Semrush is cheaper, but covers only 1 of 4 compared capabilities
$0/mo (Free) vs Ahrefs Starter at $29/mo — covering 25% of the 4 compared capabilities.
Cheaper. Not the same job.
Comparison scenario
Every cheaper-than claim is tied to a defined scenario — never a bare list price.
single user, monthly billing · USD · prices as observed on official pricing pages.
Starter plan at $29/mo, the cheapest paid plan.
Free: 0 USD/monthly.
Ahrefs costs $29/mo on the Starter plan at single user, monthly billing. We found 1 assessed alternative that is cheaper in this scenario; 0 of them cover at least 75% of the 4 compared capabilities.
Capability comparison
Semrush covers 25% of the 4 capabilities compared against Ahrefs. ✓ native · ◐ via integration · ✗ not found.
| Capability | Semrush | Ahrefs |
|---|---|---|
| Rank tracking | ↑ SEO | ✓ |
| Keyword research | ↑ SEO | ✓ |
| Backlink analysis | ✓ | ✓ |
| Site audit | ↑ SEO | ✓ |
What you give up
Capabilities Ahrefs has that Semrush lacks.
- Rank tracking — Track keyword rankings over time.Missing from Semrush.
- Keyword research — Research keywords and their search volume.Missing from Semrush.
- Site audit — Scan a site for technical SEO issues.Missing from Semrush.
Plans & pricing, side by side
Advertised prices in USD as observed on the official pricing pages — per-seat and transaction-fee plans are marked.
| Free | Free |
| SEO | $139/mo |
| Starter SEO + AI Search | $199/mo |
| Pro+ SEO + AI Search | $299/mo |
| Advanced SEO + AI Search | $549/mo |
| Enterprise | Contact sales |
| Ahrefs Free | Free |
| Starter | $29/mo |
| Lite | $129/mo |
| Standard | $249/mo |
| Advanced | $449/mo |
| Enterprise | $1499/mo (billed yearly) |
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Frequently asked
How much cheaper is Semrush than Ahrefs?
100% cheaper in our scenario (single user, monthly billing): $0/mo on Free vs $29/mo on Starter. That is $348 a year. But it covers only 1 of 4 compared capabilities, so it isn't a like-for-like replacement.
What does Semrush lack compared with Ahrefs?
Rank tracking, Keyword research, Site audit — 3 of the 4 compared capabilities.
When were these prices checked?
Ahrefs: 2026-10-26; Semrush: 2026-10-26 — on the official pricing pages.
Who switched
Anonymous: no account, no email, no IP stored. Reports are shown once a switch has 3 or more and never change ranking or order — alternatives are computed from prices and capabilities only.
Sources & freshness
- https://ahrefs.com/pricing (official_pricing, checked 2026-10-26)
- Semrush data last verified 2026-10-26