Semrush vs 
Ahrefs
For: Keyword and topic research. Who each tool suits, checked features, real cost by profile and public ratings.
Which one fits you
Pick Semrush if...
- You want to try it without paying: the free plan gives 1 demo project and 10 reports a day, no card needed.
- You want to try a paid plan before committing: Semrush offers a 7-day free trial.
- You track rankings daily: the SEO plan tracks 500 keywords a day across 5 websites, for $139.95/month ($117.33 billed yearly).
- You want to plug Semrush into your AI assistant: MCP access comes with SEO + AI Search Starter, at $199/month ($165.17 billed yearly), with 50 AI prompts tracked daily.
Pick Ahrefs if...
- You want the smallest paid budget: Starter costs $29/month for keyword research and competitor analysis.
- You want a free plan for your own site: Ahrefs Free gives limited access to Site Explorer and Site Audit.
- You track more keywords: Lite tracks 750, updated weekly, for $129/month ($108 billed yearly).
- You want the API and MCP without paying for the top tier: they come with Lite.
Based on the official pages and our data, checked on October 26, 2026. We have not tested these tools.
Quiz: which one fits you?
Answer 3 questions, your result shows up right below.
Recommendation based on published prices and features, not on a test.
Third-party ratings
Public ratings from third-party platforms, checked on October 26, 2026. These are not our tests.
Product Hunt
Semrush4.4/5 from 41 reviews
Ahrefs4.6/5 from 42 reviews
No rating found on Trustpilot, G2 and Capterra.
Features
| Semrush | Ahrefs | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | ✓ 1 demo project, 10 reports a day, no card | ✓ Ahrefs Free: limited Site Explorer and Site Audit |
| Free trial | ✓ 7 days | ✕ none, and no discounts according to the pricing page |
| Entry paid price | ✓ SEO $139.95/month, $117.33 billed yearly | ✓ Starter $29/month |
| Tracked keywords | ✓ 500 daily (SEO and Starter), 1,500 on Pro+ | ✓ 750 on Lite (weekly updates), 2,000 on Standard, 5,000 on Advanced |
| History | ✓ historical data from Pro+ | ✓ 6 months on Lite, 2 years on Standard, 5 years on Advanced |
| Extra users | ✓ from $45/month per extra user | ✓ $40/month on Lite (up to 2), $60 on Standard, $80 on Advanced |
| API and MCP | ✓ MCP from Starter ($199), API on Advanced (custom price) | ✓ API and MCP from Lite |
| AI visibility | ✓ 50 prompts tracked daily from Starter, 100 on Pro+ | ✓ Brand Radar AI add-on, from $199/month |
| Content optimization | ✓ included from Pro+ | ✓ Content Kit add-on, from $99/month |
| Yearly discount | ✓ up to 17% | ✓ Lite at $1,290 a year, or $108/month |
Checked on the official pages on October 26, 2026: www.semrush.com, ahrefs.com. "Not stated": we did not find the information on the official page.
What it really costs
US dollars per month, billed monthly unless stated, from the official pricing pages read on 10/26/2026.
| Profile | Semrush | Ahrefs |
|---|---|---|
| Without paying | Free: 1 demo project | Ahrefs Free: limited tools |
| Entry paid plan, billed monthly | SEO: $139.95 | Starter: $29 |
| Rank tracking, billed monthly | SEO: $139.95 (500 keywords daily) | Lite: $129 (750 keywords weekly) |
| Rank tracking, billed yearly | SEO: $117.33 | Lite: $108 |
| Next tier up, billed monthly | Pro+: $299 (1,500 keywords) | Standard: $249 (2,000 keywords) |
| 2 users, billed monthly | SEO + 1 user: from $184.95 | Lite + 1 user: $169 |
Semrush updates tracked keywords daily, Ahrefs Lite weekly. Ahrefs also counts credits (1,000 per user on Lite). Examples worked out from the prices shown in the US. Prices read on October 26, 2026: ahrefs.com. Always check before you pay.
At a glance
- Category: Semrush: Analytics & research. Ahrefs: SEO & AI search.
- Shared use cases: SEO and AI search visibility, Keyword and topic research, Rank tracking, Link building, Technical SEO audits
- Free plan or trial: Semrush: free, 1 demo project and 10 reports a day. Ahrefs: Ahrefs Free, limited Site Explorer and Site Audit.
- HQ country: Semrush: United States. Ahrefs: Singapore.
- Instagram/LinkedIn rules: Semrush: compliant. Ahrefs: compliant.
How we made this page: facts read on the official pages, no testing on our side. Methodology. Full pages: Semrush, Ahrefs.
Write a review : Semrush Write a review : Ahrefs
FAQ
Semrush or Ahrefs: which one should I pick?
Pick Semrush if you want a free trial, daily rank tracking or a suite that also covers local, content and ads. Pick Ahrefs if you want a small budget with Starter, or the API and MCP from Lite. We have not tested these tools: this is based on their official pages.
What do the public ratings of Semrush and Ahrefs say?
On Product Hunt, Semrush has 4.4/5 from 41 reviews and Ahrefs has 4.6/5 from 42 reviews. These are third-party ratings checked on October 26, 2026, not our tests.
How much do they cost?
Semrush: SEO $139.95/month ($117.33 billed yearly), SEO + AI Search Starter $199 ($165.17), Pro+ $299 ($248.17). Ahrefs: Starter $29/month, Lite $129 ($108 billed yearly), Standard $249 ($208), Advanced $449 ($374).
Can I try them for free?
Semrush has a free plan (1 demo project, 10 reports a day) and a 7-day trial on paid plans. Ahrefs has a free plan limited to your own site, with no trial of the paid plans.
Which connects to Claude or ChatGPT?
Both offer MCP access: Semrush from SEO + AI Search Starter ($199/month), Ahrefs from Lite ($129/month).
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