SEO Tools Comparison
Ahrefs vs Surfer SEO
Side-by-side comparison of Ahrefs and Surfer SEO in 2026. See how they stack up on features, pricing, and ratings.
8.8
Ahrefs
The definitive backlink and SEO analysis toolkit
VS
6 wins · 2 ties · 2 wins
8
Surfer SEO
Data-driven on-page optimization for content teams
Quick Verdict
Choose Ahrefs if you...
- ✓ Link builders
- ✓ Content strategists
- ✓ Competitive analysis
Choose Surfer SEO if you...
- ✓ Content writers
- ✓ On-page SEO
- ✓ Content teams
Pricing Comparison
Ahrefs
From $99/mo
Lite$99/mo
- • 5 projects
- • 750 keywords
- • Monthly crawls
Standard$199/mo
- • 20 projects
- • 2,000 keywords
- • Weekly crawls
Advanced$399/mo
- • 50 projects
- • 5,000 keywords
- • Daily crawls
Surfer SEO
From $89/mo
Essential$89/mo
- • 30 articles/month
- • Content Editor
- • Audit
Scale$129/mo
- • 100 articles/month
- • Audit + SERP Analyzer
Enterprise$399/mo
- • Unlimited articles
- • API access
- • White-label
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | Ahrefs | Surfer SEO |
|---|---|---|
| Keyword Research | 11B+ keywords | Keyword Surfer extension |
| Rank Tracking | Weekly+ updates | No |
| Site Audit | 100+ checks | On-page audit |
| Backlink Analysis | Best-in-class index | No |
| Content Optimization | Content Explorer | Best-in-class editor |
| Competitor Analysis | Excellent | SERP analysis |
| Local SEO | Limited | No |
| Reporting | Basic | Content score tracking |
| API Access | Enterprise only | Enterprise only |
| Browser Extension | Ahrefs SEO Bar | Keyword Surfer (free) |
Ratings Breakdown
Ease of Use
Ahrefs
8.5
Surfer SEO
9
Features
Ahrefs
9
Surfer SEO
7
Value for Money
Ahrefs
7.5
Surfer SEO
7.5
Customer Support
Ahrefs
7
Surfer SEO
7.5
Key Limitations
Ahrefs Drawbacks
- ✗ No free tier
- ✗ Limited local SEO
- ✗ Basic reporting
Surfer SEO Drawbacks
- ✗ Not a full SEO suite
- ✗ No backlink analysis
- ✗ No rank tracking