VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ FINANCIAL TOOLS & SERVICES DIRECTORY ★

PRICE: 5 CENTS

Saturday, September 27, 2025

Investors comparing Ahrefs and marketstack will find that Both Ahrefs and marketstack concentrate on APIs & SDKs workflows, making them natural alternatives for similar investment research jobs. Ahrefs leans into App & Website Traffic, which can be decisive for teams that need depth over breadth. marketstack stands out with Data APIs, Dividends, and Splits that the competition lacks. Use the feature-by-feature table to inspect unique capabilities and confirm which roadmap best maps to your process.

Head-to-head

Ahrefs vs marketstack

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

Quick takeaways

  • Ahrefs adds App & Website Traffic coverage that marketstack skips.
  • marketstack includes Data APIs, Dividends, Splits, ETF Holdings, Interest Rates, Analyst Recommendations, and Analyst Price Targets 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..
  • marketstack is known for: RESTful JSON API with secure API key access, HTTPS transport, and a 5 requests/sec global limit., End-of-day data with 15+ years of history across 500,000+ tickers, including MIC-level filtering and adjusted fields (open, close, volume)., and Intraday data for U.S. markets via IEX, with intervals from 1–60 minutes. Real-time reference prices are derived from IEX feeds; some fields require separate entitlements..
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).
marketstack logo

marketstack

marketstack.com

A global market data API with free and paid tiers. End-of-day coverage spans 15+ years and 500k+ tickers, while intraday and real-time access are unlocked on higher plans. Rate limits apply: 5 requests per second globally, with some endpoints (like ETF holdings) counting as multiple calls. Premium tiers add features like SEC/EDGAR filings, analyst ratings, and bond/index data. Data is sourced from Tiingo for U.S. markets, and uptime is tracked on a public status page.

Platforms

Web
API

Pricing

Free
Subscription

Quick highlights

  • RESTful JSON API with secure API key access, HTTPS transport, and a 5 requests/sec global limit.
  • End-of-day data with 15+ years of history across 500,000+ tickers, including MIC-level filtering and adjusted fields (open, close, volume).
  • Intraday data for U.S. markets via IEX, with intervals from 1–60 minutes. Real-time reference prices are derived from IEX feeds; some fields require separate entitlements.
  • Professional and higher tiers include real-time stock prices with minute-level updates (1 API call per minute rate cap).
  • Corporate actions endpoints for dividends and stock splits.

Shared focus areas

Both platforms align on these research themes, so you can stay within one workflow when your use case involves them.

Where they differ

Ahrefs

Distinct strengths include:

  • 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.

marketstack

Distinct strengths include:

  • RESTful JSON API with secure API key access, HTTPS transport, and a 5 requests/sec global limit.
  • End-of-day data with 15+ years of history across 500,000+ tickers, including MIC-level filtering and adjusted fields (open, close, volume).
  • Intraday data for U.S. markets via IEX, with intervals from 1–60 minutes. Real-time reference prices are derived from IEX feeds; some fields require separate entitlements.
  • Professional and higher tiers include real-time stock prices with minute-level updates (1 API call per minute rate cap).

Feature-by-feature breakdown

AttributeAhrefsmarketstack
Categories

Which research workflows each platform targets

Shared: APIs & SDKs

Unique: App & Website Traffic

Shared: APIs & SDKs

Unique: Data APIs, Dividends, Splits, ETF Holdings, Interest Rates, Analyst Recommendations, Analyst Price Targets

Asset types

Supported asset classes and universes

Other

Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, Commodities

Experience levels

Who each product is built for

Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

Intermediate, Advanced

Platforms

Where you can access the product

Web, API

Web, API

Pricing

High-level pricing models

Free, Subscription

Free, Subscription

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

  • RESTful JSON API with secure API key access, HTTPS transport, and a 5 requests/sec global limit.
  • End-of-day data with 15+ years of history across 500,000+ tickers, including MIC-level filtering and adjusted fields (open, close, volume).
  • Intraday data for U.S. markets via IEX, with intervals from 1–60 minutes. Real-time reference prices are derived from IEX feeds; some fields require separate entitlements.
  • Professional and higher tiers include real-time stock prices with minute-level updates (1 API call per minute rate cap).
  • Corporate actions endpoints for dividends and stock splits.
  • ETF holdings data (Basic+ plans and above) with identifiers like ISIN and CUSIP; each request consumes 20 API calls.
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 marketstack 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 marketstack require subscriptions?

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

How can you access Ahrefs and marketstack?

Both Ahrefs and marketstack 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 marketstack stands out for RESTful JSON API with secure API key access, HTTPS transport, and a 5 requests/sec global limit., End-of-day data with 15+ years of history across 500,000+ tickers, including MIC-level filtering and adjusted fields (open, close, volume)., and Intraday data for U.S. markets via IEX, with intervals from 1–60 minutes. Real-time reference prices are derived from IEX feeds; some fields require separate entitlements..

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.