includes Data APIs, Central Bank Watcher, Inflation Rates, Interest Rates, GDP, Unemployment Rates, Yield Curves, Real Yields, and Data Visualizations categories that Ahrefs omits.

Ahrefs highlights: Comprehensive toolkit: Site Explorer, Keywords Explorer, Site Audit, Rank Tracker, Content Explorer, and Web Analytics., Ahrefs Webmaster Tools (free) provides a lighter version of Site Explorer and Site Audit, plus Web Analytics for verified sites., and Looker Studio connectors available for Site Explorer, Rank Tracker, and Site Audit — reserved for Advanced and above..

ECB Data Portal is known for: Open SDMX 2.1 REST API with discovery & retrieval modes; single entry point at data-api.ecb.europa.eu/service/ and rich query parameters (e.g., startPeriod/endPeriod, updatedAfter, includeHistory, detail, firstNObservations/lastNObservations)., Format flexibility via content negotiation and the `format` query param: SDMX‑JSON, CSV, and SDMX‑ML (structure‑specific and generic)., and Interactive portal with export of data (CSV, XLS long/wide, SDMX) and export of visuals (PNG, PDF, PowerPoint)..

Ahrefs logo

Ahrefs

ahrefs.com

A leading SEO and web-traffic intelligence suite. The free Ahrefs Webmaster Tools unlocks limited access to Site Explorer, Site Audit, and Web Analytics for verified sites, while full platform plans expand into deep backlink, keyword, and content analysis. Higher-tier subscriptions govern credits, export limits, historical data windows, and API access.

Platforms

Web
API

Pricing

Free
Subscription

Quick highlights

  • Comprehensive toolkit: Site Explorer, Keywords Explorer, Site Audit, Rank Tracker, Content Explorer, and Web Analytics.
  • Ahrefs Webmaster Tools (free) provides a lighter version of Site Explorer and Site Audit, plus Web Analytics for verified sites.
  • Looker Studio connectors available for Site Explorer, Rank Tracker, and Site Audit — reserved for Advanced and above.
  • Automated email alerts for new or lost backlinks, keyword changes, and web mentions, with flexible delivery options.
  • API v3 is included with Enterprise plans (with limited test queries available to all users).

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ECB Data Portal logo

ECB Data Portal

data.ecb.europa.eu

Official ECB gateway for euro‑area statistics with an open SDMX 2.1 REST API. The new endpoint is https://data-api.ecb.europa.eu/service/ (replacing the legacy SDW path). Content negotiation supports SDMX‑JSON, CSV, and SDMX‑ML. Charts and tables can be downloaded as CSV/XLS (long & wide), and charts as PNG/PDF/PPT. Typical update cadence is daily to monthly (e.g., reference FX rates around 16:00 CET on working days). ECB advises migrating from the old SDW URL as automatic redirects are planned to end on 1 Oct 2025.

Platforms

Web
API

Pricing

Free

Quick highlights

  • Open SDMX 2.1 REST API with discovery & retrieval modes; single entry point at data-api.ecb.europa.eu/service/ and rich query parameters (e.g., startPeriod/endPeriod, updatedAfter, includeHistory, detail, firstNObservations/lastNObservations).
  • Format flexibility via content negotiation and the `format` query param: SDMX‑JSON, CSV, and SDMX‑ML (structure‑specific and generic).
  • Interactive portal with export of data (CSV, XLS long/wide, SDMX) and export of visuals (PNG, PDF, PowerPoint).
  • Comprehensive euro‑area macro & markets coverage: HICP inflation, key & market interest rates, exchange rates (reference rates), GDP and labor indicators, plus euro‑area yield curves (spot/forward/par).
  • Revisions/deltas supported (`updatedAfter`) and conditional GET via `If‑Modified‑Since` for efficient sync.

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Overlap

Shared focus areas

1 overlap

Both tools cover this research theme.

Where they differ

Ahrefs

Distinct strengths include:

App & Website Traffic
  • Comprehensive toolkit: Site Explorer, Keywords Explorer, Site Audit, Rank Tracker, Content Explorer, and Web Analytics.
  • Ahrefs Webmaster Tools (free) provides a lighter version of Site Explorer and Site Audit, plus Web Analytics for verified sites.
  • Looker Studio connectors available for Site Explorer, Rank Tracker, and Site Audit — reserved for Advanced and above.
  • Automated email alerts for new or lost backlinks, keyword changes, and web mentions, with flexible delivery options.

ECB Data Portal

Distinct strengths include:

Data APIs
Central Bank Watcher
Inflation Rates
Interest Rates
GDP
Unemployment Rates
Yield Curves
Real Yields
  • Open SDMX 2.1 REST API with discovery & retrieval modes; single entry point at data-api.ecb.europa.eu/service/ and rich query parameters (e.g., startPeriod/endPeriod, updatedAfter, includeHistory, detail, firstNObservations/lastNObservations).
  • Format flexibility via content negotiation and the `format` query param: SDMX‑JSON, CSV, and SDMX‑ML (structure‑specific and generic).
  • Interactive portal with export of data (CSV, XLS long/wide, SDMX) and export of visuals (PNG, PDF, PowerPoint).
  • Comprehensive euro‑area macro & markets coverage: HICP inflation, key & market interest rates, exchange rates (reference rates), GDP and labor indicators, plus euro‑area yield curves (spot/forward/par).

Feature-by-feature breakdown

AttributeAhrefsECB Data Portal
Categories

Which research workflows each platform targets

Shared: APIs & SDKs

Unique: App & Website Traffic

Shared: APIs & SDKs

Unique: Data APIs, Central Bank Watcher, Inflation Rates, Interest Rates, GDP, Unemployment Rates, Yield Curves, Real Yields, Data Visualizations

Asset types

Supported asset classes and universes

Other

Bonds, Currencies, Other

Experience levels

Who each product is built for

Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

Platforms

Where you can access the product

Web, API

Web, API

Pricing

High-level pricing models

Free, Subscription

Free

Key features

Core capabilities called out by each vendor

Unique

  • Comprehensive toolkit: Site Explorer, Keywords Explorer, Site Audit, Rank Tracker, Content Explorer, and Web Analytics.
  • Ahrefs Webmaster Tools (free) provides a lighter version of Site Explorer and Site Audit, plus Web Analytics for verified sites.
  • Looker Studio connectors available for Site Explorer, Rank Tracker, and Site Audit — reserved for Advanced and above.
  • Automated email alerts for new or lost backlinks, keyword changes, and web mentions, with flexible delivery options.
  • API v3 is included with Enterprise plans (with limited test queries available to all users).
  • Enterprise also adds SSO, two-factor authentication, and higher data allowances.

Unique

  • Open SDMX 2.1 REST API with discovery & retrieval modes; single entry point at data-api.ecb.europa.eu/service/ and rich query parameters (e.g., startPeriod/endPeriod, updatedAfter, includeHistory, detail, firstNObservations/lastNObservations).
  • Format flexibility via content negotiation and the `format` query param: SDMX‑JSON, CSV, and SDMX‑ML (structure‑specific and generic).
  • Interactive portal with export of data (CSV, XLS long/wide, SDMX) and export of visuals (PNG, PDF, PowerPoint).
  • Comprehensive euro‑area macro & markets coverage: HICP inflation, key & market interest rates, exchange rates (reference rates), GDP and labor indicators, plus euro‑area yield curves (spot/forward/par).
  • Revisions/deltas supported (`updatedAfter`) and conditional GET via `If‑Modified‑Since` for efficient sync.
  • Yield curve datasets include AAA euro‑area government curves with daily business‑week frequency; additional capital‑market series include real benchmark bond yields.
Tested

Verified by hands-on testing inside Find My Moat

Not yet

Not yet

Editor pick

Featured inside curated shortlists

Standard listing

Standard listing

Frequently Asked Questions

Which workflows do Ahrefs and ECB Data Portal both support?

Both platforms cover APIs & SDKs workflows, so you can research those use cases in either tool before digging into the feature differences below.

Do Ahrefs and ECB Data Portal require subscriptions?

Both Ahrefs and ECB Data Portal keep freemium access with optional paid upgrades, so you can trial each platform before committing.

How can you access Ahrefs and ECB Data Portal?

Both Ahrefs and ECB Data Portal prioritize web or desktop access. Investors wanting a mobile-first workflow may need to rely on responsive web views.

What unique strengths set the two platforms apart?

Ahrefs differentiates itself with Comprehensive toolkit: Site Explorer, Keywords Explorer, Site Audit, Rank Tracker, Content Explorer, and Web Analytics., Ahrefs Webmaster Tools (free) provides a lighter version of Site Explorer and Site Audit, plus Web Analytics for verified sites., and Looker Studio connectors available for Site Explorer, Rank Tracker, and Site Audit — reserved for Advanced and above., whereas ECB Data Portal stands out for Open SDMX 2.1 REST API with discovery & retrieval modes; single entry point at data-api.ecb.europa.eu/service/ and rich query parameters (e.g., startPeriod/endPeriod, updatedAfter, includeHistory, detail, firstNObservations/lastNObservations)., Format flexibility via content negotiation and the `format` query param: SDMX‑JSON, CSV, and SDMX‑ML (structure‑specific and generic)., and Interactive portal with export of data (CSV, XLS long/wide, SDMX) and export of visuals (PNG, PDF, PowerPoint)..

Keep exploring

Stay on top of related tools

Browse the categories and profiles that overlap most with this comparison to round out your shortlist.

Recommended tools

These profiles share overlapping coverage with both sides of this matchup.

Curation & Accuracy

This directory blends AI‑assisted discovery with human curation. Entries are reviewed, edited, and organized with the goal of expanding coverage and sharpening quality over time. Your feedback helps steer improvements (because no single human can capture everything all at once).

Details change. Pricing, features, and availability may be incomplete or out of date. Treat listings as a starting point and verify on the provider’s site before making decisions. If you spot an error or a gap, send a quick note and I’ll adjust.