--- title: "Best Moz Alternatives in 2026: 5 SEO Platforms We Tested Against It" description: "Moz Pro is beginner-friendly and Domain Authority is everywhere, but a smaller index, slower data, and a 4.3 G2 rating push teams elsewhere. We tested the 5 strongest Moz alternatives. Semrush wins on depth, Ahrefs on backlinks, SE Ranking on value." date: 2026-06-06 lastmod: 2026-06-06 draft: false type: alternatives category: marketing category_label: Marketing author_name: Priya Mohan author_slug: priya-mohan author_initial: P last_tested: "May 25, 2026" last_pricing_verified: "June 6, 2026" tools_tested: "8" read_time: "11 min read" image: "/images/covers/moz-alternatives.png" cover_image: "/images/covers/moz-alternatives.png" image_alt: "Best Moz alternatives in 2026: Semrush, Ahrefs, SE Ranking, Serpstat and Mangools compared by Topickz" schema: "Article" baseline: name: "Moz Pro" tagline: "Beginner-friendly SEO platform known for Domain Authority, the tool most readers here are replacing" price: "$99/mo (Standard)" trial: "30-day free trial" rating_source: "G2" external_rating: "4.3" rating_count: "608" logo: "https://www.google.com/s2/favicons?domain=moz.com&sz=128" ai_lede: "The best Moz alternatives in 2026 are 1. Semrush 2. Ahrefs 3. SE Ranking 4. Serpstat 5. Mangools. Semrush is the best overall alternative on database size and toolkit depth, Ahrefs is the pick for backlink analysis with a new $29/mo Starter plan, and SE Ranking is the best value all-in-one at a higher rating than Moz." deck: "Moz Pro still works in 2026, and Ziff Davis maintains it. Domain Authority remains the metric everyone knows. People still leave, and the reasons repeat: a keyword and backlink index smaller than Semrush or Ahrefs, slower data refresh, and at 4.3 on G2 the lowest rating among the major platforms. We ran the 5 strongest alternatives through the same SEO workflow behind our platform testing and ranked them by who they actually fit." summary: '' how_we_chose: "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 the most common Moz complaint is data depth, we weighted keyword and backlink database size and refresh speed heavily, then judged value and ease of use. Pricing was verified on each vendor pricing page on June 6, 2026, the same pass that confirmed every G2 rating cited here, including Moz's own 4.3." tools: - name: "Semrush" tagline: "Best overall, the database depth Moz lacks" badge: "Best overall" score: "9.1" external_rating: "4.5" rating_source: "G2" rating_count: "3,383" price: "$139.95/mo" trial: "7-day free trial (Pro and Guru)" url: "https://www.semrush.com/" review_url: "https://www.g2.com/products/semrush/reviews" logo: "https://www.google.com/s2/favicons?domain=semrush.com&sz=128" pros: - "Largest keyword database and the deepest competitive research in SEO, exactly where Moz feels thin" - "Authority Score is the direct equivalent of Moz's Domain Authority, so you do not lose the metric" - "3,383 G2 reviews, the largest track record in the category, against Moz's 608" cons: - "At $139.95/mo Pro it is more expensive than Moz's $99 Standard" - "The toolkit is dense, so it loses a little of Moz's beginner-friendliness" summary: >- Semrush is the answer when your problem with Moz is depth. The keyword database is the largest in SEO, the competitive research is the deepest here, and the data freshness is exactly where Moz draws complaints. You also keep an authority metric: Semrush's Authority Score does the job Domain Authority did, so reporting does not skip a beat. It has 3,383 G2 reviews behind it, against Moz's 608. The trade is price and simplicity. Pro is $139.95/mo, more than Moz's $99, and the sprawl takes longer to learn than Moz's gentle interface. For an SEO who outgrew Moz's data and wants the deepest bench, the price buys real ground. We compare it with the other giant in our [Ahrefs vs Semrush comparison](/comparisons/marketing/ahrefs-vs-semrush/). pricing_tiers: - {plan: "Pro", price: "$139.95/mo", best_for: "Freelancers + startups, 5 projects"} - {plan: "Guru", price: "$249.95/mo", best_for: "SMBs + agencies, content toolkit + historical data"} - {plan: "Business", price: "$499.95/mo", best_for: "Large agencies, API + extended limits"} - name: "Ahrefs" tagline: "Best for backlinks, Moz's own heritage done deeper" badge: "Best for backlinks" score: "9.0" external_rating: "4.5" rating_source: "G2" rating_count: "699" price: "$29/mo" trial: "No free trial (free Webmaster Tools for your own site)" url: "https://ahrefs.com/" review_url: "https://www.g2.com/products/ahrefs/reviews" logo: "https://www.google.com/s2/favicons?domain=ahrefs.com&sz=128" pros: - "The deepest and freshest backlink index in SEO, and links are the analysis Moz built its name on" - "Domain Rating is the direct counterpart to Moz's Domain Authority, with a larger underlying link graph" - "The new $29/mo Starter plan, launched January 2026, undercuts Moz's $99 Standard for solo SEOs" cons: - "No traditional free trial, where Moz offers a generous 30-day one" - "Credit-based limits on the cheaper plans bite heavy users, and Starter is capped" summary: >- Ahrefs is the natural move for anyone who valued Moz for links. Moz pioneered link metrics, and Ahrefs took that ground with the deepest, freshest backlink index in the business. Domain Rating is its answer to Domain Authority, built on a bigger link graph. The 2026 news is price: Ahrefs launched a $29/mo Starter plan in January, undercutting Moz's $99 Standard for solo SEOs. Site Explorer and Keywords Explorer set the accuracy benchmark the field is measured against. The honest catch is that Ahrefs has no free trial, where Moz gives you 30 days, and it runs on credit-based limits. For link-led SEO, nothing here is closer to what Moz was supposed to be. See how it stacks against the leader in our [Ahrefs vs Semrush comparison](/comparisons/marketing/ahrefs-vs-semrush/). pricing_tiers: - {plan: "Starter", price: "$29/mo", best_for: "Solo SEOs, core research (capped)"} - {plan: "Lite", price: "$129/mo", best_for: "Freelancers + small teams, 5 projects"} - {plan: "Standard", price: "$249/mo", best_for: "SEO pros, more keywords + history"} - {plan: "Advanced", price: "$449/mo", best_for: "Agencies + in-house teams"} - name: "SE Ranking" tagline: "Best value, a higher rating at a similar price to Moz" badge: "Best value" score: "9.0" external_rating: "4.8" rating_source: "G2" rating_count: "1,554" price: "$103.20/mo" trial: "14-day free trial, no card" url: "https://seranking.com/" review_url: "https://www.g2.com/products/se-ranking/reviews" logo: "https://www.google.com/s2/favicons?domain=seranking.com&sz=128" pros: - "Full all-in-one (keywords, rank tracking, audit, backlinks) with deeper, fresher data than Moz" - "Highest rating in the category at 4.8/5 across 1,554 G2 reviews, well above Moz's 4.3" - "Priced close to Moz at $103.20/mo, so the upgrade in data costs almost nothing extra" cons: - "No single recognized authority metric with Domain Authority's name recognition" - "Slightly steeper learning curve than Moz's deliberately simple interface" summary: >- SE Ranking is the value play, and the math is simple: a better-rated, deeper tool at almost the same price as Moz. It does everything Moz does, keyword research, rank tracking, audits, and backlinks, on fresher data, and it carries the highest rating in the category at 4.8/5 across 1,554 G2 reviews against Moz's 4.3. At $103.20/mo it lands right next to Moz's $99 Standard, so the jump in data quality is nearly free. The one thing you give up is Domain Authority's brand recognition, though SE Ranking has its own authority scoring. For a Moz user who wants more tool for the same money, this is the easiest switch to justify. It tops our [best SEO tools](/list/marketing/best-seo-tools/) testing. pricing_tiers: - {plan: "Core", price: "$129/mo ($103.20 annual)", best_for: "Freelancers + small teams, full toolkit"} - {plan: "Growth", price: "$279/mo ($223.20 annual)", best_for: "Agencies, more projects + white-label"} - {plan: "Enterprise", price: "Custom", best_for: "High-volume agencies, custom limits"} - name: "Serpstat" tagline: "Best budget all-in-one SEO platform" badge: "Best budget" score: "8.5" external_rating: "4.6" rating_source: "G2" rating_count: "464" price: "$69/mo" trial: "Free plan with daily limits" url: "https://serpstat.com/" review_url: "https://www.g2.com/products/serpstat/reviews" logo: "https://www.google.com/s2/favicons?domain=serpstat.com&sz=128" pros: - "A full SEO suite at $69/mo, cheaper than Moz's $99 Standard, with a higher 4.6 rating" - "Keyword research, rank tracking, audit, and backlinks in a cleaner, more modern interface than Moz" - "Genuinely usable free tier with daily limits, handy for light or occasional work" cons: - "Smaller databases than Semrush and Ahrefs, so very competitive niches show gaps" - "No authority metric with Domain Authority's recognition" summary: >- Serpstat is the budget all-in-one for a Moz user who wants real tooling for less. At $69/mo it undercuts Moz's $99 Standard while delivering keyword research, rank tracking, site audit, and backlinks in a cleaner, more modern workspace, and it is rated 4.6/5 against Moz's 4.3. The free tier with daily limits is a nice touch for light users. The trade is database size: Serpstat is smaller than Semrush and Ahrefs, so the most competitive niches show gaps, and there is no Domain Authority equivalent by name. For an SEO who wants a capable platform on a tighter budget than Moz, it is the value pick. We break down its own rivals in our [Serpstat alternatives](/alternatives/marketing/serpstat/) guide. pricing_tiers: - {plan: "Lite", price: "$69/mo ($55 annual)", best_for: "Freelancers + small teams"} - {plan: "Standard", price: "$149/mo ($119 annual)", best_for: "Agencies + in-house teams"} - {plan: "Advanced", price: "$249/mo", best_for: "Higher limits + more projects"} - name: "Mangools" tagline: "Easiest to use, as friendly as Moz but cheaper" badge: "Easiest to use" score: "8.4" external_rating: "4.7" rating_source: "G2" rating_count: "97" price: "$49/mo" trial: "10-day free trial" url: "https://mangools.com/" review_url: "https://www.g2.com/products/mangools/reviews" logo: "https://www.google.com/s2/favicons?domain=mangools.com&sz=128" pros: - "As beginner-friendly as Moz, which is Moz's whole appeal, but cleaner and cheaper" - "Basic is $49/mo and the annual rate drops to $29.90, half of Moz's Standard" - "Rated 4.7/5 on G2, with KWFinder a standout for keyword research" cons: - "Lighter on technical site audit and backlink depth than Moz" - "Smaller databases, so it is not built for agency-scale projects" summary: >- Mangools is the move for the Moz user who valued the gentle learning curve and just wants the same ease for less money. It is the cleanest interface in SEO, KWFinder is a genuinely good keyword tool, and Basic is $49/mo, dropping to $29.90 annually, roughly half of Moz's $99 Standard. It is rated 4.7/5 on G2, above Moz's 4.3. The trade is depth. Mangools is lighter on technical site audit and backlink analysis, and the databases are smaller, so heavy agency work outgrows it. For a freelancer or small team who liked Moz's simplicity but not its price or its data ceiling, it is the easiest tool here to live in. pricing_tiers: - {plan: "Entry", price: "$29/mo ($19.90 annual)", best_for: "Beginners, light keyword research"} - {plan: "Basic", price: "$49/mo ($29.90 annual)", best_for: "Freelancers, daily SEO work"} - {plan: "Premium", price: "$69/mo ($44.90 annual)", best_for: "Small teams, higher limits"} - {plan: "Agency", price: "$129/mo ($89.90 annual)", best_for: "Agencies, top limits"} excluded: - name: "Screaming Frog SEO Spider" reason: "A purpose-built technical crawler, not an all-in-one platform. It complements Moz's audit side rather than replacing the keyword research and rank tracking." - name: "Majestic" reason: "A backlink-only tool with strong link metrics, but no keyword research, rank tracking, or site audit. It covers one slice of Moz, not the whole platform." - name: "Ubersuggest" reason: "Cheap and beginner-friendly like Moz, but the data is thinner and refreshes less often. A budget step sideways more than a step up, so it sits in honorable mentions." honorable_mentions: - name: "Ubersuggest" why: "The cheapest way to replace Moz's basics, with a lifetime-license option and a usable free tier. The data is lighter, so treat it as a budget alternative, not an upgrade." - name: "SpyFu" why: "Strong competitor and PPC keyword research at a low price. Narrower than Moz on audits and rank tracking, but sharp if competitor analysis is your main job." faqs: - q: "Is Moz Pro still worth it in 2026?" a: "Moz Pro still works and Ziff Davis maintains it, and Domain Authority remains the most recognized authority metric. But at 4.3/5 it is the lowest-rated of the major SEO platforms, with a smaller index and slower data refresh than Semrush or Ahrefs. It stays a fair beginner tool; power users usually find more data elsewhere for similar money." - q: "What is the best Moz alternative?" a: "Semrush for the largest database and deepest toolkit, the depth Moz is most often faulted for. Ahrefs for backlinks, fitting since links are Moz's own heritage, now with a $29 entry plan. SE Ranking for the best value, a higher 4.8 rating at almost the same price as Moz." - q: "What replaces Domain Authority if I leave Moz?" a: "Semrush's Authority Score and Ahrefs' Domain Rating are the direct equivalents, both widely used third-party authority metrics built on larger link graphs than Moz's. You lose the literal DA number when you leave Moz, but every major alternative ships its own version that clients and tools recognize." - q: "Is there a cheaper alternative to Moz?" a: "Yes. Ahrefs Starter at $29/mo, Mangools at $49/mo, and Serpstat at $69/mo all cost less than Moz Pro's $99 Standard, and Moz's own Starter tier is $49. Mangools is the closest match for Moz's beginner-friendliness at a lower price, while Ahrefs and Serpstat give you more data for the money." - q: "How do I migrate off Moz Pro?" a: "Export your keyword lists, tracked rankings, and campaign data, then rebuild them in the new tool. The main mental switch is from Domain Authority to the new tool's authority metric, Authority Score in Semrush or Domain Rating in Ahrefs. Budget an afternoon per project and run the new tool alongside Moz for one reporting cycle before you cancel." --- ## Why teams start shopping for a Moz alternative Moz Pro is not broken, and Domain Authority is still the metric clients and execs recognize on sight. For a beginner, Moz's gentle interface and strong learning resources are a real on-ramp. The ceiling is the data. Moz's keyword and backlink index is smaller than Semrush's or Ahrefs', the refresh is slower, and on competitive terms that gap shows up as missing keywords and thinner link profiles. At 4.3 on G2, Moz is the lowest-rated major platform here. None of this makes Moz a bad starting tool. It makes it the wrong tool once your work outgrows the index. The teams that leave usually want one of three things. More data, and they move to Semrush or Ahrefs. The same thing for less, and they move to SE Ranking or Serpstat. The same ease for cheaper, and they move to Mangools. {{< infographic-compare left-tag="The higher-rated all-in-one" left-title="SE Ranking" left-num="4.8" left-label="G2 rating, deeper data, $103.20/mo" right-tag="The incumbent" right-title="Moz Pro" right-num="4.3" right-label="G2 rating, beginner-friendly, $99/mo" winner="left" winner-text="SE Ranking offers deeper, fresher data at a higher rating for almost the same price as Moz" >}} ## Picking your Moz alternative by use case The right replacement depends on what you outgrew. This is the matrix we hand the teams we test with. | Your situation | Best alternative | Why it wins over Moz | |---|---|---| | Want the biggest database | **Semrush** | Largest keyword data, plus Authority Score | | Backlinks are your priority | **Ahrefs** | Deepest link index, Domain Rating, $29 Starter | | Want more tool for the same money | **SE Ranking** | Deeper data, 4.8/5, priced like Moz | | Tight budget, full suite | **Serpstat** | Complete SEO platform at $69/mo | | Loved Moz's simplicity, want it cheaper | **Mangools** | As easy as Moz, half the price | For the full category, including every all-in-one tested head-to-head, see our [best SEO tools](/list/marketing/best-seo-tools/) guide. ## Switching off Moz without losing your data Export first. Moz lets you export keyword lists, tracked rankings, and campaign data, and every tool here imports them. The one real adjustment is the metric. You move from Domain Authority to the new tool's equivalent, Authority Score in Semrush or Domain Rating in Ahrefs. The numbers are not identical, so re-baseline rather than expecting a one-to-one match, and update any client reports that referenced DA. Time the switch at the start of a reporting cycle. Run the new tool alongside Moz for one full cycle so your trend data and authority numbers have a clean handoff, then cancel. The data moves quickly; rebuilding tracked-keyword sets is the only real work.