13 Best Ahrefs Alternatives: Free & Paid Tools for 2026

Ahrefs delivers powerful SEO insights, but $99 to $999 per month puts it out of reach for many small businesses and solo marketers. You need quality backlink data, reliable keyword research, and comprehensive site audits without draining your budget. The good news is dozens of Ahrefs alternatives offer similar features at lower price points, and some even throw in free plans that cover basic SEO needs.

This guide breaks down 13 top alternatives to Ahrefs for 2026, from full-featured platforms like Semrush to free tools like Google Search Console. Each tool includes what makes it stand out, who gets the most value from it, and how much you'll actually pay. You'll find options that cost less, work differently, or excel in specific areas where Ahrefs falls short. Whether you're hunting for a budget-friendly solution or a free starting point, one of these tools will fit your SEO workflow and budget.

1. RankYak

RankYak takes a fundamentally different approach than Ahrefs by automating your entire SEO workflow instead of just providing data. While Ahrefs gives you backlink metrics and keyword insights, RankYak discovers keywords, writes optimized articles, publishes them to your site, and builds backlinks automatically. You get daily SEO-optimized content up to 5,000 words that's designed to rank in both Google and AI chat platforms like ChatGPT, with everything from keyword research to internal linking handled on autopilot.

Best features

RankYak's automated content engine does the heavy lifting that most Ahrefs alternatives only help you plan. The platform identifies high-potential keywords based on your niche, creates a daily content roadmap, and generates articles that incorporate advanced SEO frameworks including search intent analysis, competitor research, and your brand voice. Each piece includes proper structure, internal links, and citations that align with Google's helpful content guidelines.

The backlink exchange network connects you with other niche websites to build quality links without manual outreach. Your content publishes directly to WordPress, Shopify, Webflow, and custom CMS platforms through native integrations, eliminating the copy-paste routine. Multi-site management lets you run SEO for multiple domains under one account, with each site getting its own keyword strategy and content plan.

RankYak reduces time spent on SEO tasks by 90% while producing 3x more content that actually ranks.

Who it's for

Small businesses and solo marketers who need consistent SEO results without hiring agencies or building in-house teams get the most value from RankYak. Content marketers managing multiple client websites appreciate the ability to automate research, writing, and publishing across different domains. You'll find it especially useful if you're budget-conscious but still want advanced SEO features that go beyond basic keyword tracking.

Entrepreneurs running niche content sites benefit from the daily article generation and automatic backlink building. The platform works for anyone tired of manually creating content calendars, writing articles, optimizing for search intent, and chasing backlink opportunities.

Pricing

RankYak offers one all-inclusive plan at $99 per month with every feature unlocked. You get unlimited keyword discovery, daily article generation, automatic publishing, backlink exchange access, and multi-site management without tiered pricing or feature restrictions. A 3-day free trial lets you test the full platform risk-free.

2. Semrush

Semrush stands as one of the most comprehensive Ahrefs alternatives with a database covering over 25 billion keywords across 130+ countries. The platform delivers all-in-one SEO capabilities including keyword research, backlink analysis, site audits, rank tracking, and competitive intelligence. You get deeper PPC and social media data than Ahrefs provides, making it valuable if your marketing strategy extends beyond pure SEO. The interface packs more features but requires a steeper learning curve to master everything it offers.

Best features

The Keyword Magic Tool generates millions of keyword variations with accurate search volume data and difficulty scores that help you prioritize opportunities. Semrush's Position Tracking monitors your rankings daily across multiple devices and locations with detailed SERP feature tracking. The backlink audit tool identifies toxic links and generates disavow files automatically, while the Content Marketing Platform analyzes top-performing content and suggests optimization improvements based on real competitor data.

Semrush provides 20 billion backlinks in its index, giving you deep visibility into your link profile and competitor strategies.

Who it's for

Digital marketing agencies managing comprehensive campaigns across SEO, PPC, and social media get maximum value from Semrush's broad feature set. In-house marketing teams at mid-sized to large companies benefit from the enterprise-level data and reporting capabilities. You'll appreciate it if you need detailed competitor analysis that goes beyond backlinks into their ad strategies and content performance.

Pricing

Semrush starts at $139.95 per month for the Pro plan with 500 keywords tracked and 10,000 results per report. The Guru plan costs $249.95 monthly and adds historical data plus Content Marketing Platform access. Business plans run $499.95 per month for agencies and larger teams needing API access and extended limits.

3. SE Ranking

SE Ranking delivers cloud-based SEO tools at a fraction of Ahrefs' cost while covering the same core features you need for effective optimization. The platform provides backlink monitoring, keyword rank tracking, site audits, and competitor analysis with a user interface that's easier to navigate than most Ahrefs alternatives. You get access to data from over 100 countries and search engines including Google, YouTube, and Bing, plus white-label reporting that agencies can rebrand for clients. The tool updates your rankings daily and tracks historical data to show progress over time.

Best features

The on-page SEO checker analyzes your pages in real time and provides specific recommendations to improve rankings based on current top performers. SE Ranking's competitor research module reveals what keywords your rivals rank for and how their traffic has changed, helping you spot opportunities they've already validated. The backlink checker monitors your link profile with spam score ratings and tracks new and lost links automatically.

SE Ranking tracks 4 million keywords daily and offers 30+ SEO tools in one affordable package.

Who it's for

Small to mid-sized businesses looking for budget-friendly alternatives to enterprise tools get strong value from SE Ranking's feature set. Marketing agencies benefit from the white-label reports and flexible user permissions that support multiple client accounts. You'll find it useful if you need solid SEO data without paying for advanced features you rarely use.

Pricing

SE Ranking starts at $65 per month for the Essential plan with 250 keywords tracked daily and 5,000 backlinks checked. The Pro plan costs $119 monthly for 1,000 keywords and advanced reporting. Business plans run $259 per month with API access and priority support.

4. Ubersuggest

Ubersuggest brings affordable SEO tools to marketers who need solid keyword and backlink data without enterprise pricing. Created by Neil Patel, this platform covers keyword research, site audits, backlink analysis, and rank tracking with a streamlined interface that beginners can navigate easily. You get access to search volume data, keyword difficulty scores, and content ideas pulled from Google's database. The tool stands out among Ahrefs alternatives by offering lifetime access plans instead of forcing monthly subscriptions.

Best features

The keyword overview tool reveals search volume, SEO difficulty, paid difficulty, and cost-per-click data for any term you enter. Ubersuggest's content ideas feature shows you the most shared and linked-to articles for your target keywords, helping you understand what resonates with audiences. The backlink data tracks referring domains, domain scores, and anchor text distribution across your link profile. Site audit reports identify technical SEO issues with clear explanations and priority rankings that guide your fixes.

Ubersuggest provides keyword data for 192 countries and tracks unlimited keywords in paid plans.

Who it's for

Beginners and solo marketers who need straightforward SEO tools without complex dashboards get the most value from Ubersuggest. Small business owners working with tight budgets appreciate the lifetime payment options that eliminate recurring costs. You'll find it useful if you want basic backlink monitoring and keyword tracking without advanced features you won't use.

Pricing

Ubersuggest starts at $12 per month for the Individual plan with 150 searches per day and 1 website. Business plans cost $20 monthly for 300 searches and 7 sites. Lifetime plans range from $120 to $290 as one-time payments with permanent access.

5. Moz Pro

Moz Pro brings trusted domain authority metrics that many SEO professionals rely on when evaluating backlink quality and site strength. The platform offers keyword research, rank tracking, site audits, and competitive analysis with proprietary metrics like Domain Authority and Page Authority that have become industry standards. You get access to Moz's extensive link index plus tools designed around their research into ranking factors. The interface feels cleaner than some Ahrefs alternatives, and the learning resources help you understand not just what the data shows but why it matters for your rankings.

Best features

The Link Explorer provides detailed backlink profiles with spam score calculations that help you assess link quality quickly. Moz's Keyword Explorer delivers accurate search volume data plus priority scores that combine volume, difficulty, and opportunity into one metric. The on-page optimization tool grades your pages against current top rankers and suggests specific changes to improve your content. Site crawl reports identify technical issues with clear severity ratings and step-by-step fixes.

Moz Pro's Domain Authority score remains one of the most widely referenced metrics in the SEO industry.

Who it's for

SEO professionals who value established metrics and educational resources get strong value from Moz Pro's approach. Marketing teams at growing businesses appreciate the balance between depth and usability without overwhelming complexity. You'll find it useful if you need reliable backlink data for outreach decisions and want tools backed by years of ranking factor research.

Pricing

Moz Pro starts at $99 per month for the Starter plan with 5 campaigns and 150 keyword queries. Medium plans cost $179 monthly for 15 campaigns and more robust tracking. Premium plans run $299 per month with advanced features and higher limits.

6. Mangools

Mangools bundles five specialized SEO tools into one affordable package that covers keyword research, backlink analysis, rank tracking, SERP analysis, and site audits. The platform delivers essential SEO data through KWFinder, SERPChecker, SERPWatcher, LinkMiner, and SiteProfiler with an interface that prioritizes simplicity over feature overload. You get accurate keyword metrics from a database covering billions of terms across multiple search engines. Mangools stands out among Ahrefs alternatives by focusing on usability without sacrificing the core data you need to make informed optimization decisions.

Best features

KWFinder uncovers long-tail keyword opportunities with precise difficulty scores that help you identify terms you can actually rank for based on your domain strength. The LinkMiner backlink checker reveals link metrics including citation flow, trust flow, and external links on referring pages with one-click access to each backlink's context. SERPWatcher tracks your rankings automatically and shows progress through visual charts that make reporting simple. SiteProfiler analyzes domain authority metrics and backlink profiles for any competitor site you want to benchmark against.

Mangools processes over 2.5 billion keyword suggestions and tracks backlinks from 5 trillion links in its index.

Who it's for

Freelance SEO consultants and small agencies benefit from Mangools' clean interface and white-label reporting options. You'll find it valuable if you need reliable keyword and backlink data without navigating complex enterprise dashboards or paying premium prices.

Pricing

Mangools starts at $49 per month for the Basic plan with 100 keyword lookups daily. Premium plans cost $69 monthly with increased limits and features. Agency plans run $129 per month for teams managing multiple client sites.

7. Serpstat

Serpstat combines keyword research, backlink analysis, site audits, and competitor intelligence into a unified platform that costs less than most Ahrefs alternatives. The tool provides access to a database with over 5 billion keywords and tracks rankings across multiple search engines including Google, Bing, Yahoo, and YouTube. You get comprehensive competitor analysis that reveals gaps in your content strategy plus on-page optimization recommendations based on current top performers. The platform delivers SEO data for 195 countries with historical ranking trends that show how your competitors have gained or lost visibility over time.

Best features

The Missing Keywords tool identifies terms your competitors rank for that you don't, giving you a clear list of content opportunities. Serpstat's batch analysis feature lets you check up to 200 domains or URLs simultaneously for metrics like domain trust, backlinks, and organic traffic estimates. The search questions report pulls actual user queries related to your keywords from Google's autocomplete and related searches. Site audit crawls detect technical issues across mobile and desktop versions with severity ratings that prioritize your fixes.

Serpstat tracks over 230 million domains and provides fresh SERP data updated every 3 hours.

Who it's for

Marketing teams at small to mid-sized businesses benefit from Serpstat's all-in-one approach without paying enterprise prices. You'll find value if you need competitor research that goes deeper than surface metrics and want to discover content gaps quickly.

Pricing

Serpstat starts at $59 per month for the Lite plan with 7,000 queries and rank tracking for 2,500 keywords. Standard plans cost $119 monthly with increased limits. Advanced plans run $239 per month for teams needing API access.

8. SEO PowerSuite

SEO PowerSuite delivers desktop-based SEO tools that install directly on your computer instead of running through a browser. The platform bundles four specialized applications into one package: Rank Tracker for keyword research and monitoring, WebSite Auditor for technical audits, SEO SpyGlass for backlink analysis, and LinkAssistant for outreach management. You get unlimited sites, keywords, and backlinks checked without cloud-based subscription limits that restrict other Ahrefs alternatives. The software works offline once you've downloaded data, giving you complete control over your SEO information without relying on web connections or server uptime.

Best features

Rank Tracker monitors your positions across 400+ search engines with scheduled checks that run automatically in the background. The backlink analysis tool in SEO SpyGlass provides detailed metrics including link quality scores, anchor text distribution, and penalty risk assessments that help you evaluate your link profile. WebSite Auditor generates comprehensive technical SEO reports with visualizations that identify crawl errors, duplicate content, and page speed issues across your entire site. LinkAssistant automates your outreach workflow by finding link prospects, managing contact details, and tracking your email campaigns.

SEO PowerSuite processes unlimited data without subscription caps on keywords tracked or backlinks analyzed.

Who it's for

SEO agencies managing multiple client websites benefit from the unlimited usage and white-label reporting capabilities. You'll find value if you prefer desktop software over cloud tools and want to avoid recurring monthly fees for basic SEO functions.

Pricing

SEO PowerSuite offers a free version with limited features and daily usage caps. Professional plans start at $299 per year with unlimited sites and projects. Enterprise plans cost $699 annually with advanced API access and scheduling features.

9. Majestic

Majestic specializes exclusively in backlink analysis with one of the largest link databases among Ahrefs alternatives, tracking over 1.5 trillion URLs across millions of domains. The platform introduces proprietary metrics like Trust Flow and Citation Flow that measure link quality and quantity separately, giving you a clearer picture of your backlink profile's strength. You get detailed historical data showing how link profiles have evolved over years, plus visualization tools that map your backlink relationships through interactive diagrams. Majestic focuses purely on links without offering keyword research or rank tracking features found in broader SEO platforms.

Best features

The Site Explorer reveals comprehensive backlink data including anchor text distribution, referring domains, and topical trust flow that shows which content categories your links come from. Majestic's Link Context tool displays the actual text surrounding each backlink so you can verify relevance and quality without visiting every referring page manually. The Clique Hunter identifies sites that link to multiple competitors but not to you, giving you targeted outreach opportunities based on proven link sources in your niche.

Majestic's Fresh Index updates daily with new backlinks, while the Historic Index provides data going back 15 years.

Who it's for

SEO professionals and link building specialists who need deep backlink intelligence benefit most from Majestic's focused approach. You'll find value if your strategy centers on link acquisition and analysis rather than general SEO tasks.

Pricing

Majestic starts at $49.99 per month for the Lite plan with 1 million analysis units. Pro plans cost $99.99 monthly with increased limits and API access.

10. SpyFu

SpyFu specializes in competitive intelligence by revealing every keyword your competitors have bought on Google Ads and every organic ranking they've achieved over the past 17 years. The platform provides PPC campaign data that most Ahrefs alternatives skip, showing ad spend estimates, ad copy variations, and keyword bidding strategies your rivals use. You get comprehensive keyword research tools combined with competitor analysis that extends beyond organic search into paid advertising. SpyFu tracks historical ranking changes so you can see which keywords competitors gained or lost over time, helping you spot trends before they become obvious.

Best features

The Kombat feature compares your domain against up to three competitors simultaneously, revealing keyword gaps, shared rankings, and opportunities where you can outrank them. SpyFu's ad history database stores every ad variation your competitors have run with exact dates and duration, giving you proven ad copy to model your campaigns after. The backlink outreach tool identifies domains linking to competitors and provides contact information for streamlined link building. Keyword grouping automatically organizes thousands of related terms into logical clusters that align with content strategy and ad group structure.

SpyFu tracks over 111 million domains and stores 6 years of daily ranking data for competitive analysis.

Who it's for

Digital marketers running paid and organic campaigns benefit from SpyFu's dual focus on SEO and PPC intelligence. You'll find value if you need to understand competitor advertising strategies alongside their organic rankings.

Pricing

SpyFu starts at $39 per month for the Basic plan with 10,000 search results and 6 months of historical data. Professional plans cost $79 monthly with unlimited data exports and API access.

11. Google Search Console

Google Search Console provides free SEO monitoring directly from Google's own data without third-party interpretation or estimation. This official tool from Google shows exactly which queries trigger your pages in search results, your actual click-through rates, average positions, and technical issues that affect your rankings. You get verified data about how Google crawls and indexes your site plus notifications about penalties, security problems, and mobile usability errors. While it lacks the backlink depth and competitive analysis found in paid Ahrefs alternatives, Search Console delivers authoritative insights that no other tool can match because it comes straight from the search engine itself.

Best features

The Performance report reveals every query that showed your site in results with precise data on impressions, clicks, click-through rate, and position across different countries, devices, and time periods. Google Search Console's Index Coverage report identifies pages that Google can't crawl or index with specific error messages that help you fix technical problems blocking your visibility. The URL Inspection tool shows exactly how Google sees any page on your site, including rendering issues, structured data errors, and mobile compatibility problems that hurt rankings.

Google Search Console processes data directly from Google's search infrastructure, making it the most accurate source for your actual search performance.

Who it's for

Every website owner running SEO efforts should use Google Search Console regardless of which paid tools you choose. You need this free baseline data to verify what Google actually indexes and how users find your content.

Pricing

Google Search Console costs nothing and includes all features without usage limits or premium tiers. You just need to verify your site ownership through DNS, HTML file upload, or Google Analytics connection.

12. Screaming Frog SEO Spider

Screaming Frog SEO Spider runs as desktop software that crawls your website like a search engine bot to uncover technical issues that harm your rankings. This tool among Ahrefs alternatives focuses exclusively on site auditing and technical analysis rather than keyword research or backlinks, providing detailed data about page titles, meta descriptions, response codes, redirects, and broken links. You can crawl up to 500 URLs free or unlimited pages with the paid version, making it valuable for deep technical audits that web-based tools sometimes miss. The software extracts structured data, finds duplicate content, and analyzes page speed metrics with more granular control than cloud-based crawlers.

Best features

The customizable crawler lets you configure exactly what data to extract with options for JavaScript rendering, custom extraction using CSS selectors, and API integration with Google Analytics and Search Console. Screaming Frog's visualization tools generate architecture diagrams that map your internal linking structure and identify orphaned pages without incoming links. The audit reports export to Excel with filters that help you prioritize fixes by impact, and the scheduling feature runs crawls automatically to catch issues as they appear.

Screaming Frog analyzes over 100 on-page elements and can crawl websites with millions of pages in the paid version.

Who it's for

Technical SEO specialists and web developers benefit most from Screaming Frog's granular data and control options. You'll find value if you need detailed site audits that go deeper than basic crawlers and want desktop software that works offline.

Pricing

Screaming Frog offers a free version that crawls up to 500 URLs with basic features. The paid license costs $259 per year with unlimited crawling, advanced features, and automatic updates.

13. Keyword Surfer

Keyword Surfer operates as a free Chrome extension that displays keyword data directly in your Google search results without requiring you to switch between tools or tabs. This browser add-on shows search volume, cost-per-click estimates, and related keywords for any term you search on Google, making it one of the most convenient Ahrefs alternatives for quick keyword research. You get instant visibility into keyword metrics while browsing naturally, plus the extension generates content ideas by pulling similar terms and questions that searchers ask. The tool integrates seamlessly with your workflow by overlaying data on the Google interface itself rather than forcing you to leave your browser and enter terms into separate platforms.

Best features

The inline keyword metrics appear automatically on every Google search you perform, showing monthly search volume and traffic estimates for the top-ranking pages. Keyword Surfer's similarity score helps you identify related terms that share search intent with your target keyword. The extension generates content outlines with suggested word counts based on what currently ranks, plus it displays the actual word count of each result in your SERP.

Keyword Surfer provides keyword data from over 70 countries without requiring account creation or subscriptions.

Who it's for

Content creators and bloggers who need quick keyword validation while researching topics benefit from the instant data overlay. You'll find value if you want basic keyword metrics without committing to paid tools or creating yet another account.

Pricing

Keyword Surfer costs nothing and includes all features without premium tiers or usage limits. You just install the Chrome extension and start searching.

Which tool is right for you?

Your choice among these Ahrefs alternatives depends on your specific needs and budget. Free tools like Google Search Console and Keyword Surfer cover basic monitoring and research, while paid platforms like Semrush and Moz Pro deliver comprehensive data for established teams. Budget-conscious marketers might find value in Ubersuggest or Mangools, both offering solid features without enterprise costs.

The real question isn't which tool provides the most data, but which one actually saves you time. Most alternatives require you to manually research keywords, write content, optimize for search intent, and chase backlinks. RankYak automates this entire workflow by discovering keywords, creating optimized articles, publishing them to your site, and building backlinks automatically. You get daily SEO-optimized content without switching between multiple tools or spending hours on tasks that software can handle for you. Try the 3-day free trial to see how much faster SEO gets when the platform does the work instead of just showing you what needs doing.