Best Ahrefs Alternatives for 2025: Budget-Friendly SEO Tools
Key Takeaways
- •Best Overall Alternative: SE Ranking ($65/mo) - Most similar feature set at 50% lower price
- •Best Budget Option: Ubersuggest ($29/mo or $290 lifetime) - Basic features, great for beginners
- •Best for Keyword Research: Mangools/KWFinder ($29/mo) - Simpler, focused toolset
- •Best Enterprise Alternative: SEMrush ($139.95/mo) - More features, slightly higher price
Why Look for Ahrefs Alternatives?#
Ahrefs is widely considered the gold standard for SEO tools, particularly for backlink analysis. However, with the Lite plan starting at $129/month (now with credit-based usage limits) and the Standard plan at $249/month for unlimited credits, it is not accessible for everyone.
Whether you are a freelancer watching your budget, a small business owner needing basic SEO insights, or an agency looking for better value, there are excellent alternatives that provide similar capabilities at lower price points.
Top 8 Ahrefs Alternatives#
When to Choose Each Alternative#
Choose SE Ranking when:
- You want the closest Ahrefs experience at lower cost
- You need white-label reporting for clients
- You want AI-powered features (AI Results Tracker)
- You need Looker Studio integration on Pro+ plans
Choose Ubersuggest when:
- You are a blogger or small business on a tight budget
- You want a lifetime deal to avoid recurring costs
- You only need basic keyword and site audit features
- You are just learning SEO fundamentals
Choose Mangools when:
- Keyword research is your primary need
- You prefer simplicity over feature depth
- You find Ahrefs or SEMrush overwhelming
- You want accurate keyword difficulty without complexity
Choose SEMrush when:
- You also need PPC and advertising research
- You want integrated social media tools
- You are an agency needing comprehensive reporting
- Budget is less constrained and you want the most features
Pricing Comparison#
| Entry | Mid-Tier | Advanced | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ahrefs | $129/mo | $249/mo | $449/mo |
| SE Ranking | $65/mo | $119/mo | $259/mo |
| SEMrush | $139.95/mo | $249.95/mo | $499.95/mo |
| Moz Pro | $49/mo | $179/mo | $299/mo |
| Mangools | $29/mo | $44/mo | $89/mo |
| Ubersuggest | $29/mo | $49/mo | $99/mo |
| Serpstat | $69/mo | $149/mo | $299/mo |
| Majestic | $49.99/mo | $99.99/mo | $399.99/mo |
Feature Comparison#
| SE Ranking | Mangools | Ubersuggest | Moz Pro | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Backlink Analysis | ||||
| Keyword Research | ||||
| Rank Tracking | ||||
| Site Audit | ||||
| Competitor Analysis | ||||
| Content Tools | ||||
| White-Label Reports | Medium+ | |||
| API Access | Business | All plans |
Free Alternatives Worth Trying
Frequently Asked Questions#
What is the cheapest Ahrefs alternative with good backlink data?
Majestic at $49.99/month offers specialized backlink analysis with Trust Flow and Citation Flow metrics. For an all-in-one tool, SE Ranking at $65/month provides backlink analysis plus keyword research, rank tracking, and site audits.
Is SE Ranking as good as Ahrefs?
SE Ranking covers most of the same features as Ahrefs at a lower price point. However, Ahrefs has a larger and more frequently updated backlink index. For most users, SE Ranking is sufficient. Power users focused on link building may still prefer Ahrefs.
Can Ubersuggest replace Ahrefs?
For basic SEO needs like keyword research and simple site audits, Ubersuggest can work. However, it has significantly less backlink data and feature depth compared to Ahrefs. It is best suited for beginners and small sites, not professional SEO work.
What free tools can I use instead of Ahrefs?
Google Search Console provides real ranking and click data. Ahrefs Webmaster Tools is free for verified sites with Site Audit and limited backlink data. Google Keyword Planner gives search volume estimates. Screaming Frog is free for up to 500 URLs for technical audits.
Product Manager at BestPage. Pioneer in AEO research since 2024, exploring the convergence of SEO and GEO (Generative Engine Optimization). Led multiple AI-powered content optimization projects that achieved 300%+ citation increases in ChatGPT and Perplexity.