Arguably, the most important element to any successful SEO (search engine optimization) initiative is the tech tool that helps with execution, analysis, and auditing. In a contest between Ahrefs and Semrush, there are many factors to consider, from features, pricing, and pros and cons as well as alignment with the business’s goals.
In this article...
Ahrefs Features
Ahrefs is self-described as a software company that delivers online SEO tools as well as free educational materials for marketing professionals. Headquartered in Singapore, Ahrefs values creating quality SEO content and tools, so customers can excel at SEO performance.
Ahrefs market share
Ahrefs reports approximately 6,346 companies are using their tool. These companies using Ahrefs are most commonly found in the United States and belong to the marketing and advertising industry. Ahrefs is popular with companies that have 10–50 employees and with revenue reported in the range of $1–$10 million USD and a market share of 17.24%.
Ahrefs key features
- Site Audit Tool to audit & optimize websites
- Site Explorer Tool to analyze competitors
- Keywords Explorer Tool for finding which keywords customers are searching for
- Content Explorer Learn to gain insights from an industry’s top performing content
- Rank Tracker to track, audit, and analyze a business’s ranking progress
- Link Building — Ahrefs was originally built for link building
Read the full Ahrefs product review | TechnologyAdvice.com
Semrush Features
Semrush is a robust marketing toolkit that was created with the needs of digital marketing professionals in mind. The software contains tools for optimizing strategies across SEO, PPC (pay-per-click), social media, content, and PR (public relations).
Semrush ensures marketing professionals always have time for creativity and experiments while it takes care of data. It is the only software which enables marketing professionals to build, manage, and measure campaigns across all channels to improve their online visibility.
Semrush is your digital team member — your analytics buddy, your mentor, your safety net, and a compass to new markets.
Semrush market share
Semrush shares the top spot in the SEO and SEM (search engine marketing) software market share at 9.02%. Around the world in 2022, over 11,000 companies use Semrush as their chosen SEO And SEM tool. The top industries that use Semrush are in the marketing, digital advertising, and SEO services industries.
Semrush key features
- Keyword research
- On-page SEO
- Competitor analysis
- Local SEO
- Content marketing
- Social media management
- Link building
- PPC
- Paid advertising
Try Semrush free.
The Pros and Cons of Semrush vs. Ahrefs
Ahrefs and Semrush are both leading SEO software suites. There is a reason that they are leaders in the marketplace and that many top digital agencies and private businesses use both.
There is a significant amount of overlap in any comparison between Semrush and Ahrefs, but there are unique features that should be examined before choosing which tool is right for your purposes. By exploring the pros and cons of each tool, it will be easier to discern which fits your objectives.
Ahrefs pros
- Expert-Level Backlink Solution: Ahrefs pioneered the backlink space. The tool is able to dig deeper into competitors’ search traffic than most other tools in the SEO software industry. The ability to gain these insights tells businesses what content is generating higher income. Here are some of the strengths of Ahref’s backlink tool:
- One click allows for a clear profile of any site or URL
- Insights into anchors and links to backlinks’ strengths
- Ability to track backlinks and follow their development
- Advanced reporting and smart filter features
- Positions Explorer Tool: Ahrefs provides deep insights into competitors’ search traffic, including what keywords they use to rank in search engines and which ones they include in their paid campaigns.
- Content AnalysisTool: Ahrefs’ content audit tool provides in-depth insights into content performance.
- Keyword Insights: Ahrefs offers up clear views into SERPs (search engine results pages), keyword by geographic location and language, as well as mobile performance.
Ahrefs cons
- No Free Trial: Unlike many other SEO software suites, there’s no free trial associated with Ahrefs.
- Reporting Limitations: Users report that the reporting function is limited, and customized views of data are tough to get at.
- Small Link Index: The Ahref link index is smaller than those of key competitors, namely Semrush.
- No Live Phone Support: There’s no phone support on Ahref’s platform, which can be challenging for companies with limited inhouse tech teams or those seeking customization.
- No Mobile: On-the-go SEO work is harder without a mobile app.
Semrush pros
- Ease of Use: Users report that Semrush is generally easy to use.
- Reporting Clarity: Domain analysis, keyword intent data, and large quantities of data represented in easy-to-grasp visual form make getting to actionable insights easy.
- Backlink CRM: Semrush offers a link-building tool that includes a CRM-style feature to streamline outreach efforts.
- PPC Tool: Semrush helps with organic search but has an added layer with its comprehensive PPC analytics tool.
- Lots of Customer Support: With three channels of support available — phone, chat and email — Semrush is more comprehensive than most of its competitors.
Semrush cons
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- Only Google: Semrush only provides data for Google, which can be limiting for B2B (business to business) and global businesses.
- Limited User Account: The baseline Semrush plans only come with one user account. Additional seats are available but at a high price tag.
- Additional Cost Creep: Semrush offers competitive analysis features, but the cost is an additional $200 per month extra.
- Not Responsive: Because the Semrush interface is not responsive, SEO on the go is tough for this tool too.
Try Semrush free.
Which is the best?
Both Ahrefs and Semrush are solid and extremely popular tools for supporting the SEO channel. When assessing who wins the matchup between Semrush and Ahrefs, it’s important to drill down on the features to see where the true fit lies with your business’s needs.
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