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Ahrefs vs Moz: SEO Tools Compared
Ahrefs focuses on a proprietary web index and comprehensive site auditing, while Moz emphasizes row-based API access and local SEO management. Ahrefs suits teams needing deep competitive intelligence, whereas Moz works well for agencies prioritizing flexible data queries and review tracking.
Last verified against both official websites on November 7, 2026
Ahrefs
Ahrefs is an AI marketing platform and SEO toolset built on a proprietary web index, offering tools for search, AI visibility, competitive intelligence, content marketing, and local SEO.
Choose Ahrefs if you need a full-featured SEO suite with built-in site audits, traffic analytics, and a robust free tier for quick site checks.
Official site Indie alternatives to Ahrefs
Moz
Moz offers a suite of SEO tools including Moz Pro, Moz Local, STAT, and Moz API, along with free SEO tools and educational resources.
Choose Moz if you prefer a modular pricing model based on monthly data rows and want integrated local SEO and review management tools.
Official site Indie alternatives to Moz
Ahrefs vs Moz pricing
| Ahrefs | Moz | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | 7 days | 7 days |
| Plans |
Starter
€27/mo
See what people search and spy on competitors.
Lite
€119/mo
Essential data for small businesses and personal projects.
Standard
€229/mo
Perfect for freelance SEOs and marketing consultants.
Advanced
€419/mo
More tools and data for lean in-house marketing teams.
Enterprise
Not listed
Scale with advanced customization, automation, and controls.
Ahrefs Free
Free
Get Ahrefs data on your site and fix what matters.
|
Free
Free
Free access allows for one request every ten seconds, up to 50 rows per month
Starter
$20/mo
3,000 rows/mo
Starter
$75/mo
15,000 rows/mo
Growth
$125/mo
50,000 rows/mo
Growth
$250/mo
120,000 rows/mo
Growth
$500/mo
500,000 rows/mo
Enterprise
Not listed
Custom volume and terms
|
Prices as shown on each official pricing page when last verified (our servers are in the EU, so some sites show local currency). Check the official site before buying.
Features compared
| Feature | Ahrefs | Moz |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free Trial | 7 days | 7 days |
| Currency | EUR | USD |
| Site Audit | Yes | Not listed |
| Local SEO Management | Not listed | Yes |
| Review Management | Not listed | Yes |
| API Access | Yes | Yes |
| Looker Studio Integration | Yes | Yes |
| MCP Server Access | Yes | Yes |
| AI Search Intelligence | Not listed | Yes |
Core Focus & Target Users
Ahrefs positions itself as an AI marketing platform and SEO toolset built on a proprietary web index. It serves small businesses, freelance SEOs, marketing consultants, in-house teams, and enterprise organizations. Comprehensive SEO suite for diverse teams.
Moz offers a broader suite including Moz Pro, Moz Local, STAT, and the Moz API, alongside free tools and educational resources. Its target audience spans digital marketers, small businesses, agencies, and enterprise clients. Modular tools for flexible marketing workflows.
Key Features & Capabilities
Ahrefs provides tools like Site Explorer, Traffic Analytics, Brand Radar, Prompt Tracking, Keywords Explorer, GSC Insights, Site Audit, Web Analytics, Bot Analytics, and Content Explorer. Users frequently highlight its data scraping robustness and educational content, though some note it does not directly improve rankings. Deep competitive intelligence and site auditing.
Moz includes Keyword Research, Competitive Research, Link Research, Rank Tracking, Domain Overview, Site Crawl, Local SEO Management, Review Management, Moz API Access, and AI Search Intelligence. The platform is often praised for its straightforward API structure and local SEO focus. Streamlined local SEO and review tracking.
Pricing & Data Limits
Ahrefs uses a flat monthly subscription model in EUR. Plans range from a free tier to Starter at €27, Lite at €119, Standard at €229, and Advanced at €419 monthly, with Enterprise pricing listed as custom. Predictable monthly pricing in euros.
Moz operates on a row-based pricing model in USD. The free plan allows 50 rows monthly, while paid tiers scale from Starter at $20 or $75 to Growth plans at $125, $250, or $500 monthly. Enterprise options remain custom. Pay only for the data rows you need.
User Feedback & Reliability
Discussions around Ahrefs often mention its status as an SEO industry standard and its use by major companies. Some users report limited utility for certain tasks and note that resource usage can be high during heavy crawls. Established industry standard with heavy resource needs.
While specific user themes for Moz aren't detailed in the provided discussions, the platform maintains a 7-day free trial for both services. Both tools integrate with Looker Studio and offer MCP Server access for AI workflows. Shared integrations for modern AI workflows.
What users say
Summarized from public Hacker News discussions; links go to the original comments.
Indie alternatives to Ahrefs and Moz
Smaller tools built by independent makers that cover part of what these two do, often for less.
SIGMAEO
Be the Answer, Not just a Result
Users of Ahrefs for backlink analysis and keyword research can use SIGMAEO as an alternative for core SEO data, though Ahrefs' backlink index is more specialized.
See website for pricing
Greadme
SEO Testing & Analysis
Users relying on Ahrefs for site audits and technical SEO issues can use Greadme as a specialized alternative for deep-dive technical analysis, particularly for accessibility and AI crawler visibility.
See website for pricing
Atomic AGI
AI-native SEO analytics & agents
Users of Ahrefs for backlink and keyword data can use Atomic AGI as a complementary or alternative tool for tracking how their content performs in AI-generated answers and automating optimization tasks.
Free plan available with 7 days of historical data and 1 user. Starter plan at $40/month. Team plan at $100/month.
LLMic
AI SEO Auditor for MacOS
While Ahrefs is broader, LLMic competes in the specific niche of technical SEO auditing and content structure verification, offering a desktop-based workflow for users who prefer local data storage over Ahrefs' cloud platform.
Paid subscription required. Plans include Solo and Pro. No automatic free trial.
Skayle
Rank in search. Get cited in AI.
Covers keyword research and content planning, core Ahrefs functions, via SERP analysis and competitor gap tracking.
Growth plan at $89/month; Authority plan at $299/month.
ClayHog
See what AI says about your brand and competitors
Ahrefs users looking to expand their keyword and competitor research into the emerging 'Generative Engine Optimization' space can use ClayHog to monitor how AI models cite and rank their content.
See website for pricing
SEO Mode
Free keyword research tool for high-volume, low-competition keywords.
SEO Mode offers similar core metrics (Volume, KD, CPC) for free, serving as a lightweight alternative for users who only need keyword data and not the full site audit suite.
See website for pricing
geekskai
SaaS, indie hacking, bootstrapping, online tools, automation
Ranktracking.co
The simplest and most cost-effective rank tracker on the market.
From $8/mo, pay for what you use.
SnowSEO
Rank #1 in search & AI, while you sleep
While Ahrefs is a broader SEO suite, SnowSEO competes in the niche of tracking 'AI visibility' and 'citations' which are not standard metrics in Ahrefs, offering a specific alternative for users focused on Generative Engine Optimization.
See website for pricing
Fast SEO Fix
AI Visibility Tracking and SEO Content That Ranks
Covers SEO content optimization and visibility tracking, core Moz functions, using AI to automate content creation and publishing.
See website for pricing
Growth Audit
Free AI audit that finds what's hurting your website
Covers site audits, a core Ahrefs function, offering prioritized fixes and ongoing monitoring for technical SEO issues.
Free plan available with unlimited one-off audits and monitoring of 1 website.
More comparisons
FAQ
Is Ahrefs cheaper than Moz?
Ahrefs starts at €27 monthly for its Starter plan, while Moz offers a free tier and a Starter plan at $20 monthly. Pricing depends on whether you need flat subscriptions or row-based API access.
Does Moz have a free plan?
Yes, Moz provides a free plan that allows 50 rows per month, with one request allowed every ten seconds.
Can I use both tools with Looker Studio?
Yes, both Ahrefs and Moz list Looker Studio as a supported integration for reporting and data visualization.
How do the data limits compare?
Ahrefs limits plans by tracked keywords and crawl credits, while Moz scales pricing based on monthly data rows, ranging from 50 to 500,000 rows depending on the tier.
This comparison is generated automatically from the official websites and re-verified periodically. Spotted something wrong? Tell me.