


Choosing the right SEO tool can be tough, right?
You’re trying to get your website seen, but with so many options, it’s hard to know which one truly helps.
Ahrefs and SE Ranking are two big names in the SEO world, and both promise great results.
But what if you pick the wrong one and waste your money and time?
This article will break down Ahrefs vs SE Ranking.
Overview
We thoroughly tested both Ahrefs and SE Ranking.
Our team used each tool for real SEO tasks.
This hands-on approach helped us see their strengths and weaknesses.
We focused on daily use and key features for this comparison.

Over 5,000 agencies worldwide trust SE Ranking! Boost your SEO with SE Ranking.
Pricing: 14 Days Free Trial. Plans start from $52/month.
Key Features:
- Comprehensive site audit tool
- Backlink monitoring and analysis
- Rank tracker with competitor insights

Get Ahrefs Today and Dominate Search! Ahrefs offers powerful tools too.
Pricing: Free trial available. Plan starts at $108/month.
Key Features:
- Site Explorer
- Keywords Explorer
- Rank Tracker
What is Ahrefs?
So, what is Ahrefs?
It’s like a powerful spy tool for your website and your rivals.
It helps you see what’s working well in search engines.
You can find good keywords, check who links to your site, and see what your competitors are doing.
It’s super helpful for getting more people to visit your website.
Also, explore our favorite Ahrefs alternatives…

Key Benefits
- Industry-leading backlink data.
- The second most active web crawler after Google.
- Offers deep competitor insights.
- Site Explorer for competitive analysis.
- Keyword Explorer with traffic values.
Pricing
All the plans will be billed annually.
- Lite: $108/month. You get 5 projects and 750 tracked keywords. This is for small businesses.
- Standard: $208/month. You get 20 projects and 2,000 tracked keywords. This is great for growing websites.
- Advanced: $374/month. This plan offers 50 projects and 5,000 tracked keywords. It’s for bigger teams.

Pros
Cons
What is SE Ranking?
So, what about SE Ranking? This tool is known for being a powerful yet more affordable option.
It’s perfect if you need solid SEO features without breaking the bank.
It covers all the SEO essentials like keyword research, competitor analysis, and website auditing.
Also, explore our favorite SE Ranking alternatives…

Key Benefits
- Precise keyword rank tracking.
- Strong competitive research features.
- Offers white-label reporting.
- Comprehensive website audits.
- Backlink monitoring and analysis.
Pricing
SE Ranking offers a variety of pricing plans to suit your needs & budget (Billed Annually)
- Essential: $52.00/month. 1 manager seat, 5 projects, Rank Tracker.
- Pro: $95.20/month. 3 Manager seats, 30 projects, On-page and SERP analysis, Share of voice metric.
- Business: $207.20/month. 5 Manager seats, unlimited projects, Maximize data reach, Team Training, Data Insights.

Pros
Cons
Future Comparison
Now, let’s dive into the core features of Ahrefs and SE Ranking.
We’ve tested each tool’s main functions to give you a clear picture of what they offer.
This will help you see which one fits your SEO needs best.
1. Keyword Research
- Ahrefs: Known for its huge keyword database. It shows you not just search volume, but also how many clicks a keyword actually gets. This helps you find keywords that bring real traffic.
- SE Ranking: Also has a big keyword database and focuses on understanding user intent. This means it helps you find keywords that match what people are really looking for, making your content more helpful.

2. Backlink Analysis
- Ahrefs: Often seen as the best for backlink analysis. It has a massive database of links and updates them very often. You can see detailed information about who links to a site and how strong those links are.
- SE Ranking: Offers good backlink tools, too. It helps you see referring domains and anchor text. While its database might be smaller than Ahrefs, it’s still good for regular checks and finding basic link opportunities.
3. Site Audit
- Ahrefs: Its Site Audit tool is very thorough. It checks for over 100 technical problems on your website. It also shows you how these problems affect your SEO and helps you track fixes.
- SE Ranking: Provides a strong site audit feature as well. It’s user-friendly and helps you find technical issues quickly. It also prioritizes problems so you know what to fix first.
4. Rank Tracking
- Ahrefs: Lets you track your keywords on Google for both desktop and mobile. It shows you how your rankings change over time and how much traffic they bring.
- SE Ranking: Offers more flexible rank checking updates, including daily updates on higher plans. It tracks rankings across Google, Bing, Yahoo, and even YouTube.
5. Competitor Analysis
- Ahrefs: Excels at showing you what your rivals are doing. Tools like “Content Gap” and “Link Intersect” help you find out where your competitors are stronger and where you can improve.
- SE Ranking: Gives you good insights into your competitors’ organic traffic and keywords. It’s easy to use and helps you identify your main rivals and their basic strategies.
6. Content Marketing
- Ahrefs: Its Content Explorer helps you find popular content in your niche. It’s great for spotting content ideas that already get a lot of traffic and links.
- SE Ranking: Shines with its built-in writing tools and content planning features. It can guide you through creating content outlines and finding related topics, making it helpful for beginners.

7. User Interface and Ease of Use
- Ahrefs: Has a lot of powerful features, which can make it seem a bit complex at first. But once you get used to it, it’s organized and efficient for detailed analysis.
- SE Ranking: Is known for being very user-friendly. Its dashboard is clean and easy to understand, making it a good choice for those new to SEO or small businesses.
What to Look for When Choosing a Keyword Research Tool?
- Database Size: Does it have a vast and updated keyword database?
- Accuracy of Data: Is the search volume and keyword difficulty reliable?
- Feature Set: Does it offer keyword suggestion, clustering, and intent analysis?
- Competitor Insights: Can it analyze keywords your competitors rank for?
- User-Friendliness: Is the interface intuitive and easy to navigate?
- Integration: Does it work well with other SEO solution tools you use?
- Pricing Structure: Does the cost align with the features offered and your budget?
Final Verdict (Our Pick)
So, which SEO tool is best for you?
After hands-on testing, our pick depends on your needs.
Ahrefs wins for deep dives into backlinks and huge data. It’s perfect for big agencies or seasoned SEO pros.
But if you’re a small business or just starting, SE Ranking is a fantastic choice.
It’s user-friendly and gives you great value.
We’ve broken down everything.
Our goal at Link Finder is to give you clear, honest advice.
Now you can choose the right tool to boost your website’s visibility!


More of Ahrefs
Here’s how Ahrefs stacks up against some other popular SEO tools, highlighting their unique strengths:
- Ahrefs vs Content Raptor: Content Raptor focuses on optimizing content for missing entities and keywords.
- Ahrefs vs Surfer SEO: Surfer SEO excels in on-page content optimization and real-time content editing.
- Ahrefs vs Moz: Moz offers domain authority scores and focuses on a more beginner-friendly interface.
- Ahrefs vs SE Ranking: SE Ranking provides a balanced, affordable all-in-one SEO solution with strong site auditing.
- Ahrefs vs Ubersuggest: Ubersuggest is known for its user-friendly interface and affordability for basic SEO needs.
- Ahrefs vs SpyFu: SpyFu specializes in detailed competitor insights, especially their PPC ad strategies.
- Ahrefs vs Similarweb: Similarweb provides comprehensive website traffic analysis and broad market insights.
- Ahrefs vs Raven Tools: Raven Tools offers a focus on simplicity and versatility, ideal for agencies and small teams.
- Ahrefs vs Mangools: Mangools stands out for its user-friendly interface and efficient long-tail keyword research.
- Ahrefs vs Ranktracker: Ranktracker offers robust, affordable keyword tracking and strong local SEO capabilities.
- Ahrefs vs Semrush: Comprehensive SEO and content marketing suite; strong backlink analysis.
More of SE Ranking
Here’s how SE Ranking stacks up against other popular SEO tools, highlighting their standout features:
- SE Ranking vs Content Raptor: Content Raptor focuses on AI content optimization, while SE Ranking is a broader SEO suite.
- SE Ranking vs Surfer SEO: Surfer SEO is specialized for on-page content optimization; SE Ranking is all-in-one.
- SE Ranking vs Moz: Moz provides strong domain authority metrics, while SE Ranking has a larger keyword database.
- SE Ranking vs Ubersuggest: Ubersuggest is a free-tier-friendly keyword tool; SE Ranking is a more comprehensive paid solution.
- SE Ranking vs SpyFu: SpyFu specializes in competitor PPC ad and keyword strategies, unlike SE Ranking’s broader focus.
- SE Ranking vs Similarweb: Similarweb is best for overall web analytics; SE Ranking focuses on SEO campaign management.
- SE Ranking vs Raven Tools: Raven Tools offers integrated client reporting; SE Ranking provides a full suite of SEO features.
- SE Ranking vs Mangools: Mangools is known for its user-friendly keyword research; SE Ranking is a more extensive platform.
- SE Ranking vs Ranktracker: Ranktracker focuses on hyper-accurate rank tracking; SE Ranking offers a wider SEO toolset.
- SE Ranking vs Ahrefs: User-friendly, affordable comprehensive SEO suite; Ahrefs excels in backlink depth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which tool is better for technical SEO audits, Ahrefs or SE Ranking?
For technical SEO audits, Ahrefs offers a deeper, more detailed scan for over 100 issues. SE Ranking’s audit is user-friendly and highlights crucial problems, making it great for quick fixes. Ahrefs provides more in-depth analysis, especially for larger, complex sites.
How do Ahrefs and SE Ranking compare for keyword ranking tracking?
SE Ranking generally has a more flexible rank tracker, with options for daily updates and tracking across more search engines like Bing and YouTube. Ahrefs focuses heavily on Google, providing detailed insights into keyword ranking trends and SERP features.
Which platform has a better site explorer for competitor analysis?
Ahrefs’ Site Explorer is renowned for its vast backlink database and advanced competitor analysis features like “Content Gap” and “Link Intersect.” SE Ranking’s Site Explorer offers good basic competitor insights, but Ahrefs provides more extensive data for deep competitive research.
What are the main differences in their keyword research features?
Ahrefs’ Keyword Explorer is known for its massive database and unique “Clicks” metric. This helps identify keywords that actually drive traffic. SE Ranking’s keyword tool focuses on user intent and offers strong content planning features, making it ideal for content creation.
What kind of offers are available for Ahrefs and SE Ranking?
SE Ranking typically offers a free trial, making it easy to test. Ahrefs offers a limited free Webmaster Tools version for verified site owners. For paid plans, SE Ranking is generally more affordable, while Ahrefs provides more extensive data and features at a higher price point.