SEO

Ahrefs

Ahrefs is an all-in-one SEO and AI search marketing platform that helps you research keywords, analyze competitors, audit your site, and track your brand's visibility across Google and AI chatbots.

Last updated 2026-05-04
Our Take
Ahrefs remains the gold standard for serious SEO work, and it's now bet hard on AI search with Brand Radar to track ChatGPT and Claude citations. It's pricey and there's no free trial, but if SEO drives revenue for your business, this is one of the two tools (alongside Semrush) actually worth the spend.
Best For
In-house marketing teams, SEO agencies, and content marketers at small-to-enterprise companies who need deep competitive intelligence and want to track visibility across both traditional search and AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Claude.
Platforms
Web · Chrome Extension · API
Pros
Largest backlink database
Tracks AI chatbot citations
Strong site audit crawler
100+ API endpoints on Enterprise
Used by 44% of Fortune 500
Cons
No free trial available
$129/mo entry price is steep
Single user on most plans
Add-ons inflate true cost

How It Works

1
Add your website as a project and let Ahrefs crawl it for technical SEO issues
2
Research keywords, competitors, and content gaps using Site Explorer and Keywords Explorer
3
Optimize content with AI Content Helper and track rankings across search engines and AI platforms
4
Monitor brand mentions, backlinks, and AI citations through dashboards and custom reports

Plans

Lite
$129/mo
5 projects
Standard
$249/mo
20 projects
Advanced
$449/mo
50 projects
Enterprise
$1,499/mo
Unlimited API + MCP

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Ahrefs offer a free trial?
No, Ahrefs does not offer a free trial on its paid plans. It does offer free tools like the Backlink Checker, Keyword Generator, and AI Visibility Checker, plus 'Ahrefs Free' which gives verified site owners limited data about their own website.
How much does Ahrefs cost?
Paid plans start at $129/mo for Lite, $249/mo for Standard, $449/mo for Advanced, and $1,499/mo for Enterprise (billed annually for up to 17% savings). There's also a $29/mo Starter tier with limited functionality.
Is Ahrefs better than Semrush?
Ahrefs is generally considered to have the larger and more accurate backlink index, while Semrush typically wins on PPC and broader marketing toolkit. Ahrefs has aggressively expanded into AI search tracking with Brand Radar, which is a key differentiator in 2025.
Can Ahrefs track ChatGPT and AI search visibility?
Yes. Ahrefs' Brand Radar and Custom Prompts tools track brand mentions, citations, and sentiment across LLMs like ChatGPT, Claude, and Copilot. You can monitor specific prompts daily and see which AI bots are crawling your site via Bot Analytics.
How many users are included in an Ahrefs plan?
All standard plans (Lite, Standard, Advanced) include just 1 user by default. Additional seats cost $40–$80/mo each depending on tier, with caps of 2, 5, or 10 extra users. Enterprise starts at 3 users with unlimited additions.
Does Ahrefs have an API?
Yes, Ahrefs offers API access with 100+ endpoints, but unlimited API access is only available on the Enterprise plan. Lower tiers have row-per-request limits (100–500) and capped monthly integration units.
What is Ahrefs Brand Radar?
Brand Radar is Ahrefs' AI search visibility tool that tracks how often your brand is mentioned and cited across AI chatbots and LLM-generated answers. It includes 271M+ organic prompts you can research, plus custom prompt tracking starting at $50/mo for 2,500 checks.
Is Ahrefs worth it for small businesses?
For small businesses serious about organic traffic, the Lite plan at $129/mo provides solid keyword research, site auditing, and rank tracking. However, if you only need occasional checks, the free tools or the $29/mo Starter plan may be sufficient before upgrading.

Integrations

11 native integrations across 4 categories
Including Search & Analytics, AI Platforms, Developer, Social Media
Search & Analytics
Google Search ConsoleGoogle Business ProfileLooker Studio
AI Platforms
ChatGPTClaudeCopilotMCP Server
Developer
API (100+ endpoints)IndexNowAhrefs Connect
Social Media
Social Media Manager (multi-channel publishing)

Alternatives to Ahrefs

How Ahrefs fits in: Unlike Semrush or Moz, Ahrefs combines the second-largest web crawler with strong AI search tracking (Brand Radar) and a unified platform spanning SEO, content, social, and AEO in one subscription.
Surfer
Surfer is an AI-powered SEO and content optimization platform that helps you write and improve articles to rank higher in Google and get cited in AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity.
Semrush
Semrush is an all-in-one digital marketing platform for SEO, AI search visibility, content, advertising, and competitive research.
Clearscope
Clearscope is a content optimization platform that helps you rank in Google and get cited in AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini through keyword research, search intent analysis, and AI-assisted writing recommendations.

Try Ahrefs

Visit their site to see current plans.

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