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Software · head to head

Moz vs Ahrefs

Moz logo

Moz

Software

SEO software for smarter marketing

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Ahrefs logo

Ahrefs

Software

Everything you need to rank higher & get more traffic

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Moz has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Moz smaller keyword database with only 500M+ keywords compared to 25 billion for Semrush; Ahrefs the entry Lite plan is $129 a month and caps projects at 5 and tracked keywords at 750
  • They diverge on capability: Moz covers Keyword Explorer, Ahrefs covers Site Explorer.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Moz and Ahrefs actually diverge.

Attributes where Moz and Ahrefs differ
AttributeMozAhrefs
Starting priceFree$29/month
Free tierYesNo
Founded20042010

Identical on both: pricing model (Unknown), platforms (Web), 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 Moz

  • Keyword Explorer
  • Link Explorer
  • Site Crawl
  • Rank Tracking
  • Page Optimization
  • Competitive research
  • Local SEO tools
  • Fresh Web Explorer

Only in Ahrefs

  • Site Explorer
  • Keywords Explorer
  • Site Audit
  • Rank Tracker
  • Content Explorer
  • Competitive analysis
  • Backlink checker
  • Keyword research

Both cover

  • Google Analytics
  • SSL
  • Cloud deployment
  • Web support
  • English language support

What people use each for

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

Moz

  • SEO auditsnot Ahrefs
  • Keyword researchnot Ahrefs
  • Link buildingnot Ahrefs
  • Local SEOnot Ahrefs
  • Competitive analysisnot Ahrefs

Ahrefs

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

Where each one falls short

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

Moz

  • Smaller keyword database with only 500M+ keywords compared to 25 billion for Semrush
  • Unreliable competitive analysis for B2B companies with niche competitor sets
  • Weekly rank tracking on lower plans creates bottlenecks versus daily updates on competitors

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

Pricing, plan by plan

Moz

Free
  • Starter$39/month
    • Limited keyword tracking
    • Basic site audit
  • Standard$99/month
    • Enhanced keyword tracking
    • Competitive analysis

Ahrefs

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Moz if

  • You need keyword explorer.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want link explorer.
Moz review

Choose Ahrefs if

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

Questions people ask

Is Moz or Ahrefs better?
Neither clearly leads. Moz starts at Free and Ahrefs at $29/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Moz or Ahrefs?
Moz has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Moz and $29/month for Ahrefs.
Does Moz or Ahrefs run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Moz for free?
Yes. Moz has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Ahrefs starts at $29/month.
What is Moz best used for?
Moz is most often used for seo audits, keyword research, link building, local seo. Of those, seo audits and keyword research are not what Ahrefs is typically brought in for.
What can Moz do that Ahrefs cannot?
Moz covers Keyword Explorer, Link Explorer, Site Crawl, Rank Tracking. Ahrefs covers Site Explorer, Keywords Explorer, Site Audit, Rank Tracker. Both handle Google Analytics, SSL, Cloud deployment, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Moz: What are Moz's main weaknesses compared to Semrush and Ahrefs?

Moz has a smaller keyword database (500M+ keywords vs Semrush's 25B), weaker competitive analysis tools for B2B niches, weekly rank tracking on lower plans, and limited local SEO features compared to modern competitors.

Source
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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