Ahrefs vs SEMrush: SEO Tools Comparison (2026)
Ahrefs provides a free tier, while SEMrush does not. Ahrefs includes an API and a Social Media Manager, which are not listed for SEMrush. SEMrush offers monitoring for 5 websites and tracks 500 keywords daily, with features like AI visibility reports and AI sentiment monitoring, which are not listed for Ahrefs. Ahrefs has a starting price of $29/month, and SEMrush has a starting price of $117.33/month.
AI Citation Scorecard
How often each is cited by major AI engines when buyers ask seo tools questions. Last 90 days across ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Claude, and Copilot.
Probes run hourly; each (engine × query) combo retests every ~3 days.
Pricing
Key Features
- ✓Site Explorer
- ✓Keywords Explorer
- ✓Rank Tracker
- ✓Site Audit
- ✓API access
- ✓Custom prompts
- ✓Competitive Analysis
- ✓Social Media Manager
- ✓5 websites to monitor
- ✓500 keywords to track daily
- ✓Basic keyword research
- ✓Position Tracking
- ✓Site Audit
- ✓Monitor AI sentiment
- ✓AI visibility reports
- ✓Custom prompts monitoring
When to choose Ahrefs
Ahrefs is suitable for users who require a free tier, API access, or social media management features. Its robust web crawler and historical data may also be beneficial for comprehensive SEO analysis.
When to choose SEMrush
SEMrush is suitable for users who need to monitor 5 websites, track 500 keywords daily, and utilize AI visibility reports and AI sentiment monitoring. Its various pricing plans may cater to different budget requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
AI visibility profiles
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