SEMrush
SEO Tools
4.5
Most Complete SEO SuiteVS
Ahrefs
SEO Tools
4.5
Best Backlink ToolSEMrush wins 4 out of 6 categories we compared.
Data sources:SEMrush OfficialWikipedia APIG2 ReviewsApp TestingAhrefs Official
Score Comparison
Multi-Factor Scores
SEMrushAhrefs
Overall ScoreSEMrush wins
SEMrush9.1
Ahrefs9.0
Ease of UseSEMrush wins
SEMrush8.8
Ahrefs8.6
SpeedAhrefs wins
SEMrush8.7
Ahrefs9.0
PrivacyAhrefs wins
SEMrush8.5
Ahrefs8.8
ValueSEMrush wins
SEMrush8.5
Ahrefs8.4
FeaturesSEMrush wins
SEMrush9.6
Ahrefs9.3
Pricing
Cost Comparison
SEMrush
Free planStarting price£0 (limited) / ~£110/mo (Pro)
Top plan~£375/mo (Business)
NoteBilled annually for 17% discount
Ahrefs
Free planStarting price£0 (Webmaster Tools) / ~£99/mo (Lite)
Top plan~£399/mo (Enterprise)
NoteNo annual billing discount
Prices are approximate. Check official sites for current offers.
Feature Checklist
Feature-by-Feature
| Feature | SEMrush | Ahrefs |
|---|---|---|
| Keyword research | ||
| Competitor analysis | — | |
| Site audit | ||
| Rank tracking | ||
| Content marketing tools | — | |
| PPC research | — | |
| Social media tools | — | |
| Free plan available | ||
| Backlink analysis | — | |
| Content explorer | — |
SEMrush
SEO Tools
What you'll love
- Most comprehensive SEO toolset on the market
- Excellent content marketing and competitor research
- PPC, social, and PR tools included
- Best-in-class keyword research database
What could be better
- Expensive for small businesses and freelancers
- Can be overwhelming for SEO beginners
- Data accuracy varies by market
Trust score
88%
Ahrefs
SEO Tools
What you'll love
- Best backlink database in the industry
- Powerful keyword explorer with search intent data
- Clean, intuitive interface
- Free Webmaster Tools for site owners
What could be better
- No PPC or social media tools
- Expensive compared to SEMrush for agencies
- Content marketing features less mature
Trust score
89%
Best For
Who Should Choose Which?
Choose SEMrush if you are…
SEO professionals & agencies
Digital marketers
E-commerce businesses
Choose Ahrefs if you are…
SEO professionals
Link builders
Content strategists
SEMrush at a glance
Founded2008
Users10M+
PlatformsWeb
Trust score88%
Ahrefs at a glance
Founded2010
Users1M+
PlatformsWeb
Trust score89%
Final Verdict
SEMrush wins this comparison
SEMrush outperforms Ahrefs across 4 of 6 compared categories. It is our "Most Complete SEO Suite" pick.