Picking the right SEO tool can be tough.
Do you go for Ahrefs, known for its deep dive into competitor backlinks and keyword data?
This article will break down Ahrefs vs Moz.
Two of the biggest names in SEO, to help you decide which tool reigns supreme for your needs.
Let’s find out which one truly fits your strategy!
Overview
We thoroughly tested both Ahrefs and Moz.
Our team used them for real SEO tasks.
This hands-on approach helped us see how each tool truly performs.
Now, let’s compare them side-by-side.
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
Boost your SEO! Over 500,000 marketers trust Moz. Users saw a 1,143% increase in keyword rankings.
Pricing: Free trial available. Premium Plan starts at $39/mo.
Key Features:
- Domain Authority
- Link Explorer
- Keyword Explorer
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 Moz?
Now, let’s talk about Moz. It’s another big player in SEO.
Many people know it for Domain Authority. Moz focuses a lot on links.
It helps you build strong connections.
Also, explore our favorite Moz alternatives…
Our Take
Boost your SEO! Over 500,000 marketers trust Moz. Users like Tinuiti saw a 1,143% increase in keyword rankings. Ready to use Moz like an expert? Click to start improving your SEO today!
Key Benefits
- Industry-standard Domain Authority.
- Strong focus on link analysis.
- Offers detailed site crawl reports.
- Keyword Explorer for insights.
- Link Explorer for backlink data.
Pricing
All the plans will be billed annually.
- Starter ($39/month)
- Standard ($79/month)
- Medium ($143/month)
- Large ($239/month)
Pros
Cons
Future Comparison
Choosing between Ahrefs and Moz can be tough, as both are SEO giants.
This comparison breaks down their core features—from link analysis to ease of use—to help you pinpoint which SEO software is the best fit for your team and strategy.
1. Authority Metrics
Both tools use a proprietary score to estimate a website’s strength, but the metrics they use are different and often used for different purposes.
- Ahrefs: Uses Domain Rating (DR) and URL Rating (UR). These metrics are heavily influenced by the quantity and quality of a website’s backlink profile.
- Moz: Uses Domain Authority (DA) and Page Authority (PA). These are widely known metrics used as a standard benchmark for comparing link equity across websites.
2. Backlink Index Size and Freshness
Backlink analysis is one of the most important features, and having a massive, fresh database is key for competitive analysis.
- Ahrefs: Generally recognized as having one of the largest backlink databases with very rapid updates, often identifying new or lost links much faster than competitors.
- Moz: Its Link Explorer is a robust tool, but its link database is significantly smaller than Ahrefs’s. It offers a useful Spam Score to help identify low-quality or harmful links.
3. Keyword Research Database
The depth of the keyword database affects how many keyword opportunities you can find for your content strategy.
- Ahrefs: Boasts a vast keyword database, often showing significantly more keywords tracked than Moz. It offers rich metrics like Click Potential and support for multiple search engines (Google, YouTube, Amazon).
- Moz: Provides a reliable keyword rankings tool but with a smaller database size. It excels at showing high-level metrics like Organic CTR and Keyword Difficulty.
4. Content Explorer
This feature helps discover the most shared and linked-to content on any topic, which is essential for content ideation.
- Ahrefs: Features a powerful, dedicated Content Explorer tool that allows you to analyze high-performing articles across a massive index of web pages.
- Moz: Does not have a direct equivalent to the Content Explorer. Content research must be performed using its Keyword Explorer and site analysis tools.
5. Site Audit and Technical SEO
Both tools help maintain site health by finding technical errors, but they approach the reports differently.
- Ahrefs: Offers a comprehensive Site Audit tool that crawls your site deeply, checking over 170 technical factors and prioritizing issues based on severity.
- Moz: Provides an excellent Site Crawl feature with a highly intuitive interface that is often easier for beginners to digest, focusing on actionable steps.
6. Rank Tracking Granularity
Rank tracking allows you to track rankings and monitor your keyword rankings over time.
- Ahrefs: Offers precise tracking that lets you segment results by location (down to the city) and device type (desktop vs. mobile), giving a complete view.
- Moz: Provides consistent and reliable rank tracking with good filtering options, but it may not offer the same hyper-local granularity as Ahrefs.
7. Ease of Use and Learning Curve
The complexity of the platform often dictates which user type it is best suited for.
- Ahrefs: Is feature-rich and data-dense, which can be overwhelming for beginners. It has a steeper learning curve but offers incredible depth for SEO professionals.
- Moz: Is widely considered the more beginner-friendly platform, with a cleaner interface and stronger focus on educational resources and straightforward reports.
8. Pricing and Trials
Cost is a major factor, especially for small business owners or freelancers.
- Ahrefs: Plans generally start at a higher price point than Moz, and many advanced features require higher-tier plans or credits. It offers limited free tools but no extended free trial.
- Moz: Offers a generous 30-day free trial for its Moz Pro subscription. Its entry-level plan is often considered more accessible for solo marketers or small teams on a budget.
9. Multi-Platform Keyword Data
This reflects the tool’s ability to pull search insights from sources beyond just Google.
- Ahrefs: Excels here by providing keyword data not only from Google but also from YouTube, Amazon, Bing, and other search engines, making it ideal for diverse SEO efforts.
- Moz: Focuses primarily on Google-based keyword research, offering less support for multi-platform streaming video or e-commerce keyword analysis.
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)
After testing both Ahrefs and Moz, Ahrefs comes out on top for us.
It offers deeper data for backlinks and keywords.
Its Content Explorer is also a huge plus for finding new article ideas.
While Moz is easier for beginners, Ahrefs provides more power for serious SEO work.
We at Link Finder aim to give you the most accurate and useful information.
That’s why we put these tools to the test so that you can make the best choice for your website.
We’ve compared Moz with the following alternatives, highlighting their standout features:
- Moz vs Ahrefs: Ahrefs offers a massive backlink database and deeper competitor analysis.
- Moz vs Semrush: Semrush is an all-in-one suite covering SEO, PPC, and content marketing.
- Moz vs Content Raptor: Content Raptor specializes in identifying “quick win” content opportunities from GSC data.
- Moz vs SE Ranking: SE Ranking provides a comprehensive SEO toolkit with strong rank tracking.
- Moz vs Ubersuggest: Ubersuggest is a budget-friendly tool with strong keyword suggestions and content ideas.
- Moz vs SpyFu: SpyFu excels in competitor paid ad analysis and keyword insights for rivals.
- Moz vs Similarweb: Similarweb focuses on broad website traffic analytics and market intelligence.
- Moz vs Raven Tools: Raven Tools offers agency-focused reporting and comprehensive white-label solutions.
- Moz vs Mangools: Mangools (KWFinder) is known for its user-friendly design and affordable keyword research.
- Moz vs Ranktracker: Ranktracker specializes in highly accurate, detailed keyword rank tracking.
- Moz vs Surfer SEO: On-page content optimization focus with real-time suggestions; strong backlink analysis.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ahrefs better than Moz for keyword ranking?
Ahrefs often provides deeper and more extensive data for keyword research and analysis. It shows more keyword variations and offers a unique “Traffic Potential” metric. Moz is good for basic keyword research, but Ahrefs generally offers more comprehensive insights for improving your keyword ranking.
How do Moz and Ahrefs compare to Semrush?
Moz and Ahrefs primarily focus on SEO. Semrush, however, is a broader digital marketing suite. It includes tools for PPC, social media, and content marketing alongside SEO features. Each excels in different areas, with Ahrefs strong in backlinks and Semrush comprehensive.
Can I use Moz and Ahrefs together?
Yes, you can use Moz and Ahrefs together. They each have unique strengths that complement one another. For example, you might use Ahrefs for detailed backlink analysis and Moz for its Domain Authority metric and beginner-friendly interface.
What are the main differences in Ahrefs pricing?
Ahrefs pricing typically starts around $99/month for its Lite plan and goes up for more advanced features. Plans vary by projects, tracked keywords, and crawl credits. Higher tiers offer more historical data, users, and API access.
Which tool is better for beginners?
Moz is often considered more beginner-friendly due to its simpler interface and clear metrics like Domain Authority. Ahrefs, while powerful, can be overwhelming for new users because of the vast amount of detailed data it provides.
English 
Spanish 
Chinese 
German 
French 
Arabic 
Russian 
Portuguese 
Japanese 
Korean 
Italian 
Turkish 
Dutch 
Polish