Best Ahrefs Alternatives in 2025

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Launched by Dmitry Gerasimenko in 2010, Ahrefs has achieved recognition for its strong SEO tools and an enormous index of backlinks. Among its useful tools are Site Explorer, Keywords Explorer, Rank Tracker and the Site Audit, all organized into an easy-to-use interface.

While ideal for competitor analysis, keyword research, and content creation optimization, Ahrefs’ high pricing often drives users to explore good Ahrefs alternatives that offer better value, including more affordable options like cheaper or free Ahrefs alternatives that could provide valuable content ideas as a great alternative option. The table below presents notable alternatives to Ahrefs, along with their main highlights, what separates them and their most important advantages and disadvantages.

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What is Ahrefs?

It is a complete SEO platform created to improve a businesses position in search results by providing valuable keyword data. Launched just over a decade ago, it gained fame for its exceptional backlink database which helps users in SEO, link earning, competitive analysis and keyword research. The main tools are Site Explorer, Keywords Explorer, Rank Tracker, Site Audit tool, and Content Explorer, all accessible through a simple interface that SEO professionals all over the world rely on.


Ahrefs homepage banner promoting digital marketing strategy with actionable data and a sign-up call to action.

Ahrefs is always active online, examining thousands of pages and links to supply its users with current, correct details. SEO professionals rely on it to learn how their keywords rank, audit sites, and leverage site audit features to spot opportunities for link building new content, and explore the methods used by their competition. While extremely powerful, Ahrefs comes at a premium price, which is why many marketers—especially small businesses and freelancers—seek out Ahrefs alternatives that offer similar functionality at a lower cost.

Top 7 best Ahrefs alternatives in 2025

Morning Score – simple SEO dashboard with a gamified twist

Best for: Agencies and small businesses seeking an easy-to-use SEO tool at a low price.

Overview:
With Morning Score, you can see your rank progress, find keywords, examine links and audit your site on a neat and appealing dashboard.


Morning Score homepage highlighting its all-in-one SEO tool with a 14-day free trial and website check feature.

It renames SEO work as missions and gives your website a total score, so anyone can easily see how much you have improved.

Pricing:
Costs start from $49 a month (Lite plan covering 100 keywords, 3 websites and 5 scans). All my plans give you access to a free trial lasting 14 days.

Pros:

  • An interface that supports strong learning goals by making the game highly enjoyable

  • Excellent if you are just starting out

  • On-demand reports and notifications

  • Less expensive than using Ahrefs

Cons:

  • Smaller database than Ahrefs

  • Limited integrations

  • No advanced tools like Content Explorer or PPC data


Compared to Ahrefs:
Because Morning Score is easier to use and less costly, it is suitable for teams wanting to monitor only main search engine optimization data. It lacks Ahrefs’ depth, but excels in usability and value—making it a strong Ahrefs alternative for everyday use.

Mangools – budget keyword and rank tracking suite

Best for: Best suited for those entering SEO for the first time or business groups with a small workforce.

Overview: You get access to five main tools in Mangools: KWFinder (for finding relevant keywords), SERPChecker (for checking SERPs), SERPWatcher (for tracking ranks), LinkMiner (for viewing backlinks), and SiteProfiler (for studying site statistics).

Mangools homepage promoting its all-in-one SEO tools for busy people, with free account sign-up and review ratings.

You can find many options for keyword and competitor study on the simple user interface, but for deep site audits or content analysis, you’d need to upgrade to a keyword explorer that incorporates different tools.

Pricing:
Basic plans start at $29.90 each month for 100 daily uses and the ability to follow up to 200 keywords. The higher you go in the subscription, the more data you get. A free trial is offered for 48 hours with the opportunity to refund.

Pros:

  • The setup is clean and simple enough for everyone.

  • Scores that are accurate and clearly show how difficult it will be to rank for each keyword

  • Regular updates of the site’s ranking system

  • Good deal; you also get a free Chrome extension.

Cons:

  • Use of neither site auditing nor content tools

  • It tracks a lower number of backlinks than Ahrefs.


Compared to Ahrefs:
Mangools is a cost-effective Ahrefs alternative focused on keyword and rank tracking. Moat SEO works well for budget users, yet it doesn’t have all the advanced data and reviews like Ahrefs does.

SE Ranking – full-featured SEO platform at mid-tier pricing

Best for: Individuals running businesses or companies as SEO teams who want advanced analytics and many SEO tools.

Overview: Users of SE Ranking will find important SEO tools such as tracking keywords on Google, Bing and YouTube, performing site audits, keeping an eye on backlinks, analyzing competitors and having many useful keyword research tools together in a single place, ensuring the information is of high quality and includes monthly search volumes, organic visits, and excellent data quality.

SE Ranking homepage showcasing its agency-focused SEO software with a free trial option and trusted by over 1 million professionals.

It goes a step further with options like maintenance of your business’s social media accounts and adding it as an excellent choice to Google Business. Even though the software is full of options, it might look complicated at first for people just starting out.

Pricing: Prices begin at ~$55 a month when purchased yearly for 500 keywords. With higher plans, the number of tracked keywords varies from 2,000 to over 5,000. Ahrefs’ least expensive plan remains much cheaper than the highest price Ahrefs offers which is much higher.

Pros:

  • Rank tracking, inspection of websites and checking backlinks are all included in the single toolkit.

  • You can use social media and Google Business tools.

  • You get a great deal for your money here.

  • Reports can be made specific to needs and questions are answered quickly by tech support.

Cons:

  • A page may seem cluttered.

  • There are tools in our toolbox that you can unlock by purchasing credits or add-ons.

  • Ahrefs has a bigger backlink database than me.

  • No Content Explorer or Domain Rating is given for this website.


Compared to Ahrefs:
You get similar useful features from SE Ranking for less than half the amount Ahrefs costs. It’s a strong Ahrefs alternative for teams needing broad functionality without enterprise pricing. Even so, Ahrefs offers the best backlink information and the simplest user interface.

Serpple – focused daily rank tracker

Best for: Marketers and agencies should use Rank Tracker if quick, precise details on their keyword rankings, search intent, and organic traffic are essential daily.

Overview:
Rank tracking is the only thing Serpple does. It notifies you each day about your Google ranking (on desktop and mobile), tracks competitors and carries out light SEO checks.

Serpple homepage promoting its daily SERP rank tracking tool with SEO audits and competitor analysis features.

Keyword performance charts and tables are clearly shown in the interface. It’s great for tracking your results in search engines without adding extra SEO features.

Pricing:
It's $19 per month for 100 keywords or you can double that to get 500 keywords plus unlimited domains for just $29 per month. Agency plans let you set up campaigns with up to 3,000 keywords. You can try all of our plans for free for 14 days.

Pros:

  • Regularly updated rankings every day

  • Batch import and the ability to see what happened in the past

  • Business is involved in an unlimited number of domains and has lots of competitors.

  • You won’t break the bank paying for these deals.

Cons:

  • SEO audits are the only features available (no advanced tools).

  • No research done into the website’s content or its referencing from other websites

  • No keyword research or information at the page level


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Compared to Ahrefs:
Serpple is a cheaper Ahrefs alternative for rank tracking only. Although it doesn’t have deep backlink and content data like Ahrefs, it’s very good at watching SERPs across different devices and against other websites. For those who need focused SEO tracking and save money.

Similarweb – traffic insights and market intelligence

Best for: Marketers and analysts aiming to analyze rivals’ traffic and watch for trends in the industry.

Overview:
While Similarweb isn’t commonly used for SEO, it does a great job at estimating website traffic, how users engage and how the site gets its traffic.

Similarweb homepage highlighting its AI-powered digital data platform with website performance analytics and domain insights.

You can use it to examine performance, check new trends and discover which channels drive traffic to your competitors.

Pricing: The basic rate is $125 to $200 per month. More expensive options include greater amounts of information. You can use a free, basic plan to do research work.

Pros:

  • Precise numbers on traffic and who your visitors are

  • Referral channels and keywords are all part of tracking.

  • Useful for comparing your company with others in the industry

  • An uncluttered dashboard easy to read

  • A helpful free version is provided.

Cons:

  • Not ideal for small teams because it’s expensive

  • There are not many SEO options available in their suite (no backlinks and no auditing tools)

  • If your website is relatively small, you are likely to have sparse data.


Compared to Ahrefs:
If your focus is on SEO, Similarweb is not the best tool; it’s better suited for larger data analysis. In addition to Ahrefs, it supplies actual information on website traffic and audience, so you can track site links, audits and keywords all in one place. A smart Ahrefs alternative for those prioritizing competitive traffic research.

Semrush – all-in-one SEO and marketing suite

Best for: People needing powerful SEO, PPC, and content features, including a comprehensive feature set, all together in one software.

Overview: Semrush and Ahrefs are similar in their range, handling SEO, PPC, Google Ads, content marketing, social media marketing, and competitor intelligence, as well as having tools that reveal what people search for and a wide collection of helpful features.

Semrush homepage showcasing its AI-powered marketing platform with toolkits for SEO, content, local search, and advertising.

It supports professionals in SEO with services for keyword research, site and backlink reviews, observing ranks, reviewing ad performances, and watching traffic analytics for brands.

Pricing:
You can try Pro for $139.95/month, opt for Guru at $249.95/month or pay $499.95/month for Business. You can use the platform for free for seven days.

Pros:

  • Exclusive SEO and PPC resources

  • Useful keyword gap and backlink gap features

  • Makes working together as a team simple.

  • Offers resources for materials and for social media promotion

  • Regularly informed by the latest artificial intelligence findings

Cons:

  • Taking time to learn the platform

  • Scaling up the business means paying more for the service.

  • For some people, UI isn’t as straightforward as it is in Ahrefs.

  • Below average index for backlinks in comaprison to Ahrefs


Compared to Ahrefs:
Semrush offers broader marketing capabilities—especially for PPC and content—making it a top Ahrefs alternative for all-in-one digital marketing. Backlinks are often sought in Ahrefs because it’s relatively easy, while Semrush tops the list for its wide range of features and enterprise-level tools.

Diib – beginner-friendly SEO and growth tool

Best for: Freelancers and start-ups will find this tool useful for getting the basics of SEO with limited technical knowledge at cheap prices.

Overview:
With Diib, you can get a fast website audit, a personal figure for your website’s performance and simple SEO guidelines.

Diib homepage promoting automated SEO growth tools with competitor benchmarking and a quick website setup process.

Data is gathered from Google Analytics, social platforms and Google Maps, allowing users to understand SEO, site speed, safety and different areas without tech expertise.

Pricing:
The basic version of the app can be accessed for free. For only $14.99 per month, Pro plan provides full tracking of your search rank, study on your backlinks, data on your competitors and weekly reports.

Pros:

  • Extremely affordable

  • Easy-to-understand dashboard

  • SEO, site management and all things social are included.

  • Tips for growing your website

  • Additional support for single users (Pro plan)

Cons:

  • Not all keyword and backlink data is available.

  • This is not recommended for advanced SEO work.

  • On the free plan, you’re limited by many things

  • There are limited or no advanced audit and content tools.


Compared to Ahrefs:
Diib is a great free or cheap Ahrefs alternative for beginners. It’s suited well for overseeing a basic website and introducing idea-rich SEO tips. Although Claritybot is helpful, it does not match Ahrefs in depth, coverage or link power, so serious SEO still needs Ahrefs.

Comparison Table of Ahrefs Alternatives

Tool

Starting Price

Free Plan

Main Features

Best For

Morning Score

$29/month

Yes

SEO that is played like a game, keyword monitoring and auditing

Beginners

Mangools

$29.90/month

Trial

Looking into keywords, keeping track of how you rank and monitoring the SERP.

Budget-conscious users

Seranking

$39/month

Trial

Full SEO efforts, plus backlink tracking

Professionals

Serpple

$19/month

Yes

Following the rank of keywords, SERP analysis

Small companies and bloggers

Similarweb

$169/month

Yes

Traffic study, competitor understanding

Digital marketers

Semrush

$129.95/month

Trial

They have SEO tools as well as content marketing services.

Those who are experienced or people working at agencies

Diib

$14.99/month

Yes

Let’s look at automated SEO and health score now.

For those just learning and for small businesses

Final Verdict

Ahrefs stands out as a top SEO tool; it’s popular for its gigantic backlink collection, advanced link analysis, thorough site review service, and simple keyword research with SEO analysis. However, what makes it different with its unique features, along with reliable customer support, isn’t always the best choice for freelancers, startups, or small businesses with specific requirements.

That’s why there’s growing interest in free alternatives to Ahrefs—affordable or specialized tools that handle specific SEO tasks like rank tracking, keyword research, or traffic insights, which can help improve visibility in search engines. Morning Score, Mangools, and Diib are ideal for newcomers because they have straightforward dashboards, easy-to-use tips, and lower priced plans than most enterprise tools.

However, companies such as SE Ranking, Serpple and Semrush address professionals and agencies, providing detailed tools such as site audits, tracking competitors, analyzing keywords and preparing technical SEO-based multi-project reports. If you require detailed website traffic information and market trends, Similarweb can provide that.

The biggest difference is that the best Ahrefs alternative depends on your goals: if you need an all-in-one marketing hub that offers similar features to Ahrefs, Semrush is the clear leader; for rank tracking and SEO audits, Serpple or SE Ranking offer excellent value. Simply monitoring your website’s SEO health is easy with Diib since it is accessible for free or at a low cost.

I hope you found the solution that best suits your needs. If you're looking for more comparisons, feel free to check out our blog :)

FAQ

Some excellent alternatives to Ahrefs for SEO include SEMrush, Moz, and Ubersuggest as a basic keyword research tool, particularly for keyword analysis. You get to use strong features such as keyword research, site reviews and analyzing backlinks. Because each alternative offers special benefits, they can be used in different SEO strategies and with any budget, while offering important tips for boosting your web presence.

Ahrefs is a leading SEO tool, yet its high cost can stop new businesses, freelancers, or small companies from using it. Particularly, some people want interfaces or instruments designed for specialized jobs such as monitoring rankings, researching keywords, or assessing the market to enhance user experience. That’s why many seek more affordable or niche-focused Ahrefs alternatives.

If you are new to SEO, I recommend checking out Morning Score, Mangools and Diib. They provide smart designs, clear lists of tasks and low prices. If you pick Diib’s free option, you get basic SEO tips and with Morning Score, SEO is made more fun and interactive.

Both Diib and Serpple include free plans that are adequate for people just starting with SEO tracking. These tools don’t go as far as Ahrefs for detailed data or powerful options, but they help you get started with SEO analyses and basic SEO tips.

SE Ranking and Semrush are excellent Ahrefs alternatives for agencies and SEO professionals. SE Ranking has everything you need in an all-in-one tool at a medium price, whereas Semrush is designed for businesses and expert users, handling diverse tasks related to SEO, PPC, content marketing, and social media, including various SE Ranking features. For an in-depth look, check out our SE Ranking review.

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Bohdan Tyshynskyi

Results-driven digital marketing expert with 2+ years of experience in international companies in different businesses: SaaS, IT-services, startups.

Bohdan Tyshynskyi