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Software · head to head

Ahrefs vs Metricool

Ahrefs logo

Ahrefs

Software

Everything you need to rank higher & get more traffic

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Metricool logo

Metricool

Software

All-in-one platform to plan, publish, and analyze social media content

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Metricool 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; Metricool full Twitter/X analytics and post approval workflows are locked behind the Advanced plan.
  • They diverge on capability: Ahrefs covers Site Explorer, Metricool covers Content Planner.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Ahrefs and Metricool actually diverge.

Attributes where Ahrefs and Metricool differ
AttributeAhrefsMetricool
Starting price$29/monthFree
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebweb, ios, android, api
Founded2010Unknown

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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 Metricool

  • Content Planner
  • Analytics & Competitor Analysis
  • Automated Reporting
  • Unified Inbox
  • Ads Management
  • SmartLinks
  • AI Assistant

What people use each for

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

Ahrefs

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

Metricool

  • Scheduling posts across multiple social networksnot Ahrefs
  • Tracking competitor social performancenot Ahrefs
  • Automating client and team reportsnot Ahrefs
  • Managing paid social ad campaignsnot Ahrefs
  • Building a link-in-bio landing pagenot 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

Metricool

  • Full Twitter/X analytics and post approval workflows are locked behind the Advanced plan.
  • Unlimited scheduling on paid plans is still capped by an undisclosed fair use policy.
  • Free plan is limited to a single brand and 20 posts per month.
  • API access is only available on the top Advanced tier.

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

Metricool

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 1 brand
    • 20 posts/month
    • 5 competitor profiles
  • Starter$20/month
    • Up to 10 brands
    • Unlimited publishing (fair use)
    • 100 competitor profiles
  • Advanced$53/month
    • Up to 50 brands
    • Team management and post approval
    • Full Twitter/X analytics

Which should you pick?

Choose Ahrefs if

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

Choose Metricool if

  • You need content planner.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on web, ios, android, api.
  • You also want analytics & competitor analysis.
Metricool review

Questions people ask

Is Ahrefs or Metricool better?
Neither clearly leads. Ahrefs starts at $29/month and Metricool at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Ahrefs or Metricool?
Metricool has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $29/month for Ahrefs and Free for Metricool.
Does Ahrefs or Metricool run on more platforms?
Ahrefs runs on Web. Metricool runs on web, ios, android, api.
Can I use Metricool for free?
Yes. Metricool 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 Metricool is typically brought in for.
What can Ahrefs do that Metricool cannot?
Ahrefs covers Site Explorer, Keywords Explorer, Site Audit, Rank Tracker. Metricool covers Content Planner, Analytics & Competitor Analysis, Automated Reporting, Unified Inbox.

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
Metricool: Is there a free plan, and what are its limits?

Metricool's Free plan supports 1 brand, up to 20 posts per month, 5 competitor profiles, and 30 days of analytics history.

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
Metricool: What does Metricool cost?

Starter runs from about $20/month and Advanced from about $53/month (billed annually, with monthly billing also available); a Custom tier is available on request.

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
Metricool: How is usage metered?

Plans limit the number of connected brands and competitor profiles; scheduling is unlimited on paid plans but subject to a fair use policy.

Source
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