Comparing Ahrefs vs Semrush vs Moz, three giants of the SEO playbook, is not a joke.
These three giants dominate the SEO world, powering everyone from beginners just starting to seasoned pros running massive campaigns.
Ahrefs vs Semrush vs Moz: Detailed Comparison
While all three help you track rankings, analyze backlinks, and optimize your website, this comparison guide dives deeper to reveal their real differences.
From features and pricing to pros and cons, you’ll discover which tool shines in keyword research, competitive analysis, site audits, and content optimization.
Whether you’re a small business owner, a freelance marketer, or a full-time SEO professional, this guide will help you pick the tool that fits your workflow, budget, and growth goals.
Moz vs Semrush vs Ahrefs: Feature and Pricing Comparison Table
| Feature / Tool | Ahrefs | Semrush | Moz |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price (Annual) | Starts from $108+/mo | Starts from $117.33+/mo | Starts from $39+/mo |
| Free Trial | No free trial | 7 days | 30 days |
| Keyword Research | Huge DB, long-tail, click metrics | Large DB, CPC & trends | Moderate DB, priority & opportunity |
| Backlinks | Strong index, deep link profiles | Solid index, link-building tools | Basic index, gained/lost alerts |
| Site Audit | SEO issues, health score | Technical + performance audits | Basic errors, page optimization |
| Rank Tracking | Global & local, very accurate | Daily updates, local/global | Keywords & SERP features |
| Content Tools | Gap analysis, SERP insights | Topic research, SEO templates | Basic optimization suggestions |
| Best For | Pros & competitor research | Agencies & full-stack SEO | Beginners & small biz |
Core Features Comparison: Semrush vs Ahrefs vs Moz
Keyword Research
Semrush
- Huge keyword database with global & local data
- Keyword Magic Tool for long-tail ideas & clusters
- The Keyword Gap tool to spot missed opportunities
- Search volume, CPC, and intent insights
- Tracks SERP features like snippets & local packs
Ahrefs
- Massive keyword database with accurate difficulty score
- Traffic potential and click metrics
- Parent Topic grouping for better targeting
- Multiple keyword idea sources (questions, top pages, autocomplete)
- Detailed SERP overview with ranking pages and content type
Moz
- Keyword Explorer with volume and difficulty metrics
- Suggests related and semantic keyword variations
- SERP analysis with top pages and authority metrics
- Keyword list building and filtering
- Beginner-friendly interface, easy to use
Backlinks
Semrush
- Large backlink database with fresh & historical data
- Shows referring domains, anchors, and link types
- Detects toxic or harmful backlinks
- Competitor backlink gap analysis
- Backlink audit & monitoring tools
Ahrefs
- Industry-leading backlink index (one of the largest)
- Detailed referring domain & anchor text analysis
- Tracks new & lost backlinks in real time
- Site Explorer shows competitors’ top backlinks
- Strong link quality metrics (DR, UR)
Moz
- Tracks backlinks and linking domains
- Shows domain authority (DA) and page authority (PA)
- Identifies spammy or low-quality links
- Easy-to-use interface for small/medium sites
- Limited database compared to Semrush & Ahrefs
Site Audit
Semrush
- Crawls websites for SEO issues (technical, on-page, and HTTPS)
- Detects broken links, duplicate content, and crawl errors
- Provides overall site health score
- Suggests fixes and priorities for improvements
- Monitors the site over time with scheduled audits
Ahrefs
- Comprehensive technical SEO crawler
- Highlights issues like broken links, redirects, and slow pages
- Tracks internal linking and site structure
- Provides health score and visual reports
- Allows filtering issues by severity for actionable fixes
Moz
- Crawls websites to detect SEO issues
- Reports on page errors, redirects, and duplicate content
- Provides domain/page authority insights
- Highlights crawlability and site structure problems
- Simpler, beginner-friendly interface, suitable for small to medium sites
Rank Tracking
Semrush
- Track keyword positions on Google (desktop & mobile)
- Monitor multiple locations and devices
- Detect SERP features and local packs for tracked keywords
- Visual charts and position change reports
- Alerts for significant ranking changes
Ahrefs
- Track keyword rankings over time
- Supports multiple locations and devices
- Shows parent topic and keyword clusters for rankings
- Historical ranking data and trend visualization
- Alerts for big ranking movements
Moz
- Track keyword positions locally and globally
- Monitors SERP feature presence
- Provides keyword lists and ranking history
- Visual charts for ranking trends
- Beginner-friendly interface, simple to use
Content Tools
Semrush
- Content Analyzer to audit and optimize existing content
- Topic Research for generating content ideas
- SEO Writing Assistant for on-page optimization suggestions
- Tracks content performance and engagement metrics
- Integrates with WordPress and Google Docs
Ahrefs
- Content Explorer to find top-performing content by topic or keyword
- Analyzes backlinks and social shares for content
- Checks content gaps vs competitors
- Helps identify trending content ideas
- Offers metrics for traffic potential and organic clicks
Moz
- Limited compared to Semrush & Ahrefs
- Keyword Explorer helps plan content around relevant keywords
- Suggests related topics and questions
- Tracks the performance of published content via ranking data
- Beginner-friendly, good for small sites or startups
Ahrefs vs Moz vs Semrush: Pros and Cons
Ahrefs Pros and Cons
Semrush Pros and Cons
Moz Pros and Cons
Choosing the Right SEO Tool: A Practical Guide
When to Go with Ahrefs:
- Your main focus is on analyzing backlinks and link-building strategies
- You need highly accurate and detailed SEO data
- Budget isn’t a major concern
- You’re comfortable navigating a feature-rich interface
When SEMrush Makes Sense:
- You want a full-suite platform for SEO, content, PPC, and competitor research
- Content strategy is central to your marketing efforts
- You need easy-to-read reports and strong training/support resources
- You prefer an intuitive interface for team collaboration
When Moz Is a Good Fit:
- You’re a beginner in SEO or prefer a simpler tool
- Your focus is on local SEO performance
- You have a limited budget for SEO tools
- You value metrics like Domain Authority and straightforward keyword tracking
Budget-Friendly Options for Short-Term or Small Projects
- Combine free tools like Google Search Console, Google Analytics, Bing Webmaster Tools, and Keyword Planner
- Opt for monthly subscriptions instead of annual plans
- Share subscriptions with teammates or colleagues
- Watch for seasonal deals or promotions to save costs
🔎 Further read: Best SEO Tools for Specific Use Case
Real Customer Reviews and Backlash (Ahrefs vs Semrush vs Moz)
Price & Complexity Concerns
One Ahrefs customer on G2 said, “The pricing is high for freelancers or small businesses, and the tool can feel overwhelming at first with so many features and graphs.”
Concerns like these could deter budget-conscious or beginner users from committing.
Learning Curve & Pricing Concerns
A regular Semrush user said, “While Semrush is very comprehensive, the learning curve can be steep for new team members, and some reports take time to load. The pricing feels high for solo users or beginners, and multi-language support is limited.”
Overall, it’s powerful, but mastering it requires time and effort.
Keyword Reporting & Data Limitations
A frustrated Moz user said, “I would like a better way to group keyword rankings on reports to highlight primary vs. secondary keywords. While Moz Pro is powerful, the data depth and update frequency can be frustrating, especially for advanced or large-scale users.”
Overall, it works well, but showing the full value of SEO efforts can be tricky.
Ahrefs vs Moz vs Semrush: Pricing Comparison
Ahrefs Pricing Plan 2025
| Plan | Price (Monthly) | Key Features |
| Starter | $29/month | • Rank Tracker • Site Audit • Keyword Explorer |
| Lite | $129/month | • 5 projects •750 tracked keywords • Core SEO tools |
| Standard | $249/month | • 20 projects • 2,000 tracked keywords • Content Explorer • 2 years of data history • Unlimited credits |
| Advanced | $449/month | • 50 projects • 5,000 tracked keywords • 5 years of data history • 1.5M crawl credits |
| Enterprise | $1,499+/month | • API access • Unlimited data history • Custom limits • Priority support |
Moz Pro Pricing Plan 2025
| Plan | Price (Monthly) | Key Details |
| Starter | $49/month | Best for small businesses, startups with one website. |
| Standard | $99/month | Includes basic SEO tools for growing businesses. |
| Medium | $179/month | Unlocks higher limits plus full keyword research features. |
| Large | $299/month | Designed for agencies or larger companies needing full-scale data access. |
Semrush Pricing Plan 2025
| Plan | Price (Monthly) | Key Details |
| Free | $0 | • Track up to 10 keywords. • Manage 1 project. • Great for testing before upgrading |
| Pro | $139.95/month | •500 tracked keywords • Deeper SEO • Detail reporting • Extra users: $45/month |
| Guru | $249.95/month | • 1,500 tracked keywords • Advanced tools • Team collab • Extra users: $80/month |
| Business | $499.95/month | • 5,000 tracked keywords • Full Semrush features • Best for agencies • Extra users: $100/month |
FAQs on Ahrefs vs Semrush vs Moz
1. Which is better: Ahrefs, Semrush, or Moz?
It depends on your needs. Ahrefs is best for backlink analysis, Semrush is the most complete all-in-one SEO suite, and Moz is the most budget-friendly for beginners.
2. Is Semrush worth the price?
Yes, especially for agencies and marketers who need keyword data, content tools, audits, and competitor tracking in one platform.
3. Why do people choose Ahrefs?
Ahrefs has one of the strongest backlink databases in the industry, plus accurate keyword and traffic data, making it ideal for advanced SEO professionals.
4. Is Moz still relevant in 2025?
Yes. Moz remains a solid option for small businesses and SEO beginners thanks to its lower pricing, simple UI, and 30-day free trial.
5. Which tool is best for small businesses?
If the budget is tight, Moz is a good start. If you can invest more for growth, Semrush offers a more comprehensive suite of features for small businesses.
6. Do any of these tools offer a free trial?
Ahrefs: No free trial
Semrush: 7 days
Moz: 30 days
