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Last updated: October 29, 2026
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Ahrefs vs SE Ranking (2027): Prices, Trials and Which to Pick
Choose SE Ranking if you want a full SEO toolkit with strong rank tracking at a lower price: Core costs $129 a month, or $103.20 on annual billing, with 2,000 keywords tracked daily and a 14-day free trial. Choose Ahrefs if backlink research or cheap keyword research matters most: Starter costs $29 a month and the full toolkit, Lite, $129, with annual billing saving up to 17%. Both full toolkits list at $129 a month; SE Ranking's 20% annual discount makes it the cheaper of the two.
- SE Ranking: Core $129 ($103.20 annual), 2,000 tracked keywords; Growth $279 ($223.20 annual), 5,000 keywords; 14-day trial; no free plan.
- Ahrefs: Starter $29; Lite $129; Standard $249; Advanced $449; annual billing saves up to 17%; Starter trial; Ahrefs Free for your own site.
- Annual saving: SE Ranking 20%; Ahrefs up to 17%.
- Full toolkit on annual billing: SE Ranking $103.20 vs Ahrefs Lite from about $107.
Ahrefs vs SE Ranking at a glance
| Ahrefs | SE Ranking | |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest paid entry | Starter $29 | Core $129 ($103.20 annual) |
| Full toolkit | Lite $129 | Core $129 ($103.20 annual) |
| Next tier | Standard $249 | Growth $279 ($223.20 annual) |
| Free option | Ahrefs Free (your own site) | No |
| Trial | Starter trial | 14 days |
| Known for | Backlink index, content research | Rank tracking, value, client reports |
Pricing compared
| Plan | Monthly | Per year (yearly billing) |
|---|---|---|
| Ahrefs Starter | $29 | — |
| SE Ranking Core | $129 | $1,238.40 |
| Ahrefs Lite | $129 | from about $1,285 (17% max saving) |
| Ahrefs Standard | $249 | from about $2,480 |
| SE Ranking Growth | $279 | $2,678.40 |
| Ahrefs Advanced | $449 | from about $4,472 |
Ahrefs doesn't publish annual prices; annual figures apply its stated maximum 17% saving.
Which tool is better for what?
| Need | Better choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest regular keyword research | Ahrefs | Starter at $29 |
| Backlink research | Ahrefs | Its backlink index is its best-known strength |
| Daily rank tracking for many keywords | SE Ranking | 2,000 on Core, 5,000 on Growth |
| Client reporting on a budget | SE Ranking | Popular with agencies |
| Longest free trial | SE Ranking | 14 days |
| Free data about your own site | Ahrefs | Ahrefs Free |
Cost per tracked keyword
SE Ranking Core tracks 2,000 keywords daily for $103.20 a month on annual billing, about 5 cents per keyword; Growth tracks 5,000 for about 4.5 cents. Check Ahrefs' tracked-keyword limits on the plan you'd buy before comparing; for teams whose main job is reporting positions, SE Ranking is usually the cheaper tool.
Three real-world scenarios
A blogger who needs keyword ideas
Ahrefs Starter at $29 a month is the cheapest regular option.
A freelancer reporting rankings for 6 clients
SE Ranking Core ($103.20 a month, annual) covers about 330 keywords per client, with branded reports.
An agency doing link building
Ahrefs Standard ($249) for backlink research, with SE Ranking for client rank tracking if budget allows.
Start SE Ranking's 14-day trial → 2,000 tracked keywords on Core · Affiliate link
Hidden costs and limits
- Ahrefs' jump from Starter ($29) to Lite ($129).
- SE Ranking has no free plan.
- Report, project and user limits differ by plan on both.
- Annual billing locks you in for 12 months.
Alternatives to both
| Tool | Entry price | Why consider it |
|---|---|---|
| Semrush | Free plan; SEO $117.33 (annual) | Broadest toolkit, AI Search |
| Moz | Standard $79 (yearly) | Beginner-friendly, AI visibility |
| Google Search Console | Free | Your site's real data |
See Ahrefs pricing, SE Ranking pricing, Semrush vs SE Ranking and best rank tracker.
Who should choose which
Choose SE Ranking if you track many keywords, report rankings to clients or want the cheapest full toolkit on annual billing. Choose Ahrefs if backlinks drive your strategy or you only need keyword research at $29 a month.
How to choose in 5 steps
- Write down your main job: rankings, backlinks or keyword ideas.
- Count tracked keywords and sites.
- Start Ahrefs Free and SE Ranking's 14-day trial.
- Run the same tasks on your domain and three competitors.
- Keep one tool and pay yearly after two months.
Terms explained
- Tracked keyword: a keyword whose rank is checked daily.
- Backlink index: the database of links a tool has found.
- Site audit: a crawl listing technical issues.
- Domain Rating: Ahrefs' site-strength metric.
3-year cost
| Plan (yearly billing) | Per year | 3 years |
|---|---|---|
| SE Ranking Core | $1,238.40 | $3,715.20 |
| Ahrefs Lite (17% max saving) | about $1,285 | about $3,855 |
| SE Ranking Growth | $2,678.40 | $8,035.20 |
| Ahrefs Standard (17% max saving) | about $2,480 | about $7,440 |
At entry level SE Ranking is slightly cheaper over three years; at the next tier Ahrefs Standard costs a little less than SE Ranking Growth, but the two plans have different limits, so compare them for the work you do.
Ease of use and reporting
SE Ranking organizes work by project, with rank tracking, audits and competitor data for each site and reports that are quick to brand and schedule for clients. Ahrefs puts a lot of data on every screen, which experienced SEOs like and beginners take longer to learn. If you'll send monthly reports to clients, test the report builder in both before deciding.
Questions to ask before choosing between Ahrefs and SE Ranking
- Is your main job tracking rankings, researching backlinks or finding keywords?
- How many keywords and sites do you track every week?
- Will you send reports to clients, and how often?
- Do you need more than one user on the account?
Mistakes to avoid
- Paying for a full toolkit when Ahrefs Starter at $29 would do.
- Ignoring tracked-keyword limits on the plan you choose.
- Comparing authority scores across tools; each tool calculates its own.
Which plan to start on
If you only need keyword ideas, start with Ahrefs Starter at $29 a month. If you need rank tracking, audits and competitor data for one or a few sites, start with SE Ranking Core and its 14-day trial. Agencies with 10 or more clients usually need SE Ranking Growth or Ahrefs Standard; run both trials on two client sites before choosing.
Is there a contract?
Both offer monthly billing; yearly billing lowers the price.
Our verdict
SE Ranking is the better value for rank tracking and client reporting, at $103.20 a month on annual billing with 2,000 tracked keywords. Ahrefs is the better choice for backlink research, and its $29 Starter plan is the cheapest way to do regular keyword research.
How we compiled this page
We compared Ahrefs' and SE Ranking's official pricing pages on October 29, 2026.
FAQ
Is SE Ranking cheaper than Ahrefs?
At full-toolkit level on annual billing, yes: $103.20 versus about $107 for Ahrefs Lite. Ahrefs Starter ($29) is cheaper for keyword research only.
Is Ahrefs better than SE Ranking?
For backlinks, often yes. For rank tracking and value, SE Ranking is often better.
Does SE Ranking have a free trial?
Yes, 14 days.
Does Ahrefs have a free plan?
Ahrefs Free gives site owners data and fixes for their own site.
Which is better for agencies?
SE Ranking for rank tracking and reports; Ahrefs for link building and research.
Can I use both?
Yes, some agencies do; small teams usually need one.
Which is better for beginners?
SE Ranking's project-based interface is usually easier to learn.
Do both offer site audits?
Yes. Both crawl your site and list technical issues to fix.
Which has more accurate keyword volumes?
Both estimate volumes with their own data; compare with Google Search Console for your site.
Can I track local rankings in both?
Yes. Both track rankings by location and device; check the locations included in your plan.
Sources
ahrefs.com/pricing and seranking.com/subscription.html, checked October 29, 2026.
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