CompareAhrefs vs Semrush
Ahrefs vs Semrush: what each one costs a content site
Ahrefs Starter is cheaper to start at $29 a month, but its Competitor Analysis, the feature that shows what a rival ranks for, only appears on the Lite plan at $129. Semrush's SEO plan is $139 a month ($117.33 billed yearly), tracks ten times as many keywords as Ahrefs Starter (500 against 50), checks them daily, and includes competitor research in that price. Both charge extra for AI drafting: Ahrefs' Content Kit add-on against Semrush's $60-a-month ContentShake AI.
Ahrefs and Semrush compared
| Ahrefs | Semrush | |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest paid plan | Starter, $29/mo | SEO, $139/mo ($117.33/mo billed yearly) |
| Keywords on that plan | 50 tracked keywords | 500 tracked keywords |
| Rank checks | Not listed | Daily |
| Keywords competitors rank for and you don't | Competitor Analysis, from Lite ($129/mo, 750 keywords) | Yes, in the suite |
| Scheduled competitor email | Not listed | Not listed |
| Tells you what to write | AI Content Helper, in the Content Kit add-on; on demand | ContentShake AI, a $60 a month add-on; on demand |
| Backlink index and site audit | Yes | Yes |
| Free plan or trial | Not listed | Free account with 10 reports a day; 7-day trial of paid plans |
Figures from help.ahrefs.com and ahrefs.com and www.semrush.com and www.semrush.com, checked September 2026. "Not listed" means the vendor's pages don't say. Check their sites for current prices.
Where GapDigest fits
A content site that opens either tool mainly to check rankings and see a competitor's keywords is paying $129 to $139 a month, once the plan that includes competitor research is added in, for two jobs. GapDigest tracks 200 keywords daily, includes competitor keyword gaps and a post plan for each one on every plan, and starts at $19, with no backlink index and no full technical audit, only a weekly health check of your own site's top pages.
- $19/mo ($190/yr)
- 200 tracked keywords
- Yes, on every plan: up to 10 per competitor
- Yes, on every plan: a post plan or refresh plan for each gap worth writing, 4 to 60 a month
When Ahrefs is the better choice
Stay with Ahrefs if you build links, research new niches from its keyword database, or audit sites. GapDigest has no backlink data, and its keyword research goes only as far as what your competitors rank for and what your Search Console shows.
When Semrush is the better choice
Semrush is the better pick if you also run ads, audit sites, research backlinks, or track more than 500 keywords. GapDigest covers daily positions and alerts, your Search Console, the competitor digest, and the post plans, plus a weekly health check of your own site's top pages, but has no backlink index and no full technical audit.
Run the check on your own site
Your domain against one competitor, up to 20 keywords with searches, difficulty, and intent (the weekly report itself lists up to 10 per competitor). No login.
Questions
Which is cheaper, Ahrefs or Semrush?
Ahrefs's cheapest paid plan is Starter at $29/mo. Semrush's is SEO at $139/mo ($117.33/mo billed yearly). Neither figure includes tax, and both are the vendor's own listed price as of September 2026.
Does Ahrefs or Semrush show the keywords a competitor ranks for that you don't?
Ahrefs: Competitor Analysis, from Lite ($129/mo, 750 keywords). Semrush: Yes, in the suite. GapDigest includes that list on every plan, including the free one.
Where does GapDigest fit next to both?
A content site that opens either tool mainly to check rankings and see a competitor's keywords is paying $129 to $139 a month, once the plan that includes competitor research is added in, for two jobs. GapDigest tracks 200 keywords daily, includes competitor keyword gaps and a post plan for each one on every plan, and starts at $19, with no backlink index and no full technical audit, only a weekly health check of your own site's top pages.
Are these prices still current?
Checked directly on Ahrefs's and Semrush's own pricing pages in September 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so verify on their sites before you buy.