Best Ahrefs Alternatives
Ahrefs has the best backlink data in the business, but credit-based limits and no free trial put some teams off. These alternatives compete on price, breadth, or ease of use.
We compared 6 Ahrefs alternatives. SE Ranking is the top pick at 4.8/5 (from $129/mo). 1 cost less than Ahrefs's $29/mo. 2 rate higher than Ahrefs itself (4.6/5).
Why look for a Ahrefs alternative?
Ahrefs rates 4.6/5 and is genuinely strong at best backlink data — most people switch because of a specific trade-off:
- •No free trial
- •Credit-based limits
Ahrefs alternatives compared
| Tool | Starts at | Rating | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ahrefs (the original) | $29/mo | 4.6/5 | SEO professionals |
| SE Ranking | $129/mo | 4.8/5 | SEO agencies |
| Mangools | $61/mo | 4.7/5 | Freelancers & small teams |
| Serpstat | $50/mo | 4.6/5 | Growing agencies |
| Semrush | $199/mo | 4.5/5 | Marketers & agencies |
| Moz Pro | $49/mo | 4.3/5 | SMBs & in-house marketers |
| Ubersuggest | $12/mo | 4.2/5 | Solo founders & bloggers |
The best Ahrefs alternatives, ranked
Agency-grade SEO platform with white-label reporting
Why switch: Best-rated in category. Best for SEO agencies.
The friendliest keyword research UX in SEO
Why switch: Superb, uncluttered UX. Best for Freelancers & small teams.
Broad SEO and PPC suite at mid-market pricing
Why switch: Wide feature coverage for the price. Best for Growing agencies.
All-in-one SEO & marketing toolkit
Why switch: Huge feature set. Best for Marketers & agencies.
Veteran SEO suite built around Domain Authority
Why switch: Excellent learning resources. Best for SMBs & in-house marketers.
Budget SEO built for beginners
Why switch: Cheapest paid entry point. Best for Solo founders & bloggers.
Pick by priority
Best rated → SE Ranking
4.8/5 across 1,432 reviews. Best-rated in category.
Cheapest → Ubersuggest ($12/mo)
The lowest entry price of the alternatives here.
Closest fit → SE Ranking
Our top overall pick for people leaving Ahrefs. Suits SEO agencies.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best alternative to Ahrefs?+
SE Ranking is our top-ranked Ahrefs alternative, rated 4.8/5 and starting at $129/mo. Best-rated in category is its standout strength, and it suits SEO agencies.
Are there free alternatives to Ahrefs?+
None of these offer a permanently free plan. The cheapest way in is Ubersuggest at $12/mo. Free trials are often available.
What is a cheaper alternative to Ahrefs?+
1 of these start below Ahrefs's $29/mo: Ubersuggest ($12/mo).
Why do people look for Ahrefs alternatives?+
The most common reasons are: no free trial, credit-based limits. Ahrefs still rates 4.6/5, so the right move depends on which trade-off matters to you.
Which Ahrefs alternative is rated highest?+
SE Ranking at 4.8/5, versus 4.6/5 for Ahrefs.