Ahrefs begins at $108 a month, which provides as much as about $1,200 a yr for a plan designed for small companies. When you’re a contract website positioning marketing consultant or run an enterprise, you may be shelling out anyplace between $2,400 to $14,990 per yr.
Having used Ahrefs for almost 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 good distance since its days as a link-building software ten years again. In the present day, it packs plenty of options like web site audit, AI content material grader, and Pages 2.0 report.
However let’s handle the large query: is Ahrefs value it? Spoiler alert: I gained’t provide the traditional ‘it relies upon’ reply we frequently hear in most website positioning and content material advertising and marketing conversations.
For context, some customers famous a 29% worth enhance earlier this yr, which in all probability makes you concentrate on potential future worth hikes. On the flip aspect, Ahrefs launched a extra reasonably priced Starter plan, which provides you 100 credit for $29 each month.
Whilst 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 selections.
Ahrefs: Paid vs. free website positioning instruments
Skip this part if you happen to 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 inexperienced persons could discover helpful. However if you happen to’re hoping to get critical work carried out, these free instruments gained’t take you far.
| Options | Free Instruments | Paid Plan |
| Dashboard | ||
| Website explorer | ||
| Key phrase explorer | ||
| Website audit | ||
| Rank tracker | ||
| Aggressive evaluation | ||
| SERP historical past | ||
| Web page examine |
Ahrefs affords eight free website positioning instruments:
- Key phrase generator: Generate as much as 20 key phrases
- Key phrase issue checker: Consider how onerous 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: Verify in case your web site ranks within the high 100 for a particular key phrase
- Backlink checker: See the area score of your web site and the entire variety of backlinks
- Damaged hyperlink checker: Discover the variety of damaged hyperlinks in your web site
- Web site authority checker: Verify your web site’s authority
- Web site visitors checker: See your web site’s natural visitors and visitors worth
As you may see, these instruments are fairly restricted. That mentioned, Ahrefs Webmaster Instruments offers web site house owners restricted free entry to web site explorer and web site audit options. Let’s get to the great half and see if the paid plans are value your cash.
Are Ahrefs options definitely worth the worth? What G2 customers suppose
G2 customers admire Ahrefs’ web site explorer, backlink checker, aggressive evaluation, key phrase explorer, web site 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 will help you:
Website explorer
That is the part the place you land after logging into Ahrefs. Website explorer analyzes a web site’s natural visitors, complete key phrases, and backlinks. The very best a part of this function is that it compiles all this website positioning knowledge right into a single dashboard.
One factor I actually like about web site explorer is the way it offers location-specific visitors insights. Plus, I can join these insights with content material modifications and algorithm updates, proven by inexperienced circles and “a” symbols on the timeline.
Website explorer additionally reveals you natural key phrases by intent, lists your high natural opponents, and categorizes crawled pages with their HTTP codes.
What G2 customers are saying:
“Ahrefs affords plenty of options with an abundance of knowledge to assist higher evaluation, such because the Website Explorer software to see the place a web site stands in its general efficiency, the Key phrase Explorer software to search out trending low competitors key phrases to work on, the Website Audit function to audit how efficient the efforts are and to establish gaps, and the Rank Tracker software to see how the location is performing compared to opponents.”
– Ahrefs Overview, Jayant G., Search Engine Optimization Analyst
Backlink checker
The Backlink checker does what it says; it reveals you the entire backlink profile of a web site.
Most website positioning instruments provide one thing comparable, however I just like the number of filters you need to use right here. For instance, you may filter backlinks by sorts, 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’t not point out the backlink profile. This software is superb for checking the standard and amount of backlinks each for my web site and my opponents. Seeing the hyperlink development over time, the highest referring domains, and the general backlink profile helps me fine-tune my link-building methods.”
– Ahrefs Overview, Sanjay G., Content material Technique Head
Aggressive evaluation
This function helps with a content material hole evaluation of your web site by evaluating what your opponents 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 affords 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 issue, key phrase, and search quantity in the proper manner.
For instance, if I’m engaged on a featured snippet venture, it is smart to trace which key phrases my opponents use to drive visitors from featured snippets and AI overviews (AIOs). I’m not saying it’s important to write utilizing these key phrases. But when you have already got content material focusing on them, it is perhaps value optimizing them to rank for featured snippets or AIOs.
Key phrase explorer
That is maybe probably the most generally used software by inexperienced persons and execs alike. Key phrase analysis software helps 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 offer extra key phrase knowledge. You possibly can filter key phrases by mother or father matter, verify how their search volumes have modified over the past yr, see their visitors potential, and even assess their intent.
One other standout function for me is the flexibility to check immediately’s SERP with what it appeared like three or six months in the past. It really works nice while you’re attempting to determine whether or not your article visitors has dropped as a consequence of intent shifts or competitor developments.
You may as well use AI to search out ache factors, technical ideas, and subtopics associated to your subjects.
Key phrase explorer helps discover knowledge on particular key phrases however doesn’t mechanically uncover new key phrases to focus on.
What G2 customers are saying:
“I like how Key phrase Explorer gives the key phrase with its issue 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 Overview, Nitin R., Vice President website positioning
Website audit
Ahrefs’ web site 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 reveals the proportion of error-free inside URLs in your web site. You additionally get suggestions on fixing technical and on-page website positioning points.
My tackle it? You don’t should be in technical website positioning to get probably the most out of the location audit function. I not too long ago used the location audit to search 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’ web site audit software offers me an in depth report with strategies for fixes. It is nearly like having a private website positioning marketing consultant!”
– Ahrefs Overview, Sanjay G., Content material Technique Head
Alternatives
Once you enter a web site URL in Website Explorer, you’ll come throughout the Alternatives function on the left panel. This part reveals you low-hanging fruit key phrases, featured snippet alternatives, content material with declining visitors, and a lot extra.
This function is useful after I wish to rapidly consider totally different alternatives earlier than pursuing them.
Sufficient about the great things; let’s take a look at the place Ahrefs falls brief.
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 Website Audit and Rank Tracker devour 1 credit score while you entry experiences, apply filters, or request new knowledge. Standalone instruments like Batch Evaluation, Web page Examine, and Looker Studio additionally use credit while you entry them.
All pricing plans, besides the Lite plan, include limitless credit. On the Lite plan, you stand up to 500 credit per consumer every month, and if you happen to go over that restrict, you’ll be charged additional.
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 additional credit every month
Many customers aren’t massive followers of this credit score system, particularly companies managing a number of accounts.
What G2 customers are saying:
“The credit score system just isn’t preferrred for company customers. I’ve a yearly subscription of $1990, however it could value me an extra $500 to $600 per thirty days, leading to a complete value of round $8000 per yr. With this funds, there are numerous different choices out there 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 Overview, 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 larger than these of different website positioning instruments out there in the marketplace.
What G2 customers are saying:
“It is pricing is at all times altering. After being compelled emigrate from a legacy account, I migrated to a dearer plan. After just a few weeks of utilizing it, I noticed I could not use to software anymore as a result of I hit my utilization restrict. That restrict? 600 occasions a month.
I’ve by no means used a software that’s this costly and has a primary utilization restrict. I pay over $2,000 a yr to be closely restricted within the utilization of the software. How am I anticipated to drive worth and study new options and functionalities of the software if I am unable to even use it to the day-to-day requirement degree?”
– Ahrefs Overview, Levi O., Affiliate Director, Content material Advertising and marketing
Poor buyer help
Customers additionally cite a scarcity of empathetic customer support as another excuse they dislike Ahrefs. Some critiques level out that customers couldn’t attain their CSMs once 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 latest options underneath the identical plan on the identical worth. The girl from the dwell chat insisted the one option to repair it was to cancel our account and begin a brand new one.
That is insane. Are new options being locked out from current subscribers on the identical degree? At earlier positions, I used to be ready to make use of the beta model of latest options. Now, I am unable to even get what I paid for.
Customer support was of completely no assist. Simply the identical circles again and again. And after I tried to succeed in out to the help e-mail, it simply took me to the identical actual one who refused to assist us.”
– Ahrefs Overview, Brandon S., Search Engine Optimization Supervisor
Ahrefs pricing
Ahrefs affords 4 pricing choices: Lite, Normal, Superior, and Enterprise.
- Lite plan prices you $1,290 per yr or $129 per thirty days if you happen to select to pay month-to-month. It options six months of historical past, 500 credit per consumer, and 750 tracked key phrases.
- Normal plan prices $2,490 per yr or $249 when paid month-to-month. It contains 20 tasks, two years of historical past, limitless credit, and a couple of,000 tracked key phrases.
- Superior plan prices $4,490 per yr or $449 per thirty 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: Often requested questions (FAQs)
Q. Does Ahrefs provide a free trial?
No, Ahrefs doesn’t provide a free trial, which might make it difficult for brand new customers to find out whether or not it’s the proper match for them.
Q. Is Ahrefs free?
Ahrefs isn’t a free website positioning software. Nonetheless, web site house owners can entry Ahrefs Webmaster instruments like Website Explorer and Website Audit without spending a dime.
Q. Is Ahrefs correct?
In response to a examine carried out by AuthorityHacker, Ahrefs has a median discrepancy of twenty-two.5% and 0.99 correlation with Google Search Console (GSC) knowledge. This reveals 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 taking a look at worth, Ahrefs comes out cheaper if you happen to pay yearly. Semrush prices $117.33 a month, whereas Ahrefs prices $108 per thirty days on a yearly plan.
Ahrefs affords 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 healthier for website positioning?
Moz is cheaper than Ahrefs. On a yearly plan, Ahrefs prices $108 per thirty days, whereas Moz begins at simply $39 per thirty days. Whereas each website positioning instruments give attention to Google, Moz additionally gives you with knowledge from search engines like google like Yahoo and Bing.
A 2022 examine by Tylor Hermanson and his workforce 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 shoppers, Ahrefs delivered almost 5 instances 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 larger at $117.33 per thirty days. I would suggest focusing in your particular wants and funds whereas evaluating Ahrefs with different website positioning instruments.
Q. Is Ahrefs protected?
Ahrefs is protected 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 while you create an account. This may be a problem if you happen to’re utilizing an organization card.
Is Ahrefs value 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 workforce construction.
Any funding in content material advertising and marketing instruments is barely 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 workforce will really use Ahrefs, and the way? In case your reply doesn’t contain at the very least two individuals, you is perhaps higher off sticking with Google Search Console and Google Key phrase Planner.
However if you happen to’re fascinated by getting Ahrefs for a workforce of writers, content material strategists, and website positioning specialists, you’ve obtained to ask your self just a few questions. Is your workforce aligned on targets to completely profit from Ahrefs’ choices? Do you want complete knowledge past what free instruments present? Do you have got the funds to help a long-term subscription? Do you have got the metrics to measure success with Ahrefs? Can Ahrefs combine easily into your present workflow?
When you answered sure to the entire above, go for it! But when funds is a sticking level, loads of options provide comparable aggressive insights that will help you drive website positioning outcomes.
Take a look at six AIO methods that your website positioning and content material advertising and marketing workforce can use to drive visitors to your web site.
