Ahrefs vs SE Ranking
Both are in SEO tools. Here is how their plans, prices and features compare, taken from each vendor's own site.
The main differences
- Ahrefs's cheapest paid plan is $29/mo, against $103.20/mo for SE Ranking.
- Fees: Ahrefs states none; SE Ranking Custom limits and pricing.
| Ahrefs | SE Ranking | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free plan · from $29/mo | from $103.20/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Not stated by the vendor |
| Free trial | Not stated by the vendor | Yes |
| Plans | Free ($0); Starter ($29/mo); Lite ($129/mo); Standard ($249/mo); Advanced ($449/mo); Enterprise ($1499/mo) | Core ($129/mo, $103.20/mo annual); Growth ($279/mo, $223.20/mo annual); Enterprise () |
| Fees | Not stated | Custom limits and pricing |
| Best for | Not stated | Not stated |
| Key features | Site Explorer and Keywords Explorer; Rank Tracker and Site Audit; Tracked AI prompts and Brand Radar; API and MCP access on every plan | Rank tracking across major search engines; Keyword, competitor and backlink research; Website and on-page audit; AI prompt tracking and AI search research |
| Checked on | 2026-10-01 | 2026-10-01 |
Prices change; confirm on the vendor's site before you buy. Full details and sources are on each tool's page.
Ahrefs
- API and MCP access on every paid plan
- A free plan and a $29 Starter plan for light use
- Historical data from 6 months (Lite) up to 5 years (Advanced)
Trade-offs
- Lite starts at $129 a month
- Each plan includes 1 user; extra users cost $40 to $80 a month
- Annual billing, which saves up to 17%, was not priced on the page
SE Ranking
- 14-day free trial with no card
- Yearly billing saves 20%
- API credits and MCP access included from Core
- Free migration with an annual subscription
Trade-offs
- Core starts at $103.20 a month billed yearly ($129 monthly)
- AI Search, the API and the Agency Pack are paid add-ons
- Core includes only 1 manager seat