Head-to-head · facts checked 14 Sept 2026
Ahrefs vs POP
POP uniquely has 2 features · Ahrefs uniquely has 1 feature.
The verdict
Ahrefs or POP?
Section 01
Pricing, plan by plan
Every plan each vendor publishes, monthly and yearly where both are offered.
Ahrefs
Free
Free
Ahrefs data on your own site, key issues to fix
Ahrefs Free
Free
Free access to Ahrefs data on your own site; fix key issues
Starter
$29/mo
Basic keyword and competitor research; see what people search and spy on competitors
Lite
$129/mo · $1,290/yr
5 projects, 750 tracked keywords, 100K crawl credits, 6 months historical data, 1 user
Standard
$249/mo · $2,490/yr
20 projects, 2,000 tracked keywords, 500K crawl credits, 2 years historical data, 1 user
Advanced
$449/mo · $4,490/yr
50 projects, 5,000 tracked keywords, 1.5M crawl credits, 5 years historical data, 1 user
Enterprise
$1,499/mo
All Advanced features plus uncapped API, SSO, unlimited historical data, from 3 users, personalized limits, Annual commitment required
POP
Basic
$40/mo · No yearly plan
20 POP credits/mo, 10 Watchdog pages, core POP reports
Unlimited
$62/mo · $739/yr
Unlimited POP & Watchdog reports, 50 credits/mo, 200 Watchdog pages, bulk optimization Saves $125.
Teams
$143/mo · $1,425/yr
120 credits/mo, 500 Watchdog pages, 5–100 sub-accounts, white-label PDF reports, $12/mo per added seat Saves $291.
White Glove
From $555/mo
Done-for-you on-page SEO service with dedicated account manager and full content delivery
For everything else about each tool, read the full Ahrefs review and POP review.
Side by side
| Company | ||
| Founded | 2011 | 2018 |
| HQ | Singapore | Las Vegas, USA |
| AI model | Proprietary + Claude + Gemini (multi-model) | OpenAI GPT (with BYO API Key option) |
| User base | 1M+ (Fortune 500 widely adopted) | 6,000+ active users |
| Platforms | Web, Chrome Extension, API, MCP Server | Web, Chrome Extension, Google Docs, WordPress, 20+ web builders |
| Languages | 173+ countries/locations covered; multilingual keyword data and AI localization | 61 languages supported |
| Pricing | ||
| Pricing model | Freemium | Subscription |
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Free trial | No | No, but a free no-sign-up page scoring demo and a 7-day refund guarantee |
| Starting price | $29/mo (Starter) | $40/mo (Basic) |
| Enterprise | $1,499/mo (annual commitment) | — |
| Refund policy | Generally no refunds; unused monthly subscriptions may be refunded on request | 7-day refund guarantee (subject to Refund Policy) |
| All plans | Free — Free Ahrefs Free — Free Starter — $29/mo Lite — $129/mo Standard — $249/mo Advanced — $449/mo Enterprise — $1,499/mo | Basic — $40/mo Unlimited — $62/mo Teams — $143/mo White Glove — From $555/mo |
| Positioning | ||
| Best for | SEOs, content marketers, agencies, and enterprise teams needing comprehensive search and AI visibility data | SEO professionals, content agencies, and freelancers focused on on-page optimization |
| Differentiator | The only AI marketing platform built on a proprietary web index powering custom LLMs, combining traditional SEO with AI search visibility tracking (Brand Radar, Agent A) and the world's #1 SEO crawler infrastructure. | POP is built around its proprietary Rank Engine™ trained on 400+ peer-reviewed SEO experiments, delivering scientifically-grounded on-page recommendations rather than generic AI content generation. |
| Competitors | Semrush, Moz, Majestic, Serpstat, SE Ranking | Surfer SEO, Clearscope, MarketMuse, NeuronWriter, Frase |
| Features | ||
| AI Copywriting | ✓ | ✓ |
| Backlink Analysis | ✓ | ✕ |
| Content Brief | ✕ | ✓ |
| Content Editor | ✓ | ✓ |
| GSC Integration | ✓ | ✓ |
| Keyword Clustering | ✓ | ✓ |
| Keyword Research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Long Form Writing | ✕ | ✓ |
| On Page SEO | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rank Tracking | ✓ | ✓ |
| SERP Analysis | ✓ | ✓ |
| Topic Clusters | ✓ | ✓ |
| Integrations | ||
| API Access | ✓ | ✓ |
| Chrome Extension | ✓ | ✓ |
| CMS | — | WordPress, Google Docs, and 20+ web builders via the Chrome extension |
| Google Docs | No | Via Chrome extension only (no add-on) |
| Key Integrations | Google Search Console, Looker Studio (Advanced+), Data Studio Connectors, MCP Server, ChatGPT/Claude/Copilot via API, IndexNow | Chrome Extension (for Google Docs, WordPress and 20+ website editors), OpenAI API (BYO key) |
| Wordpress | No - the Ahrefs SEO WordPress plugin was retired on October 31, 2025 | Via Chrome extension only (no plugin) |
Section 02
Ahrefs vs POP: common questions
Is Ahrefs or POP cheaper?
Ahrefs's cheapest paid plan is $29/mo (Starter) and POP's is $40/mo (Basic). Compare what each plan includes below before going on price alone.
Keep comparing
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