Ahrefs begins at $108 a month, which provides as much as about $1,200 a 12 months for a plan designed for small companies. When you’re a contract website positioning advisor or run an enterprise, you may be shelling out anyplace between $2,400 to $14,990 per 12 months.
Having used Ahrefs for practically eight years throughout freelance and full-time content material advertising and marketing roles, I perceive why you would possibly select it over different website positioning instruments. Ahrefs has come a great distance since its days as a link-building instrument ten years again. Immediately, it packs loads of options like website audit, AI content material grader, and Pages 2.0 report.
However let’s tackle the large query: is Ahrefs price it? Spoiler alert: I gained’t provide the traditional ‘it relies upon’ reply we regularly hear in most website positioning and content material advertising and marketing conversations.
For context, some customers famous a 29% value enhance earlier this 12 months, which most likely makes you concentrate on potential future value hikes. On the flip aspect, Ahrefs launched a extra reasonably priced Starter plan, which provides you 100 credit for $29 each month.
When you can proceed utilizing their free webmaster instruments, what must you consider when contemplating an improve? Proceed studying my deep dive for these very solutions.
Ahrefs ranks #14 in line with G2’s Fall 2024 Grid Report for website positioning instruments. Patrons are inspired to think about particular person wants when making buy choices.
Ahrefs: Paid vs. free website positioning instruments
Skip this part for those who aren’t new to website positioning.
Ahrefs doesn’t provide a free trial. Evaluating Ahrefs’ free website positioning instruments with the paid variations isn’t actually honest. Many of the free instruments they provide are for easy duties learners might discover helpful. However for those who’re hoping to get severe work carried out, these free instruments gained’t take you far.
| Options | Free Instruments | Paid Plan |
| Dashboard | ||
| Web site explorer | ||
| Key phrase explorer | ||
| Web site audit | ||
| Rank tracker | ||
| Aggressive evaluation | ||
| SERP historical past | ||
| Web page examine |
Ahrefs presents eight free website positioning instruments:
- Key phrase generator: Generate as much as 20 key phrases
- Key phrase problem checker: Consider how arduous it’s to rank for a specific key phrase
- SERP checker: Have a look at the SERP overview of the primary 4 outcomes
- Key phrase rank checker: Examine in case your web site ranks within the prime 100 for a selected key phrase
- Backlink checker: See the area score of your web site and the whole variety of backlinks
- Damaged hyperlink checker: Discover the variety of damaged hyperlinks in your web site
- Web site authority checker: Examine your web site’s authority
- Web site visitors checker: See your web site’s natural visitors and visitors worth
As you possibly can see, these instruments are fairly restricted. That mentioned, Ahrefs Webmaster Instruments offers web site house owners restricted free entry to website explorer and website audit options. Let’s get to the nice half and see if the paid plans are price your cash.
Are Ahrefs options definitely worth the value? What G2 customers suppose
G2 customers admire Ahrefs’ website explorer, backlink checker, aggressive evaluation, key phrase explorer, website audit, and alternatives options. I completely agree—these options are a goldmine for website positioning and content material advertising and marketing professionals who want knowledge to determine what’s working, what isn’t, and what wants fixing. Let’s see how these options may also help you:
Web site explorer
That is the part the place you land after logging into Ahrefs. Web site explorer analyzes an internet site’s natural visitors, complete key phrases, and backlinks. The perfect a part of this characteristic is that it compiles all this website positioning knowledge right into a single dashboard.
One factor I actually like about website explorer is the way it offers location-specific visitors insights. Plus, I can join these insights with content material adjustments and algorithm updates, proven by inexperienced circles and “a” symbols on the timeline.
Web site explorer additionally exhibits you natural key phrases by intent, lists your prime natural rivals, and categorizes crawled pages with their HTTP codes.
What G2 customers are saying:
“Ahrefs presents loads of options with an abundance of knowledge to assist higher evaluation, such because the Web site Explorer instrument to see the place a website stands in its total efficiency, the Key phrase Explorer instrument to seek out trending low competitors key phrases to work on, the Web site Audit characteristic to audit how efficient the efforts are and to determine gaps, and the Rank Tracker instrument to see how the positioning is performing compared to rivals.”
– Ahrefs Evaluation, Jayant G., Search Engine Optimization Analyst
Backlink checker
The Backlink checker does what it says; it exhibits you the entire backlink profile of an internet site.
Most website positioning instruments provide one thing related, however I just like the number of filters you need to use right here. For instance, you possibly can filter backlinks by varieties, DR of internet sites from the place they arrive, visitors of referring domains, anchor textual content, and even by date vary.
What G2 customers are saying:
“I can not not point out the backlink profile. This instrument is great for checking the standard and amount of backlinks each for my web site and my rivals. Seeing the hyperlink development over time, the highest referring domains, and the general backlink profile helps me fine-tune my link-building methods.”
– Ahrefs Evaluation, Sanjay G., Content material Technique Head
Aggressive evaluation
This characteristic helps with a content material hole evaluation of your web site by evaluating what your rivals rank for versus what you don’t. Enter your web site’s area and one or two competitor URLs to get began.
The content material hole report presents a ton of knowledge, however you need to know why you’re doing the aggressive evaluation within the first place. That’s when you need to use the totally different filters like SERP options, key phrase problem, key phrase, and search quantity in the best manner.
For instance, if I’m engaged on a featured snippet venture, it is smart to trace which key phrases my rivals use to drive visitors from featured snippets and AI overviews (AIOs). I’m not saying you need to write utilizing these key phrases. But when you have already got content material focusing on them, it could be price optimizing them to rank for featured snippets or AIOs.
Key phrase explorer
That is maybe probably the most generally used instrument by learners and execs alike. Key phrase analysis instrument permits you to analyze key phrases, their search volumes, CPC, CTR, and the historical past of SERP positions.
I really like how Ahrefs has developed over the previous few years to supply extra key phrase knowledge. You may filter key phrases by mum or dad subject, test how their search volumes have modified over the past 12 months, see their visitors potential, and even assess their intent.
One other standout characteristic for me is the flexibility to match immediately’s SERP with what it regarded like three or six months in the past. It really works nice if you’re attempting to determine whether or not your article visitors has dropped as a consequence of intent shifts or competitor developments.
You may also use AI to seek out ache factors, technical ideas, and subtopics associated to your subjects.
Key phrase explorer helps discover knowledge on particular key phrases however doesn’t routinely uncover new key phrases to focus on.
What G2 customers are saying:
“I like how Key phrase Explorer gives the key phrase with its problem and click on ratio. Click on ratio is essential for us; it is the true metric that helps us perceive whether or not to make it a main or secondary key phrase.”
– Ahrefs Evaluation, Nitin R., Vice President website positioning
Web site audit
Ahrefs’ website audit options crawls and scans your web site pages for over 170 technical and on-page points, together with core internet vitals, indexability, social tags, redirects, and JS/CSS points. In the long run, you get a well being rating that exhibits the proportion of error-free inner URLs in your website. You additionally get suggestions on fixing technical and on-page website positioning points.
My tackle it? You don’t need to be in technical website positioning to get probably the most out of the positioning audit characteristic. I not too long ago used the positioning audit to seek out and repair pages with damaged hyperlinks and 404 errors as a part of an interlinking venture.
What G2 customers are saying:
“I’ve by no means seen such an in-depth but easy-to-understand breakdown of my web site’s well being. From efficiency points to damaged hyperlinks, from safety points to content material high quality, Ahrefs’ website audit instrument offers me an in depth report with strategies for fixes. It is nearly like having a private website positioning advisor!”
– Ahrefs Evaluation, Sanjay G., Content material Technique Head
Alternatives
Whenever you enter an internet site URL in Web site Explorer, you’ll come throughout the Alternatives characteristic on the left panel. This part exhibits you low-hanging fruit key phrases, featured snippet alternatives, content material with declining visitors, and a lot extra.
This characteristic is useful after I wish to rapidly consider totally different alternatives earlier than pursuing them.
Sufficient about the great things; let’s have a look at the place Ahrefs falls quick.
Three explanation why G2 customers dislike Ahrefs
The notorious credit score system, together with excessive pricing and poor buyer help, appears to be the highest explanation why G2 customers dislike Ahrefs. Let’s break these down.
Credit score system
Ahrefs tracks knowledge utilization with credit. All instruments besides Web site Audit and Rank Tracker eat 1 credit score if you entry studies, apply filters, or request new knowledge. Standalone instruments like Batch Evaluation, Web page Examine, and Looker Studio additionally use credit if you entry them.
All pricing plans, besides the Lite plan, include limitless credit. On the Lite plan, you rise up to 500 credit per person every month, and for those who go over that restrict, you’ll be charged further.
For customers on the Lite plan, extra credit value:
- $50 per 500 credit (pay-as-you-go), billed month-to-month
- $300 yearly to prepay for 500 further credit every month
Many customers aren’t huge followers of this credit score system, particularly companies managing a number of accounts.
What G2 customers are saying:
“The credit score system isn’t superb for company customers. I’ve a yearly subscription of $1990, however it could value me an extra $500 to $600 per 30 days, leading to a complete value of round $8000 per 12 months. With this price range, there are lots of different choices accessible available in the market. It would not value as a lot even when I select to make use of 2 to three instruments concurrently.”
– Ahrefs Evaluation, Yannick X., Small Enterprise
Excessive costs
Customers discover Ahrefs’ pricing fashions advanced due to the credit score system. Some have additionally famous that Ahrefs’ costs are comparatively increased than these of different website positioning instruments accessible available on the market.
What G2 customers are saying:
“It is pricing is all the time altering. After being pressured emigrate from a legacy account, I migrated to a dearer plan. After a couple of weeks of utilizing it, I noticed I could not use to instrument anymore as a result of I hit my utilization restrict. That restrict? 600 occasions a month.
I’ve by no means used a instrument that’s this costly and has a primary utilization restrict. I pay over $2,000 a 12 months to be closely restricted within the utilization of the instrument. How am I anticipated to drive worth and study new options and functionalities of the instrument if I am unable to even use it to the day-to-day requirement stage?”
– Ahrefs Evaluation, Levi O., Affiliate Director, Content material Advertising
Poor buyer help
Customers additionally cite a scarcity of empathetic customer support as another excuse they dislike Ahrefs. Some evaluations level out that customers couldn’t attain their CSMs after they wanted assist.
What G2 customers are saying:
“When you made your account over two weeks in the past, you might be locked out of recent options below the identical plan on the similar value. The girl from the stay chat insisted the one solution to repair it was to cancel our account and begin a brand new one.
That is insane. Are new options being locked out from present subscribers on the similar stage? At earlier positions, I used to be ready to make use of the beta model of recent options. Now, I am unable to even get what I paid for.
Customer support was of completely no assist. Simply the identical circles time and again. And after I tried to succeed in out to the help e-mail, it simply took me to the identical precise one that refused to assist us.”
– Ahrefs Evaluation, Brandon S., Search Engine Optimization Supervisor
Ahrefs pricing
Ahrefs presents 4 pricing choices: Lite, Customary, Superior, and Enterprise.
- Lite plan prices you $1,290 per 12 months or $129 per 30 days for those who select to pay month-to-month. It options six months of historical past, 500 credit per person, and 750 tracked key phrases.
- Customary plan prices $2,490 per 12 months or $249 when paid month-to-month. It contains 20 tasks, two years of historical past, limitless credit, and a pair of,000 tracked key phrases.
- Superior plan prices $4,490 per 12 months or $449 per 30 days. It options 5 years of historical past, limitless credit, 50 tasks, and 5,000 tracked key phrases.
- Enterprise plan prices $14,990 yearly. This plan offers you 100 tasks, limitless historical past, limitless credit, and 10,000 tracked key phrases.
What Ahrefs options do G2 customers suggest?
Whereas Ahrefs continues to be a well-liked selection amongst content material advertising and marketing and website positioning professionals, G2 customers additionally suggest instruments like Google Search Console, Semrush, Moz Professional, and SE Rating.
Ahrefs: Regularly requested questions (FAQs)
Q. Does Ahrefs provide a free trial?
No, Ahrefs doesn’t provide a free trial, which may make it difficult for brand new customers to find out whether or not it’s the best match for them.
Q. Is Ahrefs free?
Ahrefs isn’t a free website positioning instrument. Nonetheless, web site house owners can entry Ahrefs Webmaster instruments like Web site Explorer and Web site Audit totally free.
Q. Is Ahrefs correct?
In response to a research performed by AuthorityHacker, Ahrefs has a mean discrepancy of twenty-two.5% and 0.99 correlation with Google Search Console (GSC) knowledge. This exhibits that Ahrefs’ high quality of search visitors estimations is at par with GSC.
Q. Ahrefs vs. Semrush: What must you select?
When you’re simply value, Ahrefs comes out cheaper for those who pay yearly. Semrush prices $117.33 a month, whereas Ahrefs prices $108 per 30 days on a yearly plan.
Ahrefs presents in-depth backlink evaluation, content material hole identification, and key phrase analysis, whereas Semrush gives strong options for website positioning, PPC, social media administration, and aggressive evaluation. I really feel Ahrefs fits content material entrepreneurs targeted on natural development, whereas Semrush is finest for companies managing a number of elements of digital advertising and marketing.
Q. Moz vs. Ahrefs: Which is best for website positioning?
Moz is cheaper than Ahrefs. On a yearly plan, Ahrefs prices $108 per 30 days, whereas Moz begins at simply $39 per 30 days. Whereas each website positioning instruments concentrate on Google, Moz additionally gives you with knowledge from search engines like google like Yahoo and Bing.
A 2022 research by Tylor Hermanson and his staff discovered Ahrefs ranked for twice as many key phrases as Semrush, which itself had greater than double the key phrases of Moz. For Tylor’s purchasers, Ahrefs delivered practically 5 occasions the quantity of rating key phrases in comparison with Moz.
Q. Is Ahrefs costly?
Ahrefs and Moz provide comparable entry-level pricing. Semrush’s entry-level plan is barely increased at $117.33 per 30 days. I would suggest focusing in your particular wants and price range whereas evaluating Ahrefs with different website positioning instruments.
Q. Is Ahrefs secure?
Ahrefs is secure for bettering web site visibility and natural visitors. Nonetheless, relying on the bank card you utilize, it could ask for the final 4 digits of your Social Safety quantity if you create an account. This may be a problem for those who’re utilizing an organization card.
Is Ahrefs price it or overrated? My sincere take
I promised I wouldn’t provide the traditional “it relies upon” reply. So, let’s lower to the chase: Ahrefs is definitely worth the funding if it aligns together with your targets and staff construction.
Any funding in content material advertising and marketing instruments is simply worthwhile if it helps you enhance the metrics that matter most to your small business.
So, right here’s what it’s best to ask your self: who in your staff will truly use Ahrefs, and the way? In case your reply doesn’t contain at the least two individuals, you could be higher off sticking with Google Search Console and Google Key phrase Planner.
However for those who’re fascinated by getting Ahrefs for a staff of writers, content material strategists, and website positioning specialists, you’ve bought to ask your self a couple of questions. Is your staff aligned on targets to completely profit from Ahrefs’ choices? Do you want complete knowledge past what free instruments present? Do you might have the price range to help a long-term subscription? Do you might have the metrics to measure success with Ahrefs? Can Ahrefs combine easily into your present workflow?
When you answered sure to all the above, go for it! But when price range is a sticking level, loads of options provide related aggressive insights that will help you drive website positioning outcomes.
Try six AIO methods that your website positioning and content material advertising and marketing staff can use to drive visitors to your web site.
