Ahrefs vs Surfer SEO
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 $49/mo for Surfer SEO.
- Fees: Ahrefs states none; Surfer SEO Custom pricing.
| Ahrefs | Surfer SEO | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free plan · from $29/mo | from $49/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Not stated by the vendor |
| Free trial | Not stated by the vendor | Not stated by the vendor |
| Plans | Free ($0); Starter ($29/mo); Lite ($129/mo); Standard ($249/mo); Advanced ($449/mo); Enterprise ($1499/mo) | Discovery ($49/mo annual); AI Search Analytics ($82/mo annual); Standard ($99/mo annual); Pro ($182/mo annual); Peace of Mind ($299/mo annual); Enterprise () |
| Fees | Not stated | Custom 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 | Create or optimize content documents; 1-click content optimization; AI visibility tracking across ChatGPT, Gemini and AI Overviews; Content ideas and coverage gaps (Pro and up) |
| 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
Surfer SEO
- Offers a free start on every plan (terms not stated on the page)
- Content optimization built in
- Includes AI search visibility tracking
Trade-offs
- Entry plan is $49 a month billed yearly and covers 120 documents
- API access needs the $299 Peace of Mind plan
- Monthly-billing prices were not shown on the page