Marketing · SEO and AI search
Ahrefs
SEO platform for keyword, backlink, competitor and site audit research
At a glance
Ahrefs is an SEO platform. It shows which keywords people search for, who ranks for them, which sites link to yours and your competitors’, and what’s technically wrong with your website.
- Category
- SEO and AI search
- Best fit
- SME · Mid-market · Enterprise
- Pricing
- See pricing below
- In Adam’s stack
- Yes
Who Ahrefs is best for
Businesses, marketers and agencies that treat organic search as a serious channel and want data on keywords, competitors and backlinks. Choose it if backlink analysis and competitor research matter most to you.
Key features
- Keyword research with search volumes and difficulty
- Backlink analysis for any website
- Site audits and rank tracking
- Competitor content and traffic analysis
Why it’s worth it
It tells you exactly what your buyers search for and what it would take to rank. Seeing competitors’ best-performing pages gives you a content plan grounded in data rather than guesses.
Things to consider
- Costs climb quickly once you add higher plans, extra seats or add-ons
- The depth of data takes time to learn, and beginners can find the interface overwhelming
- Usage limits on lower plans can restrict how many reports and projects you run
Ahrefs pricing
Cost (ex GST), verified by Adam
Free plan and Starter ≈A$41/mo (US$29). Lite ≈A$184 (US$129), Standard ≈A$356 (US$249), Advanced ≈A$642 (US$449) per month. Extra seats ≈A$57 to A$143. Up to ~17% off annual.
Source: TechRadar; SEOquick; Search Atlas. Checked 1 October 2026. Prices change often, so confirm on the vendor’s site before you buy.
Alternatives to Ahrefs
Other tools listed under SEO and AI search. Tools from Adam’s stack are marked.
SEO, ads and content research, plus an AI visibility toolkit
SMEMid-marketEnterpriseGoogle Search Console
In Adam’s stackFree data on how Google sees your site
SMEMid-marketEnterpriseBing Webmaster Tools
In Adam’s stackFree; Bing’s index feeds Microsoft Copilot
SMEMid-marketEnterpriseLong-standing SEO suite with easy reporting
SMEMid-marketContent optimisation for ranking pages
SMEMid-marketTechnical site crawler for SEO audits
SMEMid-marketEnterpriseTraffic and market intelligence on any website
Mid-marketEnterpriseAnswerThePublic
In Adam’s stackQuestions people search around any topic
SME
FAQ
Ahrefs: common questions
What is Ahrefs used for?
Ahrefs is used for SEO research: finding keywords people search for, seeing who ranks for them, analysing backlinks, auditing websites and tracking rankings.
Is Ahrefs worth it for a small business?
It can be if organic search is an important lead source, as it shows exactly where competitors get traffic. If you only need basics, start with the free plan or Google Search Console before paying.
Ahrefs vs Semrush?
Both cover keyword research, competitor analysis, site audits and rank tracking. Ahrefs is often preferred for backlink data, while Semrush bundles more marketing tools such as advertising research and AI search tracking.
Can’t find a tool that fits?
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