Ahrefs vs SE Ranking: Which SEO Tool Should You Choose in 2025?
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If you're into SEO, you've probably come across Ahrefs and SE Ranking—or maybe you're already using one. If you're thinking about giving them a try, it’s worth seeing which one fits your business goals better.
Ahrefs is a favorite for the pros, offering awesome backlink analysis and detailed keyword research. SE Ranking, on the other hand, is easy to use and great for tracking rankings and checking out the competition—perfect for beginners and smaller teams.
Understanding what each tool does best can help you pick the one that works for you.
What We'll Cover:
Ahrefs vs SE Ranking Overview
Ahrefs
Ahrefs has grown into an all-in-one SEO tool, packed with features like backlink analysis, keyword research, site audits, and competitor tracking. With its massive database and powerful crawler, it gives you deep insights into how websites perform and helps shape your SEO strategies.
It's a top pick for SEO pros, digital marketers, and agencies who need detailed analytics and advanced features to boost their online presence.
What really sets Ahrefs apart is its accurate data and extensive backlink index, making it a must-have for SEO planning and execution.
SE Ranking
SE Ranking is also an all-in-one SEO platform designed to simplify SEO processes for users ranging from beginners to professionals.
It offers features such as keyword rank tracking, website auditing, competitor analysis, and marketing plan development.
SE Ranking is particularly popular among small to mid-sized businesses and agencies due to its user-friendly interface and flexible pricing models.
Its unique value proposition is the combination of comprehensive SEO tools with ease of use, making it accessible for users with varying levels of expertise.
Key Features Comparison
Keyword Research
What’s good about Ahrefs is that it has a massive keyword database that gives you tons of keyword ideas, search volumes, and difficulty scores.
Its Keywords Explorer lets you dig deep into data from multiple search engines, offering insights like clicks, return rates, and parent topics—perfect for building a solid keyword strategy.
SE Ranking also has a solid keyword tool, mainly pulling data from Google and Yandex. It focuses on search volume, difficulty, and related keywords, and its easy-to-use interface makes it great for anyone who wants straightforward keyword analysis without all the extra complexity.
Backlink Analysis
Ahrefs is renowned for its extensive backlink index, offering detailed insights into backlink profiles, including referring domains, anchor texts, and link growth over time. Its Site Explorer tool enables users to analyze competitors' backlink strategies effectively.
SE Ranking provides a competent backlink checker that displays metrics such as Domain Trust and Page Trust, along with the number of backlinks and referring domains.
While it may not have the extensive database of Ahrefs, SE Ranking offers a user-friendly interface with visual presentations that simplify backlink analysis.
Site Audit & Technical SEO
Ahrefs' Site Audit tool crawls websites to identify technical SEO issues, providing actionable insights to improve site health. It covers aspects like crawlability, performance, HTML tags, and content quality.
SE Ranking's Website Audit tool evaluates websites against various parameters, including technical errors, on-page issues, and domain characteristics. It offers a comprehensive overview with prioritized recommendations, making it accessible for users to implement necessary changes.
Unique Features
Ahrefs offers unique features like Content Explorer, which helps users discover popular content and identify link-building opportunities. Its Rank Tracker provides insights into keyword rankings over time, with competitive comparisons.
SE Ranking includes a Marketing Plan feature that guides users through SEO best practices, making it particularly beneficial for beginners. Additionally, its Lead Generator tool assists agencies in acquiring new clients by embedding a lead generation widget on their websites.
Customer Support and User Experience
User Interface
Ahrefs comes with a feature-rich interface that provides in-depth data and customization options, perfect for experts. However, beginners may face a learning curve to fully grasp its capabilities.
SE Ranking, on the other hand, is known for its clean, intuitive interface, designed to be user-friendly. It ensures smooth navigation, making it accessible to users of all skill levels, from beginners to professionals.
Support Options
Both Ahrefs and SE Ranking provide extensive support resources, including tutorials, documentation, and customer service.
SE Ranking stands out for its highly responsive and friendly support team, consistently praised by users. Ahrefs offers excellent support via email and a well-organized knowledge base, providing users with tools to troubleshoot and maximize their SEO efforts effectively.
Both platforms ensure users have access to the help they need when facing challenges.
Pricing Comparison
Ahrefs Pricing
- Lite Plan ($129/month):
- 5 projects, 6 months of historical data, 750 tracked keywords.
- Includes one user and options to add extra users for $50/month.
- Standard Plan ($249/month):
- 20 projects, 2 years of historical data, 2,000 tracked keywords.
- Supports one user with additional users at $50/month.
- Advanced Plan ($449/month):
- 50 projects, 5 years of historical data, 5,000 tracked keywords.
- Includes more advanced tools, supports one user with extra users at $50/month.
- Enterprise Plan ($14,990/year):
- 100 projects, unlimited history, 10,000 tracked keywords.
- Comes with 3 included users and the ability to add extra users for $1,000/year.
SE Ranking Pricing
- Essential Plan ($52/month):
- 5 projects, 500 keywords tracked daily, 1 manager seat.
- Offers basic SEO tools like keyword research, rank tracking, and backlink checking.
- Pro Plan ($95.20/month):
- 30 projects, 2,000 keywords tracked daily, 3 manager seats.
- Adds features like historical data, Looker Studio integration, and additional tools.
- Business Plan ($207.20/month):
- Unlimited projects, 5,000 keywords tracked daily, 5 manager seats.
- Offers advanced features like team training, API access, and maximized data reach.
If budget and ease of use are priorities, go for SE Ranking. If you require advanced features and a deeper data reservoir, Ahrefs may be worth the investment.
Customer Reviews and Reputation
Based on the G2 ratings, SE Ranking generally outperforms Ahrefs in most categories, indicating its broader appeal and user satisfaction. SE Ranking excels in ease of use, setup, and administration, making it a more accessible and beginner-friendly tool. It also shines in quality of support, suggesting a stronger customer service experience for users.
Additionally, SE Ranking is rated higher for being a reliable business partner and has a stronger positive direction for its future development, making it a compelling choice for users who value long-term investment in a tool.
While Ahrefs is a powerful tool with advanced features and robust data capabilities, its slightly lower ratings suggest a steeper learning curve and less favorable user experience compared to SE Ranking.
Ahrefs remains a great option for experienced professionals who need deep data insights, but SE Ranking’s user-friendly design and superior support make it a better choice for a wider audience, including small businesses and agencies.
Which Tool Offers Better Value?
When it comes to overall value, SE Ranking takes the lead for most users, especially small businesses, agencies, and those new to SEO. It offers a balance of affordability, comprehensive features, and excellent user support. The pricing structure is more accessible, and the platform provides features like rank tracking, keyword research, and website auditing in a user-friendly package.
On the other hand, Ahrefs is undeniably powerful for professionals and enterprises needing advanced capabilities like in-depth backlink analysis and extensive data sets. However, its higher cost and steeper learning curve make it a more suitable option for seasoned SEO experts or businesses with larger budgets and specific data-heavy needs.
For users seeking a cost-effective solution with a great user experience, SE Ranking delivers better value. For those prioritizing cutting-edge analytics and are willing to invest in a premium tool, Ahrefs justifies its price.
Final Verdict
Every SEO tool has its unique benefits and drawbacks, and the right choice ultimately depends on your goals, budget, and expertise. In this detailed comparison of Ahref vs SE Ranking, we’ve explored the key differences and strengths of each platform.
Both tools bring unique value to the table, as seen in this in-depth analysis. But remember, success in SEO isn’t just about the tools—it’s about using them effectively to drive results.
If you’re ready to elevate your SEO game, MADX Digital is here to help. Hands-on expertise or just someone to guide you through the SEO landscape, we’ve got your back. Message us now, and let’s turn your goals into digital success now!
