Having spent years navigating the world of SEO tools, I’m constantly searching for solutions that make website optimisation more efficient and straightforward.
Although Ahrefs is a well-known brand in the SEO industry, is it the best option for your company?
I’ll explain what Ahrefs is, what it has to offer, how it stacks up against other tools, and if it’s worth the money in this review.
Let’s get started!
What is Ahrefs?
Marketers, company owners, and agencies utilise Ahrefs, a complete collection of SEO tools, to assess and enhance the SEO of their websites.
Ahrefs offers a robust set of tools to help you improve your search engine rankings, whether you’re focusing on backlink development, content marketing, or local SEO.
Ahrefs’ ease of use is what I adore about it. Despite being a very advanced tool, its user-friendly design makes it an excellent option for both novice and experienced SEO specialists. It has been in business for many years and is often ranked among the best tools for site audits, rank tracking, backlink analysis, and keyword research.
Is it, however, the most appropriate for your company? Let’s take a closer look at each feature.
Moreover, do you know a site with almost the same features as Ahrefs? Try Moz.
Who is Ahrefs for?
Ahrefs is a versatile SEO tool that can be used by a wide variety of users:
- Marketers and SEO professionals: If you’re in digital marketing or SEO, Ahrefs is an invaluable resource. The toolset allows you to dig deep into keyword research, monitor backlink health, and track your competitors.
- Agencies: Whether you’re working with multiple clients or managing large-scale projects, Ahrefs makes it easy to track the performance of various websites, optimize content strategies, and measure the success of campaigns.
- Small to medium-sized businesses: If you’re running a small or medium-sized business and need an all-in-one SEO solution, Ahrefs can provide the tools necessary to grow your online presence and attract more traffic. It’s especially useful if you’re looking to compete with larger brands but don’t have the budget for an in-house SEO team.
Ahrefs’ SEO Services & Features
Ahrefs is packed with powerful features that help you with almost every aspect of SEO. Let’s look at the key ones that I think set this tool apart:
1. Rank Tracking & Reporting
One of the standout features of Ahrefs is its rank-tracking capabilities. With Ahrefs, you can track how your site is ranking for specific keywords across different search engines, including Google and Bing. But what makes Ahrefs’ rank tracking even more impressive is its ability to provide competitor insights.
2. Site Audit & Website Analysis
Site audits are a huge part of any SEO strategy, and Ahrefs does this really well. Ahrefs’ site audit tool crawls your website just like Google would, pinpointing any SEO issues, whether they’re related to technical SEO or content.
On-Site SEO Factors and Issues
Ahrefs gives you a clear overview of any site health issues like broken links, slow page load times, duplicate content, and more. This is great for anyone looking to improve their on-site SEO and ensure that their website is optimized for search engines.
Technical SEO Issues
The tool will also highlight more technical issues such as missing meta tags, image alt texts, and slow-loading pages, which can hurt your rankings. For those of us who may not be technical SEO experts, this is incredibly helpful in understanding what needs to be fixed.
3. Keyword Research & Analysis
When it comes to SEO, keyword research is one of the most important things you can do to improve your rankings. This tool shines in this area with its Keyword Explorer tool, which helps you uncover keyword opportunities that you might not have otherwise thought of.
There are a lot of different tools with keyword explorers. If you want to try some, start with Search Engine Land or Victorious.
Long-Tail Keyword Opportunities
I’ve found that Ahrefs is fantastic at identifying long-tail keywords, which are often easier to rank for and can drive highly targeted traffic to your site. The Keyword Difficulty score is another feature that I find especially useful. It gives you an idea of how hard it will be to rank for a particular keyword based on its competition.
Keyword Metrics
With Ahrefs, you get a ton of useful metrics, such as search volume, clicks, and even a breakdown of the top-ranking pages for a given keyword. This gives me a comprehensive understanding of which keywords are worth targeting.
4. Backlink Analysis & Link Building
Ahrefs is perhaps best known for its powerful backlink analysis features. Backlinks are one of the most important ranking factors in SEO, and Ahrefs excels at helping you manage and analyse your link profile.
Backlink Research and Competitor Backlink Analysis
Using Ahrefs, I can see exactly who is linking to my site, and more importantly, who is linking to my competitors. This makes it incredibly easy to identify link-building opportunities and stay ahead of the competition.
Disavowing Toxic Backlinks
Ahrefs helps you clean up your backlink profile by identifying and disavowing harmful links. Toxic backlinks can seriously harm your site’s SEO, so it’s crucial to stay on top of them, and this tool makes this process painless.
5. Content Analysis & Strategy
Creating content that ranks well on search engines requires more than just good writing – you need to know what your audience is searching for and what type of content is already performing well.
Content Gap Analysis
Ahrefs’ content gap analysis tool allows you to see which keywords your competitors are ranking for, but you aren’t. This is a fantastic way to discover new content ideas and fill in gaps in your SEO strategy.
Best-Performing Content Insights
The Content Explorer tool is a great way to find high-performing content around specific topics. This tool lets you see which pages are getting the most backlinks, traffic, and social shares. I use it to get inspiration for new content and see what’s working in my industry.
Ahrefs Pricing & Plans
Ahrefs offers different pricing plans for various needs. The Lite plan starts at $99 per month. It includes most of Ahrefs’ main features, like keyword research, backlink analysis, and site audits. Businesses or agencies that need more data can choose the Standard or Advanced plans.
These come at higher prices.
While it isn’t the cheapest SEO tool on the market, the value it provides is well worth the investment, especially if you’re serious about improving your SEO performance.
Effectiveness of Ahrefs’ SEO Tools
So, does Ahrefs help improve SEO?
In my experience, absolutely. The platform provides all the data you need to optimize your website effectively, and I’ve seen firsthand how using Ahrefs can boost search rankings over time.
How Accurate is Ahrefs’ Rank Tracking?
The tools’ rank tracking is incredibly accurate. It updates frequently, providing real-time insights into how your rankings are changing. For anyone serious about SEO, this is invaluable for tracking the success of your efforts.
Can Ahrefs Replace a Full-Service SEO Agency?
While this tool provides a ton of useful data and tools, it’s important to note that it won’t replace the need for a solid SEO strategy or a professional SEO team. However, it can certainly make the job easier and more efficient, especially for businesses looking to do SEO in-house.
Pros and Cons of Ahrefs
Pros
- Comprehensive toolset with everything you need for SEO
- Easy-to-use interface, even for beginners
- Accurate rank tracking and detailed competitor analysis
- Fantastic backlink research tools
- Excellent customer support
Cons
- Can be pricey for small businesses or individuals
- Some features (like the Site Explorer) can be overwhelming at first
- Limited local SEO features compared to other tools
Ahrefs Reviews: What Are Customers Saying?
Ahrefs generally gets glowing reviews from customers. Users appreciate its powerful features, intuitive design, and the depth of data it provides. Many also highlight the high accuracy of its backlink analysis and rank tracking.
Common Complaints & Drawbacks
That said, some people say Ahrefs feels a bit hard to use, especially if you’re new to SEO. It can take time to learn, but once you get used to it, the tool becomes very powerful.
Is Ahrefs Legit?
Yes, Ahrefs is completely safe and legitimate. It’s used by thousands of businesses worldwide, and there’s no need to worry about privacy or security issues. The tool does require login credentials, but like any other trusted SEO tool, your data is kept safe and secure.
Final Verdict: Should You Use Ahrefs?
Ahrefs makes a smart investment if you want to improve your SEO and grow your online visibility. It delivers solid results, offers an intuitive interface, and packs a wide range of powerful features. Companies that aim to stay ahead of the competition and boost their organic search rankings will find it especially valuable.
However, you should weigh your needs against the cost. If you’re just starting out with SEO, you might prefer a more affordable alternative. But if you run a well-established business or agency and need a comprehensive SEO solution, Ahrefs stands out as a strong choice.
