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The 8 best Ahrefs alternatives in 2027

Ahrefs has some of the best SEO data there is. People look elsewhere when they need a broader toolkit, a lower price, or someone to actually do the SEO. Here are the alternatives.

By the Votrix team · Updated October 2026

The short answer

Ahrefs is a research tool; the right alternative depends on what you want besides data.

  • Broader toolkit Semrush: SEO plus content, ads and AI tracking.
  • Best value SE Ranking: the essentials for less.
  • SEO and GEO, run every week Votrix AI: Riya does the research and the work.
  • Backlinks only Majestic: deep link data.
  • Beginners Ubersuggest or Mangools: simple and cheap.
  • Free Google Search Console: your own site's data.

Why people switch

Why people look for an Ahrefs alternative

  • Add-ons add up. AI search tracking and content tools are paid add-ons on top of the plan.
  • Built for specialists. The data is deep, and reading it well takes experience.
  • Data isn't work. Ahrefs finds the opportunities; writing pages, fixing issues and earning links is on you.
  • AI search matters now. Owners want to show up in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews, not just in rankings.

How we picked

What we looked at

Who does the work

Does it show you data, or get the SEO done?

Depth of data

Keywords, competitors and backlinks.

AI search

Does it cover ChatGPT, Claude and Google AI Overviews?

Ease

Can a business owner use it without an SEO background?

The list

The 8 best Ahrefs alternatives

1

Semrush

Best for: All-in-one SEO and marketing toolkit for teams

A large SEO and marketing platform: keyword, competitor and backlink research, site audits, rank tracking, content tools and AI search tracking.

Good

  • Huge keyword and competitor databases
  • Many tools in one account
  • AI search tracking built into its plans

Watch out for

  • A lot to learn for a non-specialist
  • Higher plans and add-ons get expensive
  • Shows what to fix; you do the fixing

Pick it if you have someone who does SEO and wants every tool in one place.

Visit semrush.com Read Semrush vs Ahrefs
2

SE Ranking

Best for: Good-value all-in-one SEO for small teams and agencies

An SEO platform with rank tracking, keyword research, audits, white-label reports and an AI Search add-on.

Good

  • Strong value for the features
  • White-label reports for agencies
  • 14-day free trial

Watch out for

  • Smaller databases than Semrush or Ahrefs
  • AI search tracking is an add-on
  • You still do the SEO

Pick it if you want most of Semrush's toolkit for less.

Visit seranking.com Read Votrix vs SE Ranking
3

Moz Pro

Best for: Approachable SEO research and Domain Authority

A long-standing SEO toolkit with Keyword Explorer, site crawls, rank tracking and Domain Authority, plus a big learning community.

Good

  • Approachable for learners
  • Domain Authority as a familiar benchmark
  • Lots of free learning material

Watch out for

  • Smaller link and keyword data than the leaders
  • AI search isn't its focus
  • Research only; the work is yours

Pick it if you're learning SEO and want a friendly toolkit.

Visit moz.com Read Ahrefs vs Moz
4

Votrix AI

Best for: Businesses that need SEO and AI search worked on every week, not another dashboard

Riya, Votrix's SEO specialist, does the work a tool leaves to you: keyword research, site audits, complete pages and the exact fixes, then tracks Google rankings and what ChatGPT, Claude and Google AI Overviews say about you. On a site built by Maya the changes go live the same day, and every visitor and inquiry is tracked.

Good

  • The work gets done: pages written, fixes shipped
  • Google and AI search worked on together
  • Weekly report in plain words, with what's next
  • Traffic lands on a website built to turn it into inquiries

Pick it if you want more customers from search, not more SEO data to read.

More about Votrix AI Read Votrix vs Ahrefs
5

Ubersuggest

Best for: Cheap, simple keyword ideas for beginners

Neil Patel's beginner-friendly SEO tool: keyword ideas, site audits and rank tracking, with lifetime plans.

Good

  • Low cost, including lifetime plans
  • Easy to understand
  • Good enough for basic keyword ideas

Watch out for

  • Less depth than professional tools
  • AI search isn't its focus
  • You still do the work

Pick it if you're on a tight budget and doing basic SEO yourself.

Visit neilpatel.com Read Ahrefs vs Ubersuggest
6

Mangools

Best for: Simple, affordable keyword research

A small suite (KWFinder, SERPChecker, SERPWatcher and more) built around easy keyword research.

Good

  • Very easy keyword difficulty scores
  • Affordable plans
  • Clean interface

Watch out for

  • Lighter on audits and backlinks
  • Not for large teams
  • You do the SEO yourself

Pick it if keyword research is the main thing you need.

Visit mangools.com Read Votrix vs Ubersuggest
7

Majestic

Best for: Backlink analysis only

A backlink specialist with a large link index and its Trust Flow and Citation Flow scores.

Good

  • Deep backlink data
  • Trust Flow and Citation Flow metrics
  • Lower cost than all-in-one suites

Watch out for

  • Backlinks only
  • Dated interface
  • No content or AI search tools

Pick it if backlinks are the only thing you need to research.

Visit majestic.com Read Votrix vs Ahrefs
8

Google Search Console

Best for: Free data on how your own site does in Google

Google's free tool showing the searches you appear for, clicks, indexing issues and page experience for your own site.

Good

  • Free, straight from Google
  • Real clicks and impressions for your site
  • Indexing and error reports

Watch out for

  • Only your own site, no competitor data
  • Raw data you have to interpret
  • Tells you nothing about AI answers

Pick it if you want free, accurate data on your own site.

Visit search.google.com Read Votrix vs Ahrefs

At a glance

Side by side

Best forWho does the SEOAI searchLearning curve
SemrushBroad toolkitYouBuilt into plansMedium to high
SE RankingValue all-in-oneYouAdd-onMedium
Moz ProApproachable researchYouNot its focusLow to medium
Votrix AISEO and GEO worked on every weekRiya, every weekTracked and worked onNone: plain-word reports
UbersuggestBeginnersYouNot its focusLow
MangoolsKeyword researchYouNot its focusLow
MajesticBacklinks onlyYouNoMedium
Google Search ConsoleYour own site's data, freeYouNoMedium

Details from each company's own website, October 2026.

Questions

What is the best alternative to Ahrefs?

For a broader toolkit, Semrush. For approachable research, Moz. For SEO run long term by a dedicated specialist, Votrix.

Is there a free alternative to Ahrefs?

Google Search Console, and Ahrefs' own free Webmaster Tools for sites you own. Votrix is free to start.

What's the best Ahrefs alternative for backlinks?

Majestic or Semrush for research. If you want links earned, Riya gives you a list of sites worth a link and writes the posts; Victor handles outreach.

Is Ubersuggest as good as Ahrefs?

No; it's simpler and cheaper, fine for beginners. See Ahrefs vs Ubersuggest.

Sources, checked October 2026

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