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SE Ranking vs Ahrefs for small agencies
Last checked: Oct 16, 2026. AI-assisted research. We have not tested these tools hands-on yet.
Quick verdict
Both start at $129 USD a month on monthly billing. SE Ranking Core publishes 2,000 keywords tracked daily and 10 projects at that price. Ahrefs Lite publishes 750 tracked keywords. Pick Ahrefs if your team already depends on its link data; pick SE Ranking if tracking volume and client reporting matter more.
Side by side
| SE Ranking Core | Ahrefs Lite | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $129 USD/month | $129 USD/month |
| Annual billing | $103.20 USD/month billed annually | Vendor says save up to 17% |
| Tracked keywords | 2,000, tracked daily | 750 |
| Projects | 10 | See vendor page |
| Extra users | See vendor page | Up to 2 more at $40 USD/month each |
| Trial or free access | 14-day free trial | Free plan with limited Site Explorer and Site Audit |
| Refunds | See vendor page | No refunds in general; monthly plans may get one if unused |
| Link | Try SE Ranking | See Ahrefs pricing in Sources |
Next tiers: SE Ranking Growth is $279 USD/month. Ahrefs Standard is $249 USD/month (2,000 tracked keywords) and Advanced is $449 USD/month (5,000 tracked keywords).
Who should pick which
- SE Ranking: small agencies tracking many client keywords on a fixed budget.
- Ahrefs: teams whose main job is link and content research at depth.
FAQ
Which is cheaper? At entry level both list $129 USD/month on monthly billing. Compare what you get for it.
Does Ahrefs have a free plan? Ahrefs says users who cancel move to a free plan with limited Site Explorer and Site Audit access.
Sources (checked Oct 16, 2026)
- SE Ranking pricing: https://seranking.com/subscription.html
- Ahrefs pricing: https://ahrefs.com/pricing