Ahrefs vs Semrush
Compared across 3 shared tasks, including improve SEO and track brand visibility in AI search.
Short verdict
In the 3 TaskRanking use cases where both appear, Semrush ranks higher in 3 and Ahrefs in 0. Average rank across these: Ahrefs 3.3, Semrush 1.7 (1 = best).
Computed from our published rubric rankings, not paid placement.
Prices from vendor pages; Unverified and Contact sales are shown as-is.
Side by side
| Attribute | Ahrefs | Semrush |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $129/mo pricing source · checked 2026-10-14 | $117.33/mo annual ($139 monthly) pricing source · checked 2026-10-14 |
| Free tier | Unverified | no |
| Pricing model | From $129 | From $117.33 |
| What it is | SEO toolset | SEO and marketing suite |
| Use cases ranked in | 3 | 4 |
| Shared use cases won | 0 of 3 | 3 of 3 |
| Where it ranks (rank of 5) |
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Head to head on shared use cases
| Shared use case | Ahrefs | Semrush | Higher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Improve SEO | #2 | #1 | Semrush |
| Track brand visibility in AI search | #3 | #2 | Semrush |
| Research competitors' traffic and positioning | #5 | #2 | Semrush |
Best for
Best for: Semrush
- Improve SEO (#1 vs #2)
- Track brand visibility in AI search (#2 vs #3)
- Research competitors' traffic and positioning (#2 vs #5)
- Local SEO and business listings (#4; the other isn’t ranked here)
FAQ
Is Ahrefs or Semrush better?
Across the 3 TaskRanking use cases where both are ranked, Semrush places higher in 3 and the other in 0. Best pick depends on the task; see the shared use cases table.
Is Ahrefs or Semrush cheaper?
Ahrefs: paid from $129/mo (free tier: Unverified; checked 2026-10-14). Semrush: paid from $117.33/mo annual ($139 monthly) (free tier: no; checked 2026-10-14). Prices come from each vendor's own pricing page.
Do Ahrefs and Semrush have free plans?
Ahrefs: Unverified. Semrush: no. As listed on vendor pricing pages, last checked 2026-10-14.
Which tasks do both Ahrefs and Semrush cover?
Both are ranked for: Improve SEO; Track brand visibility in AI search; Research competitors' traffic and positioning.