SEMrush vs Ahrefs: Which SEO Tool Should You Choose

As an organic search or SEO expert, or even a marketer working to improve the search engine rankings of a brand/business, you are privy to the challenges posed by not choosing the right fit SEO tool for your organic search endeavors. 

With a plethora of tools in the market to choose from, zeroing down on the right fit tool can feel like finding the missing piece of an impossibly taxing jigsaw puzzle. 

We at Mavlers have spent the last thirteen-plus years catering to the SEO needs of a selection of global clientele and, therefore, have the requisite expertise to help you make the right decision. 

Ahrefs and SEMrush – are two prominent names in the SEO world that offer impressive features, here’s the kicker: they’re not the same, and choosing between them isn’t always straightforward.

Some swear by Ahrefs for its intuitive approach to backlinks, while others argue SEMrush’s all-in-one marketing suite is unbeatable. So how do you decide?

In today’s blog, Samrat Solanki, our in-house SEO expert, will help you break down the key differences between the two, highlight what they’re best at, and even introduce some bonus tools to consider. 

Strap on those seat belts people, because we for sure are “driving” deep! 😉

Source

Staying true to our endeavor to offer an honest and unbiased overview of SEMRush vs Ahrefs, here’s a bird’s eye view of the features these tools bring to the table.

Round 1: Keyword research

Let’s begin with the bread and butter of SEO, none other than keyword research. The success of your content often hinges on choosing the right keywords, so it’s critical to know how Ahrefs and SEMrush handle this.

Ahrefs excels in providing real-world click data. Unlike generic search volume stats, Ahrefs tells you how often people actually click on search results for a keyword. 

This feature is quite the game-changer if you’re tired and done with targeting terms with high search volume but zero engagement.

Another standout feature is their “Keyword Difficulty” metric, which doesn’t just look at competition but considers backlinks needed to rank for a keyword. It’s akin to having a GPS for SEO – clear and actionable.

Here are some kickass keyword research-related features Ahrefs has to offer:

• Reveals CTR adjusted for SERP features
• Offers historical keyword ranking data
• Suggests word counts for top-ranking pages
• Provides global search volume for keywords

SEMrush

SEMrush, on the other hand, offers a more holistic approach. 

It gives you search intent classifications (informational, transactional, etc.), which is gold for tailoring content to match what users are actually looking for.

And let’s not forget its automated keyword clusters, which group similar terms to make planning your content strategy a breeze. 

Throw in their massive database, and you’ll never run out of keyword ideas.

Here’s how SEMRush can power your large-scale campaigns effortlessly:

• Uncovers search intent for precise targeting
• Generates keyword clusters automatically
• Includes PPC metrics for paid campaigns
• AI-powered recommendations like personalized keyword difficulty scores

Verdict: If CTR and backlinks guide your decisions, Ahrefs is your go-to SEO tool. But if you’re all about user intent and planning large-scale campaigns, SEMrush may be your knight in shining armor.

Round 2: Backlink analysis

Building good quality, relevant backlinks is the backbone of SEO – they show search engines that your site is trustworthy and authoritative. Let’s see how Ahrefs and SEMrush handle this crucial task.

Ahrefs

Ahrefs is often regarded as the gold standard for backlink analysis. Its database is enormous and updated frequently, giving you a detailed view of who’s linking to you and your competitors. Also, the contextual link previews let you see where your link is placed on a page, which is great for assessing its value.

Here’s how Ahrefs helps keep your site safe from penalties:

• Offers previews of text surrounding backlinks
• Provides a user-friendly UI for analysis
• Comprehensive auditing tools for toxic link management

SEMrush

While SEMrush may not have the same reputation for backlinks, it holds its own with a broader range of metrics. For instance, its toxic link analysis goes deep, helping you spot harmful links that could hurt your rankings.

And, if you’re managing multiple campaigns, SEMrush’s ability to integrate backlink data with paid search insights is a big plus.

Let’s delve into how SEMrush helps flag toxic links and streamline outreach campaigns within the platform;

• Features a larger link index for exhaustive analysis
• Includes a Backlink Audit tool to identify toxic links
  • Investigate quality of backlinks through 45 toxic markers
  • Group referring domains by IP address, title, category, mirror pages and other parameters
  • Check backlinks by anchors, link attributes, keywords and traffic
• Provides a CRM-style Link Building Tool for seamless outreach

Verdict: Ahrefs is the clear winner for pure backlink analysis. However, SEMrush’s integration and audit capabilities make it the better choice for managing complex campaigns.

Round 3: Technical SEO

Your website’s technical soundness is the foundation of your SEO efforts. Without a solid technical SEO structure, even the best content won’t perform.

SEMrush

SEMrush’s Site Audit tool not only identifies issues like crawl errors and broken links but also prioritizes them based on their impact on performance.

Its Core Web Vitals insights are particularly helpful, given Google’s emphasis on user experience.

Here’s how SEMRush helps deliver tailored recommendations for a sound technical site structure:

• Identifies a wide array of technical issues
• Flags keyword cannibalization for optimization
• On-Page SEO Checker with actionable recommendations

Ahrefs

Ahrefs, on the other hand, takes a simpler approach, offering a site health score that gives you a snapshot of your website’s overall condition. 

While it doesn’t go as deep as SEMrush, it’s the right fit for smaller sites or SEOs who want quick, actionable insights. Our team at Mavlers found a few issues like slow-loading pages and meta descriptions that were too short.

Check out how Ahrefs deploys a unique Structure Explorer to analyze your site’s architecture:

• Presents an easy-to-understand health score
• Detects common issues like slow-loading pages
• Includes a Structure Explorer for architecture analysis

Verdict: For detailed and actionable technical SEO audits, SEMrush wins hands down. Ahrefs is better suited for those who want a lighter, quicker overview.

Round 4: Rank tracking

Keeping tabs on your rankings is crucial for staying ahead of competitors. But how do these tools stack up?

Ahrefs

Ahrefs updates rankings weekly (or bi-weekly on lower-tier plans). While that’s fine for many users, it might not be fast enough for industries where rankings change rapidly. Here’s an insight into Ahrefs rank tracking features:

• Accurate ranking data
• Weekly or bi-weekly updates

SEMrush takes the lead here with daily updates, ensuring you always have the most up-to-date data. Its Visibility Score also provides a high-level overview of how your site is performing across all tracked keywords. 

Here’s a bird’s eye view of how SEMrush helps you stay abreast making it a go-to for industries with volatile rankings:

• Offers daily updates
• Includes a Visibility Score for overall performance

Verdict: If your industry demands real-time updates, SEMrush is the way to go. For less frequent monitoring, Ahrefs does the job.

Round 5: Pricing

Let’s come down to answering one of the most important questions: how much do these tools cost?

Ahrefs

Ahrefs starts at $29/month but doesn’t offer a free trial. This can be a drawback for those who want to test the waters before committing.

SEMrush

SEMrush pricing begins at $139.95/month, and it offers a 7-day free trial, giving you a chance to explore its features risk-free.

Verdict: SEMrush’s trial period makes it more accessible, but Ahrefs can offer more value if backlinks and simplicity are your main priorities.

Bonus SEO tools: Going beyond Ahrefs and SEMrush

While Ahrefs and SEMrush dominate the SEO conversation, they’re not the only tools worth considering for your SEO strategy. Here are some bonus tools that can complement your strategy:

1. Moz Pro: Perfect for beginners, Moz Pro offers excellent link analysis and keyword tracking. Its proprietary “Domain Authority” metric is widely recognized.
2. Screaming Frog: This tool is indispensable for technical SEO. It crawls your site to uncover broken links, duplicate content, and much more.
3. Ubersuggest: For those on a budget, Ubersuggest is a great alternative for keyword research and basic SEO insights.
4. Google Search Console: This free tool is a must-have. It provides valuable data straight from Google, like indexing issues and keyword performance.
5. Surfer SEO: If content optimization is your priority, Surfer SEO helps you analyze how your content stacks up against competitors and makes actionable recommendations.

The final showdown: Which tool is right for you?

Choosing between Ahrefs and SEMrush isn’t about finding the “best” tool – it’s about finding the right one for your goals.

• If you’re focused on backlinks, CTR, and simplicity, Ahrefs is your match.

• If you want an all-in-one marketing solution with advanced features for keyword research, technical SEO, and rank tracking, SEMrush is the better fit.

Still undecided? Many professionals use both tools to leverage their unique strengths. The key is knowing your priorities and choosing the tool – or combination of tools – that aligns with them.

The road ahead

Now that you have sufficient clarity on the SEMRush vs Ahrefs debate, you might now want to understand the difference between SEO vs AEO.