Semrush vs Ahrefs

Updated: September 2026

QUICK ANSWER Semrush and Ahrefs are the two most complete SEO suites on the market, and both restructured their pricing in 2026. Semrush now offers two paths: its "SEO Classic" plans (Pro, Guru, Business) and a new "Semrush One" bundle that adds AI visibility tools. Ahrefs keeps a ladder of 5 plans, from a very affordable entry plan ($29/month) up to Enterprise.

Criteria	Semrush	Ahrefs
Entry plan	Pro (SEO Classic) — $117.33/month (billed annually)	Starter — $29/month (billed monthly only)
New all-in-one bundle	Semrush One — from $199/month (Starter)	No separate equivalent bundle
Most affordable plan to get started	No plan below ~$117/month that is useful for complete SEO	Starter at $29/month, though with limited features
Cost per additional user	From $45/month per user	$40 to $80/month extra depending on plan (Lite to Advanced)
Free plan	Free account with very limited use	No full free plan

Semrush

Semrush is a digital marketing suite that goes beyond pure SEO: it includes keyword research, site audit, advertising and, since 2026, a "Semrush One" bundle that adds visibility in AI answers to the classic SEO tools.

Ahrefs

Ahrefs is known mainly for its backlink database and its keyword explorer, with a Starter entry plan that is much more affordable ($29/month) than any comparable Semrush plan, although with limited features compared to its higher plans.

Key differences

Ahrefs has a notably cheaper entry plan ($29/month) than any useful Semrush plan, whose most affordable level for complete SEO starts at about $117/month (SEO Classic Pro).
Semrush restructured its offering in 2026 with "Semrush One", a bundle that combines classic SEO with artificial intelligence (AI) visibility tools, something Ahrefs does not offer as a separate equivalent bundle.
Both tools charge for additional users on top of the base plan, at different prices: Semrush from $45/month per user and Ahrefs between $40 and $80/month depending on the plan (Lite to Advanced).
Neither has a full free plan: Semrush offers a very limited free account, and Ahrefs has no free version (only its paid monthly Starter plan).

Pricing

Updated: September 2026 — source: official pricing pages (see Sources).

Semrush

SEO Classic — Pro $117.33/month, Guru $208.33/month, Business $416.66/month (all billed annually).
Semrush One — Starter $199/month, Pro+ $299/month, Advanced $549/month (17% discount when paying annually).
Additional user — from $45/month per user; access to the AI Visibility Toolkit costs $99 per extra user.

Ahrefs

Starter — $29/month (billed monthly only).
Lite — $129/month ($108/month billed annually).
Standard — $249/month ($208/month billed annually).
Advanced — $449/month ($374/month billed annually).
Enterprise — from $1,499/month (billed annually).

Features and integrations

For keyword research and technical site audits, both tools are on par in depth. Ahrefs is known for having one of the largest backlink databases; Semrush adds more digital marketing features overall (advertising, social media, and now AI visibility) within the same ecosystem.

Ease of use

Both platforms have a real learning curve: they are not tools to use without understanding SEO. Ahrefs is usually seen as somewhat more direct for specific backlink and keyword tasks; Semrush has more modules, which also means more to learn.

Who is each tool for?

Semrush: Marketing teams that want SEO together with advertising, social media and, now, visibility in AI answers, all in one ecosystem.

Ahrefs: Freelancers or small teams that want to start on a low budget ($29/month) and prioritize keyword research and backlinks.

Verdict

Ahrefs wins on entry price affordability; Semrush wins if you want a broader digital marketing ecosystem, beyond pure SEO.

Alternatives

Semrush vs Moz

Frequently asked questions

Which is cheaper to start with?

Ahrefs, with its $29/month Starter plan. Semrush's most affordable plan for complete SEO (Pro, SEO Classic) starts at approximately $117/month.

What is "Semrush One"?

It is Semrush's new bundle, launched in 2026, that combines the classic SEO tools with a toolkit for visibility in artificial intelligence (AI) answers.

Does either have a free plan?

Not a full one: Semrush offers a free account with very limited use, and Ahrefs has no free plan (its lowest tier, Starter, is already paid).

Which has the largest backlink database?

Ahrefs is historically recognized for the depth of its backlink index, although both tools update their databases constantly.

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