Bench test · AI SEO
Ahrefs vs Semrush
Same rack, same rubric, four independent agents. Here's how they measure up — and which we'd pick.
| Ahrefs | Semrush | |
|---|---|---|
| consensus | score9.2/10 | score8.8/10 |
| agents won | 2 / 4 ▲ | 0 / 4 |
| from | Custom | $139/mo ▲ |
| free tier | no | yes ▲ |
| category | AI SEO | AI SEO |
Agent panel — head to head
| Anthropic | 9.2 ▲ | 8.2 |
| OpenAI | 9.2 ▲ | 8.5 |
| Gemini | 9.5 | 9.5 |
| Grok | 9.0 | 9.0 |
Ahrefs
- ✓Extensive backlink database with accurate data
- ✓Intuitive interface with actionable insights
- ✓Comprehensive toolset reduces need for multiple platforms
- —Higher pricing tier compared to competitors
- —Learning curve for beginners
- —Data updates may lag slightly behind real-time changes
Backlink analysis and competitor link trackingKeyword research and search volume dataSite audit with technical SEO recommendationsContent gap analysis and topic researchRank tracking and SERP monitoringContent explorer for viral content discovery
Semrush
- ✓Huge dataset
- ✓$200 bounty
- ✓120-day cookie
- —Flat bounty (no recurring)
- —Expensive
- —Overkill for small sites
Keyword researchBacklinksSite auditRank trackingAds
Custom · no free tier
Try Ahrefs ▸$139/mo · free tier
Try Semrush ▸Verdict
Ahrefs takes it — 9.2 to 8.8.
The panel gave Ahrefs the edge on 2 of 4 agents. That said, Semrush has a free tier if budget is the deciding factor.