Softwr

Marketing · head to head

Ahrefs vs Paperform

Ahrefs logo

Ahrefs

Marketing

Everything you need to rank higher & get more traffic

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Paperform logo

Paperform

Surveys

Forms that feel like you

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Paperform 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; Paperform free plan limited to 30 submissions per month

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Ahrefs and Paperform actually diverge.

Attributes where Ahrefs and Paperform differ
AttributeAhrefsPaperform
Starting price$29/monthFree
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
Free tierNoYes
CategoryMarketingSurveys
Founded2010Unknown

Identical on both: 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 Paperform

Nothing recorded that Ahrefs does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

Ahrefs

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

Paperform

  • Creating multi-step application forms with conditional field displaynot Ahrefs
  • Building payment collection forms for online invoicingnot Ahrefs
  • Setting up appointment scheduling with calendar integrationnot Ahrefs
  • Collecting customer signatures on contracts and agreementsnot 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

Paperform

  • Free plan limited to 30 submissions per month
  • Additional submissions beyond plan limits incur overage fees
  • Custom domains require additional $20 per month fee on Pro plan

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

Paperform

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 1 user
    • 30 submissions per month
    • 5 payment submissions per month
  • Essentials$24/month
    • 1 user
    • 1,200 submissions per year
    • 240 payment submissions per year
  • Pro$49/month
    • 3 users
    • 12,000 submissions per year
    • 3,000 payment submissions per year
  • Business$99/month
    • 5 users plus $9 per additional user (up to 25)
    • 120,000 submissions per year
    • 30,000 payment submissions per year

Which should you pick?

Choose Ahrefs if

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

Choose Paperform if

  • You want to start without paying.
Paperform review

Questions people ask

Is Ahrefs or Paperform better?
Neither clearly leads. Ahrefs starts at $29/month and Paperform at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Ahrefs or Paperform?
Paperform has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $29/month for Ahrefs and Free for Paperform.
Does Ahrefs or Paperform run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Paperform for free?
Yes. Paperform 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 Paperform is typically brought in for.
What can Ahrefs do that Paperform cannot?
Ahrefs covers Site Explorer, Keywords Explorer, Site Audit, Rank Tracker.

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
Paperform: Is there a free version of Paperform?

Yes, Paperform offers a free plan with 1 user, 30 submissions per month, and 100 MB storage at no cost.

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
Paperform: Does Paperform offer a free trial for paid plans?

Paperform offers a 7-day unrestricted trial for all paid plans without requiring a credit card.

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
Paperform: What payment processing options does Paperform support?

All Paperform plans include payment processing via Stripe, Square, Braintree, or PayPal.

Source
Paperform: When does Paperform charge for custom domains?

Custom domains are available on the Pro and Business plans, with an additional $20 per month fee for this feature.

Source
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