SE Ranking vs Ahrefs 2024: Which SEO Tool is Best for You? An Honest Comparison
Search engine optimization (SEO) is crucial to online success, and choosing the right tool can make or break your strategy. In the SEO world, SE Ranking and Ahrefs are two of the most popular options, but which one is the best fit for you in 2024? This detailed comparison will help you decide which tool to choose by diving deep into their features, pros, cons, and pricing.
SE Ranking vs Ahrefs: The Ultimate Showdown With Pros & Cons
Both SE Ranking and Ahrefs offer a robust set of SEO tools. However, they cater to different types of users and needs. Here’s a quick look at the pros and cons of each tool:
SE Ranking
Pros:
- Affordable pricing, suitable for small businesses.
- Excellent rank tracking with highly accurate data.
- User-friendly interface, perfect for beginners.
- All-in-one SEO platform with features like keyword research, backlink analysis, and site audits.
Cons:
- Limited data compared to Ahrefs, especially for backlink analysis.
- Lacks some advanced SEO features.
- Smaller keyword database compared to Ahrefs.
Ahrefs
Pros:
- Massive backlink database, one of the largest in the industry.
- Advanced keyword research tools with extensive data.
- Powerful site audit features for comprehensive SEO analysis.
- Excellent for competitor analysis.
Cons:
- Expensive compared to SE Ranking, making it less accessible for small businesses.
- Steeper learning curve for beginners.
- No integrated rank tracking, which is a standard feature in SE Ranking.
Keyword Research: Who Wins the Race?
When it comes to keyword research, both SE Ranking and Ahrefs offer valuable tools, but Ahrefs has a clear edge.
SE Ranking’s Keyword Research
SE Ranking provides users with keyword ideas, volume, and difficulty metrics. It’s a solid tool for those looking for basic keyword research, especially for localized SEO or small-scale campaigns.
Ahrefs’ Keyword Research
Ahrefs, on the other hand, has a more comprehensive keyword database, offering global and regional search volumes, keyword difficulty, and keyword ideas across various search engines. Additionally, Ahrefs shows you click-through rate (CTR) data, which helps in estimating the traffic you might get.
Winner: Ahrefs takes the crown for keyword research due to its extensive database and advanced features.
Backlink Analysis: Who’s the Winner?
Backlinks are a cornerstone of SEO, and both SE Ranking and Ahrefs provide powerful backlink analysis tools.
SE Ranking’s Backlink Analysis
SE Ranking offers basic backlink analysis features, helping you identify links pointing to your website and providing insights into their quality. However, its database is smaller, so it may miss some backlinks that a more powerful tool like Ahrefs would capture.
Ahrefs’ Backlink Analysis
Ahrefs excels in backlink analysis. With one of the largest backlink databases in the industry, it allows you to track backlinks, monitor new and lost links, and analyze your competitors’ link-building strategies.
Winner: Ahrefs wins hands down for backlink analysis, thanks to its vast database and detailed insights.
Site Audits: Who Does it Better?
Both tools provide site audits to check your website’s SEO health, but the level of detail differs.
SE Ranking’s Site Audits
SE Ranking performs a comprehensive audit of your website, identifying issues like broken links, page speed problems, and missing metadata. It’s an easy-to-understand tool perfect for beginners or small business owners.
Ahrefs’ Site Audits
Ahrefs takes site auditing to the next level with a deeper, more detailed analysis. It scans for over 100 SEO issues, from on-page SEO to technical aspects like crawling and indexing problems.
Winner: While both are good, Ahrefs’ site audit tool is more advanced and detailed, making it the winner for larger or more complex websites.
Rank Tracking Face-Off
SE Ranking’s Rank Tracking
SE Ranking excels at rank tracking, providing users with highly accurate, daily updates on keyword rankings across multiple search engines. The tool also allows you to track local rankings, which is perfect for businesses targeting specific geographic areas.
Ahrefs’ Rank Tracking
Ahrefs doesn’t include rank tracking by default, but you can add it as an extra feature at an additional cost. While it’s powerful, it lacks the precision and affordability that SE Ranking offers for this specific feature.
Winner: SE Ranking takes the lead here due to its built-in rank tracking capabilities, making it more cost-effective and user-friendly for tracking keyword performance.
Pros & Cons
To summarize the pros and cons of SE Ranking and Ahrefs, we’ve created the following table:
| Feature | SE Ranking | Ahrefs |
|---|---|---|
| Keyword Research | Basic database | Extensive database, CTR data included |
| Backlink Analysis | Smaller database | Massive, industry-leading database |
| Site Audits | Comprehensive, but basic | Advanced, detailed |
| Rank Tracking | Built-in, accurate, affordable | Extra cost, powerful but pricier |
| User Interface | Easy to use, beginner-friendly | Steeper learning curve |
| Pricing | Affordable for small businesses | Expensive for smaller teams |
Pricing Comparison
Pricing is one of the most significant factors when deciding between SE Ranking and Ahrefs.
- SE Ranking offers affordable pricing plans starting at $39/month, making it an excellent choice for small businesses or freelancers.
- Ahrefs starts at $99/month, which is more expensive but justified by its advanced features and vast database.
Winner: SE Ranking is more affordable, but if you need powerful SEO features, Ahrefs is worth the investment.
Who Should Go For SE Ranking Or Ahrefs?
- SE Ranking is ideal for small businesses, freelancers, and agencies that need a cost-effective, easy-to-use SEO tool with all essential features like rank tracking and keyword research.
- Ahrefs is better suited for larger businesses, agencies, and SEO professionals who need in-depth backlink analysis, advanced keyword research, and detailed site audits.
Customer Reviews and Ratings
Customer feedback can be a great indicator of the overall satisfaction with these tools.
- SE Ranking receives positive reviews for its affordability, ease of use, and customer support. Users particularly love its rank tracking and simple interface.
- Ahrefs is highly rated for its extensive features and data accuracy but is sometimes criticized for its higher price and complexity.
FAQs
Q1. Which tool is better for keyword research?
Ahrefs is better for keyword research due to its larger database and advanced features like CTR data.
Q2. Is SE Ranking good for small businesses?
Yes, SE Ranking is ideal for small businesses thanks to its affordable pricing and easy-to-use features.
Q3. Can I track my keyword rankings with Ahrefs?
Yes, but rank tracking is an add-on feature in Ahrefs and costs extra.
Q4. What is the price difference between SE Ranking and Ahrefs?
SE Ranking starts at $39/month, while Ahrefs starts at $99/month.
Q5. Which tool has better backlink analysis?
Ahrefs offers superior backlink analysis with its massive database and detailed insights.
Q6. Which tool is better for beginners?
SE Ranking is better for beginners due to its user-friendly interface and simplicity.
Final Thoughts
Both SE Ranking and Ahrefs are powerful SEO tools, but they cater to different audiences. If you’re a small business or freelancer looking for an affordable, all-in-one SEO tool, SE Ranking is an excellent choice. On the other hand, if you need advanced features like in-depth backlink analysis and comprehensive keyword research, Ahrefs is the better option despite the higher price tag.
