Ahrefs vs SE Ranking: Premium Power vs Affordable Value
The industry's best backlink data versus the best budget SEO platform. We compared features, pricing, and real user feedback to help you choose.
Quick Verdict
Ahrefs remains the gold standard for backlink analysis with the industry's largest link index and most accurate data—essential for serious link builders. SE Ranking delivers exceptional value with comprehensive features at 60% lower cost—ideal for agencies, SMBs, and budget-conscious SEO professionals who need reliable all-around capabilities.
| Criteria | Ahrefs | SE Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Backlink Analysis & Link Building | Budget-Friendly All-in-One SEO |
| Starting Price | $129/month | $52/month |
| Free Trial | No (free limited tools only) | 14-day free trial |
| G2 Rating | 4.5/5 (550+ reviews) | 4.8/5 (1,300+ reviews) |
| Key Strength | Largest backlink index | Best value for money |
| Key Limitation | High price, no free trial | Smaller backlink database |
What is Ahrefs?
Ahrefs is a premium SEO toolset founded in 2011 and headquartered in Singapore. It's widely recognized as having the world's largest and most accurate backlink database, crawling over 8 billion pages daily with their proprietary AhrefsBot—the second most active web crawler after Google.
With over 500,000 users globally, Ahrefs has established itself as the go-to tool for serious SEO professionals, particularly those focused on link building and competitive analysis. Its reputation for data quality and accuracy makes it a staple in enterprise SEO teams and agencies.
Key Strengths
- Industry-leading backlink data: Largest index with 35+ trillion known links and 15-30 minute update frequency
- Accurate traffic estimates: Known for reliable organic traffic predictions that closely match actual site data
- Clean, focused interface: Streamlined UX that prioritizes core SEO workflows without clutter
Who Uses Ahrefs
Ahrefs is particularly popular with:
- Link building specialists who need the most comprehensive backlink data
- Enterprise SEO teams requiring accurate competitive analysis
- Digital agencies managing high-value client accounts
- Content marketers researching competitor content strategies
What is SE Ranking?
SE Ranking is an all-in-one SEO platform founded in 2013 with headquarters in London. It has grown to serve over 800,000 users worldwide by offering comprehensive SEO features at significantly lower prices than premium competitors, making professional-grade tools accessible to smaller businesses and agencies.
The platform covers the full SEO spectrum: keyword research, rank tracking, site audits, backlink analysis, and competitor research. SE Ranking has built a strong reputation for excellent customer support and continuous feature updates, earning consistently high ratings on review platforms.
Key Strengths
- Exceptional value: Full-featured SEO platform starting at $52/month—60% less than Ahrefs
- Excellent rank tracking: 100% accurate daily rankings with local and mobile tracking included
- Agency-friendly features: White-label reports, client management, and lead generation tools built-in
Who Uses SE Ranking
SE Ranking is particularly popular with:
- Small to medium businesses needing affordable, comprehensive SEO
- Marketing agencies requiring white-label reporting and client management
- Freelance SEO consultants who need all tools in one platform
- Teams transitioning from expensive tools without sacrificing features
Ahrefs vs SE Ranking: Feature Comparison
Both platforms offer comprehensive SEO capabilities, but they excel in different areas. Here's how they compare across key feature categories.
Keyword Research
Both tools provide robust keyword research capabilities with different strengths in data presentation and unique metrics.
Ahrefs' Approach
Keywords Explorer offers unique metrics like Traffic Potential and Parent Topic for smarter keyword targeting.
- 12+ billion keyword database
- Traffic Potential metric (actual click opportunity)
- Click metrics showing SERP CTR patterns
- Keyword difficulty based on backlinks needed
SE Ranking's Approach
Comprehensive keyword research with AI-powered suggestions and competitive gap analysis.
- 4+ billion keyword database
- AI-powered keyword grouping
- Competitive keyword gap analysis
- Search intent classification
Verdict: Ahrefs has a larger database and more unique metrics like Traffic Potential. SE Ranking offers excellent keyword research at a fraction of the cost with AI-powered features. For most users, SE Ranking delivers sufficient depth.
Backlink Analysis
Backlink analysis is where these tools differ most significantly. This is Ahrefs' core strength and SE Ranking's main limitation.
Ahrefs' Approach
Industry-leading backlink index with the freshest data and most comprehensive coverage.
- 35+ trillion known links (largest index)
- Updates every 15-30 minutes
- 8+ billion pages crawled daily
- Historical backlink data included
SE Ranking's Approach
Solid backlink analysis suitable for most use cases, with built-in backlink monitoring.
- Smaller but growing backlink database
- Backlink monitoring with alerts
- Toxic link identification
- Competitor backlink comparison
Verdict: Ahrefs wins decisively. For serious link building or competitive backlink analysis, Ahrefs' data quality and freshness is unmatched. SE Ranking's backlink data works for basic analysis but falls short for professional link building.
Rank Tracking
Accurate rank tracking is essential for measuring SEO success. Here, SE Ranking offers a compelling advantage.
Ahrefs' Approach
Solid rank tracking integrated into the platform, though not its primary focus.
- 750 keywords tracked (Lite plan)
- Weekly updates on lower tiers
- SERP feature tracking
- Share of Voice metrics
SE Ranking's Approach
100% accurate rank tracking with daily updates and more keywords per dollar.
- Flexible keyword limits (pay for what you need)
- Daily ranking updates on all plans
- Local pack and map tracking
- Mobile vs desktop comparison
Verdict: SE Ranking wins for rank tracking. It offers more keywords per dollar, daily updates on all plans, and more granular local/mobile tracking. Ahrefs' rank tracking is adequate but not a core strength.
Site Audit & Technical SEO
Both platforms offer comprehensive site audit capabilities to identify and fix technical SEO issues.
Ahrefs' Approach
Clean, prioritized technical audits with a clear health score system.
- 140+ pre-configured SEO checks
- Health Score visualization
- JavaScript rendering support
- Scheduled crawls with change tracking
SE Ranking's Approach
Detailed technical audits with clear fix recommendations and priority scoring.
- 120+ technical checks
- Issue severity classification
- Core Web Vitals monitoring
- Page-level optimization tips
Verdict: A close tie. Both offer excellent site audit capabilities. Ahrefs has a slight edge in crawl depth and technical detection. SE Ranking provides clearer action items and better value. Either will serve most users well.
Ahrefs vs SE Ranking: Pricing Comparison
Pricing is where these tools differ most dramatically. SE Ranking offers similar capabilities at a fraction of the cost.
Ahrefs Pricing
| Plan | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Lite | $129 | $108/mo |
| Standard | $249 | $208/mo |
| Advanced | $449 | $374/mo |
| Enterprise | Custom pricing | |
No free trial. Free Webmaster Tools available with limited features. Extra users cost $40-$80/month.
SE Ranking Pricing
| Plan | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | $52 | $44/mo |
| Pro | $95 | $79/mo |
| Business | $189 | $158/mo |
| Enterprise | Custom pricing | |
14-day free trial. 20% discount on annual billing. Flexible keyword pricing available.
Value Analysis
SE Ranking offers dramatically better value: its Business plan ($189/month) costs less than Ahrefs' entry-level Lite ($129/month) yet includes more features and user seats. For teams on a budget, SE Ranking can save $1,000+ annually while providing comprehensive SEO capabilities.
Consider Ahrefs if: Backlink analysis is critical to your workflow and budget isn't the primary concern. The premium price pays for unmatched link data quality.
What Users Say: Ahrefs vs SE Ranking Reviews
Real user feedback reveals practical strengths and limitations that feature lists don't capture.
| Platform | Ahrefs | SE Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| G2 | 4.5/5 (550+ reviews) | 4.8/5 (1,300+ reviews) |
| Capterra | 4.7/5 (570+ reviews) | 4.8/5 (270+ reviews) |
| TrustRadius | 8.6/10 | 9.0/10 |
What Users Love About Ahrefs
- Backlink data quality: Consistently praised as the most comprehensive and accurate in the industry
- Data freshness: Links appear faster than any competitor, essential for active link building
- Clean interface: Focused UX without overwhelming features or cluttered dashboards
“For link building, there's simply no substitute. We tried switching to save money but kept missing links our competitors were finding.”
What Users Love About SE Ranking
- Value for money: Full-featured platform at a price that fits smaller budgets
- Customer support: Responsive, helpful support team frequently mentioned in reviews
- White-label features: Agency features included without expensive add-ons
“We switched from SEMrush and couldn't be happier. 70% cost savings with all the features we actually used. The client reporting alone was worth the switch.”
Common Complaints
Ahrefs
High price is the top complaint. No free trial makes evaluation difficult. Per-user pricing adds up quickly for teams. Some find it overkill for basic SEO needs.
SE Ranking
Backlink data doesn't match Ahrefs. Some advanced features require higher tiers. Interface can feel busy with all the options. Learning curve for all features.
Who Should Use Ahrefs vs SE Ranking?
The right choice depends on your priorities: data quality vs. value, link building focus vs. all-around needs.
Choose Ahrefs If You...
- Run serious link building campaigns and need the best data
- Work for an enterprise or agency where budget isn't the primary concern
- Need accurate competitive backlink analysis for high-stakes SEO
- Prefer a focused tool rather than an all-in-one platform
Choose SE Ranking If You...
- Need comprehensive SEO tools on a limited budget
- Run an agency that needs white-label reporting and client management
- Prioritize rank tracking accuracy and keyword monitoring
- Want to try before you buy (14-day free trial available)
Quick Decision Framework
| Your Priority | Best Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Backlink analysis | Ahrefs | Largest, freshest link index |
| Rank tracking | SE Ranking | More keywords, daily updates |
| Value for money | SE Ranking | 60% lower cost, similar features |
| Agency features | SE Ranking | White-label, client management |
| Data accuracy | Ahrefs | Industry-leading precision |
| Free trial | SE Ranking | 14-day trial vs no trial |
Final Verdict: Ahrefs vs SE Ranking
Ahrefs remains the gold standard for backlink analysis and link building. If your SEO strategy depends on link data quality—for outreach, competitive analysis, or link recovery—the premium price is justified by unmatched data freshness and coverage.
SE Ranking offers the best value in the SEO tools market. For agencies, small businesses, and budget-conscious professionals, it delivers 90% of the functionality at 40% of the cost. Its higher G2 rating reflects genuine user satisfaction with the price-to-value ratio.
The Bottom Line
Frequently Asked Questions
About the Author
Co-Founder & SEO Execution
Co-founder of PikaSEO. 11 years in corporate tech, then bootstrapped entrepreneur. Leads SEO execution and content-led growth for SaaS companies.