Ahrefs, Semrush, and Moz, are the top three giants in the SEO industry. I have been using these tools lately and found a lot of similarities and differences.
So, I have decided to closely compare all the core features and pricing of Ahrefs, Semrush, and Moz Pro.
The following guide will answer all your queries regarding these SEO toolkits and help you pick the right tool for your specific SEO and research needs.
With that, let’s get started.
Ahrefs vs. Semrush vs. Moz (2024) Quick Comparative Analysis
Here is a quick comparison chart of Ahrefs vs. Semrush vs. Moz Pro for our busy readers.
| Features | Ahrefs | Semrush | Moz |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ease of Use | Easy to use | Steep learning curve | Easy to use |
| User Interface | Modern, user-friendly interface | Clean interface, but it can be overwhelming for new users | Intuitive, beginner-friendly |
| Functionality | A complete SEO toolkit | Feature-rich platform with all the SEO tools in its possession | A few SEO functionalities are missing, but it offers a major SEO toolkit |
| Keyword Database | 8 billion | 25.5 billion | 1.25 billion |
| Backlink Analysis | Industry-specific tools for link-building and backlink analysis | Strong backlink analysis capabilities | Comprehensive backlink analysis with DA metrics |
| Rank Tracking | Accurate and flexible | Powerful rank-tracking features | Supports rank tracking across devices and locations |
| Free Trial | No | 7-day free trial | 30-day free trial |
| Pricing | Starts at $99/month | Starts at $129.95/month | Starts at $99/month |
| Best For | Backlink analysis, content exploration, and technical SEO | All-around SEO needs | Website audits and link-building |
Ahrefs vs. Semrush vs. Moz: Overview
Ahrefs, Semrush, and Moz Pro, cater to a similar audience of digital marketers aiming to amplify their website’s organic visibility and traffic. However, these tools are a little bit different from each other.
Ahrefs Overview
Ahrefs is known for its powerful backlink analysis. It has the biggest backlink index after Google. The platform provides a depth of data on websites’ backlink profiles so users can create link-building strategies and identify backlink opportunities from authoritative websites.
Semrush Overview
Semrush is crowned as an all-in-one SEO toolkit, covering core tools like competitor analysis, keyword research, website audit, rank tracking, etc. Mid-size and bigger agencies prefer using the platform as it offers generous accessibility and limitations on research tools.
Moz Pro Overview
Moz Pro mainly excels at website auditing and backlink analysis. Beginners who are just starting can rely on this tool as it offers a user-friendly interface and accessibility. You can find relevant keyword ideas with accurate search volume and KD to increase rankings in the SERPs.
Key Features Comparison
Now, let’s compare all the core features of Ahrefs, Semrush, and Moz Pro side by side and find out which one excels.
1. Ease Of Use
UI and UX are important criteria since they impact how fast you can start using the tool effectively. Let’s see which tool offers a more user-friendly interface.
Ahrefs Interface
Ahrefs has an intuitive user interface that is easy for most users to understand and navigate through.
All the tools are seamlessly listed across the entire dashboard so users can easily access and use certain tools. Even beginners will find it easy to get started.
Semrush Interface
Semrush’s dashboard is also modern and well-categorized. However, it has a steeper learning curve due to the plethora of features it offers.
The interface may seem a bit overwhelming for beginners. But once you spend some time with its toolkit, it will become more accessible and user-friendly.
Moz Interface
Moz has one of the most beginner-friendly user interfaces compared to other top SEO toolkits.
Most of the tools are accessible right from the left side of the menu. However, the onboarding process takes time, so you have to be patient.
My Verdict: Ahrefs and Moz Pro are much easier to use for beginners compared to Semrush. However, Semrush won’t be that complex to understand or use with time.
2. Keyword Research
Thorough keyword research provides the foundation for an effective SEO strategy. Luckily, all the toolkits offer a flexible keyword research tool in their inventory.
Ahrefs Keyword Research
Ahrefs offers best-in-class keyword research capabilities. The platform offers two functionalities for keyword research: Keyword Explorer and Organic Keywords.
The Keyword Explorer provides you with a list of keywords for the seed keyword you enter in the search box. The feature works for multiple search engines, including Google, Amazon, YouTube, Yahoo, and many more.
In the Organic Keywords section, you can get the list of all the organic keywords your competitors are using to rank on the search engine. The key metrics will help you pick the keywords with relevancy and competition.
You can also assess the keywords you are using for your own website. The commas in front of the position section show which keywords are getting featured snippets.
Semrush Keyword Research
Semrush also offers in-depth keyword research features powered by its huge data index. It goes two steps further compared to Ahrefs and leaves no room for errors when it comes to getting your hands on relevant keywords.
It offers 5 tools for keyword research:
- Keyword Overview: Helps you discover organic and PPC keywords with the help of a seed keyword or search term.
- Keyword Magic Tool: Suggests thousands of keyword combinations from one seed keyword.
- Keyword Manager: Automatically clusters a list of keywords (up to 2,000 keywords)
- Position Tracking: Track the positions of competitors and your website in the SERPs for specific keywords.
- Organic Traffic Insights: Get traffic and search volume data of keywords for your website.
Moz Keyword Research
Moz Pro facilitates practical keyword research to find relevant phrases aligned with your business.
Like Semrush and Ahrefs, it provides keyword difficulty scores and other metrics to fine-tune your priorities. But its database is smaller compared to them.
My Verdict: Semrush provides a deeper analysis of keywords compared to both Ahrefs and Moz. However, when it comes to picking between Ahrefs and Moz for keyword research, Ahrefs is undoubtedly the first choice for me.
3. Technical SEO And Site Audit
Technical SEO is vital for on-page optimization and providing search engines with what they need to index and rank your content. Site audits help you identify issues that undermine performance.
Ahrefs Site Audit
Ahrefs Site Audit provides graphical insights od technical flaws and issues that you can fix. Fixing these issues will improve your site’s architecture and structure content better.
While not very detailed, it thoroughly covers all major issues. Here is the breakdown of issues it lists for your website:
- 404 pages
- 4XX pages
- Nonindex tracking page
- 3XX redirects
- Redirect chains
Semrush Site Audit
Semrush offers the most comprehensive technical and site audit capabilities. Granular crawling and auditing provide an in-depth analysis of flaws and areas of improvement.
The tool detects broken links, page tracking errors, and coding errors in one go. These details help prioritize fixes efficiently.
Moz Pro Site Audit
Moz Pro also provides a competent site audit feature to diagnose high-level technical issues that hamper site performance. It gives decent direction to address common pitfalls. It works similarly to Ahrefs but doesn’t provide areas of improvement like Semrush or Ahrefs.
My Verdict: Semrush offers the most thorough site audits and technical SEO analysis. Ahrefs provides adequate support, while Moz Pro provides only basic insights.
4. Backlink Analysis
Backlinks remain one of the foremost ranking signals for SEO. Analyzing backlink profiles and building high-quality links is imperative for sustaining organic growth. What’s more, I have also reviewed some of the best link-building tools, you can check the complete list here.
Ahrefs Backlink Analysis
Ahrefs has the most powerful backlink analysis capabilities in the industry. With trillions of scraped links in its index, it reveals insights no other tool can match.
Whether analyzing your profile or a competitor’s, Ahrefs is unrivaled. Recently, they have updated their depth of reports, making it a more valuable asset for digital marketers.
Semrush Backlink Analysis
Semrush has been ramping up its link index and delivering approvingly comprehensive backlink analysis capabilities today. Its metrics allow you to assess the ranking of a keyword and backlink data over time.
Unlike other tools, Semrush provides backlink data updates on a daily basis. However, its scale still doesn’t compare with Ahrefs’ superiority in this arena.
Moz Pro Backlink Analysis
Moz Pro offers decent backlink analysis features. However, the depth of its link index is smaller compared to Ahrefs and Semrush.
For large websites, the provided data may not be sufficient for further SEO evaluation and link-building strategies.
My Verdict: Ahrefs dominates backlink analysis with the scale of its link index. Semrush comes second, while Moz Pro lacks the link data scale.
5. Rank Tracking
Monitoring keyword ranking positions in search engines allows for gauging SEO strategy efficacy. Rank-tracking tools also help identify new opportunities.
Ahrefs Rank Tracker:
Ahrefs provides accurate and comprehensive local and global rank tracking capabilities spanning 170+ countries. Customization options provide flexibility to tune reports to your priorities.
Semrush Rank Tracker:
Semrush also empowers businesses with accurate and customizable rank tracking. You can add multiple keywords manually or add from your campaign (if you are running PPC ads).
It further adds a “Visibility” metric, providing deeper insight into position stability over chosen timeframes.
Moz Rank Tracker:
Moz Pro offers robust rank-tracking capabilities across leading search engines. The tool facilitates daily monitoring of relevant keyword rankings with historical data and custom reporting.
My Verdict: All three platforms have strong rank trackers. Semrush and Ahrefs provide more customization, while Moz Pro offers simplicity.
6. Competitor Analysis
Monitoring competitors helps uncover their successful strategies. Reverse engineering what works for rivals allows you to outperform them by optimizing gaps.
Ahrefs Competitor Analysis
Ahrefs enables businesses to research competitors using either their domain names or by discovering sites ranking for your target keywords.
It reveals organic and paid opportunities pursued across multiple dimensions.
Semrush Competitor Analysis
Semrush facilitates deep organic and paid analysis of competitor strategies across the spectrum of parameters that matter.
From backlinks to ads to landing pages and beyond, it reveals tactical edges to beat rivals.
Moz Pro Competitor Analysis
Moz Pro delivers organic insight into competitors but lacks paid intelligence. Focused on content and links, it reveals high-level opportunities worth reverse engineering or outpacing.
The platform mainly provides a list of top competitors via its “True Competitors” feature. You can easily click on Compare and get a detailed comparison between your website vs your competitors.
My Verdict: Semrush and Ahrefs both offer comprehensive competitive analysis across organic and paid channels. Moz Pro also gives a complete overview of your competitors and eliminates the hassle of finding one on your own.
7. Reporting And Analytics
Data-driven decisions require presenting actionable metrics through intuitive reports and aggregates for deriving insights. SEO tools need good reporting capabilities.
Ahrefs Reporting And Analytics
Ahrefs lets users create customized reports across different tools like keywords, backlinks, etc. While not wonderfully designed, the flexibility aids productivity-focused analysis.
Semrush Reporting And Analytics
Semrush has aesthetically rich reports providing deep visibility into a variety of SEO parameters. They can be exported in multiple formats and tailored to information needs.
Moz Reporting And Analytics
Moz Pro also offers users extensive custom reporting capabilities. While perhaps not as beautiful as Semrush, flexibility in data and format makes them highly usable.
My Verdict: Semrush provides the most visually appealing reports, while Ahrefs and Moz Pro facilitate customization catered to unique needs.
8. Customer Support
SEO tools often have a learning curve. Good customer support improves capability building for users, maximizing their productivity faster.
Ahrefs Customer Support:
Ahrefs provides customer support through email, live chat, and an extensive library of FAQs and guides that simplify self-onboarding without assistance.
Semrush Customer Support:
Semrush offers multi-channel customer assistance via email, phone, and 24×5 live chat options. Their searchable support center also eases self-service capability-building initiatives.
Moz Customer Support:
Moz Pro offers email and phone support during business hours. Their help center provides how-to guides facilitating assisted and self-driven onboarding for new users.
My Verdict: Semrush offers the most responsive assistance via chat and guides. Ahrefs and Moz Pro also provide good support through email and knowledge bases.
Which Tool Is More Accurate?
When it comes down to the quality of data, all three platforms prioritize providing accurate metrics for informed SEO.
Both Ahrefs and Semrush house massive proprietary web indexes spanning trillions of links and documents. The scale of these databases allows them to surface insightful metrics across keywords, content, links, and more with high reliability. Independent tests have proven the accuracy of their data repeatedly.
Moz Pro doesn’t quite match up on the scale. However, the focus on curation allows for delivering metrics with fairly good precision for most use cases. Historical consistency has proven strong accuracy in their analysis as well.
Ultimately, both approaches have merits. For large websites that need revealing insights, Ahrefs and Semrush have an edge. Moz Pro satisfies most needs for small businesses at a balanced level.
Ahrefs vs Semrush vs Moz: Pricing Plan Comparison
Now, let’s compare the main USP of an SEO tool – the pricing. Let’s compare the pricing and find out which one offers more value for money.
Ahrefs Pricing:
Ahrefs offers four pricing plans catering to mid-size agencies and enterprises. Check out the detailed breakdown of Ahrefs pricing and pick the best plan for your business.
| Ahrefs Plans | Monthly Price | Annual Price | Tracked Keywords | Credits per User |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lite | $99/month | $83/month | 750 | 500 credits |
| Standard | $199/month | $166/month | 2,000 | 600 credits |
| Advanced | $399/month | $333/month | 5,000 | 750 credits |
| Enterprise | $999/month | $833/month | 10,000 | Custom |
If you have queries regarding a free trial, find all your answers in our Ahrefs free trial guide.
Semrush Pricing:
Semrush also offers three plans to its users. You can easily get an exclusive 14-day free trial of Semrush Guru and pro plans.
| Semrush Plans | Monthly Price | Annual Price | Projects | Tracked Keywords |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pro | $129.95/month | $108.33/month | 5 projects | 500 keywords |
| Guru | $249.95/month | $208.33/month | 15 projects | 1,500 keywords |
| Business | $499.95/month | $416.66/month | 40 projects | 5,000 keywords |
Apart from that, they offer a 7-day refund policy on all plans.
Moz Pro Pricing:
Moz has four premium plans.
| Moz Plans | Monthly Price | Annual Price | Campaigns | Ranking Keywords |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | $99/month | $79/month | 3 | 300 |
| Medium | $179/month | $143/month | 10 | 1,500 |
| Large | $299/month | $239/month | 25 | 3,000 |
| Premium | $599/month | $479/month | 50 | 4,500 |
Moz Pro offers an exclusive 30-day free trial to new users. They can add their card details to activate the free trial.
My Verdict: Semrush and Moz offer the right pricing point and value to their features. Plus, they offer a free trial to test out all of the platform features they have to offer. On the other hand, there is no possible way to try Ahrefs for free. And all of its features work on credits, so it is not ideal for budget-friendly firms.
Related Reads:
Which Toolkit Is Perfect For All Your SEO Needs?
The best SEO software depends on the scale of functionality needed for your organic marketing strategies across multiple parameters:
- Managing large multi-national campaigns with both organic & paid landscape analysis – Semrush
- Prioritizing link building with access to deepest link intelligence – Ahrefs
- Running SEO for predominantly organic efforts for small sites – Moz Pro
Most businesses choose either Ahrefs or Semrush, complemented by tools like All-In-One SEO for WordPress sites. The duo provides end-to-end coverage across technical and content optimization, extensive analytics, and competitive tracking.
For technically savvy teams, Moz Pro offers a robust mid-ground both in terms of pricing and functionality depth. Ultimately, assessing capability gaps to address is prudent.
My Verdict: Semrush Is Our Clear Winner (SEO Expert at TTWT)
Ahrefs, Semrush, and Moz Pro cater to similar SEO audiences with an overlap in core capabilities like backlink analysis and keyword research.
However, some distinct strengths set them apart:
- Ahrefs unequivocally dominates the backlink analysis landscape, which is why many consider it the best SEO tool specifically for link building.
- Semrush shines with the most well-rounded organic + paid toolkit suitable even for enterprise teams with the most demanding requirements.
- Moz Pro strikes an affordable balance with its medium-depth but wide organic optimization toolkit for predominantly SMBs.
I hope this comprehensive feature comparison of Ahrefs vs Semrush vs Moz Pro helps you determine the ideal SEO software for turbocharging your digital marketing success.
Choose the tool aligning closest with your business needs today as well as scale ambitions for tomorrow.
