Ahrefs begins at $108 a month, which provides as much as about $1,200 a 12 months for a plan designed for small companies. For those who’re a contract search engine optimisation advisor or run an enterprise, you will be shelling out anyplace between $2,400 to $14,990 per 12 months.
Having used Ahrefs for almost eight years throughout freelance and full-time content material advertising and marketing roles, I perceive why you would possibly select it over different search engine optimisation instruments. Ahrefs has come a great distance since its days as a link-building software ten years again. At the moment, it packs loads of options like web site audit, AI content material grader, and Pages 2.0 report.
However let’s deal with the large query: is Ahrefs price it? Spoiler alert: I received’t provide the traditional ‘it relies upon’ reply we frequently hear in most search engine optimisation and content material advertising and marketing conversations.
For context, some customers famous a 29% worth enhance in 2024, which most likely makes you concentrate on potential future worth hikes. On the flip aspect, Ahrefs launched a extra inexpensive Starter plan, which supplies you 100 credit for $29 each month.
Whilst you can proceed utilizing their free webmaster instruments, what must you consider when contemplating an improve? Many search engine optimisation specialists ask, “Is Ahrefs definitely worth the subscription worth in 2025?” This assessment will discover precisely that query, and extra.
Ahrefs ranks #16 as per G2’s Fall 2025 Grid Report for search engine optimisation instruments. Consumers are inspired to contemplate particular person wants when making buy selections.
What’s the distinction between Ahrefs’ free and paid instruments?
Skip this part for those who aren’t new to search engine optimisation.
Ahrefs doesn’t supply a free trial. Evaluating Ahrefs’ free search engine optimisation instruments with the paid variations isn’t actually truthful. Many of the free instruments they provide are for easy duties that learners might discover helpful. However for those who’re hoping to get severe work executed, these free instruments received’t take you far.
| Options | Free Instruments | Paid Plan |
| Dashboard | ||
| Website explorer | ||
| Key phrase explorer | ||
| Website audit | ||
| Rank tracker | ||
| Aggressive evaluation | ||
| SERP historical past | ||
| Web page examine |
Ahrefs gives eight free search engine optimisation instruments:
- Key phrase generator: Generate as much as 20 key phrases
- Key phrase problem checker: Consider how exhausting it’s to rank for a specific key phrase
- SERP checker: Have a look at the SERP overview of the primary 4 outcomes
- Key phrase rank checker: Examine in case your web site ranks within the high 100 for a particular key phrase
- Backlink checker: See the area ranking of your web site and the whole variety of backlinks
- Damaged hyperlink checker: Discover the variety of damaged hyperlinks in your web site
- Web site authority checker: Examine your web site’s authority
- Web site visitors checker: See your web site’s natural visitors and visitors worth
As you possibly can see, these instruments are fairly restricted. That stated, Ahrefs Webmaster Instruments provides web site homeowners restricted free entry to web site explorer and web site audit options. Let’s get to the great half and see if the paid plans are price your cash.
Are Ahrefs options definitely worth the worth? What G2 customers assume
G2 customers admire Ahrefs’ web site explorer, backlink checker, aggressive evaluation, key phrase explorer, web site audit, and alternatives options. I completely agree—these options are a goldmine for search engine optimisation and content material advertising and marketing professionals who want information to determine what’s working, what isn’t, and what wants fixing. Let’s see how these options may also help you:
Website explorer
That is the part the place you land after logging into Ahrefs. Website explorer analyzes an internet site’s natural visitors, complete key phrases, and backlinks. One of the best a part of this function is that it compiles all this search engine optimisation information right into a single dashboard.
One factor I actually like about web site explorer is the way it provides location-specific visitors insights. Plus, I can join these insights with content material modifications and algorithm updates, proven by inexperienced circles and “a” symbols on the timeline.
Website explorer additionally exhibits you natural key phrases by intent, lists your high natural opponents, and categorizes crawled pages with their HTTP codes.
What G2 customers are saying:
“Ahrefs gives loads of options with an abundance of information to assist higher evaluation, such because the Website Explorer software to see the place a web site stands in its total efficiency, the Key phrase Explorer software to search out trending low competitors key phrases to work on, the Website Audit function to audit how efficient the efforts are and to determine gaps, and the Rank Tracker software to see how the positioning is performing compared to opponents.”
– Ahrefs Assessment, Jayant G., Search Engine Optimization Analyst
Backlink checker
Probably the most widespread buy drivers is hyperlink constructing. Many individuals ask, “Is Ahrefs price paying for if I focus totally on hyperlink constructing?” The Backlink checker does what it says; it exhibits you the whole backlink profile of an internet site.
Most search engine optimisation instruments supply one thing comparable, however I just like the number of filters you need to use right here. For instance, you possibly can filter backlinks by varieties, DR of internet sites from the place they arrive, visitors of referring domains, anchor textual content, and even by date vary.
What G2 customers are saying:
“I can’t not point out the backlink profile. This software is superb for checking the standard and amount of backlinks each for my web site and my opponents. Seeing the hyperlink progress over time, the highest referring domains, and the general backlink profile helps me fine-tune my link-building methods.”
– Ahrefs Assessment, Sanjay G., Content material Technique Head
Aggressive evaluation
This function helps with a content material hole evaluation of your web site by evaluating what your opponents rank for versus what you don’t. Enter your web site’s area and one or two competitor URLs to get began. The truth is, “Is Ahrefs price it for monitoring competitor backlinks in 2025?” is likely one of the high questions customers ask.
The content material hole report gives a ton of information, however you should know why you’re doing the aggressive evaluation within the first place. That’s when you need to use the completely different filters like SERP options, key phrase problem, key phrase, and search quantity in the suitable method.
For instance, if I’m engaged on a featured snippet mission, it is smart to trace which key phrases my opponents use to drive visitors from featured snippets and AI overviews (AIOs). I’m not saying it’s important to write utilizing these key phrases. But when you have already got content material focusing on them, it is likely to be price optimizing them to rank for featured snippets or AIOs.
Key phrase explorer
That is maybe probably the most generally used software by learners and execs alike. Key phrase analysis software enables you to analyze key phrases, their search volumes, CPC, CTR, and the historical past of SERP positions. Many informal customers surprise, “Is Ahrefs price it if I solely do key phrase analysis often?” For these circumstances, starter choice might suffice.
I like how Ahrefs has developed over the previous few years to offer extra key phrase information. You may filter key phrases by dad or mum subject, verify how their search volumes have modified over the past 12 months, see their visitors potential, and even assess their intent.
One other standout function for me is the flexibility to match right now’s SERP with what it seemed like three or six months in the past. It really works nice while you’re making an attempt to determine whether or not your article visitors has dropped resulting from intent shifts or competitor developments.
You can too use AI to search out ache factors, technical ideas, and subtopics associated to your subjects.
Key phrase explorer helps discover information on particular key phrases however doesn’t routinely uncover new key phrases to focus on.
What G2 customers are saying:
“I like how Key phrase Explorer offers the key phrase with its problem and click on ratio. Click on ratio is essential for us; it is the true metric that helps us perceive whether or not to make it a main or secondary key phrase.”
– Ahrefs Assessment, Nitin R., Vice President search engine optimisation
Website audit
Ahrefs’ web site audit options crawls and scans your web site pages for over 170 technical and on-page points, together with core internet vitals, indexability, social tags, redirects, and JS/CSS points. In the long run, you get a well being rating that exhibits the proportion of error-free inner URLs in your web site. You additionally get suggestions on fixing technical and on-page search engine optimisation points.
My tackle it? You don’t must be in technical search engine optimisation to get probably the most out of the positioning audit function. I not too long ago used the positioning audit to search out and repair pages with damaged hyperlinks and 404 errors as a part of an interlinking mission.
What G2 customers are saying:
“I’ve by no means seen such an in-depth but easy-to-understand breakdown of my web site’s well being. From efficiency points to damaged hyperlinks, from safety points to content material high quality, Ahrefs’ web site audit software provides me an in depth report with strategies for fixes. It is virtually like having a private search engine optimisation advisor!”
– Ahrefs Assessment, Sanjay G., Content material Technique Head
Alternatives
If you enter an internet site URL in Website Explorer, you’ll come throughout the Alternatives function on the left panel. This part exhibits you low-hanging fruit key phrases, featured snippet alternatives, content material with declining visitors, and a lot extra.
This function turns out to be useful once I wish to shortly consider completely different alternatives earlier than pursuing them.
Sufficient about the good things; let’s have a look at the place Ahrefs falls quick.
What do G2 customers dislike about Ahrefs?
The notorious credit score system, together with excessive pricing and poor buyer help, appears to be the highest the reason why G2 customers dislike Ahrefs. Let’s break these down.
Credit score system
Ahrefs tracks information utilization with credit. All instruments besides Website Audit and Rank Tracker devour 1 credit score while you entry reviews, apply filters, or request new information. Standalone instruments like Batch Evaluation, Web page Examine, and Looker Studio additionally use credit while you entry them.
All pricing plans, besides the Lite plan, include limitless credit. On the Lite plan, you stand up to 500 credit per person every month, and for those who go over that restrict, you’ll be charged further.
For customers on the Lite plan, further credit value:
- $50 per 500 credit (pay-as-you-go), billed month-to-month
- $300 yearly to prepay for 500 further credit every month
Many customers aren’t large followers of this credit score system, particularly companies managing a number of accounts.
What G2 customers are saying:
“The credit score system will not be preferrred for company customers. I’ve a yearly subscription of $1990, however it might value me a further $500 to $600 per thirty days, leading to a complete value of round $8000 per 12 months. With this price range, there are a lot of different choices accessible out there. It would not value as a lot even when I select to make use of 2 to three instruments concurrently.”
– Ahrefs Assessment, Yannick X., Small Enterprise
Excessive costs
Customers discover Ahrefs’ pricing fashions complicated due to the credit score system. Some have additionally famous that Ahrefs’ costs are comparatively larger than these of different search engine optimisation instruments accessible available on the market.
What G2 customers are saying:
“It is pricing is at all times altering. After being compelled emigrate from a legacy account, I migrated to a dearer plan. After a couple of weeks of utilizing it, I spotted I could not use to software anymore as a result of I hit my utilization restrict. That restrict? 600 occasions a month.
I’ve by no means used a software that’s this costly and has a fundamental utilization restrict. I pay over $2,000 a 12 months to be closely restricted within the utilization of the software. How am I anticipated to drive worth and study new options and functionalities of the software if I am unable to even use it to the day-to-day requirement stage?”
– Ahrefs Assessment, Levi O., Affiliate Director, Content material Advertising
Poor buyer help
Customers additionally cite a scarcity of empathetic customer support as another excuse they dislike Ahrefs. Some critiques level out that customers couldn’t attain their CSMs once they wanted assist.
What G2 customers are saying:
“For those who made your account over two weeks in the past, you’re locked out of recent options below the identical plan on the similar worth. The woman from the stay chat insisted the one method to repair it was to cancel our account and begin a brand new one.
That is insane. Are new options being locked out from current subscribers on the similar stage? At earlier positions, I used to be in a position to make use of the beta model of recent options. Now, I am unable to even get what I paid for.
Customer support was of completely no assist. Simply the identical circles time and again. And once I tried to succeed in out to the help e-mail, it simply took me to the identical precise one that refused to assist us.”
– Ahrefs Assessment, Brandon S., Search Engine Optimization Supervisor
How a lot does Ahrefs value in 2025?
Ahrefs gives 5 pricing choices: Starter, Lite, Normal, Superior, and Enterprise.
- Starter plan prices you $29/month and is ideal for learners. It offers entry to fundamental options like Website Explorer, Key phrases Explorer, and Website Audit.
- Lite plan prices you $1,290 per 12 months or $129 per thirty days for those who select to pay month-to-month. It options six months of historical past, 500 credit per person, and 750 tracked key phrases.
- Normal plan prices $2,490 per 12 months or $249 when paid month-to-month. It consists of 20 initiatives, two years of historical past, limitless credit, and a pair of,000 tracked key phrases.
- Superior plan prices $4,490 per 12 months or $449 per thirty days. It options 5 years of historical past, limitless credit, 50 initiatives, and 5,000 tracked key phrases.
- Enterprise plan prices $14,990 yearly. This plan provides you 100 initiatives, limitless historical past, limitless credit, and 10,000 tracked key phrases.
* Pricing information is correct as of September 2025 and will change with future updates.
How does Ahrefs examine to SEMrush and different search engine optimisation instruments?
Nonetheless undecided between Ahrefs and its opponents? A side-by-side comparability could make the choice simpler. Under is a fast snapshot of how Ahrefs stacks up in opposition to Semrush and Moz Professional throughout pricing, options, and finest use circumstances.
| Options | Ahrefs | SEMrush | Moz Professional |
| Value (annual billing) | $108/month | $117.33/month | $39/month |
| Free trial | ❌ | ✅ 7 days | ✅ 30 days |
| Backlink evaluation | Finest-in-class | Robust | Primary |
| Key phrase analysis depth | Intensive | Intensive | Restricted |
| Website audit protection | 170+ checks | Strong | Reasonable |
| Competitor evaluation | Sure | Sure | Restricted |
| AI options | AI Content material Grader, Pages 2.0 | search engine optimisation Writing Assistant | ❌ |
| Finest match | Content material groups and search engine optimisation execs | Companies (search engine optimisation + PPC) | Freshmen and groups with a smaller price range |
TL;DR:
- Ahrefs: Finest for deep backlink evaluation and key phrase analysis, however no free trial.
- Semrush: Robust all-in-one software for companies (search engine optimisation + PPC), barely dearer than Ahrefs.
- Moz Professional: Finances-friendly starter choice, however much less highly effective for aggressive analysis.
What Ahrefs alternate options do G2 customers suggest?
Whereas Ahrefs continues to be a preferred selection amongst content material advertising and marketing and search engine optimisation professionals, G2 customers additionally suggest instruments like Google Search Console, Semrush, Moz Professional, and SE Rating.
Ahrefs: Steadily requested questions (FAQs)
Q. Is Ahrefs definitely worth the subscription worth in 2025?
Sure. For groups that rely closely on search engine optimisation insights — like monitoring backlinks, working audits, and competitor evaluation — Ahrefs continues to offer robust ROI in 2025. Solo customers might discover the fee more durable to justify.
Q. How efficient is Ahrefs for small companies and startups?
Ahrefs is highly effective however usually expensive for startups. Many small companies begin with free instruments like Google Search Console, then improve to Ahrefs once they want deeper backlink or aggressive information.
Q. Is Ahrefs price it in comparison with free search engine optimisation instruments like Google Search Console?
Ahrefs offers way more depth in backlink monitoring, key phrase analysis, and aggressive evaluation than GSC. That stated, GSC stays the most effective free baseline for web site homeowners.
Q. Does Ahrefs supply a free trial?
No, Ahrefs doesn’t supply a free trial, which may make it difficult for brand spanking new customers to find out whether or not it’s the suitable match for them.
Q. Does Ahrefs present sufficient worth for bloggers and content material creators?
Sure. If content material is your essential progress channel. Bloggers use Ahrefs to find key phrase gaps, analyze competitor content material, and determine hyperlink alternatives.
Q. Is Ahrefs price it if I solely do key phrase analysis often?
In all probability not. Occasional key phrase analysis could be dealt with with Google Key phrase Planner or Semrush’s free tier. Ahrefs makes extra sense if key phrase information is a weekly or every day want.
Q. How does Ahrefs examine to Semrush and different search engine optimisation instruments?
Ahrefs excels in backlink information and key phrase depth, whereas Semrush gives broader all-in-one advertising and marketing options (PPC, social, and content material). Moz is cheaper however much less strong.
Q. Is Ahrefs price paying for if I focus totally on hyperlink constructing?
Sure. Hyperlink constructing is Ahrefs’ authentic energy. Its backlink index is likely one of the largest and most dependable, making it the best choice for hyperlink builders.
Q. Can freelancers and companies justify the price of Ahrefs?
Sure, particularly companies dealing with a number of purchasers. The credit score system could be limiting, however the information depth usually justifies the worth for skilled customers.
Q. Is Ahrefs price it for monitoring competitor backlinks in 2025?
Positively. Competitor backlink monitoring is likely one of the commonest and priceless use circumstances for Ahrefs in 2025.
Q. What do actual customers say about whether or not Ahrefs is price it?
Based on G2 critiques, 77% of customers fee Ahrefs 5 stars. Many spotlight its depth of information, although some observe frustration with pricing and credit.
Q. Is Ahrefs correct?
Based on a examine carried out by AuthorityHacker, Ahrefs has a median discrepancy of twenty-two.5% and 0.99 correlation with Google Search Console (GSC) information. This exhibits that Ahrefs’ high quality of search visitors estimations is at par with GSC.
Q. Ahrefs vs. Semrush: What must you select?
For those who’re simply worth, Ahrefs comes out cheaper for those who pay yearly. Semrush prices $117.33 a month, whereas Ahrefs prices $108 per thirty days on a yearly plan.
Ahrefs gives in-depth backlink evaluation, content material hole identification, and key phrase analysis, whereas Semrush offers strong options for search engine optimisation, PPC, social media administration, and aggressive evaluation. I really feel Ahrefs fits content material entrepreneurs targeted on natural progress, whereas Semrush is finest for companies managing a number of elements of digital advertising and marketing. Be happy to take a look at the most effective alternate options to Semrush, too!
Q. Moz vs. Ahrefs: Which is healthier for search engine optimisation?
Moz is cheaper than Ahrefs. On a yearly plan, Ahrefs prices $108 per thirty days, whereas Moz begins at simply $39 per thirty days. Whereas each search engine optimisation instruments give attention to Google, Moz additionally offers you with information from search engines like google and yahoo like Yahoo and Bing.
A 2022 examine by Tylor Hermanson and his staff discovered Ahrefs ranked for twice as many key phrases as Semrush, which itself had greater than double the key phrases of Moz. For Tylor’s purchasers, Ahrefs delivered almost 5 instances the quantity of rating key phrases in comparison with Moz.
Is Ahrefs price it or overrated? My sincere take
I promised I wouldn’t provide the traditional “it relies upon” reply. So, let’s reduce to the chase: Ahrefs is definitely worth the funding if it aligns along with your objectives and staff construction.
Any funding in content material advertising and marketing instruments is barely worthwhile if it helps you enhance the metrics that matter most to what you are promoting.
So, right here’s what it’s best to ask your self: who in your staff will really use Ahrefs, and the way? In case your reply doesn’t contain no less than two folks, you is likely to be higher off sticking with Google Search Console and Google Key phrase Planner.
However for those who’re fascinated with getting Ahrefs for a staff of writers, content material strategists, and search engine optimisation specialists, you’ve acquired to ask your self a couple of questions. Is your staff aligned on objectives to totally profit from Ahrefs’ choices? Do you want complete information past what free instruments present? Do you’ve gotten the price range to help a long-term subscription? Do you’ve gotten the metrics to measure success with Ahrefs? Can Ahrefs combine easily into your present workflow?
For those who answered sure to all the above, go for it! But when price range is a sticking level, loads of alternate options supply comparable aggressive insights that can assist you drive search engine optimisation outcomes.
Take a look at six AIO methods that your search engine optimisation and content material advertising and marketing staff can use to drive visitors to your web site.
This text was initially revealed in 2024. It has been up to date with new data.
