Ahrefs vs Semrush
Semrush scores 8.3 to Ahrefs's 7.7 among the SEO platforms we rate, and is the better pick for 3 of the 4 kinds of buyer below.
Semrush wins, 8.3 to 7.7
Ahrefs starts at $29 a month; Semrush's SEO plan starts at $139.95 a month, more than four times as much. Both keep a free plan of the main product. Semrush's AI Article Generator lives in a separate Content Toolkit subscription, not the SEO plan, while Ahrefs's AI Content Helper only assists inside the editor and does not draft. Ahrefs offers live chat support; Semrush does not.
Pick Ahrefs if you want live chat support and a much lower entry price.
Pick Semrush if you want an all-in-one seo suite and don't mind the price.
Best for
Who each one suits, decided on the criteria that matter to that buyer and the checked facts where the two differ.
- Rank updates: Daily against Weekly / on-demand
- Writes full articles: Semrush yes, Ahrefs no
- Content briefs: Semrush yes, Ahrefs no
- But Ahrefs leads on internal link suggestions: Ahrefs yes, Semrush no
- Monthly price, cheapest paid plan: $29 against $139.95
- But Semrush leads on free trial: 7 days against 0 days
- WordPress: Semrush yes, Ahrefs no
- Google Docs add-on: Semrush yes, Ahrefs no
- White-label reports: Semrush yes, Ahrefs no
- But Ahrefs leads on live chat with a person: Ahrefs yes, Semrush no
How they score
Both are scored the same way, against the other SEO platforms we rate, from facts on each vendor's own pages. Semrush leads on 4 of 6 criteria.
Where they differ
Every point where the two vendors' published facts disagree, with a link to where each fact was read. "Not published" means the vendor does not say either way.
Published by only one of them
Where they match (13)
Pricing, plan by plan
Every plan each vendor publishes, monthly and yearly where both are offered.
Ahrefs
Semrush
For everything else about each tool, read the full Ahrefs review and Semrush review.
Ahrefs vs Semrush: common questions
Which is better, Ahrefs or Semrush?
Semrush scores 8.3 and Ahrefs 7.7 out of 10 among the SEO platforms we rate. Semrush is ahead on keyword research and rank tracking, content writing and optimization, works with your tools and team and support. Ahrefs is ahead on pricing.
Is Ahrefs or Semrush cheaper?
Ahrefs's cheapest paid plan is $29/mo (Starter) and Semrush's is $139.95/mo (SEO plan). Compare what each plan includes below before going on price alone.
Do Ahrefs and Semrush have a free plan?
Yes, both do.
What can Ahrefs do that Semrush cannot?
On the facts both vendors publish: internal link suggestions and live chat with a person.
What can Semrush do that Ahrefs cannot?
On the facts both vendors publish: writes full articles, content briefs, wordPress, google Docs add-on and white-label reports.
