Ahrefs delivers strong SEO data, but its price pushes many creators and small teams away.
I want you to see the tools that give you similar power without draining your budget.
So I’ll show you the exact Ahrefs alternatives that match real SEO needs: keyword intent, backlinks, content optimization, rank tracking, and audits.
Then I’ll break down when each tool actually works best.
Quick Comparison Table: Ahrefs Alternatives
| Tool | Starting Price | Best For | Key Strength |
|---|---|---|---|
| StoryChief | 40 dollars per month | Content creators and agencies | Content marketing and multi-channel distribution |
| Clicks.so | 24.99 dollars per month | Freelancers and small agencies | All-in-one affordable SEO toolkit |
| Mangools | 24.50 dollars per month | Freelancers and small teams | Keyword research and local SEO |
| Google Keyword Planner | Free | Budget researchers | Free, accurate keyword data |
| Ubersuggest | 29 dollars per month | All-around SEO | Comprehensive SEO features at low cost |
| AnswerThePublic | 5 dollars per month | Question-based content | PAA research and content ideation |
| SE Ranking | 52 dollars per month | Comprehensive management | Full-featured SEO platform |
| Agency Dashboard | 49 dollars per month | Marketing agencies | White-label reporting |
| AlsoAsked | 15 dollars per month | Question research | Deep question discovery and PAA data |
Why look for Ahrefs alternatives
Ahrefs gives you powerful backlink analysis and keyword research, but the starting price at $129 per month makes many freelancers and small teams think twice.
That price hurdle pushes people to look for platforms that still give solid rank tracking, site audits, and keyword intent insights without burning cash.
Affordable Ahrefs alternatives now offer surprisingly strong SEO features at a fraction of the cost, especially for content creators, small agencies, and in-house teams building lean SEO stacks.
9 Affordable Ahrefs Alternatives
1. Storychief - Best Ahrefs Alternative
Use StoryChief when you need content workflow + publishing + SEO optimization in one place.
It replaces multiple content tools, not Ahrefs’ backlink engine, but it removes workflow bottlenecks.
Pricing: 40 dollars per month Individual, 140 dollars Team, 220 dollars Agency
Key features
- AI-driven SEO keyword and competitor research
- Automated content audit to uncover declining keywords and untapped opportunities
- Google Search Console integration to track keyword positions in real-time
- Multi-channel publishing to blogs, social media, newsletters
- Built-in SEO optimization and readability scoring
- Editorial calendar with approval flows
- Centralized analytics
- Employee advocacy tools
Best for: teams that manage heavy editorial calendars.
Weakness: no deep backlink tracking.
2. Clicks.so
Use Clicks.so when you want a small-budget version of an all-in-one SEO suite.
It covers keyword research, audits, backlinks, and rank tracking at the lowest entry price in this list.
We’ve been using Clicks.so for the past three months, and it has helped us handle keyword research and competitor analysis in much the same way we did with Ahrefs. It’s proven to be a reliable alternative for our day-to-day SEO work. — Millind Barot, Ciphernutz
Pricing: 24.99 dollars Starter, 49.99 dollars Pro, 74.99 dollars Agency
Key features
- Keyword research with AI recommendations
- Unlimited site audits (plan-dependent)
- Backlink analysis and domain metrics
- Rank tracking on desktop and mobile
- Competitor analysis
- AI assistant for content optimization
- 48-hour money-back guarantee
Best for: freelancers and small agencies.
Weakness: The backlink index is smaller than Ahrefs.
3. Mangools
Use Mangools when you want simple, accurate keyword research with strong local intent data. It is lightweight, clean, and easy to learn.
Pricing: 24.50 dollars per month, annual discount available
Key features
- 2.5 billion keyword database
- Local keyword research across 65,000+ locations
- Competitor keyword insights
- Daily rank tracking
- Backlink analysis via Majestic API
- Free tier with 5 lookups
Best for: freelancers and affiliate marketers.
Weakness: Backlink data is limited compared to Ahrefs.
4. Google Keyword Planner
Use Google Keyword Planner when you want free, accurate keyword volume direct from Google.
Google Keyword Planner is our go-to tool for identifying core, business-driving keywords. We complete most of our first-level keyword research using it, without even needing to touch Ahrefs. — Michał Leszczyński, GetResponse
Pricing: Free
Key features
- Unlimited keyword discovery
- Real search volume trends
- CPC and forecast data
- Region and language filters
Weaknesses: no backlink data, no rank tracking, no audits.
Best for: beginners and researchers validating search demand.
5. Ubersuggest
Use Ubersuggest when you want a full SEO toolset at a lower price with strong long-term value.
Pricing: 29 dollars Individual, 49 dollars Business, 99 dollars Enterprise
Lifetime options: 120 to 400 dollars
Key features
- 100M+ keyword database
- Daily rank tracking
- Backlink analysis
- Site audits with technical scoring
- Competitor research
- Chrome extension
Best for: creators who want predictable long-term costs using the lifetime plan.
Weakness: keyword difficulty scoring can sometimes feel broad.
6. AnswerThePublic
Use AnswerThePublic when you want question-driven content ideas from real search behavior.
Pricing: 5 dollars Individual, 49 dollars Pro, 99 dollars Expert, plus 7-day free trial
Key features
- Visual PAA-style question clustering
- Comparisons and prepositions
- High-res image downloads
- Unlimited CSV exports (paid)
- Access to Google “People Also Asked” data
Best for: SEO content strategists and bloggers.
Weakness: not a full SEO suite. It only handles question discovery.
7. SE ranking
Use SE Ranking when you want Ahrefs-level features at a lower monthly cost. It gives strong tracking, audits, and competitor analysis for teams.
Pricing: 52 dollars Essential, 95.20 dollars Pro, 207 dollars Business
Key features
- Track 5,000+ keywords
- Rank tracking with 115+ technical checks
- Backlink analysis with toxic link alerts
- Deep site audits, including Core Web Vitals
- Competitor backlink gap tools
- Sub-accounts for teams
Best for: agencies and in-house SEO teams.
Weakness: UI feels heavier than simpler tools like Mangools.
8. Agency Dashboard
Use the Agency Dashboard when you need to manage clients and deliver white-label SEO and PPC reports.
Pricing: 49 dollars Starter, 99 dollars Growth, 199 dollars Pro
Key features
- Fully white-label dashboards
- Automated daily to monthly reporting
- Multi-client project management
- SEO, PPC, GMB tracking
- Integrations with 50+ platforms
- 14-day trial
Best for: agencies that must share professional analytics.
Weakness: SEO data depth is lower than SE Ranking or Ubersuggest.
9. Also asked
Use AlsoAsked when you want structured PAA question trees for content strategy.
Pricing: 15 dollars Basic, 29 dollars Lite, 59 dollars Pro, free tier available
Key features
- 100 to 1,000 searches per month
- Deep search and bulk search
- CSV exports
- Precise question mapping from PAA
Best for: content creators who rely on topical clustering.
Weakness: focuses only on questions, not full SEO workflows.
How to Choose the Right Ahrefs Alternative
Pick the tool that matches your workflow, not the one with the longest features page.
Your uploaded file outlines six decision factors worth using.
1. Define your main SEO job
- Content workflow? Choose StoryChief.
- Keyword research? Choose Mangools or Google Keyword Planner.
- Technical audits? Choose SE Ranking or Clicks.so.
- PAA research? Choose AnswerThePublic or AlsoAsked.
2. Match your budget
- Free: Google Keyword Planner
- Under 40 dollars: StoryChief, AnswerThePublic, Clicks.so, Mangools, Ubersuggest
- Agency budgets: SE Ranking, Agency Dashboard
3. Consider team size
Teams need seats and collaboration. StoryChief and Agency Dashboard scale smoothly.
- SE Ranking offers sub-accounts.
- Ubersuggest uses add-on pricing for growth.
4. Choose feature depth or simplicity
- If you want an all-in-one: StoryChief, SE Ranking or Ubersuggest.
- If you want a simple stack: Google Keyword Planner plus AnswerThePublic plus Clicks.so.
5. Evaluate long-term cost
- Ubersuggest lifetime deal saves years of fees.
- SE Ranking annual plans cut monthly cost significantly.
6. Match features to your real SEO needs
Match features to your real SEO needs, including supporting workflows like outreach, reporting, and email validation, which are essential for sustainable SEO and client communication.
- StoryChief wins for content marketing
- Clicks.so and SE Ranking win for audits
- AnswerThePublic and AlsoAsked win for question research
- Mangools covers local keyword intent
Conclusion
You don’t need Ahrefs pricing to run professional SEO.
These nine alternatives cover everything from deep keyword research to technical SEO, PAA mapping, and content operations.
If you want the simplest starting stack, try Google Keyword Planner + AnswerThePublic + Clicks.so. If you want a full Ahrefs-style experience without the bill, use SE Ranking.
And if content is your world, StoryChief is the most complete workflow tool.
Try StoryChief's free Content Audit. Discover gaps, enhance readability, and boost your SEO—all in just a few clicks. Start now and see measurable improvements in traffic, engagement, and conversion rates.
