The best Ahrefs alternatives in 2026 are 1. Semrush 2. SE Ranking 3. Serpstat 4. Mangools 5. Moz Pro. Semrush is the most complete alternative with the widest toolkit, SE Ranking is the best value all-in-one at $103.20/mo with the category-high rating, and Serpstat is the best budget pick with a free tier.
TL;DR
- Most complete alternative: Semrush, the largest database and widest toolkit, with monthly trials Ahrefs does not offer, at $139.95/mo.
- Best value: SE Ranking, a full all-in-one at $103.20/mo with a 14-day free trial and the category-high 4.8 rating.
- Best budget: Serpstat, a complete suite at $69/mo with a usable free tier.
- Easiest to use: Mangools, the cleanest interface in SEO at $49/mo with a free trial.
- Best for beginners: Moz Pro, the Domain Authority metric and a 30-day trial, at $99/mo.
Ahrefs runs the deepest, freshest backlink index in SEO, and its data accuracy is the benchmark. People still leave, and the reasons repeat: there is no traditional free trial, the cheaper plans run on credit-based limits that bite heavy users, the Starter plan is capped, and the real plans start at $129/mo Lite. We ran the 5 strongest alternatives through the same SEO workflow behind our platform testing and ranked them by who they actually fit.
Ahrefs vs the alternatives: pricing, ratings and best-for at a glance
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free trial | External rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
The deepest backlink index in SEO, the tool most readers here are replacing | $29/mo (Starter) | No free trial (free Webmaster Tools) | G2 4.5/5 (699 reviews) | |
Most complete alternative, the widest toolkit in SEO | $139.95/mo | 7-day free trial (Pro and Guru) | G2 4.5/5 (3,383 reviews) | |
Best value, a full all-in-one with a free trial | $103.20/mo | 14-day free trial, no card | G2 4.8/5 (1,554 reviews) | |
Best budget all-in-one, with a free tier | $69/mo | Free plan with daily limits | G2 4.6/5 (464 reviews) | |
Easiest to use, the cleanest interface in SEO | $49/mo | 10-day free trial | G2 4.7/5 (97 reviews) | |
Best for beginners, the Domain Authority metric | $99/mo | 30-day free trial | G2 4.3/5 (608 reviews) |
How we tested these alternatives
These rankings come from the same hands-on testing behind our best SEO tools guide, where we ran each platform through keyword research, rank tracking, site audits, and backlink analysis on the same set of live domains. Because teams leave Ahrefs over the missing trial, credit limits, and price steps, we weighted trial availability, predictable limits, and value, then judged how close each gets to Ahrefs on backlink depth. Pricing was verified on each vendor pricing page on June 6, 2026, the same pass that confirmed every G2 rating cited here.
Read the full TopickZ testing methodology, the seven scoring criteria, weights, and the data we collect for every tool.
The best Ahrefs alternatives, reviewed
Semrush
Most complete alternative, the widest toolkit in SEOWhat's great
- The largest keyword database and the widest toolkit in SEO, far beyond Ahrefs on PPC, content, and social
- A 7-day free trial, where Ahrefs offers none for its paid plans
- 3,383 G2 reviews, the largest track record in the category
Watch-outs
- Backlink index, while strong, is not quite as deep or fresh as Ahrefs'
- At $139.95/mo Pro it is the priciest entry here, and limits push you toward Guru
Semrush is the move when leaving Ahrefs means you want more than backlinks. It is the most complete platform in SEO, with the largest keyword database and a toolkit that spans PPC, content, and social, and it offers a 7-day trial where Ahrefs offers none. The honest gap is the one thing Ahrefs does best: Semrush’s backlink index is strong but not quite as deep or fresh. At $139.95/mo Pro it is also the priciest entry here. For a team that wants the broadest toolkit and a trial to test it first, Semrush is the most complete alternative. We put the two giants head-to-head in our Ahrefs vs Semrush comparison .
Pricing breakdown
| Plan | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Pro | $139.95/mo | Freelancers + startups, 5 projects |
| Guru | $249.95/mo | SMBs + agencies, content toolkit + historical data |
| Business | $499.95/mo | Large agencies, API + extended limits |
SE Ranking
Best value, a full all-in-one with a free trialWhat's great
- A complete all-in-one (keywords, rank tracking, audit, backlinks) with predictable limits, not Ahrefs' credit model
- A 14-day free trial with no card, the thing Ahrefs makes you pay to get
- Highest rating in the category at 4.8/5 across 1,554 G2 reviews
Watch-outs
- Backlink index is improved but still trails Ahrefs for deep link analysis
- At $103.20/mo it costs more than Ahrefs' $29 Starter, though it does far more at that price
SE Ranking is the value pick for an Ahrefs user who wants a full all-in-one without the credit-based limits and the missing trial. It covers keyword research, rank tracking, site audit, and backlinks with predictable usage limits, a 14-day free trial with no card, and the highest rating in the category at 4.8/5. The honest trade is the link index: SE Ranking has improved but still trails Ahrefs for deep backlink work, and at $103.20/mo it costs more than Ahrefs’ $29 Starter, though it does much more for the money. For a team that wants Ahrefs-style breadth with friendlier pricing and a real trial, this is the first tool to try. It tops our best SEO tools testing.
Pricing breakdown
| Plan | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Core | $129/mo ($103.20 annual) | Freelancers + small teams, full toolkit |
| Growth | $279/mo ($223.20 annual) | Agencies, more projects + white-label |
| Enterprise | Custom | High-volume agencies, custom limits |
Serpstat
Best budget all-in-one, with a free tierWhat's great
- A full SEO suite at $69/mo with a genuinely usable free tier, no credit-based limits
- Keyword research, rank tracking, audit, and backlinks in one cheaper interface
- Rated 4.6/5 on G2, with value the recurring theme
Watch-outs
- Backlink and keyword databases are smaller than Ahrefs'
- Adjacent tooling is lighter than the bigger platforms
Serpstat is the budget all-in-one for an Ahrefs user who balked at the price steps and the credit model. At $69/mo it is far below Ahrefs’ real plans, includes a free tier, and covers keyword research, rank tracking, site audit, and backlinks in one place. It is rated 4.6/5 on G2, with value the recurring praise. The trade is depth: Serpstat’s backlink and keyword databases are smaller than Ahrefs’, and the adjacent tools are lighter. For a freelancer or small team that wants a complete, affordable platform with a free option in reserve, Serpstat is the value choice. We break down its own rivals in our Serpstat alternatives guide.
Pricing breakdown
| Plan | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Lite | $69/mo ($55 annual) | Freelancers + small teams |
| Standard | $149/mo ($119 annual) | Agencies + in-house teams |
| Advanced | $249/mo | Higher limits + more projects |
Mangools
Easiest to use, the cleanest interface in SEOWhat's great
- The cleanest, most beginner-friendly interface in SEO, far simpler than Ahrefs
- Basic is $49/mo, dropping to $29.90 annually, with a 10-day free trial
- KWFinder is excellent for keyword research, rated 4.7/5 on G2
Watch-outs
- Backlink data (LinkMiner) is far lighter than Ahrefs' index
- Smaller databases overall, not built for agency-scale projects
Mangools is for the Ahrefs user who wanted simpler and cheaper, not deeper. It is the cleanest interface in SEO, KWFinder is a genuinely good keyword tool, and Basic is $49/mo, dropping to $29.90 annually, with a 10-day trial. It is rated 4.7/5 on G2. The honest gap is exactly Ahrefs’ strength: LinkMiner’s backlink data is far lighter than Ahrefs’ index, and the databases are smaller. For a solo SEO or small team that wants fast, pleasant, affordable research and does not live in backlink analysis, it is the easiest tool here to use.
Pricing breakdown
| Plan | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | $29/mo ($19.90 annual) | Beginners, light keyword research |
| Basic | $49/mo ($29.90 annual) | Freelancers, daily SEO work |
| Premium | $69/mo ($44.90 annual) | Small teams, higher limits |
| Agency | $129/mo ($89.90 annual) | Agencies, top limits |
Moz Pro
Best for beginners, the Domain Authority metricWhat's great
- Domain Authority is the original link-strength metric, the shorthand clients already know
- A 30-day free trial, the most generous here, where Ahrefs offers none
- Gentle learning curve and strong educational content for beginners
Watch-outs
- Lowest rating here at 4.3/5, with a smaller link index than Ahrefs
- Slower data refresh than Ahrefs, a common reviewer complaint
Moz Pro is the beginner-friendly pick, and there is a neat irony: Moz invented Domain Authority, the link-strength shorthand the whole industry still uses, even as Ahrefs surpassed it on raw link data. Moz pairs DA with the gentlest learning curve here and a 30-day trial, the most generous in the group, where Ahrefs offers none. The honest gaps show in the data: Moz carries the lowest rating at 4.3/5, a smaller link index than Ahrefs, and slower refresh. For a beginner or a brand that reports on DA and wants a long trial, Moz is the easy on-ramp. We cover its own rivals in our Moz alternatives guide.
Pricing breakdown
| Plan | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | $99/mo | Small businesses, core SEO + DA |
| Medium | $179/mo | Growing teams, more keywords |
| Large | $299/mo | Agencies, top limits + reporting |
Tools we considered but excluded
We evaluated more tools than the 8 you see above. These did not make the cut. Saying what we rejected, and why, is the editorial muscle most listicles skip.
- Majestic: A backlink-only tool, the closest in spirit to Ahrefs' core, but with no keyword research, rank tracking, or audit. It is a link specialist, not an all-in-one replacement.
- Screaming Frog SEO Spider: A technical crawler, not an all-in-one. It complements an SEO platform rather than replacing the keyword and backlink work Ahrefs is used for.
- Ubersuggest: Cheap with a free tier, but the backlink and keyword data are thinner and refresh less often. A budget step down, so it sits in honorable mentions.
Honorable mentions
Solid tools that did not crack the main list but are worth tracking, especially for niche use cases.
- Ubersuggest: The cheapest way to cover Ahrefs' basics, with a lifetime-license option and a free tier. The data is lighter, especially on backlinks, so it is a budget alternative not a like-for-like.
- Majestic: If backlinks are the only thing you used Ahrefs for, Majestic's Trust Flow and Citation Flow metrics and large link index are worth a look, at a lower price.
Why teams start shopping for an Ahrefs alternative
Ahrefs is not the tool you leave because it is weak. The backlink index is the deepest and freshest in SEO, and Site Explorer and Keywords Explorer set the accuracy benchmark the rest of the field is measured against.
The friction is the pricing model. There is no traditional free trial, the cheaper plans run on credits that heavy users burn through, the $29 Starter is capped, and the first real plan jumps to $129/mo Lite. For teams that want to test before paying or hate metered usage, that is enough to look around.
None of this makes Ahrefs a bad tool. It makes it the wrong fit for certain budgets and buying habits. Teams that leave usually want one of three things. The widest toolkit plus a trial, and they move to Semrush. A full all-in-one with friendly limits, and they move to SE Ranking. A budget platform with a free tier, and they move to Serpstat.
Picking your Ahrefs alternative by use case
The right replacement depends on why you are leaving. This is the matrix we hand the teams we test with.
| Your situation | Best alternative | Why it wins over Ahrefs |
|---|---|---|
| Want the widest toolkit + a trial | Semrush | Largest database, 7-day trial |
| Want a full all-in-one, friendly limits | SE Ranking | Predictable limits, 14-day trial, 4.8/5 |
| Tight budget, want a free tier | Serpstat | Full suite at $69/mo, free plan |
| Want simple and cheap | Mangools | Cleanest UI, $49/mo, 10-day trial |
| New to SEO, report on DA | Moz Pro | Domain Authority, 30-day trial |
For the full category, see our best SEO tools guide, where Ahrefs is tested head-to-head against all 8.
Switching off Ahrefs without losing your data
Export first. Pull your tracked keywords, projects, and any saved backlink reports out of Ahrefs, and every tool here imports the keyword and rank data.
The one real adjustment is the authority metric. You move from Domain Rating to Semrush’s Authority Score or Moz’s Domain Authority. The numbers are not identical, so re-baseline rather than expecting a one-to-one match, and update any reports that referenced DR.
Time the switch at the start of a reporting cycle, and take advantage of the trials Ahrefs never gave you, SE Ranking, Semrush, Mangools, and Moz all let you test before committing. Run the new tool in parallel for one cycle, then cut over clean.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Ahrefs alternative?
Semrush for the most complete toolkit and a free trial Ahrefs does not offer. SE Ranking for the best value, a full all-in-one at $103.20/mo with a 14-day trial and the category's highest rating. Serpstat if budget is the constraint, since it includes a free tier.
Why do teams switch away from Ahrefs?
Three reasons recur: there is no traditional free trial for the paid plans, the cheaper plans run on credit-based limits that heavy users hit fast, and the real plans start at $129/mo Lite after the capped $29 Starter. Ahrefs has the best backlink data in SEO; teams leave when the pricing model or the missing trial gets in the way.
Does any alternative match Ahrefs for backlinks?
Not exactly. Ahrefs runs the deepest, freshest backlink index in SEO, and that is its defining strength. Semrush comes closest among the all-in-ones, and Majestic is a strong backlink-only specialist. If link analysis is your only job, those two are the nearest; if you want a full platform, expect a small step down on link depth.
Is there an Ahrefs alternative with a free trial?
Yes. SE Ranking offers a 14-day free trial with no card, Mangools a 10-day trial, Semrush a 7-day trial, and Moz Pro a 30-day trial, the most generous. Serpstat goes further with a standing free tier. Ahrefs is the outlier in offering no paid-plan trial, only free Webmaster Tools for your own site.
How do I migrate off Ahrefs?
Export your tracked keywords, projects, and any saved backlink reports, then rebuild them in the new tool. The mental switch is the authority metric, from Ahrefs' Domain Rating to Semrush's Authority Score or Moz's Domain Authority. Budget an afternoon per project and run the new tool alongside Ahrefs for one reporting cycle before you cancel.