23 Best Ahrefs Alternatives For Bloggers (Free & Paid)

If you’re looking for a comprehensive SEO suite that will allow you to plan, implement and track your strategy but you’re on a limited budget, you’ve come to the right place.

I’ve broken down the 23 best Ahrefs alternatives that bloggers can use — and I’ve included something in everyone’s budget. From low competition, long-tail keyword finders to rank trackers, there’s a tool on this list that’ll help you grow your own strategy.

As a pro blogger and SEO specialist, I’ve experimented with a variety of tools. And while I love Ahrefs, it wasn’t in my budget for a LONG time. So I’ve broken down free and low cost alternatives to help you scale your blog!

👉 Get Keysearch – my favourite keyword research tool – for 30% off with code “sheknowsseo”!

What is Ahrefs?

Ahrefs is an all-in-one SEO platform designed to help do everything you need to improve, track and measure your strategy. Their most important features include tools that help you:

• Track search engine rankings
• Conduct site audits
• Analyze competitors
• Research keywords
• With link building 

It’s a premium tool used by many SEO professionals and content marketers, and the price tag reflects that. This tool boasts pricing plans of $99 per month all the way up to $999+ per month for their customizable enterprise and agency plans.

Ahrefs is not the best tool for beginners considering its hefty price tag, but it does provide an all-in-one experience that means you don’t have to stitch programs together.

If you’re looking for an Ahref alternative, these are my favorite picks!

Free Ahrefs Alternatives

1. Ubersuggest

Created by SEO guru Neil Patel, Ubersuggest is a useful tool that focuses on helping you generate the right keyword ideas for your blog. This SEO software has both free and paid plans that allow you to access similar features to Ahrefs.

With Ubersuggest’s free plan you can access their keyword search, build lists, track competitors and audit a site. However, there are some limitations, which include:

• 1 project with up to 25 keywords tracked weekly
• 1 site audit for up to 150 pages that can be done weekly, you cannot access the redrawn feature
• 2 tracked competitors for your 1 project
• 100 backlinks
• 3 keyword lists with up to 30 keywords in each list
• 1 search per day in the AI Writer, 1 saved document
• 40 searches per day with the Chrome Extension

You can use this Ahrefs alternative free if you’re just starting out and you’re not ready to commit to a monthly membership (we’ve all been there!).

2. Semrush

Semrush is an all-in-one SEO suite similar to Ahrefs. It lets you do everything from find new keywords to monitor the backlinks of your competitors (and your own). It’s a great choice if you’re looking for one app to do everything but it comes with a high price tag.

The best part is, if you’re not ready to invest in the full program, there is a free version that’ll give you a taste. It’s totally free — no credit card needed — but there are some limits on it, which include:

• 10 keywords tracked
• 10 keyword analysis searches
• 10 competitions analyzed
• 1 use of the site audit tool with up to 100 web pages
• A single use (total) of most of their content tools

However, you can access their full suite of social media tools with a free account, which include the ability to post, track competitors, analyze performance and boost your Facebook posts.

Try the paid version free for 14 days here

3. Keysearch

Keysearch doesn’t have a free plan, but they do have a 1-month free trial that many bloggers recommend utilizing to build a content calendar if you’re on a limited budget.

You’ll have limited access, but if you plan it right you might be able to get the job done. You’re limited to 5 daily searches and SEO analysis, including Content Assistant and YouTube Research. That means you’ll need to be smart with what you search and make a plan. You also aren’t able to use the rank tracking or competitive analysis tools.

It’s not the most generous free plan out there. But if you’ve got a strategy and know what you’re doing, you can absolutely get it done in a month!

Use code “KSDISC” to get 20% off Keysearch here!

4. Yoast Plugin (FREE Version)

Yoast is a one of the free SEO tools like Ahrefs that works on the backend of WordPress. It helps ensure your posts are optimized, which gives them the best chance to rank. While there is a paid version of the plugin, the free one should give you everything you need to get the job done.

While Yoast (and RankMath, our next tool) are incredibly helpful within WordPress, it’s important not to take what they say too literally. These tools are merely guidelines, quality content, not keywords in the exact right spot is going to get your content ranking.

These plugins give standard, straight-across-the-board advice that might not be applicable to that piece of content. There is a paid version of the Yoast Plugin. However, if you feel like you need more advanced features, consider switching to RankMath which provides an even more generous free plan.

5. RankMath Plugin (FREE Version)

RankMath does the same thing Yoast does — you add it to your WordPress site, input your main keyword(s) and the plugin tells you what else you might want to consider doing to help your content rank.

I like RankMath better because it provides more detailed advice. While still arbitrary, there’s a lot more built-in guidance about placement and word choices that are particularly helpful if you’re just starting out.

There is also a paid version of the RankMath plan, but realistically you don’t need it. While it adds a few extra seo features, overall, you’ll be just fine with the free version. 

6. Answer the Public

Answer the Public is another free tool you can use to boost your SEO campaigns as an Ahrefs alternative — at least for one function.

This tool really digs into Google’s autocomplete and “people also asked” question fields to help you come up with new topics to address in your own content. It’s a great resource for ideas, however there isn’t a search volume or keywords to help you prioritize those content ideas in the free version.

You’ll probably want to use Answer the Public along with another tool that will help provide you a more robust SEO experience.

Note: you can also use Answer Socrates – a similar site – for free question keywords.

7. SearchResponse.io

Search Response provides a suite of tools that can help you with your content marketing and SEO research. In particular, they focus on gathering data beyond simple keywords using Google suggest, including People Also Ask, People Also Search For, and Related Searches.

The free plan allows you:

• 10 People Also Ask Searches
• 5 People Also Searched For
• 5 Related Searches Per Month

This isn’t an SEO tool like you’re used to. It’s focused on underserved areas by form of question, which means typing in something to their database will likely give you something different from Ahrefs. It’s a unique tool that’s useful, but is better used as an enhancement to Ahrefs instead of a straight-up replacement.

8. Screaming Frog

Screaming Frog is a website crawler that helps you audit your site for SEO issues. You can use it for free and crawl up to 500 URLs, but beyond that you’ll need to get a licence for their paid offering.

This tool is useful if you want to do a mass clean-up of your site, but it is more challenging to use than Ahrefs. That’s not necessarily a bad thing — it excels at running an advanced SEO site audit. But you’ll need to put in the work to learn how to use it most effectively for you.

Unlike many of the others on this list, Screaming Frog is a desktop app. That means you need to download something to your computer to then use it. This could be a benefit or a drawback for you, depending on how you like to use your laptop.

Note: This is a more advanced SEO tool. It can definitely be overwhelming if you don’t know coding or are an SEO beginner!

9. Keyword Planner

Google Keyword Planner is intended to be used when you’re planning Google ads. But you can also utilize it when planning your blog content calendar too. It’s built to help advertisers plan which keywords they want to target.

With it you can discover new keywords relevant to your business, see their estimated search results, and figure out the estimated cost of advertising with those words.

Again, this is not a replacement for Ahrefs because it only helps in one specific area (finding the best keywords). But if you have a few ideas, it can provide rich insights and help you build a solid strategy.

Best Ahrefs Alternatives (Paid)

10. Ubersuggest

While Ubersuggest allows you to do some SEO-based research for free, their paid plan is where you’ll unlock its full capability. While it’s not quite up to Ahrefs’ standards, the price makes it a serious contender if you’re looking for alternatives.

There are three paid plans, which each have a lifetime deal (pay once and never again) and you get access to all their tools. At the individual level, you get access:

• SEO training designed by Neil Patel
• 150 reports per day
• 1 project
• 125 daily keyword rank tracking for the single project
• 100 searches via the Chrome Extension
• 1,000 weekly site audit crawls

Extended competitor analysis, keyword research and backlinks

While it’s not as comprehensive as Ahrefs, the discounted price makes it a great alternative. It’s especially helpful for keyword suggestions if you’re just getting started with SEO.

Which is better Ubersuggest or Ahrefs?

Most SEO experts will agree that Ahrefs is “better” but you don’t need it to be successful when it comes to SEO. Ubersuggest is a considerably more affordable set of popular SEO tools that will allow you get get most of the same information. It doesn’t have everything you’ll get with Ahrefs but it does have the key features you need.

11. Semrush

Semrush is the best alternative to Ahrefs.

It used to be a keyword research-focused platform. But, over time, they’ve turned it into a fully-functioning set of powerful SEO tools that allows you do whatever you need to. Everything from their features to pricing goes head-to-head, which makes this more a choice of preference then practicality.

The features included with Semrush mirror that of Ahrefs, and include:

• Keyword research
• Rank tracking
• SEO site audits
• On-page analysis
• Traffic analytics
• Backlink analytics
• Competitor analysis

Try Semrush free for 14 days here!

Is Semrush or Ahrefs more accurate?

It’s hard to say whether Semrush or Ahrefs has more accurate data, and it often depends on who you ask. Many argue that Semrush’s keyword data is technically more accurate because it’s refreshed more often than Ahrefs. It’s also worth noting that while both share keyword difficulty scores with their users, Ahrefs is tied to backlinks while Semrush varies their formula, including other factors too. At the end of the day, both tools provide accurate information that you can use to build and measure a killer SEO strategy.

Which is better Semrush or Ahrefs?

The debate between Ahrefs and Semrush typically boils down to which UI you prefer to work in. Where as Ahrefs is known for its ease of use, Semrush takes a bit more time to get into. Semrush is also considered to be a full marketing suite which includes social media tools, while Ahrefs is specifically for SEO. That said, this is the only true either-or platform on this list because if you have Semrush, you don’t need Ahrefs (and vice versa).

12. Keysearch

Keysearch is the most affordable paid SEO toolset that gets close to the offerings Ahrefs has. While Ubersuggest has overlap, Keysearch has a few more tools in its arsenal. The basic features this tool has are:

• Keyword research
• Competitive research
• YouTube research
• Keyword rank tracker
• Content assistant

While it goes head-to-head with Ubersuggest, you’ll find many bloggers (myself included) recommend this tool for SEO beginners. It’s simple, easy to use, perfect for limited budgets, and all your favorite SEO courses are taught with it in mind!

I got into Mediavine in 6 months with this strategy and Keysearch.

Get 20% off Keysearch with code “KSDISC”

13. WriterZen

WriterZen is a SEO content workflow suite that helps you identify the right keywords, build a comprehensive brief and create stellar content. It’s not a replacement for Ahrefs, instead it’s in a class of content assistant tools like SurferSEO.

This tool has some powerful features that allow you to:

• Find topic ideas
• Identify rankable keywords
• Cluster potential keywords together
• Create keyword lists so you can develop a content plan
• Turn your keywords into comprehensive briefs
• Write your content (with AI assistance if you need it)
• Then check to ensure there’s no plagiarism

It’s the perfect tool for bloggers looking for an all-in-one content creation suite that helps you take your posts from idea to published. It’s essentially a cheaper alternative of SurferSEO with some Jasper-esque AI-writing qualities.

It does have the ability to search competitors sites — but it’s only scanning for keywords, not traffic. And, unique to only a few select tools on this list, it allows for wildcard searches. This means you can search “best * alternative” and let the database fill in the rest.

14. Moz Pro

Moz Pro is a good tool for bloggers, but stacked up against Ahrefs and Semrush, it’s a runner up in the SEO tool pageant. This tool really shines when you’re measuring and analyzing your strategy, but its keyword research and planning capabilities doesn’t quite match the other two platforms.

That said, Moz Pro’s keyword tool is often noted for being good at generating long tail keywords — allowing it to go up against tools like Keyword Chef or Longtail Pro. Overall though, while it’s maintained the higher pricing scheme of the bigger all-in-one suites, it hasn’t really lived up to their updates and feature roll-outs.

Is Moz better than Ahrefs?

If you’re debating between Moz Pro and Ahrefs, the latter is the better tool. While Moz does well in certain areas, the cost is on-par with Ahrefs and they haven’t kept up with adding new features so you get less tools.

14. Longtail Pro

Longtail Pro is an affordable keyword research tool that helps you find great long keywords that are often easier to rank for. With a monthly subscription that has a starting plan for $37 per month.

• Keyword Research
• SERP Analysis
• Rank Tracker

While Longtail Pro does provide a comprehensive research experience with its advanced research tools, it isn’t an overall SEO suite like you find with Ahrefs. If you struggle to find the right long tail keywords for your site with some of the bigger tools, this might be a great way to improve your changes.

16. Surfer SEO

SurferSEO is a SEO content brief and analysis tool that you can use to create keyword rich posts and pages for your site. It is designed to help you:

• Discover good keywords
• Create detailed content briefs
• Compare your pages to your competitors
• Create a link-building action plan

This is a great tool for both experienced and new SEO content creators. It provides you keywords, headings, FAQs, and even questions to answer to ensure your content is comprehensive enough to rank on Google.

SurferSEO is a great tool to add to your kit, but it’s not the whole thing. This provides a more interactive experience than Ahrefs’ similar content helper, but it doesn’t replace tools like competitor research, ranking trackers or backlink monitors.

17. Rank IQ

Rank IQ is somewhere in between a keyword research tool like Keysearch and a content assistant like WriterZen. It helps you find the right keywords and build a comprehensive brief. Then when you’re done creating the post you can run it through their content analysis feature and figure out what words and topics you’re missing.

The feature set includes:

• A curated keyword library
• Content optimizer
• Ranking tool
• AI SEO content report

This is a great tool for beginner bloggers. It’s within a reasonable budget, though admittedly it isn’t the cheapest. Plus it’s easy to up and downgrade plans depending on your current content needs.

Check out Rank IQ here and get a special $49/mo plan!

18. SEO PowerSuite

SEO PowerSuite is another desktop app that features a comprehensive suite of SEO tools. It includes:

• Rank Tracker
• Keyword Research Tool
• Website Auditing
• Link Assist
• SEO Spyglass

While the SEO PowerSuite database is considered decent quality, the backlink database leaves you wanting. It can go head-to-head with Ahrefs, but it’s really only the best choice for agencies because you can white label your reports.

19. Mangools

Mangools has bright colors and a modern-looking brand, which makes many overlook the fact that it’s really five different tools that are stitched together. With a subscription you can access their:

• KW Finder for keyword research
• SERP Checker for SERP analysis
• SERP Watcher for rank tracking
• Link Miner for backlinks
• Site Profiler for SEO metrics and insights

While the Mangools toolkit is comprehensive and features a little bit of everything, it’s not the ideal set-up. While it’s more affordable than Ahrefs, that doesn’t make up for the fact that it is hard to get the tools to speak to each other like you need them to.

If you have a tight budget, I’d recommend choosing something more affordable and easier to work in, like Keysearch. Otherwise, you’re going to get a lot more for your money with Ahrefs.

20. SERPStat

SERPStat is an affordable comprehensive marketing tool that has many of Ahrefs’ core features. It allows you access tools so you can:

• Keyword Research
• Backlink Analysis
• Competitor Research
• Site Audit

While this suite is a competitor to Ahrefs, it’s not quite there yet. In particularly, the keyword research tool feels like it’s lacking. Pricing is really it’s best feature, affording you all of it’s tools for less than $70 per month.

21. Keyword Chef

Keyword Chef is a keyword research tool, so it’s not a direct competitor to Ahrefs’ comprehensive system. It helps you find low competition keywords that you might be able to rank for, and features:

• A user-friendly interface that’s fast
• Wildcard search feature (like you find with WriterZen)
• Credit-based system so you only pay for what you use

It’s a great tool, particularly if you’re just starting out and you need help finding those low competition words. However, it does not replace Ahrefs as far as an entire suite of tools.

22. Buzzsumo

Buzzsumo is a great tool, but it’s focused on content marketing as a whole instead of SEO. While it does feature some SEO focused tools like backlinks analysis, it doesn’t focus on other measurement tools like a site explorer or audits.

In fact, this tool is very different from Ahrefs, looking at all of your content marketing from mentions to similar content that’s published. It’s great if you’re running an entire content marketing strategy, but it doesn’t replace Ahrefs.

23. SpyFu

SpyFu takes some of the work off of Ahrefs shoulders in the competition research area. Its primary goal is to help you “spy” on competitions by providing you information about the keywords they’ve purchased on AdWords over time.

It’s a great tool if you need to beef up your competitor research game, but it doesn’t replace Ahref’s full suite of tools. However, some features users love include the ability to:

• Export SEO data without limits
• Analyze their own domain
• Identify sites that could help you with your own backlink strategy

Best Ahrefs Alternatives FAQs

Try Semrush free for 14 days here!

Try Semrush free for 14 days here!

Wrap Up: Best Ahrefs Alternative

Ahrefs is one of the best SEO tools out there, providing you with a comprehensive program that allows you to focus and grow your SEO strategy.

The best Ahrefs alternative is Semrush, which provides a similar toolset for around the same price — which means it’s not for those that are looking to cut back on the budget.

If that’s the case, the best Ahrefs cheaper alternative is Keysearch. It makes for a good alternative with a few extra features (like providing additional data for YouTube research) but costs considerably less. If you’re a new blogger or you’re budget conscious and you want to improve your organic traffic through better SEO, I recommend checking Keysearch out!

Want to learn what to do with those keywords you find to rank on the 1st page of Google? Check out my free SEO guide here.

Try Semrush free for 14 days here!

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