Tool Comparison
Ahrefs vs Semrush
- Paid from
- $29/mo
- Free plan
- Yes
- Platforms
- Web, API
Best if
- You want the cheaper way in: plans start at $29/mo instead of $139/mo
- Delayed quotes won't cut it; you need real-time data
- Paid from
- $139/mo
- Free plan
- Yes
- Platforms
- Web, Mobile, API
Best if
- You do a lot of your research from your phone
- You want sheets / excel add-ins and blogs.
Pick Ahrefs if
Ahrefs
Free • From $29/mo · Web · API
- You want the cheaper way in: plans start at $29/mo instead of $139/mo
- Delayed quotes won't cut it; you need real-time data
Pick Semrush if
Semrush
Free • From $139/mo · Web · Mobile · API
- You do a lot of your research from your phone
- You want sheets / excel add-ins and blogs.
Skip both if: Neither one clicks with how you research; there are strong third options.
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Our take
The bottom line
Ahrefs and Semrush cover a lot of the same ground (2 shared categories, app & website traffic and APIs & data feeds), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. On paper they're closely matched, so let pricing, platform fit, and the details below break the tie.
What readers say
Ahrefs
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Semrush
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Key differences at a glance
- Cheaper paid plan
- Ahrefs$29/mo vs $139/mo
- Free trial
- Semrush7 days
- Mobile app
- Semrush
- Real-time data
- Ahrefs
- Free plan
- Both
What Ahrefs does best
- Use Site Explorer to inspect estimated organic and paid traffic, top pages, search visibility, and backlinks.
- Compare traffic estimates for many domains with Website Traffic Checker and bulk checks.
- Use Keywords Explorer, Content Explorer, Rank Tracker, and Site Audit to follow demand and visibility changes.
- Verified sites get limited Site Explorer, Site Audit, and Web Analytics access through the free Webmaster Tools plan.
- Web Analytics provides first-party data for sites you own or verify.
What Semrush does best
- Analysis of website traffic, visitor sources, engagement, keywords, competitors, backlinks, SEO performance, paid search, and market benchmarks.
- Semrush One and AI visibility products to monitor brand and content visibility across AI search and classic SEO workflows.
- The Standard API for eligible SEO Toolkit Business users, with separately purchased API units and request or line-based consumption.
- Separate API paths for Trends, Listing Management, and Map Rank Tracker, noting that local APIs and map rank APIs have their own access and billing rules.
- Export support for data and reports through CSV, Excel, PDF, JSON, Google Sheets, Position Tracking, Site Audit, and App Center connector workflows.
Side by side
Pricing comparison
See for yourself
Side by side
Price, platforms, data, and market coverage.ShowHide
Side by side
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & plans | ||
Starting price | Free • From $29/mo | Free • From $139/mo |
Free tier | Yes | Yes |
Free trial | — | 7 days |
Plan limits | 59 limits: Ahrefs Free: verified websites: Unlimited, Ahrefs Free: web analytics events per project per month: 1,000,000 +57 more | 8 limits: SEO: websites: 5, SEO: tracked keywords daily: 500 +6 more |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | No | Yes |
API access | Yes | Yes |
Integrations | Google Search Console, Google Looker Studio +1 more | Google Analytics, Google Search Console +1 more |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | — | — |
Categories covered | 2 | 4 |
Regions | — | North America, Europe, APAC, LatAm, Middle East, Africa |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | Latency: Real-time | — |
Security | — | Data residency: US and SSO: SAML |
| Try it | Visit Ahrefs | Visit Semrush |
Standout features
The best features of Ahrefs and Semrush.ShowHide
Standout features
What Ahrefs does best
- Use Site Explorer to inspect estimated organic and paid traffic, top pages, search visibility, and backlinks.
- Compare traffic estimates for many domains with Website Traffic Checker and bulk checks.
- Use Keywords Explorer, Content Explorer, Rank Tracker, and Site Audit to follow demand and visibility changes.
- Verified sites get limited Site Explorer, Site Audit, and Web Analytics access through the free Webmaster Tools plan.
- Web Analytics provides first-party data for sites you own or verify.
What Semrush does best
- Analysis of website traffic, visitor sources, engagement, keywords, competitors, backlinks, SEO performance, paid search, and market benchmarks.
- Semrush One and AI visibility products to monitor brand and content visibility across AI search and classic SEO workflows.
- The Standard API for eligible SEO Toolkit Business users, with separately purchased API units and request or line-based consumption.
- Separate API paths for Trends, Listing Management, and Map Rank Tracker, noting that local APIs and map rank APIs have their own access and billing rules.
- Export support for data and reports through CSV, Excel, PDF, JSON, Google Sheets, Position Tracking, Site Audit, and App Center connector workflows.
All details
Every attribute we track for Ahrefs and Semrush.ShowHide
All details
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | Other | Other |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Regions | Not specified | North AmericaEuropeAPACLatAmMiddle EastAfrica |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | Real-time | Not specified |
| Access & integrations | ||
API protocols | REST | REST |
API auth & delivery | Auth: APIKey60 req/minDocs | Auth: APIKey and OAuth2 |
Integrations | Google Search ConsoleGoogle Looker StudioGoogle Sheets | Google AnalyticsGoogle Search ConsoleGoogle Sheets |
Export formats | CSVPDF | CSVExcelPDFJSON |
| Plans & trust | ||
Security & compliance | Not specified | Data residency: USSSO: SAML |
Vendor & support | Ahrefs Pte. Ltd.Country: SingaporeSupport: Email and Chat | Semrush Inc.Country: United StatesSupport: Email |
Curation ratings | Not specified | Methodology 4/5Reliability 4/5UX 4/5 |
Green tags are exclusive to that tool in this comparison.
Pricing
Plans, billing, free trials, and monthly prices.ShowHide
Pricing
| Tier | ||
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Free“Ahrefs Free”verified websites: Unlimited · web analytics events per project per month: 1,000,000 · +4 more | Free |
| Entry paid plan | $29/mo“Starter”credits per month: 200 · unverified projects: 1 · +5 more | $139/mo“SEO”websites: 5 · tracked keywords daily: 500 |
| Tier 2 | $129/mo“Lite”projects: 5 · historical data: 6 months · +10 more | $199/mo“Starter”websites: 5 · tracked keywords daily: 500 · +1 more |
| Tier 3 | $249/mo“Standard”projects: 20 · historical data: 2 years · +10 more | $299/mo“Pro+”websites: 15 · tracked keywords daily: 1,500 · +1 more |
| Tier 4 | $449/mo“Advanced”projects: 50 · historical data: 5 years · +10 more | $549/mo“Advanced” |
| Top plan | $1499/mo“Enterprise”included users: From 3 · additional users max: Unlimited · +8 more | — |
| Custom / enterprise | — | Contact sales“Enterprise” |
| Free trial | — | 7 days |
Alternatives
Free alternatives
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between Ahrefs and Semrush?
Ahrefs leans toward app & website traffic and APIs & data feeds, while Semrush puts more weight on app & website traffic, APIs & data feeds, and sheets / excel add-ins. They overlap in 2 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do Ahrefs and Semrush cost?
Good news: both Ahrefs and Semrush have free plans, so you can run them side by side and only pay if you hit a wall.
Can I use Ahrefs or Semrush on my phone?
Semrush lists a dedicated mobile app, so it travels better. Ahrefs doesn't list a dedicated mobile app; its documented access is web and API.
Do Ahrefs and Semrush have APIs?
Yes, both offer API access, so developers and quants can pull data programmatically or wire up their own integrations.
Should I choose Ahrefs or Semrush?
It depends on what you're after. Pick Ahrefs if you prefer its overall approach; go with Semrush if you'd rather have sheets / excel add-ins and blogs. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
Does Ahrefs or Semrush have real-time data?
Ahrefs offers real-time data, which matters if you trade actively. Semrush runs on delayed or end-of-day data, which is perfectly fine for longer-term investors who don't live and die by the tick.
Can I export data from Ahrefs and Semrush?
Yes, both export to spreadsheets (CSV), which is handy if you like running your own numbers.
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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.