Comparison
Ahrefs vs Semrush
Ahrefs: The benchmark SEO suite for backlinks, now with AI visibility. Semrush: The leading SEO suite, with AI tools and chatbot visibility tracking.
| Ahrefs | Semrush | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.6 | 4.5 |
| Price | Paid Starter $29/month; Lite $129, Standard $249, Advanced $449 (annual). Brand Radar AI indexes from $199/month extra. | Free trial Pro from $117.33/month (annual) or $139.95/month. 7-day free trial. |
| Free plan | ||
| API available | ||
| Open source | ||
| In Spanish | ||
| No watermark | — | — |
| Platforms | Web · Extension | Web |
Ahrefs
- The best backlink index on the market
- Ahrefs Webmaster Tools is free for your own verified site
- Brand Radar measures your visibility in AI answers
- No full free plan: the entire suite is paid
- Brand Radar's AI indexes cost extra ($199/month per platform)
Semrush
- The most complete keyword and competitor database on the market
- AI Visibility Toolkit: measures your presence in chatbot answers
- All in one: SEO, advertising, content and social media
- Expensive: the Pro plan starts at ~$117/month and add-ons stack up fast
- Considerable learning curve given the sheer number of tools