Ahrefs vs SE Ranking.
Different strengths. Different costs. Here’s what to weigh before you choose.
Compare the plans as well as the brands. These prices may have different billing commitments and capacity limits; they are not equivalent quotes.
| What matters | Ahrefs | SE Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| Starting point | Search marketing toolkit for keyword research, backlink and competitor analysis, site audits and rank tracking, with website analytics tools. | SEO and AI search monitoring platform with rank tracking, keyword research, backlink analysis and site auditing for marketing teams. |
| Listed plan | Lite | Core |
| Base price | $129 / mo | $129 / mo |
| Pricing conditions | Includes one user, five unverified projects, 750 tracked keywords and 100,000 crawl credits. Up to two additional users cost $40 each monthly. Enabled usage overages and optional add-ons are extra. | $129 monthly or $103.20 monthly equivalent when billed annually. Core includes ten projects and one manager. |
| Documented capabilities | seo, analytics | seo, analytics |
| Free plan | Yes, with limits | Not verified |
| Trial | Not verified | 14 days, no credit card required |
| Integrations | Not yet verified | Google Analytics, Google Search Console, Matomo, Looker Studio |
| Benefits (editorial) | Combines keyword, backlink and technical SEO research. Lite publishes explicit project, keyword and crawl allowances. | Core includes keyword, competitor and backlink research. Includes connections to analytics and search-console tools. |
| Limitations | Lite has only six months of historical data and a user-credit allowance. Additional users and enabled overages can increase the subscription cost. | Core includes only one manager seat. Additional tracked keywords and manager seats can increase costs. |
| Typical fit (editorial) | Marketing agency, Creator & newsletter, Professional services, E-commerce, Local business | Marketing agency, E-commerce, Professional services |
| AI, support & ease of use | Confirm plan-specific AI limits and support. Ease of use has not been independently tested. | Confirm plan-specific AI limits and support. Ease of use has not been independently tested. |
| Evidence | Sources checked 2026-10-09 → | Sources checked 2026-10-07 → |
| Your next step | Visit AhrefsStandard provider link; no commission currently earned. | Visit SE RankingStandard provider link; no commission currently earned. |
Use-case recommendations
Consider Ahrefs when…
Combines keyword, backlink and technical SEO research.
Check first: Lite has only six months of historical data and a user-credit allowance.
Consider SE Ranking when…
Core includes keyword, competitor and backlink research.
Check first: Core includes only one manager seat.
Make the decision on your terms
Test your real workflow, calculate the full team and usage cost, and confirm export options before migrating. A higher advertised feature count does not necessarily create a better fit.
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