Ahrefs, Moz Pro, and Semrush: side-by-side
A side-by-side comparison of Ahrefs, Moz Pro, and Semrush — pricing, strengths, weaknesses, and the right fit for each.
What each tool is
Ahrefs
Ahrefs is an all-in-one SEO platform built around a massive proprietary backlink index and keyword database. It offers Site Explorer (competitor analysis), Keywords Explorer, Site Audit, Rank Tracker, and Content Explorer. It is widely used by agencies and in-house teams for competitive research and link building.
Moz Pro
Moz Pro is a long-running SEO platform offering keyword research, rank tracking, site crawling, link analysis, and the well-known Domain Authority metric. Newer plans add AI visibility dashboards and prompt tracking across LLMs.
Semrush
Semrush is one of the largest SEO and digital marketing platforms, offering domain analytics, position tracking, site audit, keyword research, backlink analysis, and a growing set of AI visibility and content tools. It is widely adopted by agencies and enterprise marketing teams.
At a glance
Ahrefs
Full-stack SEO Suite
A full-stack SEO suite best known for its backlink index and keyword database.
Ahrefs Lite
- •5 projects, 750 tracked keywords
- •500,000 crawl credits/month
- •No native GSC-driven workflows like quick wins or decay
- •AI features gated to higher tiers
Moz Pro
Full-stack SEO Suite
Veteran SEO platform with Domain Authority, link research, and audit workflows.
Moz Pro Standard
- •Starter $49/mo — single website
- •Standard $99/mo ($79/mo annual) — 3 sites, 300 kws
- •Medium $179/mo ($143/mo annual) — 10 sites, 1,500 kws + AI tools
- •Large $299/mo ($239/mo annual) — 25 sites, 3,000 kws + 4 AI dashboards
Semrush
Full-stack SEO Suite
A full-stack SEO and marketing suite with broad coverage of search, ads, content, and AI visibility.
Semrush Pro
- •Pro $139.95/mo — 5 sites, 500 daily kws, basic features
- •Guru $249.95/mo — 15 sites, historical data, content tools
- •Business $499.95/mo — 40 sites, API, share of voice
- •Annual saves up to 17%
Feature comparison
Side-by-side feature breakdown across pricing, data, workflows, and collaboration.
| Feature | Ahrefs | Moz Pro | Semrush |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data & coverage | |||
| Native Google Search Console integration | No | GSC import available | GSC import (Position Tracking) |
| Keyword research database | 24B+ keywords (proprietary) | Moz proprietary KW database | Proprietary, very large |
| Backlink index | Yes | true (Link Explorer) | Yes |
| SERP feature tracking | Yes | — | — |
| AI search visibility | — | AI Visibility Dashboards (Medium+) | — |
| Workflows built for you | |||
| Quick wins (pages 1 click from page 1) | No | No | Manual via Position Tracking |
| Content decay detection | Manual via Site Explorer | No | No |
| Weak & dead URL identification | No | No | No |
| AI content briefs | Add-on (AI Content Helper) | 2-50 briefs/mo by plan | Add-on (SEO Writing Assistant) |
| Content groups & cohort analysis | No | — | No |
| Collaboration & sharing | |||
| Magic-link read-only sharing | No | No | No |
| Multi-property dashboards | Yes | — | — |
| Seats included on entry plan | 1 user | 1 user | 1 user (additional $45/mo) |
| Pricing & value | |||
| Entry plan price | $129/mo | $49 Starter / $99 Standard | $139.95/mo |
| Free tier | No | free Moz Community account | Free account with strict limits |
| BYOK (bring your own DataForSEO key) | No | — | — |
| BYOK option | — | No | No |
Where each tool wins and falls short
Ahrefs
Strengths
- Largest third-party backlink index in the industry
- Mature competitor research workflows
- Strong brand and educational content
Weaknesses
- Expensive — entry plan starts at $129/mo with low row caps
- Data is third-party estimated, not your real Google Search Console truth
- No native AI content briefs grounded in your performance data
- Steep learning curve for non-SEO specialists
Moz Pro
Strengths
- Long-running brand and rich educational ecosystem
- Domain Authority is widely recognized
- Newer AI visibility dashboards on Medium+ plans
Weaknesses
- Third-party estimated data, not your real GSC
- Higher-tier features (AI dashboards, prompt tracking) gated
- No GSC-grounded quick wins / decay / weak-URL workflows
- Add-on costs stack quickly (extra dashboards $20 each, etc.)
Semrush
Strengths
- Vast tool coverage — SEO, PPC, content, social, AI visibility
- Mature competitor analysis (Traffic Analytics, Domain Overview)
- Strong brand and integrations ecosystem
Weaknesses
- Expensive — Pro $139.95/mo, Business $499.95/mo
- Steep learning curve; many features go unused
- Data is third-party estimated, not your real GSC truth
- Most useful workflows gated behind higher tiers (Guru, Business)
Who each tool fits
Ahrefs
Best for
- •Agencies running deep competitor backlink analysis
- •Teams that prioritize off-page SEO and link building
- •Researching keywords across many domains you do not own
Not ideal for
- •Teams whose primary signal is their own Google Search Console data
- •Smaller sites priced out of the $129+/mo entry tier
- •Founders who want actionable next steps, not just raw data
Moz Pro
Best for
- •Teams that rely on Domain Authority as a core metric
- •Established SEO programs comfortable with Moz workflows
- •Buyers who want a stable, mid-market full-stack suite
Not ideal for
- •Founders who want first-party GSC action workflows
- •Teams priced out of $99-$299/mo monthly tiers
- •Anyone whose Moz value is mostly DA scoring
Semrush
Best for
- •Large agencies and enterprise teams needing breadth across SEO/PPC/social
- •Power users comfortable with a complex 20+ tool platform
- •Teams using Semrush as their central marketing data platform
Not ideal for
- •Founders and small teams who want a focused GSC workflow
- •Buyers priced out of $139.95/mo entry pricing
- •Anyone who only opens 2-3 tools regularly