Pricing compared
- SE Ranking: Core $129 per month ($103.20 billed annually), Growth $279 per month ($223.20 billed annually).
- Ahrefs: Starter $29 per month for limited research, Lite $129, Standard $249, Advanced $449, Enterprise $1,499 per month with an annual commitment. Ahrefs advertises up to 17% off for annual payment.
Ahrefs has no free trial but offers a free, limited account; SE Ranking has a 14-day trial with no card.
Tracked keywords and projects
At $129, SE Ranking Core tracks 2,000 keywords daily in 10 projects. Ahrefs Lite tracks 750 keywords in 5 projects. Reaching 2,000 tracked keywords on Ahrefs requires Standard at $249 per month, almost twice SE Ranking's price for the same count.
Users and history
Both entry plans include 1 user. Ahrefs Lite can add 2 more users at $40 per month each; SE Ranking sells extra manager seats from $16. History is 6 months on both entry plans; Ahrefs Standard keeps 2 years and SE Ranking Growth keeps all-time data.
Where Ahrefs is stronger
Ahrefs runs its own crawler and is widely used for backlink analysis, content research and competitor traffic estimates. If link building or digital PR is your main job, its data and tools such as Site Explorer are the reason to pay more. Its free account also gives limited Site Explorer and Site Audit access for your own site.
Weaknesses of each
- SE Ranking: smaller name in backlink research; white label and extra AI prompts are paid add-ons.
- Ahrefs: fewer tracked keywords per dollar, no free trial, and extra users add $40 per month or more.
How to choose
Choose Ahrefs if backlinks and competitor content research drive your work. Choose SE Ranking if you track many keywords for several sites and want audits and reports at the lowest cost. You can test SE Ranking risk-free: start the 14-day trial.
Verdict
Same entry price, different strengths: Ahrefs for backlink depth, SE Ranking for tracking volume and value. Most freelancers and small agencies get more from SE Ranking. Try SE Ranking free.
Questions
Is SE Ranking as good as Ahrefs?
For rank tracking volume and price, SE Ranking offers more: 2,000 tracked keywords for $129 versus 750 on Ahrefs Lite. For backlink research, Ahrefs is the specialist.
Does Ahrefs have a free trial?
No. Ahrefs offers a free limited account instead; SE Ranking offers a 14-day trial without a card.
What is the cheapest Ahrefs plan?
Starter at $29 per month for limited research; Lite at $129 per month is the first full plan.
How many projects does each entry plan include?
SE Ranking Core: 10 projects. Ahrefs Lite: 5 projects.
Which is better for agencies?
SE Ranking, if cost per tracked keyword and white-label reports matter most; Ahrefs, if the agency sells link building.