Ahrefs Review
SEO Suite · SEO & Search
The best backlink and keyword data in the industry, with a genuinely useful free tier.
Our take
The data I trust most. And Webmaster Tools being free for your own site means a small business can run proper technical audits without paying anything.
At a glance
- Category
- SEO & Search
- Type
- SEO Suite
- Pricing
- Freemium
- Free option
- Yes
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Best for
- SEOs, link builders
What Ahrefs does
If Semrush is broad, Ahrefs is deep. Its backlink index and keyword database are the ones other tools get compared against, and the interface wastes less of your time. Ahrefs Webmaster Tools gives you free site audits and backlink data for domains you can verify.
How marketers actually use it
Start free: verify your site in Ahrefs Webmaster Tools and run a site audit. Then use Site Explorer on two competitors and pull the keywords they rank for that you do not. That gap list is usually six months of content strategy, already prioritised by traffic potential.
Best for
- Backlink analysis and link-building prospecting
- Finding the keywords a competitor actually ranks for
- Free technical site audits via Webmaster Tools
- Content gap analysis against several competitors
Watch out for
Full plans are costly and have historically metered credits aggressively. Check what your plan actually includes before committing.
Ahrefs pricing
Free Webmaster Tools for sites you own; Starter is $29/mo, Lite $129/mo.
Checked August 2026. Pricing changes constantly — confirm on the official site before you buy. There are no affiliate links on this page.
Check current Ahrefs pricingAhrefs FAQ
Is Ahrefs free?
Ahrefs Webmaster Tools is free for sites you can verify ownership of, and includes site audits and your own backlink data. Full plans start at $29/mo for Starter, $129/mo for Lite.
Is Ahrefs worth it for a small business?
The free Webmaster Tools almost certainly, yes. A full paid plan usually only makes sense once SEO is a real channel for you rather than something you check occasionally.
What is Ahrefs best at?
Backlink data — its index is the one competitors get measured against. Keyword research and content gap analysis are close behind.
What is Ahrefs Webmaster Tools?
A free tier giving site audits, backlink data and keyword performance for domains you can verify you own. For a small business site it covers most of what you actually need.
Does Ahrefs still charge for extra credits?
Ahrefs has changed its credit and pricing model more than once. Check exactly what your intended plan includes before committing — this has caught people out.
Ahrefs alternatives
Other seo & search tools worth comparing before you commit: