Ahrefs Vs. Semrush, Which Is The Best SEO Tool To Choose in 2023?

Ranking on the search engine is one way to potentially outshine your competitors, lure more organic traffic to your website, and many more. However, ranking on the search engine, as you already know, requires you to understand how SEO works and ways to implement some SEO tools. Join our Content Creation Academy to level up your content creation business

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In this article, I’ll do head to head comparison of the two most popular SEO tools- Ahrefs and SEMrush. So, you could determine the one that soothes your needs.

But before that;

      What Are Ahrefs And SEMrush?

Ahrefs and Semrush are two famous platforms that enable you to track your website’s metrics and optimize your website in the search engine. Both platforms are highly functional with a cavalcade of features that are somewhat similar but different in some ways.

Originally, Ahrefs was launched as a backlink builder before expanding to other SEO features like keyword research, rank tracking, competitor analysis, etc.

On the other hand, Semrush was specifically designed as an SEO tool.

Both platforms will help you;

• Find backlinks opportunities.
• Discover what people always search for.
• Work on the technical issues of your website.
• See your website’s page and traffic.
• Analyze your website’s ranking, etc.

Note: both platforms can perform these listed works and more but on different levels.

Delving deep, I’m going to discuss the features of these platforms in terms of

• Ease of use.
• Backlink analysis.
• Keyword Research features.
• Rank tracking,
• Domain analysis,
• Technical SEO and site auditing.

Ease Of Use

On a scale of ten, the difference between Ahrefs and Semrush’s ease of use can be estimated at eight. If you’re looking to absorb your website’s data and some information you need in a huff, then Ahrefs will better appeal to you, considering how information is displayed comprehensively.

Semrush has a complex interface, and here you’ve to do a few clicks, sliding and all, to spot your data. Not that it’s too difficult to work it but compared to Ahrefs, Semrush requires slight taps on the interface to display the data.

However, Semrush loads faster than Ahrefs, which apparently means working with Ahrefs consumes more time than the counterpart. SEMrush feeds you with more information than Ahrefs in terms of graphs, pipelines, and PPC, which adds to its reason for having a complex interface.

Backlink Analysis

Sure enough, a website with quality backlinks ranks well on the search engine. Ahrefs and Semrush will provide you with enough information using their backlink reports and tools.

Originally, Ahrefs started as a backlink builder that provides users with large data volume and breaks it down into readable format until Semrush expanded its wings.

Recently, Semrush has over 800 million database domains, outnumbering that of Ahrefs, meaning that Semrush provides rigorous backlink and domain analysis, and the analysis comes in digestible graph format.

So generally, Ahrefs has a friendly UI compared to Semrush. Depending on your specialty- technical marketer, SEO professional, a business owner, you determine which of the platforms backlink you’d use.

Keyword Research Tool

Semrush and Ahrefs give awesome results when you perform keyword research on the platform. By typing in your keyword on the search bar, you’ll get a long list of related keywords and percentage of searches, difficulty in ranking, results on who among your competitors are already ranking using the keyword, etc.

However, Semrush goes beyond showing the keyword’s general results and provides details on why people perform that particular keyword research through its ‘keyword intent’ feature.

On the other hand, Ahrefs provides you with hands-down click data that enables you to keep track of your click per keyword; a feature Semrush doesn’t have up its sleeve. But it provides you with information for your PPC campaign.

Rank Tracking

Ranking first on the search engine result page determines the extent of growth a website has attained, and to most companies, it’s the most vital metric.

Both Ahrefs and Semrush are equal in accuracy to an extent, but Semrush takes the upper hand in spiking a website’s visibility as it frequently improves its functionality.

Domain Analysis

Both Ahrefs and Semrush give you access to check your website’s performance and that of your competitors from an SEO standpoint and ways to outrank them in the long run. With it, you could track your website’s visitors per month, backlinks, and an indication of how your website will perform; you name it.

Although both platforms’ domain analyses might be similar, Ahrefs takes the upper hand here because of the user interface, which is coherent and understandable.

Contrarily to Ahrefs, the Semrush interface is slightly complex, requiring a few digging and clicks for each result to pop out. Additionally, Semrush has features that increase its functionality, regardless.

Semrush’s ‘competitive positioning map’ is one unique feature that gives it an edge over Ahrefs. The map gives you a swift glance at your website’s performance against your key competitors and their monthly traffic estimates. With this, you’d know when to make adjustments to sail above your rivals.

Technical SEO And Site Auditing.

In this area, Ahrefs and Semrush have striking similarities in their analytical performance. Through site auditing, both platforms provide you with a wealth of information on issues your site has and how it affects your improvement.

Overall, the two platforms run a test and state the issues that affect your site. However, Semrush goes deeper in outlining possible solutions to the issues which will help new SEO learners to fix their websites to standard.

By contrast, Ahrefs spells out issues a website has, but it’ll be hard for beginners in technical SEO to comprehend.

Semrush And Ahrefs Pricing.

Here comes the answer to that question reeling in your mind. How much does each one of them cost?

Well, this depends largely on your work type and willingness to spill some cash. If you deal more with link building, Ahrefs will appeal to you, but if you’re into full-time SEO, etc., Semrush is ideal for you.

You must remember that both platforms have all the spelled-out features with slight differences.

Both Semrush and Ahrefs have different paid bundles, and here’s a rundown;

Semrush

• The paid plan here is split into three;
• The pro- $119.95 per month with limitations to certain key features.
• The Guru- $229.95 per month.
• The Business- $449.95 per month.

Contrarily, Ahrefs has four paid plans which include,

• The Lite: $99 per month.
• The Standard: $179 per month.
• The Advanced: $399 per month.
• The Enterprise: $999 per month.

Semrush or Ahrefs, Which One Is Better?

Looking at the above comparison, you’d agree with me that both tools are functional, unique in their on way and have similarities.

Ahrefs interface looks more user-friendly and takes the edge when it comes to building links, but Semrush outshines Ahrefs with its SEO features, speed and performance.

Therefore before you utilize any of the suites, determine the type of work you do; to ensure the tool meets up with your needs.

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