Semrush vs Ahrefs
Side-by-side from the Top 11 rankings of The 11 Best SEO Tools for Small Business and The 11 Best SEO Tools for SaaS. Last verified June 4, 2026.
The short answer
Ahrefs ranks higher on Top 11 (#1 vs #1) for Small business owners and in-house marketers choosing SEO tools (Ahrefs vs SEMrush vs Moz) / SaaS marketers running technical SEO and content programs. The top choice for its unparalleled backlink index, crucial for competitive SaaS markets.
At a glance
| Semrush | Ahrefs | |
|---|---|---|
| Top 11 rank | #1 / The 11 Best SEO Tools for Small Business | #1 / The 11 Best SEO Tools for SaaS |
| Score (out of 9.4) | 9.3 | 9.2 |
| Best for | Best all-in-one toolkit | Best-in-class backlink data |
| Pricing | $$ ($129 to $499/mo) | $$$ ($99 to $999/mo) |
| HQ | Boston, USA | Singapore |
| Founded | 2008 | 2011 |
Semrush
The most comprehensive all-in-one SEO and marketing platform, ideal for growth.
www.semrush.comAhrefs
The top choice for its unparalleled backlink index, crucial for competitive SaaS markets.
ahrefs.comMethodology and scoring weights live at /methodology. No vendor pays for placement — see about.