Semrush vs Ahrefs
The two heavyweight SEO platforms. Which one belongs in your stack?
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Semrush is broader — SEO, PPC, content marketing, competitor traffic. Ahrefs is deeper on the two things it does best: backlinks and keyword data.
Side-by-side
| Feature | Semrush | Ahrefs |
|---|---|---|
| Keyword database | 26B+ | 22B+ |
| Backlink index | 43T | 35T (best-in-class quality) |
| Rank tracking | Included | Included |
| PPC / paid research | Yes | Limited |
| Content marketing tools | Yes | Limited |
| Starting price | $139.95/mo | $129/mo |
Verdict
For most founders and agencies who want a single SEO + content + PPC toolkit, Semrush is the better all-rounder. Choose Ahrefs if backlinks are the primary reason you're subscribing.
Our pick
Semrush
The industry-standard toolkit for SEO, PPC, and content research.
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