Ahrefs vs SpyFu
Ahrefs
SpyFuWe may earn a commission from links on this page, at no extra cost to you. It never changes our picks. How we make money.
Quick verdict
Ahrefs edges it overall, winning 2 of 4 rating categories. Ahrefs is cheaper to start ($29 vs $39).
Choose Ahrefs if…
You’re sEOs focused on backlinks and competitor research. The SEO toolset famous for its backlink index, with keyword research, site audit and rank tracking. Free Webmaster Tools cover your own sites.
Visit AhrefsChoose SpyFu if…
You’re small businesses and PPC marketers researching competitors cheaply. Competitor keyword and PPC research on a budget: see the keywords and Google Ads competitors rank and bid on, with 10+ years of history on Pro.
Visit SpyFuSide by side
| Ahrefs | SpyFu | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 4.5/5 | 4.3/5 |
| Value | 3.9/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Features | 4.8/5 | 4.2/5 |
| Ease of use | 4.3/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Output quality | 4.8/5 | 4.1/5 |
| Category | SEO | SEO |
| Free plan | Yes: Ahrefs Webmaster Tools for your own sites | Limited free searches; 30-day money-back |
| Cheapest paid plan (monthly) | $29/mo | $39/mo |
| Same plan billed yearly | - | $29/mo |
| Top plan | Advanced: $449/mo | Team/Agency: $249/mo |
| Seats | Per user | 1 user (5 on Team) |
| Trial / refund | Starter plan instead of trial | 30-day money-back guarantee |
| Platforms | Web, API | Web |
| Best for | SEOs focused on backlinks and competitor research | Small businesses and PPC marketers researching competitors cheaply |
Ahrefs: pros & cons
- Best-in-class backlink data
- Clean, fast interface
- Useful free Webmaster Tools
- Expensive for small sites
- Usage-based limits on lower tiers
SpyFu: pros & cons
- Cheapest serious competitor-research tool
- Strong Google Ads history
- Unlimited searches on Pro
- Smaller backlink data than Ahrefs or Semrush
- US/UK-focused data
Questions from readers
Still deciding between these two? Ask a question and we will answer it here.