With search engines and user behavior constantly evolving, SEO professionals need SEO tools that can keep pace while still excelling in core features such as backlink analysis, content marketing, and competitor tracking.
That’s where the SE Ranking vs Ahrefs debate comes in. Both platforms are industry leaders, widely used by businesses aiming to improve their search visibility. At Growfore, we utilize both tools for different projects, as each offers its own advantages.
In this Ahrefs vs SE Ranking review, we’ll compare their features, pricing, and usability so you can figure out which one aligns best with your SEO goal.
SE Ranking vs Ahrefs: Comparison Table
Here’s a comparison table of SE Ranking and Ahrefs based on key features and pricing:
| Feature | SE Ranking | Ahrefs |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Starts at $52/mo (500 keywords). Affordable for small businesses, flexible plans. Free 14-day trial. | Starts at $129/mo. More expensive, no free trial. Stronger plans for agencies/enterprises. |
| Keyword Research | Database of 5.3B keywords. Shows volume, CPC, competition, and related terms. Beginner-friendly. | Database of 28B+ keywords. Advanced metrics: traffic potential, clicks, trends, and intent. |
| Rank Tracking | Tracks keywords across Google, Bing, Yahoo, and YouTube. Large keyword limits at lower cost. | Accurate tracking with history & filters, but fewer keywords for the price. |
| Backlink Analysis | Tracks new/lost links, anchor text, and toxic backlinks. Good overview. | Industry-leading backlink index with deep details, filters, and link-intersect tools. |
| Site Audit | Scans up to 2M pages, checks 100+ issues, and has a clear health score. | More advanced with 170+ checks, custom rules, and deeper technical insights. |
| Competitor Research | Compares keywords, backlinks, and ads up to 5 competitors per project. | Advanced gap analysis and strong organic/paid strategy insights. |
| Ease of Use | Simple, clean, and low learning curve. Great for beginners & SMBs. | Data-dense, powerful, but complex. Better for pros. |
| Extra Tools | Includes AI writer, local SEO, social media, and lead gen tools. | Focused on SEO core, with fewer extras outside of research. |
SE Ranking Overview
SE Ranking is an all-in-one SEO platform designed to give businesses, marketers, and agencies the tools they need without the steep price tag of giants like Ahrefs.
Launched back in 2013, it’s grown into a solid choice for rank tracking, site audits, backlink monitoring, competitor research, and even white-label reporting.
It’s built for marketers and combines a variety of SEO tools into one surface. SE Ranking provides reliable SEO data without overcomplicating things or draining their budget.
Giving affordable SEO services makes it especially attractive for small- to mid-sized businesses or agencies managing multiple clients.
Key Features of SE Ranking
- Keyword Rank Tracking: SE Ranking tells you exactly where your keywords sit on Google across different countries, cities, and even devices. Basically, you’ll know if you’re climbing, dropping, or stuck.
- Website Audit: It scans for broken links, slow pages, messy tags, and other stuff that quietly kills your SEO.
- Keyword Research: SE Ranking gives you new keyword opportunities, shows how hard they are to rank for, and tells you whether they’re even worth chasing.
- Backlink Monitoring: Since links still rule SEO, this feature keeps an eye on who’s linking to you, which ones you lost, and whether any toxic ones might drag you down.
- Competitor Analysis: This is like a spy tool. You get to see what keywords and strategies your rivals are using, so you can spot gaps or just straight up outplay them.
Pros and Cons of SEO Tool SE Ranking
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Affordable compared to Ahrefs/Semrush | Backlink data is not as deep as the competitor’s. |
| Easy, beginner-friendly interface | Some features feel basic vs. specialized tools |
| Strong rank tracking & reporting | It can get pricey if tracking lots of keywords |
| White-label reports for clients | Social media tools are limited |
Ahrefs Overview
Ahrefs is a heavyweight SEO toolset. It is known for its insane backlink database and super-detailed keyword/competitor insights.
If you’re serious about SEO services, Ahrefs is usually on your radar. Ahrefs started as a backlink checker back in 2010; that is still its soul, as it maps the web’s link structure better than almost any other tool.
In the SEO marketing game, links are currency, and Ahrefs became the “bank,” where everyone checks to see who’s rich, who’s broke, and where opportunities lie. It is well known as one of the best agency SEO tools.
Core Features of Ahrefs
- Backlink Analysis: Ahrefs tracks and evaluates backlinks with one of the largest, most accurate link databases in the industry.
- Keyword Explorer: It provides keyword data, including volume, difficulty, CPC, and click metrics for smarter targeting.
- Site Explorer: It offers a complete view of any website’s traffic, top pages, and keyword performance.
- Site Audit: Ahrefs identifies and reports technical SEO issues that could impact search visibility.
- Content Explorer: This tool finds top-performing content across the web based on traffic, shares, and backlinks.
Pros and Cons of Ahrefs
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Industry-leading backlink database | Expensive for small businesses |
| Excellent competitor and keyword research | Steeper learning curve for beginners |
| Reliable, detailed SEO data | Limited free trial options |
| All-in-one SEO toolkit | No white-label reporting for agencies |
🔎 Further read: Affordable SEO Services
SE Ranking vs Ahrefs: Comparing Features
1. Keyword Research Tool
SE Ranking
SE Ranking’s Keyword Research Tool is like having a roadmap for your SEO strategy. It helps you discover the right keywords to target by showing search volume, difficulty, and CPC.
You can type in a seed keyword and instantly get hundreds of related suggestions, including long-tail and question-based phrases that real people are searching for.
The tool also lets you analyze the current top-ranking pages for a keyword, giving you insight into your competition and helping you plan content that can actually rank.
While it may not have as massive a database or as advanced metrics as Ahrefs or SEMrush, it’s perfect for small- to mid-sized businesses looking for actionable, straightforward keyword insights.
Ahrefs
Ahrefs’ Keyword Explorer is a professional SEO tool with a massive keyword database, offering metrics like search volume, difficulty, CPC, CTR, and traffic potential.
Features like keyword clustering and AI suggestions help plan content and target the right topics. It’s ideal for agencies and large projects needing deep insights but can be overwhelming and costly for beginners.
Overall, Ahrefs is perfect for agencies, content strategists, and anyone managing large-scale projects who needs deep, actionable insights.
Verdict:
Ahrefs is the best choice for agencies and large-scale SEO projects.
SE Ranking is ideal for small to mid-sized businesses seeking an affordable, easy-to-use solution.
🔎 Further read: Best SEO Tools for Agencies [2025]
2. Rank Tracking
SE Ranking
SE Ranking’s Rank Tracking tool lets you monitor how your keywords are performing in search engines over time.
The ranking tool lets you track rankings for multiple locations (countries, cities) and devices (desktop or mobile), giving a clear picture of where your SEO efforts are paying off.
The tool also provides historical data so you can see trends, drops, or improvements, and it allows automated reports to keep you updated without manual checking.
The interface is clean and visual, making it easy to understand even for beginners, while offering enough depth for small to mid-sized businesses to optimize their campaigns efficiently.
Ahrefs
Ahrefs’ Rank Tracker lets you monitor keyword positions across search engines, countries, and devices with precision.
It provides historical charts, estimated traffic for each keyword, and alerts for ranking changes so you can react quickly.
You can also track competitors’ rankings to see how you stack up in your niche. While it offers very detailed data and advanced analytics, it’s more suited for agencies or large projects, as beginners may find it overwhelming.
Verdict:
SE Ranking takes the win in rank tracking for its simplicity, accuracy, and affordability.
3. Site Audit
SE Ranking
SE Ranking’s Site Audit is like a full health check for your website.
It can scan up to 2 million pages, dig into 100+ technical and on-page issues, and then present everything in a clear health score so you instantly know how your site is doing.
From broken links and slow-loading pages to duplicate content and missing tags, it spots the problems holding you back and gives you a roadmap to fix them.
It’s detailed but easy to understand, making it useful for both beginners who want guidance and pros who need depth at scale.
Ahrefs
Ahrefs’ Site Audit crawls your entire website to uncover technical and on-page SEO issues that could hurt performance.
It checks for things like broken links, crawl errors, site speed, mobile usability, duplicate content, and more, then visualizes the data in easy-to-read charts and reports.
The tool assigns a health score to your site and groups issues by severity, making it simple to prioritize fixes.
It’s powerful and detailed, making it perfect for agencies and large projects; however, the depth may feel overwhelming for beginners.
Verdict:
For Site Audit, the winner is Ahrefs for its depth, detailed reporting, and advanced visualization.
4. Backlink Analysis
SE Ranking
SE Ranking‘s backlink checker shows you who’s linking to your site, tracks new and lost links, and flags toxic ones that could hurt your SEO.
It’s straightforward and gives enough data for small to mid-sized projects, but the database isn’t as massive as the big players.
It also checks anchor texts, link types (dofollow/nofollow), and backlink quality.
🔎 Further read: Guide to SEO Tools for Small Businesses [2025]
Ahrefs
Backlink analysis is Ahrefs’ crown jewel. Known for having one of the largest live backlink databases on the planet.
With one of the largest and most frequently updated link indexes, it gives deep insights into anchor text, link quality, domain authority, and competitor link profiles.
This level of detail makes it the go-to tool for serious link-building campaigns.
Verdict:
Ahrefs is the clear winner in backlink analysis thanks to its unmatched database and accuracy.
5. Competitor Analysis
SE Ranking
The Competitor Analysis tool in SE Ranking lets you keep an eye on your competitors’ SEO moves without overcomplicating things.
You can see what keywords they rank for, their top-performing pages, and their backlink sources.
It also allows you to compare multiple competitors side by side, track changes over time, and spot opportunities where you can outrank them.
The interface is simple and visual, making it easy for small to mid-sized businesses to act on insights quickly, though the data depth is not as extensive as premium tools.
Ahrefs
The competitor analysis tool in Ahrefs takes competitor research to another level. It shows all the keywords your competitors rank for, estimated traffic from each keyword, their top pages, backlink sources, and even content gaps you can exploit.
You can compare multiple sites in detail, track competitors’ new backlinks, and monitor historical trends to adjust your strategy.
It’s highly precise and data-rich, perfect for agencies and large projects, though it can be overwhelming for beginners.
Verdict:
Ahrefs wins for competitor analysis thanks to its depth, data accuracy, and comprehensive insights, while SE Ranking is easier to use and sufficient for smaller businesses.
🔎 Further read: SEO Tools for Small Business
6. Additional Tools
SE Ranking
SE Ranking offers several additional tools to make SEO easier and more actionable.
These include:
- Task manager for team workflows
- Keyword grouper for content planning
- Local and YouTube rank trackers
- Domain trust checker for backlink evaluation
- Social media analytics, traffic analysis
- Comprehensive SEO checker
- Report generator for client or internal use
These extras help small to mid-sized businesses manage SEO campaigns efficiently without juggling multiple platforms.
Ahrefs
Ahrefs mainly focuses on core SEO tools like Site Explorer, Keywords Explorer, and Site Audit, but it also offers some extras such as:
- Webmaster Tools for site health
- Brand Radar for tracking mentions
- SERP Checker for analyzing top rankings
- AI content tools to help with content creation and optimization
These add-ons complement its main SEO features but are fewer compared to SE Ranking’s broader toolkit.
Verdict:
SE Ranking wins for additional tools thanks to its broader suite for task management, content planning, local tracking, and reporting, while Ahrefs sticks mainly to traditional SEO features with only a few extras.
🔎 Further read: List of Best AI SEO Tools [2025]
7. Customer Review
SE Ranking
This review on G2 gives us an in-depth look at real-life use of the SEO tool SE Ranking and how it is beneficial for beginners and SEO professionals.
Ahrefs
This review on G2 suggests that Ahrefs delivers detailed insights on keywords, backlinks, and high-performing pages, all presented through an intuitive dashboard with useful learning resources.
However, some data isn’t always updated in real-time, and the platform can be a bit overwhelming for SEO newcomers.
Price breakdown: SE Ranking vs Ahrefs
SE Ranking pricing
SE Ranking has three pricing plans, calculated according to the number of keywords you want to track. When billed annually, the options are as follows:
- Essential: $52/month for tracking up to 500 keywords.
- Pro: Starting at $95.20/month for 2,000 keywords.
- Business: Starting at $207.20/month for 5,000 keywords.
You can also try SE Ranking’s free trial for 14 days, with access to most features, so you can test the platform before subscribing.
Ahrefs pricing
Ahrefs uses a premium pricing model, designed for professionals and larger businesses. When billed annually, the plans are as follows:
- Lite: Starting at $108/month
- Standard: Starting at $208/month
- Advanced: Starting at $374/month
- Enterprise: Starting at $1,499/month
Ahrefs doesn’t offer a free trial, but you can either view a demo or test the Starter plan at $29/month to explore the platform.
Final Verdict on Ahrefs vs SE Ranking
As we all say, “To each their own.” This comprehensive comparison of SE Ranking and Ahrefs highlights how each tool serves different needs.
Ahrefs is the go-to choice for agencies, large projects, and professionals who need deep, precise SEO insights, powerful backlink analysis, and comprehensive competitor data.
SE Ranking, on the other hand, is ideal for small to mid-sized businesses or beginners seeking an affordable, user-friendly platform with solid rank tracking, keyword research, and additional tools for managing SEO campaigns.
In short, Ahrefs excels in depth and power, while SE Ranking shines in simplicity and accessibility.
FAQs on SE Ranking vs Ahrefs
1. Is SE Ranking worth it?
Yes. It’s affordable, user-friendly, and packed with essential SEO tools, ideal for small to mid-sized businesses.
2. How accurate is SE Ranking?
Very accurate for keyword tracking and site audits, though its backlink database is smaller than Ahrefs.
3. What is the difference between SE Ranking and Ahrefs?
SE Ranking is simpler, cheaper, and beginner-friendly with extra marketing features; Ahrefs is more powerful, with a massive backlink database and advanced competitor analysis.
4. Which SEO tool is most accurate?
Ahrefs leads in backlink and competitor data; SE Ranking is precise for keyword tracking and site audits.
5. Is Ahrefs good for SEO?
Absolutely. It’s a top choice for professionals needing detailed insights, backlink analysis, and competitive intelligence.
6. Which SEO tool is best for beginners?
SE Ranking is recommended because of its intuitive interface, affordability, and easy-to-understand reports.
