KeySearch is an affordable, simple alternative to Ahrefs.

KeySearch vs Ahrefs: Which Tool is Right For You?

Whether you’re trying to optimize your product listings or start a blog from scratch, having access to reliable keyword data is imperative for setting you up for SEO success. There are so many different tools at your disposal, and while each has its place, two of the most common are our very own, KeySearch, and Ahrefs. To help you feel confident choosing the right solution we’ve created this guide comparing and contrasting KeySearch vs Ahrefs.

You’ll learn where each has an edge as we discuss the most important factors - from keyword research capabilities to ease of use, additional SEO features, pricing, support, and more. But if you just want to save yourself time and hit the ground running with a reliable, intuitive solution that won’t cost an arm and a leg, try our free SEO tools today. KeySearch is the #1 Ahrefs alternative and once you see what it can do for your business, you’ll understand why!

Overview of Ahrefs and KeySearch

Before we get into our side-by-side comparison of KeySearch vs Ahrefs, let’s start with the basics and break down the two different solutions on their own.

This will give you a better understanding of which aligns more closely with your specific needs while allowing for a clearer understanding of the nuances between these tools.

What is Ahrefs?

Ahrefs is a comprehensive SEO software suite that serves a wide range of functions for digital marketers, from site audits to competitor analysis.

It’s long been the tool of choice in the SEO industry with an array of features that cater to the needs of SEO professionals, content creators, and digital marketers aiming to enhance their online visibility and ranking.

However, the tide is turning. While Ahrefs was once the cream of the crop, the company has dramatically changed its pricing structure to the point where most individuals simply cannot justify using the software as part of their arsenal anymore.

The company has even gone as far as booting off long-standing “Legacy” plan customers and forcing them onto the credit system. To put this into context, what used to cost $500-1,000 a month can now end up costing $5-10k a month.

Core Functionality and Features:

Ahrefs has honed its data collection capabilities with over a decade of experience crawling the web. AhrefsBot is actually one of the most active web crawlers.

The tool processes petabytes of data daily, which supports its database and insights, making it a trusted source among SEO professionals. You gain access to a number of features through your subscription, including:

• Site Explorer: Allows users to analyze their competitors' websites by viewing their backlink profile, organic search traffic, and ranking keywords.
• Site Audit: Provides a thorough audit of your website, identifying SEO issues that could be holding your site back and offering actionable recommendations for optimization.
• Keywords Explorer: Helps users discover keywords that potential customers are searching for. This tool shows not just search volume but also keyword difficulty and click metrics.
• Content Explorer: Aids in discovering content ideas that are likely to perform well, also showing where there might be opportunities for link-building.
• Rank Tracker: Monitors the ranking progress of your keywords over time, providing insights into how your strategy is working.

Ahrefs also provides vast educational materials, including free courses in its Academy, video tutorials on YouTube, detailed guides and case studies on its blog, and a private community called Ahrefs Insider. These resources are invaluable for both novices and experienced marketers.

Plans and Pricing:

Ahrefs offers a range of plans, making it accessible for different user needs and budgets:

• Free: Limited access to Site Explorer and Site Audit.
• Lite ($99/mo): Essential data for small projects.
• Standard ($199/mo): Suitable for freelance SEOs and marketing consultants.
• Advanced ($399/mo): Offers more tools and data for in-house teams.
• Enterprise: Custom solutions for large agencies and businesses.

As we said earlier, though, these plans are just a starting point for what you can expect to pay. You are given a set number of “credits” based on your plan of choice - for example, you get 500 credits per month as a Lite user.

You’d be amazed at what constitutes “credit” usage within the software and how quickly those start to add up as you do batch analysis or map out a comprehensive SEO strategy.

For those who only need to run a few searches a day, this won’t be a problem. For others, it creates the need for a more affordable solution. That being said, let’s look at the other half of the KeySearch vs Ahrefs debate below…

What is KeySearch?

KeySearch is an accessible and feature-rich SEO tool designed specifically for individuals and businesses seeking to enhance their online visibility and search engine optimization without the complexity or high cost associated with larger platforms.

We offer a suite of tools that streamline the process of keyword research, competitor analysis, backlink checks, and comprehensive site audits. But unlike Ahrefs, our solutions are either free or highly affordable. This is why more and more Ahrefs customers are jumping ship and choosing our solution instead.

Core Functionality and Features:

KeySearch’s affordability, user-friendly interface, and comprehensive suite of SEO tools have earned it favor among bloggers, small to mid-sized business owners, and freelance SEO professionals who require effective, straightforward solutions without the significant investment required by larger, more complex tools. Here are some of the capabilities our software supports:

• Keyword Research: You can effortlessly uncover low-competition keywords that are easier to rank for. The tool provides users with valuable insights into search volume, trends, and keyword difficulty. We also have a keyword clustering tool, keyword density checker, LSI keyword generator, and more.
• Competitive Analysis: Users gain a competitive edge by analyzing the SEO strategies of their competitors, including keyword usage and backlink profiles.
• Site Audit: KeySearch conducts detailed site audits that identify SEO issues and provide actionable recommendations to improve site health and ranking.
• Content Assistant: This tool aids in content creation by leveraging AI to suggest improvements and optimizations based on SEO best practices. This extends to our duplicate content checker.
• YouTube Research: Recognizing the importance of video content, KeySearch includes YouTube keyword tools to optimize descriptions, tags, and titles for better search engine visibility.
• Marketplace Specific Research: Beyond YouTube, you can search keywords specific to platforms like Etsy, eBay, Amazon, and more, setting up your online storefront for success with the most accurate, reliable data available.

There are a number of other exciting features within KeySearch too, like the ability to generate meta descriptions, product descriptions, product names, alt text, and more. We’re constantly pursuing new technologies to give our customers the best chance at dominating the SERPs, whether it’s Google, Etsy, or anything in between.

But is KeySeach right for you, or should you stick with the tried-and-true solution that is Ahrefs? We’ll compare and contrast the two choices below to settle the debate once and for all.

KeySearch vs Ahrefs: Choosing the Right Keyword Research Solution for Your Unique Needs

We do want to be clear in saying that only you can determine whether KeySearch or Ahrefs is right for you. The best way to know for sure is to try both and see which you prefer.

That being said, we’ve already done that for you and are eager to share our findings below by comparing and contrasting KeySearch vs Ahrefs side by side based on what we feel matters most in an SEO toolkit:

• Keyword research capabilities
• Pricing
• Ease of use
• Additional features
• Customer support
• Uptime
• Integration
• And more

So, here’s what you need to know before choosing your SEO research solution…

Keyword Research

Make no mistake, both Ahrefs and KeySearch offer extensive keyword data essential for SEO success, but they cater to different user needs.

Ahrefs vast database and deep analytical capabilities pull in a broad range of keyword metrics from across the globe. This includes search volumes, keyword difficulty, and even a full SERP overview, providing all the insights you could ever need.

In contrast, KeySearch provides a more targeted approach. It focuses on finding less competitive keywords that are easier for individuals and small to mid-sized businesses to rank for. This makes KeySearch particularly useful for users who need quick wins and may not have the resources to compete for highly contested keywords.

Plus, KeySearch can help you find keywords specific to the platform you’re trying to rank on. Ahrefs does to a certain extent, with filtering capabilities for Bing, YouTube, and Amazon, but we take things a step further by offering these same solutions on Etsy, eBay, and other platforms. This helps you be more precise in picking your keyword targeting.

From an analytics standpoint, Ahrefs offers new AI-enhanced features like keyword clusters and AI suggestions, which are useful for users who need to perform extensive and detailed keyword research.

KeySearch has its own straightforward analytics designed for ease of understanding and application. It provides essential data on keyword effectiveness, helping users make informed decisions quickly.

This is particularly valuable for SEO beginners or content creators who need to optimize their workflow without the complexity of more advanced analytics. You’re given the most important information so you don’t get bogged down and find yourself dealing with decision overwhelm.

Plans and Pricing

For most users, price will be the biggest deal breaker when it comes to Ahrefs. As we said earlier, the company has rolled out its new pricing strategy and long-time users are leaving because it’s not just feasible to spend so much when more affordable solutions taht more or less do the same things exist.

That being said, let’s offer a more apples-to-apples comparison of Ahrefs vs KeySearch by comparing our Pro plan ($48/month) to the Ahrefs Lite Plan ($89/month).

The KeySearch’s Pro plan includes 500 daily searches and analyses, 200 rank tracker keywords, a backlink checker, a site audit capability for up to 5,000 pages, and 15,000 AI credits monthly. It’s perfect for in-house marketers and small businesses needing comprehensive SEO tools without breaking the bank.

Ahrefs' Lite plan is more than twice the price and offers the same 500 credits - except these are a monthly package. So you’re paying a lot more and getting a lot less. Does that make sense to you?

Still, it’s worth noting that you do gain other features with Ahrefs like an SEO dashboard, Site Explorer with best links filter, Keywords Explorer with new AI features, SERP comparison, and more.

But when it comes to price, there’s no contest. KeySearch is the clear choice from an affordability standpoint.

Ease of Use

KeySearch was designed with user-friendliness in mind, featuring an intuitive interface that newcomers can navigate with ease. This simplifies the complexity of SEO into actionable insights even for those with minimal SEO knowledge.

As a result, small business owners or bloggers who may not have the time to climb a steep learning curve will find that they can hit the ground running immediately with KeySearch.

On the other hand, Ahrefs’ interface has been deemed more complex by those who have used both. It can be a bit overwhelming for beginners. The depth of features and data available is best suited for SEO professionals who require detailed analytics and can navigate through a more intricate dashboard.

Other Features and Capabilities

Most people are drawn to one of these two solutions for keyword research, but this is just the tip of the iceberg for both Ahrefs and KeySeach. Both solutions offer an array of additional features to expand your SEO efforts.

For example, you can leverage a detailed site audit that scans for SEO issues and provides actionable recommendations within KeySearch. The tool has also integrated its own content creation tool using AI to suggest improvements in real-time, enhancing the quality of SEO descriptions or blog posts.

As we touched on earlier, you can also narrow your efforts based on the platform in question. Other features include competitive analysis, backlink auditing, niche finder, rank tracking, and more.

Ahrefs also offers advanced analytical capabilities, including an extensive backlink analysis tool that helps users understand and replicate successful backlink strategies.

The platform even features a powerful content explorer tool that assesses content performance across the web, helping users identify high-performing content ideas and link opportunities.

Moreover, Ahrefs includes SERP analysis tools that allow users to conduct detailed comparisons of search result pages, a critical feature for SEO professionals aiming to understand and outperform competitors at a granular level.

Each software has its own feature suite, which means that choosing the right one requires you to understand what you need in a tool in the first place.

Customer Support

Ideally, you’d never need to get in touch with customer support as the tool you rely on would work reliably around the clock, and documentation would be available to address any questions you have. That being said, having access to helpful, readily available customer support is essential.

KeySearch is backed by responsive customer support with multiple channels for assistance, including email, live chat, and an extensive online knowledge base with tutorials and resources. You never have to wait long for assistance and answers are always within reach.

Similarly, Ahrefs provides its users with a comprehensive support system that includes access to ‘Ahrefs Insider’, a private community where users can exchange ideas and seek advice from SEO experts.

The platform also provides a wealth of educational resources, including detailed guides, video tutorials, and free courses available through the Ahrefs Academy. You’ll also have access to live chat features for one-on-one help.

That being said, the company hung out so many of its longstanding loyal customers to dry when it rolled out its new pricing plan, making it clear that costs were a priority over customers.

Uptime Considerations

The last thing you want is to sit down at your desk excited to work only to discover that the software you rely on is down. So, consider the reputation a provider has for uptime to make sure you’re investing in a reliable solution.

KeySearch is constantly working as intended around the clock, while Ahrefs has been known for the occasional server failure along with regular bugs and glitches.

It’s especially frustrating when you’re paying hundreds of dollars, if not thousands, only to be met with an error code when you try to run a keyword search. This is another reason Ahrefs customers are beginning to look for alternative solutions. And at this point, it should be clear why KeySeach is a compelling consideration. So, which should you go with?

Bringing Our Comparison of KeySearch vs Ahrefs to a Close

That concludes our comparison between KeySearch vs Ahrefs. Hopefully, you have a clear understanding of which of these is right for you. But if not, allow us to reiterate where each has an edge.

Ahrefs offers an extensive suite of advanced tools ideal for SEO professionals and larger organizations who need deep, granular analytics and the ability to integrate robust data into large-scale operations. However, it comes with a higher price tag and a steeper learning curve.

KeySearch, on the other hand, is the more accessible and cost-effective option. It’s perfect for bloggers, small to mid-sized businesses, and those new to SEO, providing all the essential tools to achieve competitive search rankings without overwhelming users.

With its user-friendly interface, comprehensive SEO toolkit, and responsive customer support, KeySearch ensures that effective SEO is accessible to everyone at a fraction of the cost of Ahrefs. But why just take our word for it when you can try it today risk-free? Start uncovering the top keywords for your business now!