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Marketing · head to head

Ahrefs vs Google Analytics

Ahrefs logo

Ahrefs

Marketing

Everything you need to rank higher & get more traffic

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Google Analytics logo

Google Analytics

Marketing

Get to know your customers

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Google Analytics has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Ahrefs the entry Lite plan is $129 a month and caps projects at 5 and tracked keywords at 750; Google Analytics data retention limited to maximum 26 months on standard properties, with automatic deletion after retention period expires
  • They diverge on capability: Ahrefs covers Site Explorer, Google Analytics covers Real-time analytics.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Ahrefs and Google Analytics actually diverge.

Attributes where Ahrefs and Google Analytics differ
AttributeAhrefsGoogle Analytics
Starting price$29/monthFree
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
Free tierNoYes
Founded20101998

Identical on both: platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Marketing).

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 Google Analytics

  • Real-time analytics
  • Audience insights
  • Acquisition tracking
  • Behavior flow
  • Conversion tracking
  • Custom reports
  • Mobile analytics
  • E-commerce tracking

Both cover

  • Google Search Console
  • Data encryption

What people use each for

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

Ahrefs

  • SEO researchnot Google Analytics
  • Competitor analysisnot Google Analytics
  • Content planningnot Google Analytics
  • Backlink analysisnot Google Analytics
  • Rank trackingnot Google Analytics

Google Analytics

  • Website and web application analyticsnot Ahrefs
  • Event tracking and user behaviour analysisnot Ahrefs
  • Traffic source and conversion trackingnot Ahrefs

Where each one falls short

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

Ahrefs

  • The entry Lite plan is $129 a month and caps projects at 5 and tracked keywords at 750
  • Crawl credits are metered by tier, from 100,000 on Lite to 1,500,000 on Advanced
  • Enterprise at $1,499 a month requires an annual commitment
  • Brand Radar AI, custom prompts and Content Kit are separate add-ons starting at $199, $50 and $99 a month
  • The $29 Starter plan covers search and competitive research basics rather than the full toolset

Google Analytics

  • Data retention limited to maximum 26 months on standard properties, with automatic deletion after retention period expires
  • Large and XL properties capped at 2-month data retention only
  • Age, gender, and interest data always expire after 2 months regardless of retention settings
  • Free tier does not include GA360 advanced features

Pricing, plan by plan

Ahrefs

$29/month
  • Starter$29/month
    • Core keyword research
    • Backlink analysis
    • Competitor research
  • Lite$129/month
  • Standard$249/month
  • Advanced$449/month

Google Analytics

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Google Analytics review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Ahrefs if

  • You need site explorer.
  • You also want keywords explorer.
Ahrefs review

Choose Google Analytics if

  • You need real-time analytics.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want audience insights.
Google Analytics review

Questions people ask

Is Ahrefs or Google Analytics better?
Neither clearly leads. Ahrefs starts at $29/month and Google Analytics at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Ahrefs or Google Analytics?
Google Analytics has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $29/month for Ahrefs and Free for Google Analytics.
Does Ahrefs or Google Analytics run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Google Analytics for free?
Yes. Google Analytics has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Ahrefs starts at $29/month.
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 Google Analytics is typically brought in for.
What can Ahrefs do that Google Analytics cannot?
Ahrefs covers Site Explorer, Keywords Explorer, Site Audit, Rank Tracker. Google Analytics covers Real-time analytics, Audience insights, Acquisition tracking, Behavior flow. Both handle Google Search Console, Data encryption.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Ahrefs: What are Ahrefs' main features?

Ahrefs' three main features are Site Explorer (for organic performance), Keywords Explorer (for keyword research), and Content Explorer (for content discovery). The platform includes backlink analysis, competitor research, technical SEO audits, rank tracking, and content workflows.

Source
Ahrefs: What is the size of Ahrefs' backlink database?

Ahrefs maintains a database of 28 trillion internal backlinks and 35 trillion external backlinks that are updated frequently, providing the depth and freshness of link data that differentiates it from competitors.

Source
Ahrefs: What is Ahrefs' pricing?

Ahrefs pricing starts at $29/month for Starter plan, $129/month for Lite, $249/month for Standard, $449/month for Advanced, and $1,499/month for Enterprise, with annual discounts available.

Source
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