Ahrefs adds App & Website Traffic coverage that SEC EDGAR — Company Filings (Full‑Text Search & Search Filings) skips.
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ FINANCIAL TOOLS & SERVICES DIRECTORY ★
PRICE: 5 CENTS
Sunday, October 19, 2025
Head-to-head
Ahrefs vs SEC EDGAR — Company Filings (Full‑Text Search & Search Filings) comparison
Compare pricing, supported platforms, categories, and standout capabilities to decide which tool fits your workflow.
Quick takeaways
SEC EDGAR — Company Filings (Full‑Text Search & Search Filings) includes Regulatory Filings Monitoring, IPO, Secondary Offerings, Insider Data, 13F, 13D/13G, News, Alerts, Data APIs, and Education 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..
SEC EDGAR — Company Filings (Full‑Text Search & Search Filings) is known for: Full‑Text Search (since 2001) with fielded filters: word/phrase, company/ticker/CIK/person, filing category/types, filed date ranges, ‘principal executive offices in’ and ‘incorporated in’., ‘Latest Filings’ list shows filings as they are submitted (with RSS for any filter; ownership Forms 3/4/5 can be included/excluded/only)., and Company Search with ‘more search options’, plus dedicated searches for Mutual Funds (prospectuses/proxy voting) and Variable Insurance Products..
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.
Categories
Platforms
Pricing
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).
Community votes (overall)
SEC EDGAR — Company Filings (Full‑Text Search & Search Filings)
sec.gov
Primary U.S. source for public company, fund, and insider filings. The Full‑Text Search covers filings since 2001 (including exhibits), while the ‘Latest Filings’ view shows near‑real‑time submissions as they are processed. Search tools include Company search, Mutual Fund & Variable Insurance product search, CIK lookup, and RSS subscriptions. Developers can consume JSON via data.sec.gov (Submissions, XBRL Company Facts/Concepts/Frames). Programmatic access must include a descriptive User‑Agent and respect the SEC fair‑access limit (currently 10 requests/sec).
Categories
Platforms
Pricing
Quick highlights
- Full‑Text Search (since 2001) with fielded filters: word/phrase, company/ticker/CIK/person, filing category/types, filed date ranges, ‘principal executive offices in’ and ‘incorporated in’.
- ‘Latest Filings’ list shows filings as they are submitted (with RSS for any filter; ownership Forms 3/4/5 can be included/excluded/only).
- Company Search with ‘more search options’, plus dedicated searches for Mutual Funds (prospectuses/proxy voting) and Variable Insurance Products.
- CIK Lookup & helper datasets (company_tickers*.json) to map tickers↔CIK (company/fund/series/class).
- Developer APIs on data.sec.gov: submissions by CIK; XBRL endpoints (companyfacts, companyconcept, frames); bulk nightly ZIPs (submissions.zip, companyfacts.zip).
Community votes (overall)
Shared focus areas
1 overlapBoth tools cover this research theme.
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.
SEC EDGAR — Company Filings (Full‑Text Search & Search Filings)
Distinct strengths include:
- Full‑Text Search (since 2001) with fielded filters: word/phrase, company/ticker/CIK/person, filing category/types, filed date ranges, ‘principal executive offices in’ and ‘incorporated in’.
- ‘Latest Filings’ list shows filings as they are submitted (with RSS for any filter; ownership Forms 3/4/5 can be included/excluded/only).
- Company Search with ‘more search options’, plus dedicated searches for Mutual Funds (prospectuses/proxy voting) and Variable Insurance Products.
- CIK Lookup & helper datasets (company_tickers*.json) to map tickers↔CIK (company/fund/series/class).
Feature-by-feature breakdown
Attribute | Ahrefs | SEC EDGAR — Company Filings (Full‑Text Search & Search Filings) |
---|---|---|
Categories Which research workflows each platform targets | Shared: APIs & SDKs Unique: App & Website Traffic | Shared: APIs & SDKs Unique: Regulatory Filings Monitoring, IPO, Secondary Offerings, Insider Data, 13F, 13D/13G, News, Alerts, Data APIs, Education |
Asset types Supported asset classes and universes | Other | Stocks, ETFs, Mutual Funds, Closed-End Funds, Bonds, Hedge Funds, Private Funds, Real Estate, Funds |
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
| Unique
|
Tested Verified by hands-on testing inside Find My Moat | Yes | Yes |
Editor pick Featured inside curated shortlists | Standard listing | Highlighted |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which workflows do Ahrefs and SEC EDGAR — Company Filings (Full‑Text Search & Search Filings) 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 SEC EDGAR — Company Filings (Full‑Text Search & Search Filings) require subscriptions?
Both Ahrefs and SEC EDGAR — Company Filings (Full‑Text Search & Search Filings) keep freemium access with optional paid upgrades, so you can trial each platform before committing.
How can you access Ahrefs and SEC EDGAR — Company Filings (Full‑Text Search & Search Filings)?
Both Ahrefs and SEC EDGAR — Company Filings (Full‑Text Search & Search Filings) 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 SEC EDGAR — Company Filings (Full‑Text Search & Search Filings) stands out for Full‑Text Search (since 2001) with fielded filters: word/phrase, company/ticker/CIK/person, filing category/types, filed date ranges, ‘principal executive offices in’ and ‘incorporated in’., ‘Latest Filings’ list shows filings as they are submitted (with RSS for any filter; ownership Forms 3/4/5 can be included/excluded/only)., and Company Search with ‘more search options’, plus dedicated searches for Mutual Funds (prospectuses/proxy voting) and Variable Insurance Products..
Keep exploring
Stay on top of related tools
Browse the categories and profiles that overlap most with this comparison to round out your shortlist.
Related categories
Follow the same themes these tools compete in.
Recommended tools
These profiles share overlapping coverage with both sides of this matchup.
- SEC API (sec-api.io)Editor's pickHands-on review
Overlap: Data APIs, Regulatory Filings Monitoring, and Insider Data.
Data APIsRegulatory Filings MonitoringInsider Data - Unusual WhalesEditor's pickHands-on review
Overlap: Alerts, News, and Insider Data.
AlertsNewsInsider Data - Financial Modeling Prep (FMP)Editor's pickHands-on review
Overlap: Data APIs, 13F, and Insider Data.
Data APIs13FInsider Data - GuruFocusEditor's pickHands-on review
Overlap: News, Alerts, and Insider Data.
NewsAlertsInsider Data - Alpha VantageHands-on review
Overlap: Data APIs, News, and IPO.
Data APIsNewsIPO - YChartsHands-on review
Overlap: News, Alerts, and Data APIs.
NewsAlertsData APIs
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.