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Software · head to head

Ahrefs vs ProWritingAid

Ahrefs logo

Ahrefs

Software

Everything you need to rank higher & get more traffic

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
ProWritingAid logo

ProWritingAid

Software

AI writing assistant and grammar checker

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only ProWritingAid 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; ProWritingAid free plan limited to 500 word count with only 2 report runs per day
  • They diverge on capability: Ahrefs covers Site Explorer, ProWritingAid covers Grammar checking.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Ahrefs and ProWritingAid actually diverge.

Attributes where Ahrefs and ProWritingAid differ
AttributeAhrefsProWritingAid
Starting price$29/monthFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebWeb, Windows, Mac, Chrome, Firefox, Edge
Founded20102013

Identical on both: pricing model (Unknown), 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 ProWritingAid

  • Grammar checking
  • Style analysis
  • Readability reports
  • Plagiarism checker
  • Chrome support
  • Firefox support
  • Edge support
  • Safari support

What people use each for

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

Ahrefs

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

ProWritingAid

  • Grammar and style checking for writers and authorsnot Ahrefs
  • Story planning and structure analysisnot Ahrefs
  • Character and manuscript analysis for fiction writersnot Ahrefs
  • Integration with Microsoft Word, Google Docs, Scrivener, and Notionnot 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

ProWritingAid

  • Free plan limited to 500 word count with only 2 report runs per day
  • Advanced AI features (50 Sparks per day, Chapter Critiques) only in Premium Pro tier
  • Desktop apps for Mac and Windows; iOS/Android support limited to specific integrations
  • Yearly subscriptions significantly more cost-effective than monthly (67% savings)

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

ProWritingAid

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the ProWritingAid review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Ahrefs if

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

Choose ProWritingAid if

  • You need grammar checking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Windows, Mac, Chrome, Firefox, Edge.
  • You also want style analysis.
ProWritingAid review

Questions people ask

Is Ahrefs or ProWritingAid better?
Neither clearly leads. Ahrefs starts at $29/month and ProWritingAid at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Ahrefs or ProWritingAid?
ProWritingAid has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $29/month for Ahrefs and Free for ProWritingAid.
Does Ahrefs or ProWritingAid run on more platforms?
Ahrefs runs on Web. ProWritingAid runs on Web, Windows, Mac, Chrome, Firefox, Edge.
Can I use ProWritingAid for free?
Yes. ProWritingAid 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 ProWritingAid is typically brought in for.
What can Ahrefs do that ProWritingAid cannot?
Ahrefs covers Site Explorer, Keywords Explorer, Site Audit, Rank Tracker. ProWritingAid covers Grammar checking, Style analysis, Readability reports, Plagiarism checker.

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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