Ahrefs begins at $108 a month, which provides as much as about $1,200 a yr for a plan designed for small companies. In case you’re a contract web optimization guide or run an enterprise, you will be shelling out wherever between $2,400 to $14,990 per yr.
Having used Ahrefs for almost eight years throughout freelance and full-time content material advertising roles, I perceive why you would possibly select it over different web optimization instruments. Ahrefs has come a great distance since its days as a link-building device ten years again. Right this moment, it packs a variety of options like website audit, AI content material grader, and Pages 2.0 report.
However let’s tackle the large query: is Ahrefs value it? Spoiler alert: I gained’t provide the basic ‘it relies upon’ reply we regularly hear in most web optimization and content material advertising conversations.
For context, some customers famous a 29% worth improve earlier this yr, which most likely makes you concentrate on potential future worth hikes. On the flip facet, 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 do you have to 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 web optimization instruments. Patrons are inspired to contemplate particular person wants when making buy selections.
Ahrefs: Paid vs. free web optimization instruments
Skip this part in case you aren’t new to web optimization.
Ahrefs doesn’t provide a free trial. Evaluating Ahrefs’ free web optimization 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 in case you’re hoping to get critical work completed, 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 presents eight free web optimization instruments:
- Key phrase generator: Generate as much as 20 key phrases
- Key phrase problem 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 full 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 possibly can see, these instruments are fairly restricted. That mentioned, Ahrefs Webmaster Instruments provides 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 value your cash.
Are Ahrefs options definitely worth the worth? 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 web optimization and content material advertising professionals who want information 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 most effective a part of this function is that it compiles all this web optimization information right into a single dashboard.
One factor I actually like about website explorer is the way it provides 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.
Website explorer additionally exhibits 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 presents a variety of options with an abundance of knowledge to assist higher evaluation, such because the Website Explorer device to see the place a website stands in its total efficiency, the Key phrase Explorer device to search out trending low competitors key phrases to work on, the Website Audit function to audit how efficient the efforts are and to determine gaps, and the Rank Tracker device to see how the location is performing compared to opponents.”
– Ahrefs Assessment, Jayant G., Search Engine Optimization Analyst
Backlink checker
The Backlink checker does what it says; it exhibits you the entire backlink profile of a web site.
Most web optimization 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’t not point out the backlink profile. This device is great for checking the standard and amount of backlinks each for my web site and my opponents. Seeing the hyperlink progress over time, the highest referring domains, and the general backlink profile helps me fine-tune my link-building methods.”
– Ahrefs Assessment, 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 presents a ton of knowledge, however you could know why you’re doing the aggressive evaluation within the first place. That’s when you need to use the completely different filters like SERP options, key phrase problem, key phrase, and search quantity in the suitable approach.
For instance, if I’m engaged on a featured snippet challenge, 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 may be value optimizing them to rank for featured snippets or AIOs.
Key phrase explorer
That is maybe probably the most generally used device by learners and professionals alike. Key phrase analysis device enables 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 information. You possibly can filter key phrases by mum or dad matter, examine how their search volumes have modified during the last yr, see their visitors potential, and even assess their intent.
One other standout function for me is the flexibility to check right this moment’s SERP with what it regarded like three or six months in the past. It really works nice whenever you’re attempting to determine whether or not your article visitors has dropped as a consequence of intent shifts or competitor developments.
You can too use AI to search out ache factors, technical ideas, and subtopics associated to your subjects.
Key phrase explorer helps discover information 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 supplies 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 Assessment, Nitin R., Vice President web optimization
Website 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. Ultimately, you get a well being rating that exhibits the proportion of error-free inside URLs in your website. You additionally get suggestions on fixing technical and on-page web optimization points.
My tackle it? You don’t should be in technical web optimization to get probably the most out of the location audit function. I just lately used the location audit to search out and repair pages with damaged hyperlinks and 404 errors as a part of an interlinking challenge.
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 device provides me an in depth report with ideas for fixes. It is nearly like having a private web optimization guide!”
– Ahrefs Assessment, Sanjay G., Content material Technique Head
Alternatives
Whenever you enter a web site URL in Website Explorer, you’ll come throughout the Alternatives function 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 function is useful after I need to rapidly consider completely 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 information utilization with credit. All instruments besides Website Audit and Rank Tracker devour 1 credit score whenever you entry stories, apply filters, or request new information. Standalone instruments like Batch Evaluation, Web page Examine, and Looker Studio additionally use credit whenever 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 in case you go over that restrict, you’ll be charged further.
For customers on the Lite plan, further 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 excellent for company customers. I’ve a yearly subscription of $1990, however it will value me an extra $500 to $600 per 30 days, leading to a complete value of round $8000 per yr. With this finances, 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 Assessment, 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 web optimization instruments out there available on the market.
What G2 customers are saying:
“It is pricing is all the time altering. After being compelled emigrate from a legacy account, I migrated to a dearer plan. After a number of weeks of utilizing it, I spotted I could not use to device anymore as a result of I hit my utilization restrict. That restrict? 600 occasions a month.
I’ve by no means used a device that’s this costly and has a fundamental utilization restrict. I pay over $2,000 a yr to be closely restricted within the utilization of the device. How am I anticipated to drive worth and study new options and functionalities of the device if I am unable to even use it to the day-to-day requirement degree?”
– Ahrefs Assessment, Levi O., Affiliate Director, Content material Advertising
Poor buyer help
Customers additionally cite a scarcity of empathetic customer support as one more reason they dislike Ahrefs. Some opinions level out that customers couldn’t attain their CSMs once they wanted assist.
What G2 customers are saying:
“In case you made your account over two weeks in the past, you might be locked out of recent options beneath the identical plan on the similar worth. The girl from the stay chat insisted the one strategy 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 degree? 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 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 Assessment, Brandon S., Search Engine Optimization Supervisor
Ahrefs pricing
Ahrefs presents 4 pricing choices: Lite, Normal, Superior, and Enterprise.
- Lite plan prices you $1,290 per yr or $129 per 30 days in case you select to pay month-to-month. It options six months of historical past, 500 credit per person, and 750 tracked key phrases.
- Normal plan prices $2,490 per yr or $249 when paid month-to-month. It consists of 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 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 provides you 100 tasks, limitless historical past, limitless credit, and 10,000 tracked key phrases.
What Ahrefs options do G2 customers advocate?
Whereas Ahrefs continues to be a preferred selection amongst content material advertising and web optimization professionals, G2 customers additionally advocate 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 spanking new customers to find out whether or not it’s the suitable match for them.
Q. Is Ahrefs free?
Ahrefs isn’t a free web optimization device. 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 accordance with a examine performed by AuthorityHacker, Ahrefs has a median discrepancy of twenty-two.5% and 0.99 correlation with Google Search Console (GSC) information. This exhibits that Ahrefs’ high quality of search visitors estimations is at par with GSC.
Q. Ahrefs vs. Semrush: What do you have to select?
In case you’re simply worth, Ahrefs comes out cheaper in case you 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 supplies strong options for web optimization, PPC, social media administration, and aggressive evaluation. I really feel Ahrefs fits content material entrepreneurs centered on natural progress, whereas Semrush is greatest for companies managing a number of points of digital advertising.
Q. Moz vs. Ahrefs: Which is best for web optimization?
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 web optimization instruments concentrate on Google, Moz additionally supplies you with information from serps 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 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 larger at $117.33 per 30 days. I would advocate focusing in your particular wants and finances whereas evaluating Ahrefs with different web optimization instruments.
Q. Is Ahrefs protected?
Ahrefs is protected for enhancing 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 whenever you create an account. This may be a problem in case you’re utilizing an organization card.
Is Ahrefs value it or overrated? My sincere take
I promised I wouldn’t provide the basic “it relies upon” reply. So, let’s reduce 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 instruments is just worthwhile if it helps you enhance the metrics that matter most to your corporation.
So, right here’s what you need to ask your self: who in your workforce will truly use Ahrefs, and the way? In case your reply doesn’t contain at the least two individuals, you may be higher off sticking with Google Search Console and Google Key phrase Planner.
However in case you’re desirous about getting Ahrefs for a workforce of writers, content material strategists, and web optimization specialists, you’ve obtained to ask your self a number of questions. Is your workforce aligned on targets to totally profit from Ahrefs’ choices? Do you want complete information past what free instruments present? Do you’ve gotten the finances to help a long-term subscription? Do you’ve gotten the metrics to measure success with Ahrefs? Can Ahrefs combine easily into your present workflow?
In case you answered sure to the entire above, go for it! But when finances is a sticking level, loads of options provide related aggressive insights that will help you drive web optimization outcomes.
Take a look at six AIO methods that your web optimization and content material advertising workforce can use to drive visitors to your web site.