If you’re running a startup and trying to grow through SEO, you’ve probably heard of Ahrefs. No doubt, it’s a powerful tool from backlinks and keyword research to site audits and content analysis.
But here’s the big problem: Ahrefs is expensive.
Its entry-level plan starts at $99/month, which is often too steep for early-stage founders or small teams. Not to mention, you might not even use half the features.
That’s why many startups are now turning to simpler, more affordable alternatives tools that focus on just what they need and fit within a tight budget.
This article isn’t just a list of cheaper tools. It’s a handpicked guide to the best Ahrefs alternatives that real startups use, based on needs like content creation, backlink tracking, keyword research, and site auditing.
Let’s break them down.
Why Look for an Ahrefs Alternative?
Startups usually face these challenges with Ahrefs:
- High monthly cost (especially on a yearly plan)
- Too many features you don’t need at the early stage
- Limits on reports and user seats
- Overwhelming interface for non-SEO founders
So, instead of spending money on a premium tool you can’t fully utilize, it’s smarter to use focused tools that help you build a strong SEO foundation.
1. SE Ranking – Best All-in-One Ahrefs Alternative for Startups
Use it for: Keyword tracking, competitor research, backlink monitoring, and technical SEO.
SE Ranking offers most of what Ahrefs does but at a much lower price. It’s easy to use and covers all essential areas of SEO, like:
- Rank tracking
- Keyword research and suggestions
- Site audits with actionable fixes
- Competitor analysis
- Backlink tracking and alerts
Unique Value:
SE Ranking allows you to customise your plan. You pay based on how many keywords or websites you want to track. This flexibility makes it startup-friendly and scalable.
Pricing: Starts at $44/month
Why it’s great for startups:
If you’re wearing multiple hats (founder, marketer, writer), SE Ranking helps you stay on top of everything in one place without needing to be a technical SEO expert.
2. Ubersuggest – Budget-Friendly Alternative for Beginners
Use it for: Keyword ideas, content topics, basic backlink data, and quick SEO audits.
Ubersuggest is simple and easy to navigate. It gives you:
- Keyword suggestions with volume and difficulty
- Top-ranking pages for any keyword
- Domain overview and backlinks
- Content topic ideas
Unique Value:
It’s one of the few tools offering a lifetime access deal. You pay once, and you’re done. That’s perfect for startups that want long-term use without recurring costs.
Pricing:
Free version available
Lifetime plans start at ₹8999 (around $110)
Why it works for startups:
You get just enough to plan your content and improve your site without diving deep into complicated SEO data.
3. LowFruits – Best for Finding Easy-to-Rank Keywords
Use it for: Discovering long-tail, low-competition keywords that new sites can rank for.
LowFruits is built specifically to help new websites get traffic faster. Instead of focusing on high-volume, competitive keywords, it helps you find:
- Keywords with weak spots in the SERPs (like Quora, forums)
- Topics where low-authority sites already rank
- Keyword clusters to create topic-focused content hubs
Unique Value:
It’s one of the few keyword tools that reverse-engineers SERPs to find real ranking opportunities for low-DA sites.
Pricing:
Credits-based system. Starts at $25 for 2,000 credits.
Why it works for startups:
You can spot gaps in your niche and publish helpful content faster without worrying about massive competition.
4. Serpstat – Scalable All-in-One SEO Platform
Use it for: Keyword research, local SEO, site audits, and backlink monitoring.
Serpstat is an under-the-radar tool that competes closely with Ahrefs and SEMrush but at a much lower price. It includes:
- Rank tracking
- Site audit with error suggestions
- Local SEO tools (like map pack tracking)
- Competitor research
- Backlink analysis
Unique Value:
It offers unlimited users, which is a rare feature. Great if multiple team members need access.
Pricing: Starts at $59/month
Why startups love it:
It gives you nearly everything in one dashboard, but with a clearer UI and more startup-friendly billing.
5. Mangools (KWFinder) – Clean and Focused on Keyword Research
Use it for: Keyword research, SERP analysis, and backlink insights.
Mangools is made up of five tools, but KWFinder is the core. It gives you:
- Keyword suggestions with difficulty scoring
- SERP preview for each keyword
- Competitor data
- Backlink tracking with LinkMiner
Unique Value:
It’s one of the most user-friendly interfaces in the SEO world great for founders or content writers who don’t want to deal with steep learning curves.
Pricing: Starts at $29/month
Why it works for startups:
If your main focus is content and keyword targeting, Mangools gives you what you need without extra noise.
6. Frase + Surfer SEO – The Best Combo for SEO Content Creation
If your growth depends heavily on content (blogs, landing pages, guides), this combo is gold.
Frase
Use it for: Researching, outlining, and generating AI content.
- Analyses the top-ranking results
- Creates SEO-friendly content briefs
- Helps you structure and write using built-in AI
Surfer SEO
Use it for: On-page SEO optimization
- Recommends headings, keywords, and word count
- Gives real-time content score
- Helps you improve existing content for better rankings
Unique Value:
Together, these tools help you go from keyword to published blog faster, and in a more optimized way.
Pricing:
Frase: Starts at $15/month
Surfer SEO: Starts at $29/month
Why startups love this stack:
It’s easier to scale content marketing and still stay SEO-optimized without hiring a full team.
Quick Comparison Table
| Tool | Best For | Starting Price | Unique Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| SE Ranking | All-in-one SEO tracking | $44/month | Flexible pricing, full suite |
| Ubersuggest | Keyword/content beginners | ₹8999 lifetime | Simple UI, one-time cost |
| LowFruits | Easy-to-rank keywords | $25 one-time | Finds weak SERPs for new sites |
| Serpstat | Full SEO with local features | $59/month | Unlimited users |
| Mangools | Keyword and SERP research | $29/month | Clean UI, visual SERP preview |
| Frase + Surfer | Content planning and optimization | $44/month | Fast, SEO-friendly content |
My Take: Use What Fits Your Stage
Ahrefs is powerful no question. But if you’re an early-stage startup, you don’t need everything Ahrefs offers right now.
Instead, pick one or two tools that match your exact needs:
- Just starting out? Try Ubersuggest or LowFruits.
- Focused on ranking content? Use Frase + Surfer.
- Want an affordable all-rounder? SE Ranking or Serpstat are great bets.
Start small, grow steadily, and add complexity only when needed. SEO is not about tools it’s about smart execution, and the right tool simply makes that easier.
If you’re a startup founder trying to figure out SEO without wasting time or money on the wrong tools I can help.
Let’s build a focused plan based on what actually works.
Contact me to chat.
FAQs
Is there a free alternative to Ahrefs?
Yes, but with limitations. While there’s no completely free tool that matches Ahrefs in depth, you can combine a few freemium tools to cover your basic SEO needs:
- Ubersuggest (free version) – keyword research and basic site audit
- Google Search Console – track keywords and performance
- Google Keyword Planner – keyword ideas
- Moz Link Explorer (free limited version) – backlink checks
- SEO Minion or Detailed Chrome Extension – quick on-page audits
For startups, these can be good enough until you’re ready for a paid tool.
Which is better, Ahrefs or SEMrush?
Both are powerful, but they serve slightly different needs:
- Ahrefs is stronger in backlink analysis, content exploration, and keyword difficulty metrics.
- SEMrush offers more features for PPC, technical SEO, and even social media tracking.
If your startup focuses on organic content and link building, Ahrefs might feel cleaner. But if you’re looking for more tools in one platform (ads, SEO, reporting), SEMrush is more all-in-one.
It comes down to your goals both are great, but SEMrush is more feature-heavy, while Ahrefs is easier to use for SEO-focused teams.
Which is the best free SEO tool?
The best truly free SEO tool is:
- Google Search Console
It shows you:
- What keywords people use to find your site
- Your pages’ performance in Google
- Indexing issues
- Mobile usability
- Core Web Vitals
It’s not fancy, but it gives you real data directly from Google, which is more valuable than most tools.
Other helpful free tools include:
- Google PageSpeed Insights (technical performance)
- AnswerThePublic (content ideas)
- Screaming Frog (free version for 500 URLs)
Is Ubersuggest better than Ahrefs?
Ubersuggest is not better than Ahrefs in terms of data depth, speed, or accuracy Ahrefs clearly leads there.
But Ubersuggest is a good beginner-friendly alternative if you:
- Have a small budget
- Need basic keyword and backlink data
- Don’t want a steep learning curve
So while it’s not “better” in features, it’s better for small startups looking for something simpler and cheaper.
Is Moz free?
Moz offers a free version, but it’s limited.
- Moz Link Explorer: Check backlinks and domain authority (free with limits)
- MozBar: Chrome extension to check SEO metrics while browsing
- Moz Keyword Explorer: Limited free searches per month
To access full features like keyword tracking and technical site audits, you’ll need the Moz Pro plan (starts at $99/month).
So yes, it has free tools but for serious SEO work, you’ll eventually need the paid version.
