9+ Best Free Ahrefs Alternatives [Reviewed and Ranked]
It’s either free Ahrefs alternatives, Ahrefs itself, or some other similar digital marketing tools, because there’s a lot that goes into search engine optimization that to do it right, you can’t afford to not have a super-effective SEO software buddy.
And here’s why people opt for Ahrefs:
- Keyword research
- Backlink analysis
- Site auditing
- Rank tracking
- Content analysis
- Competitor analysis
- Content exploring
- Keyword tracking
- Domain comparison
- Site Exploring
- Alerts
- Content gap analysis
- Broken link Checking
- YouTube keyword tool
- … etc.
Ahrefs is an effective, powerful, and popular SEO tool that is widely used by creators, agencies, marketers, freelancers, and website owners to find keywords, perform analysis, and do a lot more efficiently.
However, it can be expensive for some people, especially if you are just starting out or have a limited budget.
And I thought, starting out or having a limited budget may have slowed me down, but the same will not happen to you.
So in this guide, we will review the best free Ahrefs alternatives that you can use to get valuable insights, perform analysis, carry out keyword research, and explore your website’s SEO performance to make informed decisions to improve it.
What Is The Best Free Ahrefs Alternative?
Here is a list of my personal best free Ahrefs alternatives that are either completely free, offer free features, or a free trial.
1. SEMrush – Unveil Insights with Precision
SEMrush is an SEO toolkit; a suite of tools and features for keyword research, competitor analysis, optimizing digital strategies, and ultimately boosting ranking, hence the number of eyeballs on your site, business, services, or offerings.
SEMRush shines as an all-in-one SEO platform that offers a free version with a comprehensive set of features.
From keyword research to backlink analysis, SEMRush serves as a potent alternative to Ahrefs.
Its robust suite of tools allows you to explore competitor strategies, track keyword rankings, and even gain insights into paid advertising efforts.
Some of the benefits of using SEMrush include:
- Detailed keyword research: SEMrush allows you to see the search volume, CPC, and competition level of different keywords, as well as their trends over time.
- Competitor analysis: With SEMrush, you can see what keywords your competitors are ranking for, as well as their backlink profiles, traffic sources, and more.
- On-page SEO checker: SEMrush’s on-page SEO checker helps you optimize your website’s content for search engines by identifying and fixing any issues with your title tags, headings, and other elements.
Pros of Using an Ahrefs Alternative like SEMRush
- SEMrush is a comprehensive tool that offers a wide range of features for keyword research
- competitor analysis
- and more.
Cons of Using an Ahrefs Alternative like SEMRush
- SEMrush is a paid tool, although it does offer a free trial that you can use to try out its features.
How To Get Started with SEMRush
To get started with SEMrush, simply sign up for a free account and start exploring its features.
2. Google Search Console – Harness Insights Made Specifically For Your Site
Google Search Console is a free tool offered by Google that provides valuable insights about your website’s performance in search results.
While not precisely a direct alternative to Ahrefs, Google Search Console is an essential tool for every website owner.
Provided by Google itself, it’s designed to offer insights into how Google’s search engine interacts with your website.
You can track your site’s performance in search results, identify indexing issues, and optimize your site’s presence on Google.
While it doesn’t provide the same comprehensive features as Ahrefs, Google Search Console is a must-have for anyone serious about optimizing their website’s visibility on search engines, especially after some organic traffic starts trickling in.
Benefits of using Google Search Console:
- Keyword data: Google Search Console allows you to see the keywords that people are using to find your website in Google’s search results.
- Backlink data: You can see the websites that are linking to your website, as well as the anchor text they are using.
- Performance data: Google Search Console provides data about the impressions, clicks, and average position of your website in search results.
Pros of using an Ahrefs Alternative like Google Search Console
- Google Search Console is completely free to use and provides valuable insights about your website’s performance in search results.
Cons of using an Ahrefs Alternative like Google Search Console
- Google Search Console does not offer as many features as some of the other tools on this list, such as keyword research or competitor analysis.
How To Get Started with Google Search Console
To get started with Google Search Console, simply add your website to the tool and start exploring its features.
3. Moz – Master the Art of SEO
Moz stands as a true contender with its Moz Pro free trial, providing an avenue to harness its suite of SEO tools.
Elevate your site’s visibility by uncovering new keywords, tracking your search engine rankings, and auditing your site’s health.
Moz doesn’t just provide data; it empowers you with actionable insights to fine-tune your SEO strategy, making it one of the best Ahrefs alternatives.
Benefits of using Moz:
- Keyword research: Moz allows you to see the search volume, difficulty level, and potential traffic of different keywords, as well as their trends over time.
- Link building: Moz offers a range of tools to help you with link building, including a link explorer to see your backlink profile and a tool to find link-building opportunities.
- On-page SEO: Moz’s on-page SEO tool helps you optimize your website’s content for search engines by identifying and fixing any issues with your title tags, headings, and other elements.
Pros of using an Ahrefs Alternative like Moz
- Moz is a comprehensive tool that offers a wide range of features for keyword research, link building, and more.
Cons of using an Ahrefs Alternative like Moz
- Moz is a paid tool, although it does offer a free trial that you can use to try out its features.
How To Get Started with Moz
To get started with Moz, simply sign up for a free account and start exploring its features.
4. Ubersuggest – Empower Your Keywords Game
Ubersuggest is a free keyword research tool that allows you to see the search volume, CPC, and competition level of different keywords, as well as their trends over time.
If you’re seeking a free alternative to Ahrefs that’s user-friendly and intuitive, Ubersuggest delivers.
Offering keyword suggestions, traffic estimations, and competitive analysis, it allows you to make informed decisions.
Neil Patel’s brainchild has grown into an indispensable tool for anyone looking to expand their SEO prowess.
Benefits of Choosing Ubersuggest include:
- Detailed keyword data: Ubersuggest provides detailed data about the search volume, CPC, and competition level of different keywords, as well as their trends over time.
- Keyword ideas: Ubersuggest suggests related keywords and phrases that you can use to expand your keyword research.
- On-page SEO: Uber suggests an on-page SEO tool that helps you optimize your website’s content for search engines by identifying and fixing any issues with your title tags, headings, and other elements.
Pros of using an Ahrefs Alternative like Ubersuggest
- Ubersuggest is a completely free tool that offers a wide range of features for keyword research, including detailed data and keyword ideas.
Cons of using an Ahrefs Alternative like Ubersuggest
- Ubersuggest does not offer as many features as some of the other tools on this list, such as competitor analysis or link-building tools.
How To Get Started with Ubersuggest
To get started with Ubersuggest, simply visit the website and start exploring its features.
5. Google Analytics – Unearth Actionable Insights
Google Analytics is a free web analytics tool that provides insights about your website’s traffic and user behavior.
While not an SEO-specific tool, Google Analytics offers a wealth of information on your website’s performance.
Dive into user behavior, traffic sources, and more to enhance your SEO efforts.
Leverage its insights to optimize your content strategy and make data-driven decisions.
Benefits of using Google Analytics include:
- Traffic data: Google Analytics allows you to see how much traffic your website is getting, as well as the sources of that traffic (e.g. search engines, social media, and referral websites).
- User behavior data: You can see how long users are spending on your website, which pages they are visiting, and how they are interacting with your content.
- Conversion tracking: Google Analytics allows you to track conversions, such as form submissions or e-commerce transactions, so you can see which marketing efforts are most effective.
Pros of using an Ahrefs Alternative like Google Analytics
- Google Analytics is completely free to use and provides a wide range of data about your website’s traffic and user behavior.
Cons of using an Ahrefs Alternative like Google Analytics
- Google Analytics does not offer as many SEO-specific features as some of the other tools on this list, such as keyword research or link-building tools.
How To Get Started with Google Analytics
To get started with Google Analytics, simply sign up for a free account and add the tracking code to your website.
6. SEOquake – Browser Extension Brilliance
SEOquake is a free browser extension that provides SEO-related data about websites you visit, including yours.
For those who prefer a browser extension, SEOquake steps up.
This nifty tool provides an instant snapshot of key SEO metrics while browsing the web.
From keyword density to backlink data, SEOquake arms you with on-the-fly insights, making it a valuable addition to your toolkit.
Benefits of Choosing SEOquake include:
- Keyword data: SEOquake allows you to see the keywords that a website is ranking for, as well as the search volume and competition level of those keywords.
- Backlink data: You can see the number of backlinks a website has, as well as the quality of those backlinks based on various metrics.
- On-page SEO data: SEOquake provides data about a website’s on-page SEO, including title tags, headings, and other elements.
Pros of using an Ahrefs Alternative like SEOquake
- SEOquake is a completely free tool that provides valuable SEO-related data about websites you visit.
Cons of using an Ahrefs Alternative like SEOquake
- SEOquake is a browser extension, so it only provides data about the websites you visit rather than your own website.
How To Get Started with SEOquake
To get started with SEOquake, simply download the extension for your preferred browser and start using it.
7. Monitor Backlinks – Backlink Brilliance for Free
Monitor Backlinks is a free tool that allows you to track your website’s backlink profile and identify new link-building opportunities.
As the name suggests, Monitor Backlinks focuses on your website’s backlink profile.
Its free version lets you track your backlinks and analyze their quality, aiding in building a robust link-building strategy.
Gain insights into your link profile’s health and unearth opportunities for improvement.
Benefits of using Monitor Backlinks:
- Backlink tracking: Monitor Backlinks allows you to see the websites that are linking to your website, as well as the anchor text they are using.
- Link-building opportunities: The tool suggests potential link-building opportunities based on your website’s industry and competitors.
- Link quality: Monitor Backlinks provides data about the quality of your backlinks based on various metrics, such as the domain authority of the linking website.
Pros of using an Ahrefs Alternative like Monitor Backlinks
- Monitor Backlinks is a completely free tool that allows you to track your website’s backlink profile and identify new link-building opportunities.
Cons of using an Ahrefs Alternative like Monitor Backlinks
- Monitor Backlinks does not offer as many features as some of the other tools on this list, such as keyword research or on-page SEO tools.
How To Get Started with Monitor Backlinks
To get started with Monitor Backlinks, simply sign up for a free account and start exploring its features.
8. Mangools – Unlock the Power of Metrics
Mangools is a suite of SEO tools that includes a keyword research tool, a backlink checker, and more.
Mangools offers a free trial, granting access to its suite of tools, including KWFinder, SERPChecker, and more.
Delve into keyword research, analyze SERP data, and track rankings effectively.
Mangools’ user-friendly interface ensures that mastering SEO metrics becomes second nature.
Benefits of using Mangools:
Includes
- Keyword research: Mangools’ keyword research tool allows you to see the search volume, CPC, and competition level of different keywords, as well as their trends over time.
- Backlink checker: The backlink checker allows you to see the websites that are linking to your website, as well as the anchor text they are using.
- On-page SEO checker: Mangools’ on-page SEO checker helps you optimize your website’s content for search engines by identifying and fixing any issues with your title tags, headings, and other elements.
Pros of using an Ahrefs Alternative like Mangools
- Mangools is a suite of SEO tools that offers a range of features for keyword research, backlink analysis, and more.
Cons of using an Ahrefs Alternative like Mangools
- Mangools is a paid tool, although it does offer a free trial that you can use to try out its features.
How To Get Started with Mangools
To get started with Mangools, simply sign up for a free account and start exploring its features.
9. Majestic – Unleash Backlink Insights
Majestic is an SEO tool that provides data about a website’s backlink profile, including the number and quality of the backlinks.
A treasure trove for backlink analysis, Majestic provides a free version with limited features.
Dive into backlink profiles, assess referring domains, and uncover competitor strategies.
Majestic empowers you to understand the link landscape and formulate a robust SEO approach.
Benefits of using Majestic:
- Backlink data: Majestic allows you to see the websites that are linking to your website, as well as the anchor text they are using.
- Link quality: Majestic provides data about the quality of your backlinks based on various metrics, such as the domain authority of the linking website.
- Link-building opportunities: The tool suggests potential link-building opportunities based on your website’s industry and competitors.
Pros of using an Ahrefs Alternative like Majestic
- Majestic is a comprehensive tool that offers a wide range of features for backlink analysis and link building.
Cons of using an Ahrefs Alternative like Majestic
- Majestic is a paid tool, although it does offer a free trial that you can use to try out its features.
How To Get Started with Majestic
To get started with Majestic, simply sign up for a free account and start exploring its features.
10. BuzzSumo – Amplify Content Strategy
BuzzSumo is a tool that allows you to see the most shared content in a particular industry or on a specific topic.
Also, while not entirely SEO-focused, BuzzSumo excels in content analysis.
Its free version offers insights into content performance and social media engagement.
With this software, you get to identify trending topics, discover influential content, and refine your content strategy for improved SEO impact.
Benefits of choosing BuzzSumo:
- Content analysis: BuzzSumo allows you to see the most shared content in a particular industry or on a specific topic, as well as the websites and social media platforms where it was shared.
- Influencer identification: The tool helps you identify influencers in a particular industry or on a specific topic, so you can reach out to them for collaboration or promotion.
- Content alerts: BuzzSumo allows you to set up alerts for specific keywords or domains, so you can be notified when new content is published that meets your criteria.
Pros of using an Ahrefs Alternative like BuzzSumo
- BuzzSumo is a useful tool for content analysis and influencer identification.
Cons of using an Ahrefs Alternative like BuzzSumo
- BuzzSumo does not offer as many SEO-specific features as some of the other tools on this list, such as keyword research or backlink analysis.
How To Get Started with BuzzSumo
To get started with BuzzSumo, simply sign up for a free account and start exploring its features.
Benefits of using free Ahrefs Alternatives
Cost-effective
The most obvious benefit of using free Ahrefs alternatives is that they are completely free, unlike Ahrefs which charges a monthly subscription fee.
This makes them a great option for those who are just starting out or have a limited budget.
No long-term commitment
With free Ahrefs alternatives, you don’t have to commit to a long-term subscription, which gives you the flexibility to try out different tools and see which one works best for your needs.
Wide range of features
Many free Ahrefs alternatives offer a wide range of features that can help you with keyword research, competitor analysis, link building, and more.
Frequently asked questions about free Ahrefs alternatives
Free Ahrefs alternatives may not offer as many features as the paid version, but they can still be useful for those who are just starting out or have a limited budget.
Yes, you can use free Ahrefs alternatives for professional purposes, although you may want to consider upgrading to a paid tool if you need more advanced features or a larger volume of data.
The best free Ahrefs alternative will depend on your specific needs and budget. Some popular options include SEMrush, Google Search Console, Moz, and Ubersuggest.
Conclusion
We have reviewed the best free Ahrefs alternatives that you can use to get valuable insights about your website’s SEO performance, do keyword research, backlink profile analysis, etc.
Whether you are just starting out or have a limited budget, these tools can be a great way to get started with SEO and drive more traffic to your website.
And as you get more traffic, hence more money, you can then afford to spend a few dollars on premium SEO software.