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Marketing · head to head

Ahrefs vs Chartable

Ahrefs logo

Ahrefs

Marketing

Backlink and keyword research platform run on its own web crawler, metered by credits since 2024

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Chartable logo

Chartable

Podcasting

Podcast analytics and attribution platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Ahrefs the April 2024 move from unlimited usage to credits was a real downgrade for existing customers: Lite meters 1,000 credits per user per month and the data tools lock when they are gone, so heavy research on the entry plan now forces an upgrade to Standard at 249 USD.; Chartable shut down on 12 December 2024. Spotify, which acquired Chartable in February 2022, announced the closure on 27 September 2024 and folded parts of it into Spotify for Podcasters
  • They diverge on capability: Ahrefs covers Site Explorer, Chartable covers Download analytics.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Ahrefs and Chartable actually diverge.

Attributes where Ahrefs and Chartable differ
AttributeAhrefsChartable
Pricing modelPer month by credits and usage limitsfreemium
CategoryMarketingPodcasting
Founded20102017

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Ahrefs

  • Site Explorer
  • Keywords Explorer
  • Site Audit
  • Rank Tracker
  • Content Explorer
  • Competitive analysis
  • Backlink checker
  • Keyword research

Only in Chartable

  • Download analytics
  • Chart rankings
  • SmartLinks tracking
  • Attribution
  • SmartPromos
  • Cross-promotion analytics
  • All podcast platforms
  • Advertising networks

Both cover

  • Data encryption
  • Web support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Ahrefs

  • SEO researchnot Chartable
  • Competitor analysisnot Chartable
  • Content planningnot Chartable
  • Backlink analysisnot Chartable
  • Rank trackingnot Chartable

Chartable

  • Podcast analyticsnot Ahrefs
  • Marketing attributionnot Ahrefs
  • Chart trackingnot Ahrefs
  • Growth measurementnot Ahrefs

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Ahrefs

  • The April 2024 move from unlimited usage to credits was a real downgrade for existing customers: Lite meters 1,000 credits per user per month and the data tools lock when they are gone, so heavy research on the entry plan now forces an upgrade to Standard at 249 USD.
  • Pay-as-you-go credits are charged automatically once enabled, so a busy research month can produce an unbudgeted overage bill rather than a hard stop.
  • Every paid tier includes exactly one user, and additional seats cost 40, 60 or 80 USD a month by tier, so a three-person team on Standard pays 369 USD a month rather than 249.
  • Row caps bind before credit caps for many jobs: Lite returns at most 2,500 rows per report, which is not enough to export a mid-sized site backlink profile in one pass.
  • Ahrefs states plainly that it never runs discounts and offers no free trial of the paid plans, so evaluation means paying a full month or working from the ownership-verified free tier.
  • Rank Tracker updates weekly on every tier including Enterprise, so teams needing daily positions have to buy a separate tracker such as SE Ranking or Semrush.
  • A growing share of capability is sold as add-ons rather than included: Report Builder at 99 USD a month, Content Kit from 99 USD, Project Boost at 20 or 200 USD per project, and Brand Radar from 199 USD.

Chartable

  • Shut down on 12 December 2024. Spotify, which acquired Chartable in February 2022, announced the closure on 27 September 2024 and folded parts of it into Spotify for Podcasters
  • The tracking prefixes no longer function, and shows still carrying one need it removed
  • chartable.com now redirects to Spotify's Megaphone site

Pricing, plan by plan

Ahrefs

Free
  • Ahrefs FreeFree
    • Limited Site Explorer and Site Audit for sites you verify ownership of
    • No access to competitor data
    • Where paid subscriptions land after cancellation
  • Starter$29/month
    • Search and competitor data with reduced row limits
    • No projects tier of the main plan ladder
    • Sits below Lite on the published pricing page
  • Lite$129/month
    • 1 user included, up to 2 more at 40 USD each per month
    • 1,000 credits per user per month, the only tier with a credit cap
    • 5 projects, 750 tracked keywords, 6 months of historical data
  • Standard$249/month
    • 1 user included, up to 5 more at 60 USD each per month
    • Unlimited report credits under fair use
    • 20 projects, 2,000 tracked keywords, 2 years of historical data

Chartable

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Chart tracking
    • Basic analytics
    • 1 podcast
  • Indie$20/month
    • Advanced analytics
    • SmartLinks
    • Attribution
  • Team$100/month
    • Multiple podcasts
    • SmartPromos
    • Team access
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Unlimited podcasts
    • Custom integrations
    • API access

Which should you pick?

Choose Ahrefs if

  • You need site explorer.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want keywords explorer.
Ahrefs review

Choose Chartable if

  • You need download analytics.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want chart rankings.
Chartable review

Questions people ask

Is Ahrefs or Chartable better?
Neither clearly leads. Ahrefs starts at Free and Chartable at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Ahrefs or Chartable?
Ahrefs starts at Free and Chartable at Free.
Does Ahrefs or Chartable run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Ahrefs for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Ahrefs best used for?
Ahrefs is most often used for seo research, competitor analysis, content planning, backlink analysis. Of those, seo research and competitor analysis are not what Chartable is typically brought in for.
What can Ahrefs do that Chartable cannot?
Ahrefs covers Site Explorer, Keywords Explorer, Site Audit, Rank Tracker. Chartable covers Download analytics, Chart rankings, SmartLinks tracking, Attribution. Both handle Data encryption, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Ahrefs: How much does Ahrefs cost?

Starter is 29 USD a month, Lite 129, Standard 249, Advanced 449 and Enterprise 1,499 with an annual commitment. Paying annually saves up to 17 percent, which Ahrefs describes as two months free, and it is arranged through support rather than on the site.

Chartable: How much does Megaphone (formerly Chartable) Professional plan cost?

The Professional plan is $99 per month and includes hosting, distribution, campaign management, analytics, monetization tools via Spotify Audience Network, and live chat support Monday through Friday 4am-9pm ET.

Source
Ahrefs: What are Ahrefs credits and when did they start?

Ahrefs replaced unlimited report usage with credits in April 2024. It meters report credits, crawl credits and API units. Lite includes 1,000 credits per user per month; Standard and above are unlimited under a fair use policy. Purchased pay-as-you-go credits last three billing months.

Chartable: What does the Enterprise plan cost?

Enterprise plan pricing is custom and requires contacting the company. It includes all Professional features plus API access, Metrics Export Service, and comprehensive monetization tools that scale with publisher growth.

Source
Ahrefs: Is Ahrefs or Moz better?

Ahrefs has the deeper and fresher link index and stronger competitive research, and it is the default for link work. Moz is cheaper at entry, owns Domain Authority as a reportable metric, and has a real local listings product. If you report DA to clients or manage multi-location listings, Moz earns its place; otherwise Ahrefs wins on data.

Chartable: Are there any trial periods or free options?

No trial period or free tier is mentioned on the Megaphone pricing page. Customers interested in Enterprise plans should contact the company for quotes and additional information.

Source
Ahrefs: Is there a free version or a trial?

There is Ahrefs Free, limited to Site Explorer and Site Audit on sites you verify you own, so it gives you no competitor data. Ahrefs states it never runs discounts and does not offer a trial of the paid plans.

Chartable: Does the Professional plan include unlimited users?

Yes, the Professional plan includes unlimited users with role-based permissions for managing team access and responsibilities.

Source
Ahrefs: How many users are included?

One, on every paid tier up to Advanced. Extra seats cost 40 USD a month on Lite, 60 on Standard, 80 on Advanced and 100 on Enterprise, and unpaid additional users are billed automatically as pay-as-you-go.

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