Ahrefs is one of the most popular SEO platforms for analysing organic traffic, keywords, backlinks and competitors. However, it isn’t the only option. Several Ahrefs alternatives can help you check website traffic, analyse competitors and identify SEO opportunities.
1. Similarweb is one of the strongest alternatives if your main goal is checking website traffic. Its website traffic checker provides estimates for visits, traffic sources, rankings, keywords, referring domains and engagement. You can also compare multiple competitors and analyse where their traffic comes from, including organic search, paid search, social, referral and direct traffic. For businesses researching competitors or estimating the size of a market, Similarweb can provide a broader picture than a traditional SEO tool.
2. Semrush is arguably the closest all-in-one alternative to Ahrefs. Its platform includes keyword research, competitor analysis, backlink analysis, technical SEO, content optimisation and market research. Semrush can also show how competitors generate traffic and which keywords they rank for. If you want one platform for SEO and website traffic analysis, Semrush is worth considering.
3. Moz Pro is another established SEO platform offering keyword research, rank tracking, site auditing and backlink analysis. It can be useful for businesses that want straightforward SEO reporting without needing the full range of features offered by larger marketing-intelligence platforms.
4. Ubersuggest is a popular lower-cost option for basic keyword research, competitor analysis and traffic estimates. It can be particularly useful for bloggers, small businesses and freelancers who don’t need an enterprise-level SEO platform.
5. SE Ranking combines rank tracking, competitor research, keyword research, website auditing and backlink monitoring. It is another practical choice for agencies and businesses that need regular SEO monitoring without relying exclusively on Ahrefs.
Which Ahrefs alternative should you use?
If your priority is checking estimated website traffic, start with Similarweb. If you want a comprehensive SEO platform covering keywords, backlinks, technical SEO and competitor research, Semrush is a strong alternative. For a simpler or more budget-conscious solution, consider Ubersuggest, Moz Pro or SE Ranking.
It is also important to remember that third-party website traffic figures are generally estimates rather than exact analytics data. Ahrefs itself explains that its organic traffic figures are estimates calculated from rankings, search volume and estimated click-through rates.
For your own website, Google Analytics and Google Search Console provide first-party performance data and should generally be used alongside competitor research tools.