Ahrefs vs Semrush
Side-by-side from the Top 11 rankings of The 11 Best SEO Tools for SaaS and The 11 Best SEO Tools for Small Business. Last verified May 31, 2026.
The short answer
Semrush ranks higher on Top 11 (#1 vs #1) for SaaS marketers running technical SEO and content programs / Small business owners and in-house marketers choosing SEO tools (Ahrefs vs SEMrush vs Moz). The most comprehensive all-in-one SEO and marketing platform, ideal for growth.
At a glance
| Ahrefs | Semrush | |
|---|---|---|
| Top 11 rank | #1 / The 11 Best SEO Tools for SaaS | #1 / The 11 Best SEO Tools for Small Business |
| Score (out of 9.4) | 9.2 | 9.3 |
| Best for | Best-in-class backlink data | Best all-in-one toolkit |
| Pricing | $$$ ($99 to $999/mo) | $$ ($129 to $499/mo) |
| HQ | Singapore | Boston, USA |
| Founded | 2011 | 2008 |
Ahrefs
The top choice for its unparalleled backlink index, crucial for competitive SaaS markets.
ahrefs.comSemrush
The most comprehensive all-in-one SEO and marketing platform, ideal for growth.
www.semrush.comMethodology and scoring weights live at /methodology. No vendor pays for placement — see about.