Best SEO Tools · head-to-head
Semrush vs Ahrefs
A sourced, side-by-side comparison for seo tools. Ahrefs has the lower entry price. Every figure links to the vendor's own page and the date we captured it.
At a glance
- Price: Semrush $139.95/mo vs Ahrefs $0/mo — Ahrefs is cheaper to start.
- Free tier: Semrush No; Ahrefs Yes.
- HIPAA: Semrush —; Ahrefs —.
Side by side
| Semrush | Ahrefs | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry price | $139.95/mo (Pro) | $0/mo (Free) |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| HIPAA (BAA) | — | — |
| SOC 2 | — | — |
| GDPR | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | All-in-one SEO and digital marketing teams needing a single platform | SEO agencies and consultants needing deep backlink data |
Sources — Semrush: backlinko.com (verified 2026-06-14). Ahrefs: ahrefs.com (verified 2026-06-14).
Key features
Semrush: Keyword research (6 tools); Rank tracking (4 tools); Technical SEO site audit (3 tools); Backlink analysis and link building (6 tools); Content optimization and marketing (4 tools); Competitive and market analysis (5 tools); Local SEO (6 tools); Social media management (4 tools); Paid advertising intelligence (3 tools); AI Visibility Toolkit (AI search monitoring); AI PR Toolkit; App Center marketplace
Ahrefs: Site Explorer (backlink and organic traffic analysis); Keywords Explorer (2.5B+ keyword database); Site Audit (technical SEO crawler); Rank Tracker (SERP position monitoring); Content Explorer (content research and gap analysis); Web Analytics (first-party, cookieless); Social Media Manager (beta); AI Content Helper; Brand Radar (AI search visibility monitoring); MCP connector for AI assistant integrations