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Marketing · head to head

Ahrefs vs Podpage

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
Podpage logo

Podpage

Podcasting

Create a professional podcast website in minutes

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.; Podpage episode transcripts and search require the Pro plan at $29 a month
  • They diverge on capability: Ahrefs covers Site Explorer, Podpage covers Automatic website creation.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Ahrefs and Podpage actually diverge.

Attributes where Ahrefs and Podpage differ
AttributeAhrefsPodpage
Pricing modelPer month by credits and usage limitsfreemium
CategoryMarketingPodcasting
Founded20102019

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 Podpage

  • Automatic website creation
  • RSS feed sync
  • Episode transcripts
  • SEO optimization
  • Custom domains
  • All podcast hosts
  • Mailchimp
  • ConvertKit

Both cover

  • Google Analytics
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Ahrefs

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

Podpage

  • Building a website for a podcast from its existing RSS feednot Ahrefs
  • Publishing episode pages, transcripts and show notes for searchnot 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.

Podpage

  • Episode transcripts and search require the Pro plan at $29 a month
  • Every monetisation tool, including the store, donations, sponsorships and ads, is excluded from the Basic plan
  • Contact forms, email list building and multiple website users are also Pro only
  • Basic allows one website user, so any collaborator means upgrading
  • The advertised lower prices require annual payment, at $12 against $19 on Basic

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

Podpage

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Basic website
    • Episode pages
    • RSS sync
  • Starter$12/month
    • Custom domain
    • No branding
    • SEO tools

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 Podpage if

  • You need automatic website creation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want rss feed sync.
Podpage review

Questions people ask

Is Ahrefs or Podpage better?
Neither clearly leads. Ahrefs starts at Free and Podpage at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Ahrefs or Podpage?
Ahrefs starts at Free and Podpage at Free.
Does Ahrefs or Podpage 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 Podpage is typically brought in for.
What can Ahrefs do that Podpage cannot?
Ahrefs covers Site Explorer, Keywords Explorer, Site Audit, Rank Tracker. Podpage covers Automatic website creation, RSS feed sync, Episode transcripts, SEO optimization. Both handle Google Analytics, 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.

Podpage: How much does Podpage Pro cost per year?

Podpage Pro is $228/year when billed annually ($19/month), compared to $348/year with monthly billing at $29/month. Source: https://www.podpage.com/pricing

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.

Podpage: Can I cancel my Podpage subscription anytime?

Yes, Podpage allows monthly or annual billing with the ability to cancel anytime. Upgrades and downgrades receive prorated credits. Source: https://www.podpage.com/pricing

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.

Podpage: What is the minimum commitment period for Podpage?

There is no minimum commitment. The 14-day free trial requires no credit card, and monthly plans can be cancelled at any time with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Source: https://www.podpage.com/pricing

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.

Podpage: What differentiates the Elite plan from Basic and Pro?

Elite adds AI features, advanced SEO analysis, and professional coaching at $59/month. It also syncs episodes every 30 minutes instead of every 4 hours (Basic) or hourly (Pro). Source: https://www.podpage.com/pricing

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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