Semrush
4.8 AI SEO / AEO / GEO
The industry-standard all-in-one SEO and digital marketing platform, now extended with an AI Visibility Toolkit for AI search.
$139.95/mo Visit ↗
Ahrefs
Top pick AI SEO / AEO / GEO 4.8 /5 MaxAEO Score
All-in-one SEO toolset renowned for backlink and keyword data, now tracking brand visibility in AI search with Brand Radar.
Quick answer
Ahrefs is best for SEO specialists. It offers a free tier, with paid plans from $129/mo. Its standout strength is industry-leading backlink and keyword datasets; the main trade-off is paid plans price by usage credits that can constrain heavy research. Top alternatives: Semrush and Moz.
Pricing
Free tier · $129/mo
Free tier
Yes
MaxAEO Score
4.8 /5
Pricing as of June 2026 and may change — verify on the vendor's site. · Data verified 2026-06-04
Third-party ratings: G2 4.5 · 700+ reviews
Pricing plans
| Plan | Price | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Ahrefs Free (Webmaster Tools) | $0 | Free forever, no credit card; Site Audit (5K credits/mo per verified project), limited Site Explorer & Web Analytics on unlimited verified sites |
| Starter | $29/mo | Entry paid plan beyond the free tier; extended Site Explorer, Site Audit, Keywords Explorer with usage credits |
| Lite | $129/mo | Core SEO plan with monthly usage credits; can buy extra credits pay-as-you-go |
| Standard | $249/mo | Unlimited usage (no credit caps), more historical data and reporting |
| Advanced | $449/mo | Higher limits, more seats, advanced reporting and tools |
| Enterprise | $1,499/mo | Largest limits, access management, SSO, audit logs |
Verify pricing on the vendor's site (as of 2026-06-04).
Best for
SEO specialists Link builders Agencies Content marketers
Why we recommend it
Ahrefs is one of the most trusted names in SEO, famous for its backlink index and keyword data, and a default tool for competitive research and link building. It now tracks AI search visibility through Brand Radar and Custom Prompts, covering ChatGPT, AI Overviews/AI Mode, Perplexity, Copilot, Gemini, and Grok. A free, no-time-limit Ahrefs Free tier for verified websites plus a low $29 Starter plan make it unusually accessible for a category anchor.
Our take
From our research, Ahrefs' standout remains its backlink and keyword data, and it has added credible AEO coverage through Brand Radar and Custom Prompts (ChatGPT, AI Overviews/AI Mode, Perplexity, Copilot, Gemini, Grok) on top of that proven base. Two tradeoffs to weigh: paid plans meter many actions with usage credits — only Standard and above are uncapped, so heavy researchers on Lite can hit limits — but the genuinely free Ahrefs Free tier and the $29 Starter plan make it one of the more accessible on-ramps among the major SEO suites.
Key use cases
- Analyze competitors' backlinks and organic keywords with a large link index
- Find keyword opportunities and estimate traffic potential
- Run technical site audits across 170+ on-page and technical issues
- Track keyword rankings and monitor SEO progress over time
- Measure brand visibility across AI answers (ChatGPT, AI Overviews, Perplexity) with Brand Radar
Integrations
Google Search Console Google Looker Studio Web Analytics (first-party) API MCP
Pros
- Industry-leading backlink and keyword datasets
- Free tier and a low-cost Starter plan lower the barrier to entry
- Strong AEO/AI-visibility additions (Brand Radar, Custom Prompts) on a proven SEO base
Cons
- Paid plans price by usage credits that can constrain heavy research
- No daily-updated rank tracking on the lowest tiers without add-ons
What to compare
- Best-known for the scale and quality of its backlink and keyword databases
- Offers a genuinely free tier (Ahrefs Free / Webmaster Tools) for verified site owners
- AI visibility (Brand Radar, Custom Prompts) is layered onto a classic SEO toolset
Ahrefs alternatives
Moz
4.4 AI SEO / AEO / GEO
Veteran SEO platform with trusted authority metrics (DA/PA), now adding AI Visibility Dashboards for AI search.
Free tier · $99/mo Visit ↗
SE Ranking
4.6 AI SEO / AEO / GEO
Affordable all-in-one SEO platform for agencies and SMBs, with an AI Search add-on for tracking AI visibility.
$129/mo Visit ↗
Frequently asked questions
Does Ahrefs have a permanently free version?
Yes. Ahrefs Free (formerly Ahrefs Webmaster Tools) is free forever with no credit card, for an unlimited number of verified websites you own. It gives you Site Audit (5,000 crawl credits per project per month), plus limited Site Explorer (up to 1,000 backlinks/keywords at once) and Web Analytics. To analyze competitors' (unverified) sites and remove limits, you need a paid plan starting at $29/month (Starter) or $129/month (Lite).
Can Ahrefs track my brand's visibility in AI search?
Yes, via Brand Radar and Custom Prompts. Brand Radar tracks how often your brand appears across AI answers — AI Overviews & AI Mode, ChatGPT, Perplexity, Microsoft Copilot, Gemini, and Grok — plus YouTube and Reddit (beta), and benchmarks you against competitors. Ahrefs reports this runs on a very large AI-visibility dataset built from search-backed prompts.
How much does Ahrefs cost?
Ahrefs starts at $129/mo. A free tier is available to start.
Who is Ahrefs best for?
Ahrefs is best for SEO specialists, Link builders, Agencies. A typical use: analyze competitors' backlinks and organic keywords with a large link index.
What are the best Ahrefs alternatives?
Top Ahrefs alternatives include Semrush, Moz, SE Ranking — compare them on features, pricing, and best-fit use case.
Is Ahrefs worth it?
Industry-leading backlink and keyword datasets, though paid plans price by usage credits that can constrain heavy research. It is a strong fit for SEO specialists.
How visible is your brand in AI search?
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