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Ahrefs vs Semrush
Both sit in SEO & marketing. Here is how they differ on the things you can actually check.
On price: Ahrefs starts $110 a month cheaper than Semrush ($29 against $139, 79% less) on its Starter tier. Paying annually takes Semrush to $117.33/mo (16% off). Both figures were read from the vendors' own pricing pages on the dates shown below.
Ahrefs
ahrefs.com
A very large link index plus keyword, rank-tracking and site-audit tooling. The reference point for backlink data.
SEO & Marketing
Visit AhrefsSemrush
semrush.com
SEO, paid search, content, social and PR tooling in one suite — enormous surface area, priced accordingly.
Free planSEO & Marketing
Visit Semrush| Ahrefs | Semrush | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry price | $29/mo | $139/mo |
| Entry plan | Starter | SEO |
| Paid annually | — | $117.33/mosave 16% |
| Price checked | 6 Sept 2026 | 21 Sept 2026 |
| Pricing model | Free trial | Free trial |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Category | SEO & Marketing | SEO & Marketing |
| Around since | 2011 | 2008 |
Every price here was read from the vendor's own pricing page, most recently on 21 Sept 2026. Entry tier only — vendors change pricing without notice.
Ahrefs vs Semrush, answered
- Is Ahrefs cheaper than Semrush?
- Yes. Ahrefs starts at $29 a month against Semrush's $139, 79% less.
- Do Ahrefs or Semrush have a free plan?
- Semrush publishes an ongoing free plan; Ahrefs does not.
- What is the difference between Ahrefs and Semrush?
- Ahrefs: A very large link index plus keyword, rank-tracking and site-audit tooling. The reference point for backlink data. Semrush: SEO, paid search, content, social and PR tooling in one suite — enormous surface area, priced accordingly.
- Which one is cheaper paid annually?
- Ahrefs, at $29 a month against Semrush's $117.33. Ahrefs publishes no annual discount we could read, so it stays at $29, while Semrush drops to $117.33 a month paid yearly (16% off).
