How to Use Ahrefs: Rank #1 on Google in 2026

Quick Start

This guide covers every Ahrefs feature:

• Getting Started — Create your account and set up your first project
• How to Use Content Writing Helper — Draft pages that match search intent from the first line
• How to Use Keywords Explorer — Turn one seed keyword into thousands of keyword ideas
• How to Use Managing Backlinks — See every link pointing at your site and your rivals
• How to Use Site Audit — Catch technical SEO faults before they cost you traffic
• How to Use Traffic Estimation — Size up any market before you write a single article
• How to Use Rank Tracker — Watch your keyword rankings move week by week
• How to Use SEO Reporting Tool — Send clients clean reports without building slides
• How to Use Web Analytics — Track real visits with a free privacy-first script
• How to Use Site Explorer — Reverse engineer any competitor in under five minutes

Time needed: 5 minutes per feature

Also in this guide: Pro Tips | Common Mistakes | Troubleshooting | Pricing | Alternatives

Why Trust This Guide

I have used Ahrefs daily for three years across client sites and my own site.

Every step below comes from real work, not from a product tour.

Ahrefs is one of the best known seo tools in digital marketing.

Most people open it, run one report, and never touch the rest.

This guide shows you how to use Ahrefs feature by feature.

Step by step, with screenshots and the shortcuts I actually use.

Ahrefs Tutorial

This How to Use Ahrefs tutorial walks through every tool in order, from your first project to advanced keyword research.

Ahrefs

Find the keywords your competitors rank for and the links holding them up. Ahrefs runs backlink analysis, keyword research and site audit crawls from one dashboard. Free Webmaster Tools let you audit your own site before you pay a cent.

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Getting Started with Ahrefs

Before you touch any feature, finish this one-time setup.

It takes about three minutes.

Watch this quick overview first:

Now let’s walk through each step.

Step 1: Create Your Account

Go to the Ahrefs website and pick a plan that fits your workload.

Enter your email, set a password, and confirm the link in your inbox.

✓ Checkpoint: You land on the empty dashboard.

Step 2: Add Your First Project

A project can be a domain, a subfolder or a single URL.

Import it from Google Search Console, or add it manually and verify ownership.

Connecting search console also unlocks real click data inside your reports.

✓ Checkpoint: Your project appears on the dashboard with a crawl queued.

Step 3: Turn On Alerts

Open Alerts and add your domain for backlinks, mentions and keyword rankings.

Ahrefs then emails you when links or positions move.

How to Use Ahrefs Content Writing Helper

Content Writing Helper lets you draft and edit pages around target keywords without guessing what to cover.

Here is how to use it step by step.

Step 1: Open the Content Helper

Open any project and click the Content Writing Helper tab.

Paste your draft or start from a blank page.

Step 2: Add Your Target Keyword

Enter your main keyword and the country you want to rank in.

Ahrefs pulls the top ranking pages for that given search query.

Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: A coverage score appears beside your draft.

Step 3: Fill the Coverage Gaps

Work through the suggested subtopics one by one.

Write for your target audience first, then trim for search engines.

How to Use Ahrefs Keywords Explorer

Keywords Explorer lets you run your whole keyword research process inside one screen.

Here is how to use it step by step.

Step 1: Enter Your Seed Keywords

Type a broad term like coffee machines into Keywords Explorer.

Seed keywords are the words that define your niche.

Ahrefs then lets you analyze keywords by clicks, cost and competition.

Step 2: Read the Keyword Metrics

Check search volume, keyword difficulty, clicks and estimated traffic potential.

Monthly search volume alone will mislead you, so read clicks too.

Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: The matching terms report fills with keyword suggestions and related keywords.

Step 3: Filter for Low Difficulty Keywords

Set keyword difficulty below 20 and volume above 100.

Long tail keywords with four or more words convert best.

Specific keywords bring fewer visits but far more sign-ups.

How to Manage Backlinks in Ahrefs

Managing Backlinks lets you run backlink analysis on any site and find link building targets fast.

Here is how to use it step by step.

Step 1: Open the Backlinks Report

Enter your domain in Site Explorer and click Backlinks.

You will see every live link and all referring domains.

Step 2: Study a Competitor Backlink Profile

Swap your domain for a competitor’s domain and repeat.

Sort a competitor’s backlinks by domain rating to find the strongest sites.

Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: The report lists every backlinks pointing at the domain.

Step 3: Use Link Intersect

Link Intersect shows sites linking to rivals but not to your own site.

How to Use Ahrefs Site Audit

Site Audit lets you crawl your site and monitor over 100 technical and on page SEO issues.

Here is how to use it step by step.

Step 1: Create a Project

Add a domain manually or import it from Google Search Console.

Step 2: Run Your First Crawl

Set the crawl limit, then start the audit and wait a few minutes.

Ahrefs flags every issue as a Notice, Warning or Error.

Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: The Overview report shows a health score out of 100.

Step 3: Fix Errors First

Clear red errors, then yellow warnings, then blue notices.

How to Use Ahrefs Traffic Estimation

Traffic Estimation lets you estimate the search traffic any page or domain earns from search engines.

Here is how to use it step by step.

Step 1: Enter a URL

Paste a competitor’s domain, a subfolder or a single page.

Step 2: Read the Traffic Graph

The chart shows organic traffic and organic keywords over time.

Sudden drops usually point to an algorithm hit or a technical fault.

Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: You can see which pages rank for the most valuable terms.

Step 3: Open Top Pages

Top pages ranks their web pages by traffic, so you see what works.

How to Use Ahrefs Rank Tracker

Rank Tracker lets you track your google rankings and compare them against rivals.

Here is how to use it step by step.

Step 1: Add Your Keywords

Paste your target keywords, or import them from Google Search Console.

Step 2: Set Location and Device

Pick country, language and mobile or desktop.

Rankings differ sharply between devices for the same given keyword.

Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: Your first position report appears within a few hours.

Step 3: Add Competitors

Add up to five rivals so you can see which competitors rank above you.

How to Use Ahrefs SEO Reporting Tool

SEO Reporting Tool lets you turn raw seo metrics into a report a client can read in two minutes.

Here is how to use it step by step.

Step 1: Pick Your Project

Open the dashboard and select the domain you want to report on.

Step 2: Choose Your Metrics

Add traffic, domain rating, keyword rankings and referring domains.

Cut anything the client will not act on.

Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: A preview of the report opens in your browser.

Step 3: Schedule Delivery

Set a monthly email so the report sends itself.

How to Use Ahrefs Web Analytics

Web Analytics lets you see real visitor data beside your search data in one place.

Here is how to use it step by step.

Step 1: Add the Script

Copy the snippet and paste it into the head of your web pages.

Step 2: Verify Tracking

Load your homepage, then check that the live counter moves.

Data starts collecting immediately, with no cookie banner needed.

Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: Your first sessions appear in the dashboard.

Step 3: Compare Sources

Split traffic by channel to separate search from social and direct.

How to Use Ahrefs Site Explorer

Site Explorer lets you study any domain’s backlink profile and organic keywords in one report.

Here is how to use it step by step.

Step 1: Paste a Domain

Drop any URL into Ahrefs Site Explorer and press enter.

Step 2: Read the Overview

Check domain rating, referring domains and traffic in the top row.

Domain rating measures link strength on a 100-point scale.

Here’s what this looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: The overview loads with backlink and traffic charts.

Step 3: Open Content Gap

Content gap reveals terms rivals rank for and you do not.

Ahrefs Pro Tips and Shortcuts

After three years of daily use, these are the habits that save me the most time.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Hidden Features Most People Miss

• SEO Toolbar: Install the browser extension and see seo metrics on every search engine results pages listing you visit.
• Traffic potential: Ignore volume and sort by estimated traffic potential to find lucrative keywords others skip.
• Internal link opportunities: Site Audit suggests internal links based on the terms your pages already rank for.
• Brand Radar: Track how often Large Language Models cite your brand in conversational search results.
• Free Webmaster Tools: Free tools that let you audit and monitor a verified site with no paid plan.
• Ahrefs Academy: Free seo tutorials and courses that cover the whole keyword research process.

Here’s the dashboard view I check every Monday morning:

Ahrefs Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake #1: Chasing Volume Instead of Intent

Mistake #2: Treating Site Audit as a One-Off

Mistake #3: Copying Competitor Keywords Blindly

Ahrefs Troubleshooting

Problem: Site Audit Crawls Zero Pages

Cause: Your robots.txt file blocks AhrefsBot, or the crawl needs JavaScript rendering.

Fix: Allow AhrefsBot in robots.txt, then turn on JavaScript rendering in the crawl settings and rerun.

Problem: Rank Tracker Positions Do Not Match What I See

Cause: Your browser personalises results by location, history and device.

Fix: Compare in an incognito window set to the same country and device as your tracked profile.

Problem: Traffic Estimates Look Too Low

Cause: Estimates only count organic keywords in the index for that country.

Fix: Switch the country filter to worldwide, then cross-check against Google Search Console clicks.

Problem: New Pages Never Rank

Cause: The page targets a term far above your domain rating.

Fix: You rank higher by matching intent, not by writing more. Rebuild the page around low difficulty keywords first.

📌 Note: If none of these fix your issue, contact Ahrefs support through the in-app chat.

What is Ahrefs?

Ahrefs is a search engine optimization platform built on its own web crawler.

It shows you what ranks, why it ranks, and which links hold it up.

Think of it as a telescope pointed at search engines.

It crawls the web, stores the links it finds, and turns that index into reports you can act on.

Watch this quick overview:

It includes these key features:

• Content Writing Helper: AI writing assistant that grades your draft against top ranking pages
• Keywords Explorer: The keyword research tool behind every campaign, with full keyword metrics
• Managing Backlinks: Full backlink profile data with new, lost and broken link reports
• Site Audit: Scheduled crawls that protect your site’s technical health
• Traffic Estimation: Organic traffic estimates for any URL, folder or full domain
• Rank Tracker: Position tracking across countries, devices and search engine results pages
• SEO Reporting Tool: Scheduled exports and dashboards for clients or your own team
• Web Analytics: A lightweight, cookie-free analytics script included at no cost
• Site Explorer: The core research tool inside the Ahrefs SEO tools suite

For a full review, see our Ahrefs review.

Here’s how the platform is laid out:

Ahrefs Pricing

Here’s what Ahrefs costs in 2026:

Free trial: No free trial. Ahrefs Webmaster Tools stays free for sites you verify yourself.

Money-back guarantee: No refunds, but you can cancel or downgrade at any point in the billing cycle.

Here’s the current plan breakdown:

💰 Best Value: Standard — it adds Content Explorer and far deeper historical data than Lite.

Ahrefs vs Alternatives

How does Ahrefs compare with the rest of the market? Here’s the landscape:

Quick picks:

• Best overall: Ahrefs — the deepest link index and the fastest crawler
• Best budget: Ubersuggest — free keyword tools plus cheap paid tiers
• Best for beginners: Mangools — clean interface and gentle seo training material
• Best for agencies: SE Ranking — white-label reports at a fraction of the cost

🎯 Ahrefs Alternatives

Looking for Ahrefs alternatives? Here are the top options:

• 🚀 Semrush: Wider toolkit covering ads, social and PR alongside search data.
• 💰 Ubersuggest: The cheapest way to get keyword suggestions and basic backlink data.
• 🎨 Surfer SEO: Grades drafts against top ranking pages while you write.
• ⚡ Content Raptor: Builds briefs and outlines fast for teams publishing at volume.
• 🔒 Moz: Trusted domain authority scores and a large learn seo library.
• 🧠 SE Ranking: Strong AI visibility tracking and white-label client dashboards.
• 👶 Mangools: The friendliest keyword research tool for first-time users.
• 🌟 Ranktracker: Focused position tracking with alerts at a low monthly price.

For the full list, see our Ahrefs alternatives guide.

⚔️ Ahrefs Compared

Here’s how Ahrefs stacks up head to head:

• Ahrefs vs Semrush: Ahrefs wins on link data and crawl speed. Semrush wins on breadth and paid ad reports.
• Ahrefs vs Surfer SEO: Surfer edits better. Ahrefs researches better. Many teams pay for both.
• Ahrefs vs Content Raptor: Content Raptor is cheaper for briefs. Ahrefs owns the underlying data.
• Ahrefs vs Moz: Moz is easier for newcomers. Ahrefs finds far more referring domains per site.
• Ahrefs vs SE Ranking: SE Ranking costs less for agencies. Ahrefs keeps a bigger index.
• Ahrefs vs Ubersuggest: Ubersuggest suits hobby sites. Ahrefs suits anyone competing for money terms.
• Ahrefs vs Mangools: Mangools is simpler and cheaper. Ahrefs handles enterprise scale research.
• Ahrefs vs Ranktracker: Ranktracker tracks positions well. Ahrefs adds the research behind them.

Start Using Ahrefs Now

You learned how to use every major Ahrefs feature:

• ✅ Content Writing Helper
• ✅ Keywords Explorer
• ✅ Managing Backlinks
• ✅ Site Audit
• ✅ Traffic Estimation
• ✅ Rank Tracker
• ✅ SEO Reporting Tool
• ✅ Web Analytics
• ✅ Site Explorer

Next step: Pick one feature and try it today.

Most people start with Keywords Explorer.

Here’s what my own dashboard looked like after the first month:

It takes less than five minutes to get your first report.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Ahrefs work?

Ahrefs runs its own web crawler. It stores links and rankings in a live index, then turns that data into backlink, keyword and site audit reports.

How to use Ahrefs tool?

Add a project and connect Google Search Console. Then run Site Explorer for competitor research, Keywords Explorer for keyword ideas, and Site Audit for technical checks.

Can you use Ahrefs for free?

Yes, partly. Ahrefs Webmaster Tools gives free site audit and backlink data for sites you verify. Paid plans start at $108 per month.

Is Ahrefs good for SEO?

Yes. Its link index is the largest of the major seo tools. The keyword metrics are accurate enough to plan a full content calendar.

What is the difference between Ahrefs and Semrush?

Ahrefs leads on backlink depth and crawl speed. Semrush covers more marketing ground, including paid ads, social posting and PR tracking.