Best Ahrefs Alternatives in 2025 (Free and Paid)

If you’ve ever tried Ahrefs, you already know it’s one of the most powerful SEO tools in the game from […]

If you’ve ever tried Ahrefs, you already know it’s one of the most powerful SEO tools in the game from keyword research to backlink tracking, it’s like a Swiss Army knife for marketers.

But here’s the deal: not every SaaS startup can afford Ahrefs’ pricing, especially when you’re bootstrapping or testing early growth channels. Paying $99/month (and up to $999/month) can sting when you’re just trying to validate product-market fit.

So the question becomes are there cheaper alternatives to Ahrefs that still deliver real value? The good news: absolutely yes.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through the best Ahrefs alternatives (both free and paid) for SaaS startups in 2025. These tools range from all-in-one SEO platforms like Semrush and Moz Pro to free gems like Google Keyword Planner and Ubersuggest.

Let’s dive in 👇

Want to explore Ahrefs yourself?

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Top 8 Best Ahrefs Alternatives

Ahrefs Alternatives

Looking for cheaper or free Ahrefs alternatives? Discover the best SEO tools for keyword research, backlink analysis, and rank tracking without breaking the bank.

1.Semrush – Ahrefs Alternative

Semrush

The Most Comprehensive Ahrefs Alternative

Overview:

Semrush is one of the closest competitors to Ahrefs, offering deep insights into keywords, competitors, backlinks, and content. It’s especially powerful for SaaS marketers focused on growth and visibility.

Key Benefits:

  • All-in-one SEO, PPC, and content marketing toolkit
  • In-depth keyword analysis with traffic estimation
  • Strong competitor and backlink tracking features
  • “Keyword Magic Tool” for content ideas
  • Site Audit for on-page and technical SEO
  • Position Tracking to monitor ranking trends
  • SEO Writing Assistant to optimize content for Google
  • Integration with Google Analytics & Search Console

Pros:

  • More features for content and PPC than Ahrefs
  • Excellent reporting and keyword tracking
  • Great UI with detailed data visualization

Cons:

  • Pricing can still be steep for small startups
  • Some keyword metrics differ slightly from Ahrefs

Pricing:

Starts at $129.95/month, with a 7-day free trial.

Ubersuggest – Best Free Ahrefs Alternative

Ubersuggest

Best Free Ahrefs Alternative for Beginners

Overview:

Developed by Neil Patel, Ubersuggest is a fantastic option if you’re looking for an Ahrefs free alternative. It’s beginner-friendly and covers keyword research, site audits, and backlink tracking.

Key Benefits:

  • Keyword ideas with search volume and difficulty
  • Free SEO audit with suggestions
  • Backlink analysis (limited on free plan)
  • Competitor keyword and traffic insights
  • Content ideas for blogs and web pages
  • Chrome extension for on-the-go SEO checks
  • Easy UI with color-coded insights
  • AI writing assistant for quick optimization

Pros:

  • Free version available with solid data
  • Great for small websites or freelancers
  • Easy to understand even for non-SEO folks

Cons:

  • Fewer backlinks and keyword data than Ahrefs
  • Limited export options on the free plan

Pricing:

Free plan available. Paid plans start from $29/month (lifetime deals often offered).

Moz Pro – Trusted SEO Suite

Moz Pro

Trusted SEO Suite for Agencies & SaaS Brands

Overview:

Moz Pro has been an SEO staple for over a decade. It’s an excellent Ahrefs alternative for SaaS startups that need reliability, data accuracy, and a clean UI.

Key Benefits:

  • Keyword Explorer with monthly volume and difficulty
  • Domain Authority (DA) scoring for link building
  • Site Crawl for detecting technical SEO issues
  • Rank tracking for keywords and SERP features
  • Page Optimization metrics
  • Custom reporting tools
  • API for data integration into SaaS platforms
  • Helpful SEO community & guides

Pros:

  • Great for content-driven SaaS businesses
  • Data accuracy and transparency
  • Good UI and learning resources

Cons:

  • Backlink data smaller than Ahrefs
  • Interface can be a bit slower than Semrush

Pricing:

Starts at $99/month, with a 30-day free trial.

Google Keyword Planner – Best Free Tool for Keyword Research

Google Keyword Planner

Best Free Tool for Keyword Research

Overview:

If you’re looking for how to use Ahrefs tool for free, this Google gem is your first stop. Google Keyword Planner gives you real data straight from Google’s search network.

Key Benefits:

  • 100% free to use (requires Google Ads account)
  • Accurate keyword volumes and CPC data
  • Competitiveness insights for PPC and SEO
  • Ideal for SaaS ad campaigns and content ideas
  • Suggests long-tail keyword opportunities
  • Filters by location, language, and device
  • Easy export to CSV for analysis
  • Great pairing with Google Trends

Pros:

  • Free forever
  • Directly sourced from Google data
  • Excellent for initial keyword discovery

Cons:

  • Doesn’t provide backlink or competitor analysis
  • Keyword ranges are broad (not exact numbers)

Pricing:

Completely Free with a Google Ads account.

Google Trends

For Real-Time Search Insights

Overview:

Google Trends is a brilliant free Ahrefs alternative for spotting what’s trending in your industry. It helps you track seasonality and emerging topics before competitors.

Key Benefits:

  • Real-time search trend tracking
  • Compare multiple keywords visually
  • Filter by region, timeframe, or category
  • Identify seasonal demand spikes
  • Perfect for SaaS content ideation
  • Discover rising topics before they peak
  • Integrates well with Keyword Planner
  • Simple, no-login interface

Pros:

  • 100% free and lightweight
  • Great for content timing & trend analysis
  • Pairs well with SEO keyword tools

Cons:

  • Doesn’t show keyword volume
  • Limited for deep SEO or backlink tracking

Pricing:

Completely Free.

SE Ranking

Affordable All-in-One Alternative

Overview:

SE Ranking offers powerful SEO data and rank tracking at a fraction of Ahrefs’ price. It’s perfect for SaaS startups needing scalability.

Key Benefits:

  • Keyword research and SERP tracking
  • Website audit and on-page SEO suggestions
  • Backlink monitoring with alerts
  • Competitor analysis
  • Marketing plan templates
  • White-label reporting for agencies
  • Social media analytics
  • API integration

Pros:

  • Extremely affordable
  • Reliable rank tracking and backlink tools
  • Intuitive dashboard

Cons:

  • Smaller backlink index than Ahrefs
  • Slower data refresh on lower plans

Pricing:

Starts at $55/month, with a 14-day free trial.

Open Source Ahrefs Alternatives

Free Tools for Developers and Data Teams

Overview:

If you’re tech-savvy or want an open-source Ahrefs alternative, these community-built tools analyze SEO metrics using public APIs — great for developers and SaaS data teams.

Popular Options:

  • Serposcope – Open-source rank tracker for Google
  • SEO Panel – Multi-site SEO management tool
  • Screaming Frog (Free version) – Great for crawling & technical SEO
  • Majestic (limited free data) – Backlink insights with Trust Flow metrics

Key Benefits:

  • No monthly subscriptions
  • Customizable and API-friendly
  • Useful for developers or SaaS data teams
  • Good for experimentation and automation
  • Integrates with Google APIs
  • You own your data
  • Scalable for in-house SEO solutions

Pros:

  • Completely free and open-source
  • Flexible integration into SaaS workflows

Cons:

  • Requires some technical know-how
  • Lacks polished UI and customer support

Pricing:

Completely Free (Open-Source).

Mangools (KWFinder + SERPWatcher)

Best for Simplicity

Overview:

Mangools combines KWFinder, SERPChecker, and LinkMiner — offering beginner-friendly yet accurate SEO data. Ideal for smaller SaaS teams that want simplicity and speed.

Key Benefits:

  • Keyword research with search intent data
  • SERP analysis for competitors
  • Backlink insights with LinkMiner
  • Rank tracking (SERPWatcher)
  • Site profiler for domain metrics
  • Intuitive design for non-technical users
  • Excellent for smaller SaaS teams
  • Affordable compared to Ahrefs

Pros:

  • Clean and visual interface
  • Great value for keyword and SERP data
  • Fast learning curve

Cons:

  • Limited backlink index
  • Doesn’t support large-scale projects well

Pricing:

Starts at $49/month, with a 10-day free trial.

Comparison — Best Ahrefs Alternatives (2025)

Best Ahrefs Alternatives — Comparison (2025)

Quick glance: free plan, strengths, best-for use case, and monthly pricing.

Comparison Table: Best Ahrefs Alternatives in 2025
ToolFree PlanStrengthBest ForPricing (Monthly)
SemrushNoComprehensive dataAgencies / Growth SaaS$129.95
UbersuggestYesBudget-friendly SEOStartups / Freelancers$0 – $29
Moz ProYes (Trial)Domain authority & auditsEstablished SaaS teams$99
Google Keyword PlannerYesKeyword volume dataPPC & SEO planningFree
Google TrendsYesTrend insightsContent ideationFree
SE RankingYes (Trial)Rank trackingGrowth SaaS$55
MangoolsYes (Trial)Simplicity & designBeginners$49
Open Source ToolsYesCustom setupsDevelopersFree

Semrush

Comprehensive data — Agencies / Growth SaaS
Free Plan
No
Strength
Comprehensive data
Best For
Agencies / Growth SaaS
Pricing
$129.95 / mo

Ubersuggest

Budget-friendly SEO — Startups / Freelancers
Free Plan
Yes
Strength
Budget-friendly SEO
Best For
Startups / Freelancers
Pricing
$0 – $29

Moz Pro

Domain authority & audits — Established SaaS teams
Free Plan
Yes (Trial)
Strength
DA & audits
Best For
Established SaaS teams
Pricing
$99 / mo

Google Keyword Planner

Keyword volume data — PPC & SEO planning
Free Plan
Yes
Strength
Keyword volume data
Best For
PPC & SEO planning
Pricing
Free

Google Trends

Trend insights — Content ideation
Free Plan
Yes
Strength
Trend insights
Best For
Content ideation
Pricing
Free

SE Ranking

Rank tracking — Growth SaaS
Free Plan
Yes (Trial)
Strength
Rank tracking
Best For
Growth SaaS
Pricing
$55 / mo

Mangools

Simplicity & design — Beginners
Free Plan
Yes (Trial)
Strength
Simplicity & design
Best For
Beginners
Pricing
$49 / mo

Open Source Tools

Custom setups — Developers
Free Plan
Yes
Strength
Custom setups
Best For
Developers
Pricing
Free

My Personal Story: How I Built My Own Free Ahrefs Stack

When I first started working on my SaaS projects, I desperately wanted to use Ahrefs. Everyone I followed from SEO experts to SaaS founders — seemed to swear by it.

But the reality?
The $99/month price tag felt like a luxury I couldn’t justify at the time. I was still testing ideas, running small campaigns, and trying to keep expenses low.

So I decided to do what every resourceful marketer eventually learns I built my own “Ahrefs-free system” using different tools that cost absolutely nothing.

Here’s how it started:

I spent a weekend exploring free SEO tools, testing them one by one. For keyword research, I used Google Keyword Planner and Ubersuggest. Between those two, I could find search volume, difficulty, and related keywords — just like Ahrefs’ Keyword Explorer.

For backlink checks, I discovered the Ahrefs Free Backlink Checker (yes, they have one!) and combined it with Moz Link Explorer. I started tracking who was linking to my competitors and slowly built outreach lists from there.

When it came to technical SEO, Google Search Console became my best friend. It showed me crawling errors, indexing issues, and Core Web Vitals — insights that Ahrefs Site Audit normally provides.

And for content ideas, I leaned on Google Trends and AnswerThePublic. These tools helped me find what people were actually searching for in real time — perfect for SaaS blog planning.

Soon, I had built a workflow that covered nearly everything Ahrefs offered, but without paying a single dollar.

The best part?
This process taught me more about SEO fundamentals than any expensive subscription ever could. It forced me to understand data, connect dots between different tools, and focus on what truly drives organic growth strategy and consistency.

“You don’t need Ahrefs when you have curiosity, consistency, and a few free tools that play well together.”

And that’s exactly how I grew my first few SaaS sites — one free insight at a time.

5 Free SEO Tools by Ahrefs to Improve SEO

Ahrefs Alternatives FAQs

FAQs About Ahrefs Alternatives

1. What is the best free Ahrefs alternative? +
👉 Ubersuggest and Google Keyword Planner are the top free Ahrefs alternatives for 2025.
2. How can I use Ahrefs for free? +
Ahrefs offers limited free access through Ahrefs Webmaster Tools, where you can audit your own website and view some backlink data.
3. Which tool is cheaper than Ahrefs? +
SE Ranking, Mangools, and Ubersuggest offer similar features at less than half the cost of Ahrefs.
4. What’s better: Ahrefs or Semrush? +
Semrush is stronger for content and PPC data; Ahrefs excels at backlinks and site exploration.
5. Is Google Keyword Planner accurate for SEO? +
Yes, it’s great for keyword volume and competition insights, but it lacks backlink and SERP tracking.
6. What is Ahrefs’ pricing in 2025? +
Ahrefs pricing starts at $99/month for Lite and goes up to $999/month for Enterprise.
7. Are open-source SEO tools worth it? +
If you have technical skills, yes. Tools like Serposcope or SEO Panel can replace parts of Ahrefs for free.
8. What’s the best Ahrefs alternative for SaaS startups? +
Semrush for all-in-one insights, Ubersuggest for affordability, and Moz Pro for established teams.

Conclusion: Which Ahrefs Alternative Should You Choose?

Here’s the truth: you don’t need Ahrefs to win at SEO.

If you’re just starting your SaaS, Ubersuggest or Google Keyword Planner might give you 80% of the insights for free.

If you’re scaling and need all-in-one visibility, Semrush is your best bet.
And if you love flexibility or tinkering? Try open-source SEO tools like Serposcope.

The best approach?
Mix and match one for keyword data, one for backlinks, and one for trends.

Because at the end of the day, great SEO isn’t about expensive tools — it’s about consistent, smart execution.
Picture of Khadin Akbar

Khadin Akbar

I am a AI SEO & Marketing Automation Consultant and Udemy instructor with 300,000+ students on Udemy. I am founder @ SaasPedia where we help Startups with AI SEO & Marketing Automation.

I help Saas Founders, Entrepreneurs and Agencies in Branding, PR & SEO to Grow Traffic, Sales & MMR with AI

View on Udemy

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