Ahrefs vs SE Ranking: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Ahrefs and SE Ranking side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, Ahrefs leads on a free plan; SE Ranking leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Ahrefs
All-in-one SEO toolset for rankings and content discovery
Best for you if:
- • You want best-in-class backlink database
SE Ranking
All-in-one SEO platform for rank tracking, audits, and research
Best for you if:
- • You want affordable SEO tool
| At a Glance | Ahrefs | SE Ranking |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan | From $129/mo flat, billed monthly Core plan |
Category | SEO Tools Marketing | SEO Tools Marketing |
Rating | 4.5/5 G2 4.5 713 reviews | 4.7/5 G2 4.7 2,710 reviews |
Free plan | No | No |
Watch out for | Crawl credits are consumed per page crawled in Site Audit. A 50K-page site burns half of Lite's 100K monthly allocation in a single audit cycle. Standard's 500K credits handle larger sites but enterprise sites with 500K+ pages will need Advanced. | Add-ons (AI Search, Content, Local) cost extra |
Choose Ahrefs or SE Ranking?
Choose Ahrefs if
- You want best-in-class backlink database
- You want accurate keyword difficulty scores
Choose SE Ranking if
- You want affordable SEO tool
- You want good features
In-Depth Analysis
Ahrefs
All-in-one SEO toolset for rankings and content discovery
Ahrefs is the industry standard for backlink analysis and a serious contender for keyword research, but it remains one of the most expensive SEO tools on the market.
Watch out
Crawl credits are consumed per page crawled in Site Audit. A 50K-page site burns half of Lite's 100K monthly allocation in a single audit cycle. Standard's 500K credits handle larger sites but enterprise sites with 500K+ pages will need Advanced.
Strengths
- Pro: Best-in-class backlink database
- Pro: Accurate keyword difficulty scores
- Pro: Excellent competitor analysis
- Pro: Regular data updates
Weaknesses
- Con: Expensive for individuals
- Con: Learning curve for beginners
- Con: Limited local SEO features
Key features
SE Ranking
All-in-one SEO platform for rank tracking, audits, and research
SE Ranking's pricing is quite competitive, especially with the 20% annual discount.
Watch out
Add-ons (AI Search, Content, Local) cost extra
Strengths
- Pro: Affordable SEO tool
- Pro: Good features
- Pro: White label option
- Pro: Active development
- Pro: Fair pricing
Weaknesses
- Con: Less data than Ahrefs
- Con: Learning curve
- Con: UI could improve
- Con: Better for agencies
- Con: Feature gaps
Key features
Plans and prices: Ahrefs vs SE Ranking
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Ahrefs |
| ahrefs.com/pricing read Nov 1, 2026 |
| SE Ranking |
| seranking.com/pricing read Oct 31, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Ahrefs pricing and SE Ranking pricing.
Key Takeaways
Ahrefs
- Has a free plan
SE Ranking
- Higher user rating: 4.7/5 vs 4.5/5
What the data shows
On the data below, Ahrefs leads on a free plan; SE Ranking leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- SE Ranking has the higher user rating (4.5/5 from 713 reviews for Ahrefs, 4.7/5 from 2,710 reviews for SE Ranking).
- SE Ranking starts at $129/mo flat, billed monthly; Ahrefs has no public paid plan price on file.
- Only Ahrefs has a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Ahrefs and SE Ranking compare in 2026?
On the data below, Ahrefs leads on a free plan; SE Ranking leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. SE Ranking has the higher user rating (4.5/5 from 713 reviews for Ahrefs, 4.7/5 from 2,710 reviews for SE Ranking). SE Ranking starts at $129/mo flat, billed monthly; Ahrefs has no public paid plan price on file. Only Ahrefs has a free plan.
What are Ahrefs and SE Ranking used for?
Ahrefs: All-in-one SEO toolset for rankings and content discovery. SE Ranking: All-in-one SEO platform for rank tracking, audits, and research.
What does Ahrefs cost vs SE Ranking?
Ahrefs has no public paid-plan price on file. SE Ranking's cheapest paid plan is Core at $129/mo flat, billed monthly. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Nov 1, 2026.
What's the main difference between Ahrefs and SE Ranking?
Ahrefs's main strength: best-in-class backlink database. SE Ranking's main strength: affordable SEO tool.