Semrush vs Ahrefs
Semrush rates 4.5/5 and starts at $199/mo. Ahrefs rates 4.6/5 and starts at $29/mo. Ahrefs is the cheaper entry point. Ahrefs is the higher rated.
Ahrefs wins on backlink data and now on price — its $29 Starter plan undercuts Semrush's $199 entry by an order of magnitude. Semrush wins on breadth: keyword volume data, PPC research, and content tools that Ahrefs simply does not offer. Buy Ahrefs for link building and content research; buy Semrush if you need one tool to cover SEO and paid search together.
Semrush vs Ahrefs at a glance
| Measure | Semrush | Ahrefs |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.6/5 |
| Reviews | 9,800 | 7,400 |
| Starting price | $199/mo | $29/mo |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Public API | Yes | Yes |
| Integrations listed here | 3 | 3 |
Feature & pricing comparison
Pricing side by side
Semrush
Full pricing →| Plan | Price | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | $199/mo | $2,388 |
| Pro+ | $299/mo | $3,588 |
| Advanced | $549/mo | $6,588 |
Ahrefs
Full pricing →| Plan | Price | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | $29/mo | $348 |
| Lite | $129/mo | $1,548 |
| Standard | $249/mo | $2,988 |
Which should you choose?
Choose Semrush if…
- Huge feature set matters to you.
- Best-in-class keyword data matters to you.
- Reliable matters to you.
- No free trial would be a problem.
Choose Ahrefs if…
- Best backlink data matters to you.
- Great UX matters to you.
- Cheap entry plan matters to you.
- Expensive would be a problem.
Semrush
Pros
- Huge feature set
- Best-in-class keyword data
- Reliable
Cons
- Expensive
- Capped results on lower tiers
Ahrefs
Pros
- Best backlink data
- Great UX
- Cheap entry plan
Cons
- No free trial
- Credit-based limits
Frequently asked questions
Is Semrush better than Ahrefs?+
Ahrefs wins on backlink data and now on price — its $29 Starter plan undercuts Semrush's $199 entry by an order of magnitude. Semrush wins on breadth: keyword volume data, PPC research, and content tools that Ahrefs simply does not offer. Buy Ahrefs for link building and content research; buy Semrush if you need one tool to cover SEO and paid search together.
Which is cheaper, Semrush or Ahrefs?+
Ahrefs — it starts at $29/mo, versus $199/mo for Semrush.
Do Semrush or Ahrefs have a free plan?+
Neither offers a permanently free plan, but free trials are often available.
Which is better rated, Semrush or Ahrefs?+
Ahrefs, at 4.6/5 across 7,400 reviews, versus 4.5/5 for Semrush.
What is Semrush best for, and what is Ahrefs best for?+
Semrush is aimed at Marketers & agencies (keyword research, competitor analysis). Ahrefs is aimed at SEO professionals (backlink analysis, keyword research).