🕷️ Crawler Inspector

URL Lookup

Direct Parameter Lookup

Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 139 (from laksa060)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa139.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.seo.com/blog/ahrefs-vs-spyfu/\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.seo.com/blog/ahrefs-vs-spyfu/\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/www.seo.com\/blog\/ahrefs-vs-spyfu\/","crawl_time":1775694882,"first_indexed_time":1701444865,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"com,seo!www,\/blog\/ahrefs-vs-spyfu\/ s443","src_root_hash":"16622950340918296139","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"Ahrefs vs. SpyFu: Which Is Better for SEO in 2024?","meta_descriptions":["Both Ahrefs and SpyFu are excellent SEO tools, but which is better for your company? Find out in this Ahrefs vs. SpyFu comparison guide!"],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"Your needs and budget will determine whether Ahrefs or SpyFu is better. While Ahrefs is a comprehensive choice for an SEO tool, its cost can make SpyFu the preferred choice for users focused on competitor research.\nKeeping up with your\nsearch engine optimization (SEO)\nefforts is a big task — too big to do alone without the help of an\nSEO tool\nlike Ahrefs or SpyFu. Looking to learn more about these options? Check out our breakdown of SpyFu vs. Ahrefs below!\nWhether Ahrefs or SpyFu is better for SEO depends on your particular needs. If your priority is keyword research or backlink analysis, Ahrefs is the way to go. But if you care more about competitor research or just want a less expensive tool, SpyFu is better.\nCompare Ahrefs vs. SpyFu\nLearn more about Ahrefs vs. SpyFu in the table below:\nFeatures\nAhrefs\nSpyFu\nAverage rating\n4.5 \/ 5\n4.6 \/ 5\nBest for\nSEO beginners\nSEO professionals\nSmall and large businesses\nSEO beginners\nSEO freelancers\nSmall businesses\nPricing\nStarting at $99 \/ month\nStarting at $33 \/ month\nStrengths\nLearning curve\nKeyword research\nBacklink analysis\nCompetitor research\nPricing rates\nPPC data\nWeaknesses\nPricing structure\nCustomer support\nData accuracy\nPPC vs. SEO focus\nSite audits\nFull SEO audit\nHistorical SEO audits\nBasic SEO audit\nKeyword research\nCompetitor keyword data\nKeyword metrics, including traffic value\nCompetitor keyword data\nKeyword rank tracking\nTrack up to 10,000 keywords\nTrack rank history\nSEO content\nContent gaps\nTopic ideas\nCompetitor research\nKeywords\nBacklinks\nEstimated traffic\nKeywords\nBacklinks\nPPC-based data\nBacklink analysis\nBacklink gaps\nKeyword-based backlink recommendations\nCustomer support\nOnline chat\nResource library\nOnline forums\nOnline chat\nPhone\nResource library\nEase of use\nHigh\nHigh\nAI\nKeyword analysis\nFree AI tools\nSEO content\nInside Ahrefs\nLearn more about Ahrefs’ pros and cons below:\nAhrefs pros\nThere are several upsides to choosing Ahrefs as your SEO tool. Those upsides include:\nFree plan:\nOne of the best things about Ahrefs is that it offers some free tools for things like\nkeyword research\nand\nlink building\n, which is obviously very convenient.\nKeyword research:\nKeyword research is one of Ahrefs’s biggest strengths. It’s perfect for helping you find the ideal keywords to target in your SEO content.\nBacklink analysis:\nAhrefs is also extremely useful for analyzing your backlink profile and figuring out which websites link to you.\nAhrefs cons\nAs nice as the above Ahrefs advantages are, there are also several disadvantages that prompt users to seek\nAhrefs alternatives\n. Those disadvantages include:\nPricing:\nAhrefs may offer some free tools, but its paid plans are wildly expensive, to the point that many businesses can’t afford them at all. If that’s the case, you might want to consider something like\nUbersuggest vs. Ahrefs\n(depending on your needs).\nLots of downtime:\nCompared to other tools, Ahrefs has a lot of downtime — that is, time during which the platform is down. This can be understandably frustrating for businesses.\nCustomer support:\nAhrefs isn’t known for its customer support. Many users say their customer service team is unhelpful and slow to respond.\nInside SpyFu\nLearn more about SpyFu’s pros and cons below:\nSpyFu pros\nSpyFu comes with its own set of benefits, including the following:\nFree plan:\nLike Ahrefs, SpyFu does offer a free plan. And in this case, it’s an actual plan rather than some individual free tools like with Ahrefs.\nCompetitive analysis:\nSpyFu’s number one strength is its ability to gather intelligence about your competitors’ SEO. That makes it one of the biggest benefits of using the tool, making it one of the best\ncompetitor analysis tools\nout there.\nUser-friendliness:\nOverall, SpyFu is very easy to use, setting it apart from many of its competitor tools that can be tricky to navigate.\nSpyFu cons\nAlthough the benefits listed above are definitely good to have, there are also some downsides to using SpyFu. Those downsides include:\nInaccurate data:\nSpyFu users have been known to complain about data accuracy in the tool. Obviously, receiving inaccurate data from your SEO tool is a big problem.\nLack of search engine distinction:\nSome users have said that SpyFu fails to distinguish between traffic earned from Google vs. other search engines, making it hard to know where your traffic comes from.\nNon-user-friendly graphs:\nEven though user-friendliness is a strong point for SpyFu overall, its graphs are the exception, with many people finding them hard to navigate and use.\nCompare Ahrefs vs. SpyFu in-depth\nNow that we’ve seen some of the biggest pros and cons of each tool, which is better: Ahrefs or SpyFu? See how they stack up in relation to five key components of a good SEO tool below:\nEase of use\nReports vary on how easy it is to use Ahrefs. Some users find the interface a little overwhelming, but others say it’s perfect. Ultimately, it’s hard to draw a solid conclusion about it — it just depends on your individual perception.\nOn the other hand, SpyFu is generally recognized as being very user-friendly across the board (with the sole exception of its graphs). That means that SpyFu wins in this category by a small margin.\nWinner\n:\nSpyFu\nPricing\nThere’s no contest in this category: SpyFu wins in a heartbeat. First of all, though both tools offer free versions, only SpyFu’s is a free plan in the true sense of the word — Ahrefs’s is more of a collection of individual free tools.\nAnd then, when you look at their paid plans, it’s even more obvious that SpyFu comes out on top. Its cheapest plan is only $16 per month, while\nAhrefs’ pricing\nstarts at $99 per month and goes up as high as $999 per month. Not very affordable for companies on a small budget!\nWinner\n:\nSpyFu\nResearch\nA good SEO tool will help you research new opportunities to expand your campaigns, be it by finding keywords or investigating what your competitors are doing. Both Ahrefs and SpyFu excel here but in different areas.\nSpyFu’s strength is in competitor research, while Ahrefs is one of the\nbest rank tracking tools\n. So, which one wins out?\nThe deciding factor is the fact that SpyFu has been known to have issues with data accuracy. It’s close, but that cinches it for Ahrefs in this category.\nWinner\n:\nAhrefs\nGenerate Keyword Ideas\nin Seconds\nGenerate up to 50 tailored keyword ideas with essential data like search volume, keyword difficulty, and CPC – no login required!\nAnalysis\nIn addition to helping you research new SEO opportunities, both SpyFu and Ahrefs also help you analyze your existing data to see how your campaigns are already performing. In this category, Ahrefs comes out on top. Not only is it great for assessing your keyword rankings, but it can also give you deep insights into your backlink profile.\nWinner\n:\nAhrefs\nCustomer support\nFinally, any good software should have a solid customer support team as well. SpyFu does okay here — its customer support team doesn’t have rave reviews, but it hasn’t earned frequent complaints, either.\nOn the other hand, Ahrefs has caused a lot of frustration due to its slow and unhelpful customer service, as we mentioned earlier. For that reason, SpyFu takes this category.\nWinner\n:\nSpyFu\nChoose the right SEO tool for your needs\nWhen it comes to SEO tools, both Ahrefs and SpyFu offer distinct advantages, but your choice ultimately depends on your specific needs and budget. Understanding their strengths and weaknesses can help you make an informed decision for your SEO strategy.\nLooking for a reliable SEO solution? Learn how our expert team can help you navigate the complexities of SEO with tailored strategies that drive results.\nGet a proposal today\nto discover how we can support your online visibility!\nLet’s Drive Results\nTogether","attrs_markdown":"[![SEO](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/wp-content\/themes\/seofx\/assets\/img\/header\/seo-logo.png)](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/)\n\n[Search](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/blog\/ahrefs-vs-spyfu\/)\n\n- [SEO Services](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/services\/)\n  - - [![Briefcase](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Briefcase.svg)Services we provide](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/blog\/ahrefs-vs-spyfu\/)\n      - [Managed SEO Services](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/services\/)\n      - [AI SEO Services](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/ai\/services\/)\n      - [Digital Marketing Services](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/services\/digital-marketing\/)\n      - [Local SEO Services](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/services\/local-seo\/)\n      - [Enterprise SEO Services](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/services\/enterprise-seo\/)\n      - 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See how with OmniSEO®\\!\n        \n        [Discover OmniSEO®](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/ai\/omniseo\/)\n  \n  Close\n\n[POWERED BY ![](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/wp-content\/themes\/seofx\/assets\/img\/header\/webfx-logo.png)](https:\/\/www.webfx.com\/?utm_source=seo.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=powered-by-webfx&ajs_aid=undefined)   [Search](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/blog\/ahrefs-vs-spyfu\/) [Get SEO Proposal](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/contact\/)\n\n![loading](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/wp-content\/themes\/seofx\/assets\/img\/loading.gif) Loading results...\n\nAn error occurred when getting the results, [please click here to try again](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/blog\/ahrefs-vs-spyfu\/) or modify your search criteria.\n\nSorry, no results have been found, please try other search criteria.\n\n#####\n##### Showing **1 - 10** out of **832** for:\n- [Article](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/blog\/ahrefs-vs-spyfu\/)\n\n[Previous](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/blog\/ahrefs-vs-spyfu\/) [Next](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/blog\/ahrefs-vs-spyfu\/)\n\n- [SEO](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/)\n- [Blog](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/blog\/)\n- Uncategorized\n# Ahrefs vs. SpyFu: Which Is Better for SEO?\nWhile Ahrefs shines in keyword research and backlink analysis, its high pricing and poor customer support are drawbacks; SpyFu, on the other hand, is more user-friendly and affordable, excelling in competitive analysis, but struggles with data accuracy.\n\n- ![Headshot of a smiling man in blue shirt on a black background.](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/matthew_gibbons-150x150.png)\n  \n  [Matthew Gibbons](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/blog\/author\/mgibbons\/) ![](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/wp-content\/themes\/seofx\/assets\/img\/blog\/header\/verified-icon.png)   Senior Data & Tech Writer WebFX\n  \n  ![Author block right corner shape](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/wp-content\/themes\/seofx\/assets\/img\/blog\/header\/author-block-right-corner-shape.svg)\n- Last Updated   \n  February 4, 2025\n- 7 min. read\n\n**Ahrefs vs. SpyFu: Which is better?**\n\nYour needs and budget will determine whether Ahrefs or SpyFu is better. While Ahrefs is a comprehensive choice for an SEO tool, its cost can make SpyFu the preferred choice for users focused on competitor research.\n\nKeeping up with your [search engine optimization (SEO)](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/basics\/glossary\/seo\/) efforts is a big task — too big to do alone without the help of an [SEO tool](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/tools\/) like Ahrefs or SpyFu. Looking to learn more about these options? Check out our breakdown of SpyFu vs. Ahrefs below\\!\n\n## Is Ahrefs or SpyFu better?\nWhether Ahrefs or SpyFu is better for SEO depends on your particular needs. If your priority is keyword research or backlink analysis, Ahrefs is the way to go. But if you care more about competitor research or just want a less expensive tool, SpyFu is better.\n\n## Compare Ahrefs vs. SpyFu\nLearn more about Ahrefs vs. SpyFu in the table below:\n\n|   |   |   |\n|---|---|---|\n| Features | Ahrefs | SpyFu |\n| Average rating | 4\\.5 \/ 5 | 4\\.6 \/ 5 |\n| Best for | SEO beginners SEO professionals Small and large businesses | SEO beginners SEO freelancers Small businesses |\n| Pricing | Starting at \\$99 \/ month | Starting at \\$33 \/ month |\n| Strengths | Learning curve Keyword research Backlink analysis | Competitor research Pricing rates PPC data |\n| Weaknesses | Pricing structure Customer support | Data accuracy PPC vs. SEO focus |\n| Site audits | Full SEO audit Historical SEO audits | Basic SEO audit |\n| Keyword research | Competitor keyword data Keyword metrics, including traffic value | Competitor keyword data |\n| Keyword rank tracking | Track up to 10,000 keywords | Track rank history |\n| SEO content | Content gaps | Topic ideas |\n| Competitor research | Keywords Backlinks Estimated traffic | Keywords Backlinks PPC-based data |\n| Backlink analysis | Backlink gaps | Keyword-based backlink recommendations |\n| Customer support | Online chat Resource library Online forums | Online chat Phone Resource library |\n| Ease of use | High | High |\n| AI | Keyword analysis Free AI tools | SEO content |\n## Inside Ahrefs\nLearn more about Ahrefs’ pros and cons below:\n\n### Ahrefs pros\nThere are several upsides to choosing Ahrefs as your SEO tool. Those upsides include:\n\n- **Free plan:** One of the best things about Ahrefs is that it offers some free tools for things like [keyword research](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/tools\/keyword-research\/) and [link building](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/tools\/link-building\/), which is obviously very convenient.\n- **Keyword research:** Keyword research is one of Ahrefs’s biggest strengths. It’s perfect for helping you find the ideal keywords to target in your SEO content.\n- **Backlink analysis:** Ahrefs is also extremely useful for analyzing your backlink profile and figuring out which websites link to you.\n### Ahrefs cons\nAs nice as the above Ahrefs advantages are, there are also several disadvantages that prompt users to seek [Ahrefs alternatives](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/blog\/ahrefs-alternatives\/). Those disadvantages include:\n\n- **Pricing:** Ahrefs may offer some free tools, but its paid plans are wildly expensive, to the point that many businesses can’t afford them at all. If that’s the case, you might want to consider something like [Ubersuggest vs. Ahrefs](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/blog\/ubersuggest-vs-ahrefs\/) (depending on your needs).\n- **Lots of downtime:** Compared to other tools, Ahrefs has a lot of downtime — that is, time during which the platform is down. This can be understandably frustrating for businesses.\n- **Customer support:** Ahrefs isn’t known for its customer support. Many users say their customer service team is unhelpful and slow to respond.\n## Inside SpyFu\nLearn more about SpyFu’s pros and cons below:\n\n### SpyFu pros\nSpyFu comes with its own set of benefits, including the following:\n\n- **Free plan:** Like Ahrefs, SpyFu does offer a free plan. And in this case, it’s an actual plan rather than some individual free tools like with Ahrefs.\n- **Competitive analysis:** SpyFu’s number one strength is its ability to gather intelligence about your competitors’ SEO. That makes it one of the biggest benefits of using the tool, making it one of the best [competitor analysis tools](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/tools\/competitor-analysis\/) out there.\n- **User-friendliness:** Overall, SpyFu is very easy to use, setting it apart from many of its competitor tools that can be tricky to navigate.\n### SpyFu cons\nAlthough the benefits listed above are definitely good to have, there are also some downsides to using SpyFu. Those downsides include:\n\n- **Inaccurate data:** SpyFu users have been known to complain about data accuracy in the tool. Obviously, receiving inaccurate data from your SEO tool is a big problem.\n- **Lack of search engine distinction:** Some users have said that SpyFu fails to distinguish between traffic earned from Google vs. other search engines, making it hard to know where your traffic comes from.\n- **Non-user-friendly graphs:** Even though user-friendliness is a strong point for SpyFu overall, its graphs are the exception, with many people finding them hard to navigate and use.\n## Compare Ahrefs vs. SpyFu in-depth\nNow that we’ve seen some of the biggest pros and cons of each tool, which is better: Ahrefs or SpyFu? See how they stack up in relation to five key components of a good SEO tool below:\n\n### Ease of use\nReports vary on how easy it is to use Ahrefs. Some users find the interface a little overwhelming, but others say it’s perfect. Ultimately, it’s hard to draw a solid conclusion about it — it just depends on your individual perception.\n\nOn the other hand, SpyFu is generally recognized as being very user-friendly across the board (with the sole exception of its graphs). That means that SpyFu wins in this category by a small margin.\n\n**Winner:** SpyFu\n\n### Pricing\nThere’s no contest in this category: SpyFu wins in a heartbeat. First of all, though both tools offer free versions, only SpyFu’s is a free plan in the true sense of the word — Ahrefs’s is more of a collection of individual free tools.\n\nAnd then, when you look at their paid plans, it’s even more obvious that SpyFu comes out on top. Its cheapest plan is only \\$16 per month, while [Ahrefs’ pricing](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/blog\/ahrefs-pricing\/) starts at \\$99 per month and goes up as high as \\$999 per month. Not very affordable for companies on a small budget\\!\n\n**Winner:** SpyFu\n\n### Research\nA good SEO tool will help you research new opportunities to expand your campaigns, be it by finding keywords or investigating what your competitors are doing. Both Ahrefs and SpyFu excel here but in different areas.\n\nSpyFu’s strength is in competitor research, while Ahrefs is one of the [best rank tracking tools](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/tools\/rank-tracking\/). So, which one wins out?\n\nThe deciding factor is the fact that SpyFu has been known to have issues with data accuracy. It’s close, but that cinches it for Ahrefs in this category.\n\n**Winner:** Ahrefs\n\n### Generate Keyword Ideas in Seconds\nGenerate up to 50 tailored keyword ideas with essential data like search volume, keyword difficulty, and CPC – no login required\\!\n\n[Generate Keyword Ideas Now](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/tools\/keyword-generator\/)\n\n![](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/wp-content\/themes\/seofx\/assets\/img\/ctas\/saas-mini-tool-in-content-cta\/keyword-gen.png)\n### Analysis\nIn addition to helping you research new SEO opportunities, both SpyFu and Ahrefs also help you analyze your existing data to see how your campaigns are already performing. In this category, Ahrefs comes out on top. Not only is it great for assessing your keyword rankings, but it can also give you deep insights into your backlink profile.\n\n**Winner:** Ahrefs\n\n### Customer support\nFinally, any good software should have a solid customer support team as well. SpyFu does okay here — its customer support team doesn’t have rave reviews, but it hasn’t earned frequent complaints, either.\n\nOn the other hand, Ahrefs has caused a lot of frustration due to its slow and unhelpful customer service, as we mentioned earlier. For that reason, SpyFu takes this category.\n\n**Winner:** SpyFu\n\n## Choose the right SEO tool for your needs\nWhen it comes to SEO tools, both Ahrefs and SpyFu offer distinct advantages, but your choice ultimately depends on your specific needs and budget. Understanding their strengths and weaknesses can help you make an informed decision for your SEO strategy.\n\nLooking for a reliable SEO solution? Learn how our expert team can help you navigate the complexities of SEO with tailored strategies that drive results. [Get a proposal today](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/contact\/) to discover how we can support your online visibility\\!\n\n### Let’s Drive Results Together ![Purple Arrow](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/wp-content\/themes\/seofx\/assets\/img\/ctas\/shared\/purple_arrow.svg)\n[Get SEO Proposal](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/contact\/)\n\n![Headshot of a smiling man in blue shirt on a black background.](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/matthew_gibbons.png)\n\nMatthew Gibbons is a Senior Data & Tech Writer at WebFX, where he strives to help businesses understand niche and complex marketing topics related to SEO, martech, and more. With a B.A. in Professional and Public Writing from Auburn University, he’s written over 1,000 marketing guides and video scripts since joining the company in 2020. In addition to the WebFX blog, you can find his work on SEO.com, Nutshell, TeamAI, and the WebFX YouTube channel. When he’s not pumping out fresh blog posts and articles, he’s usually fueling his Tolkien obsession or working on his latest creative project.\n\n![Team WebFX](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/wp-content\/themes\/seofx\/assets\/img\/ctas\/sidebar-meet-webfx\/team-webfx.png)\n\n### Meet![WebFX](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/wp-content\/themes\/seofx\/assets\/img\/footer\/webfx-logo.png)\nThe top digital marketing company behind SEO.com. Ready to get results?  \n Connect with us, today\\!\n\n#### [Table of Contents]()\n- [Is Ahrefs or SpyFu Better?](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/blog\/ahrefs-vs-spyfu\/#5b42ffb3709738da87dc1fd1aa92046e-0)\n- [Compare Ahrefs vs. SpyFu](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/blog\/ahrefs-vs-spyfu\/#5b42ffb3709738da87dc1fd1aa92046e-1)\n- [Inside Ahrefs](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/blog\/ahrefs-vs-spyfu\/#5b42ffb3709738da87dc1fd1aa92046e-2)\n- [Inside SpyFu](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/blog\/ahrefs-vs-spyfu\/#5b42ffb3709738da87dc1fd1aa92046e-5)\n- [Compare Ahrefs vs. SpyFu In-depth](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/blog\/ahrefs-vs-spyfu\/#5b42ffb3709738da87dc1fd1aa92046e-8)\n- [Choose the Right SEO Tool for Your Needs](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/blog\/ahrefs-vs-spyfu\/#5b42ffb3709738da87dc1fd1aa92046e-14)\n\n#### [Related Resources]()\n- [Ahrefs vs. Moz Pro: Which SEO Tool Should You Use?](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/blog\/ahrefs-vs-moz\/)\n- [AI Overview Checker](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/tools\/ai-overview-checker\/)\n- [Backlink Checker](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/tools\/backlink-checker\/)\n\n![Team WebFX](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/wp-content\/themes\/seofx\/assets\/img\/ctas\/sidebar-meet-webfx\/team-webfx.png)\n\n### Meet![WebFX](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/wp-content\/themes\/seofx\/assets\/img\/footer\/webfx-logo.png)\nThe top digital marketing company behind SEO.com. Ready to get results?  \n Connect with us, today\\!\n\n#### What to read next\n7 Things to Consider When Hiring an AI SEO Agency (And How You Know You Need One)\n\n- Apr 08, 2026\n- 7 min. read\n\n[Keep Reading](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/blog\/hire-ai-seo-agency\/)\n\nShould You Outsource AI SEO? 5 Things to Consider If You Do\n\n- Apr 02, 2026\n- 5 min. read\n\n[Keep Reading](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/blog\/outsource-ai-seo\/)\n\nLocal Reach Just Got Better: Meet Apple Maps Ads\n\n- Mar 25, 2026\n- 3 min. read\n\n[Keep Reading](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/blog\/apple-maps-ads\/)\n\n- ######\n  ##### [Semrush vs. Moz: Which Is Better for SEO?](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/blog\/semrush-vs-moz\/)\n  \n  - ![](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/savannah-swanson-headshot-scaled.png)\n  Semrush and Moz Pro are robust SEO tools with unique strengths and weaknesses. Semrush excels in analytics and keyword research, while Moz Pro shines with its Explorer tools. Choosing between the two will depend on your needs and budget.\n  [Read Now](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/blog\/semrush-vs-moz\/)\n- ######\n  ##### [Semrush vs. Ahrefs (2026): Which Is The Better Tool?](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/tools\/semrush-vs-ahrefs\/)\n  Explore our comprehensive comparison of SEO tools Semrush and Ahrefs, with Semrush emerging as a top choice due to its expansive database, diverse features, and cost-effective pricing model.\n  [Read Now](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/tools\/semrush-vs-ahrefs\/)\n- ######\n  ##### [Ahrefs vs. Moz Pro: Which SEO Tool Should You Use?](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/blog\/ahrefs-vs-moz\/)\n  \n  - ![](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/savannah-swanson-headshot-scaled.png)\n  Ahrefs and Moz Pro are renowned SEO tools, with Ahrefs excelling in keyword research and backlink analysis, and Moz Pro offering robust website analytics, though both have been criticized for their complexity and pricing.\n  [Read Now](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/blog\/ahrefs-vs-moz\/)\n- ######\n  ##### [5 Best SEO Rank Tracking Tools to Outrank Your Competitors](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/tools\/rank-tracking\/)\n  \n  - ![Headshot of smiling woman with black-framed glasses and brunette hair.](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/maria_carpena.png)\n  Top SEO rank tracking tools like SEMrush, Ahrefs, Mangools, SE Ranking, and SEO Powersuite are crucial for monitoring your pages’ position in SERPs, analyzing keyword performance, and more! Learn more about these tools below\\!\n  [Read Now](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/tools\/rank-tracking\/)\n\n[![SEO.com Logo](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/wp-content\/themes\/seofx\/assets\/img\/footer\/seo-logo.png)](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/)\n\n### The Authority for All Things SEO\n\nMenu\n\n- Learn SEO\n  - - [AI and SEO](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/ai\/)\n    - [SEO Blog](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/blog\/ \"Browse our latest posts\")\n    - [Basics](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/basics\/ \"Learn the basics of SEO\")\n    - [Glossary](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/basics\/glossary\/ \"Learn common SEO terms\")\n    - [SEO Resources](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/resources\/ \"Get free SEO resources\")\n  \n  Close\n- SEO Solutions\n  - - [SEO Services](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/services\/ \"View plans and pricing\")\n    - [AI SEO Services](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/ai\/services\/)\n    - [PPC Services](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/services\/ppc-management\/ \"View plans and pricing\")\n    - [Web Design Services](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/services\/web-design\/ \"View plans and pricing\")\n    - [SEO & Digital Marketing Services](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/services\/digital-marketing\/ \"View plans and pricing\")\n  \n  Close\n- SEO Tools\n  - - [SEO Checker](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/seo-checker\/ \"Audit your SEO in 60 seconds\")\n    - [AI Overview Checker](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/tools\/ai-overview-checker\/)\n    - [Domain Overview](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/tools\/domain-overview\/)\n    - [Website Traffic Checker](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/tools\/traffic-checker\/)\n    - [AI Title Generator](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/tools\/ai-title-generator\/ \"Learn how to use PageSpeed Insights\")\n  \n  Close\n- Company\n  - - [SEO Companies](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/companies\/)\n    - [SEO Case Studies](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/about\/case-studies\/)\n    - [About Us](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/about\/ \"Get to know SEO.com\")\n    - [Contact Us](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/contact\/ \"Contact our team\")\n    - [Industries](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/industries\/ \"Browse markets we serve\")\n  \n  Close\n\n###### FROM THE TEAM WHO BROUGHT YOU\n- [![WebFX Logo](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/wp-content\/themes\/seofx\/assets\/img\/footer\/webfx-logo.png)](https:\/\/www.webfx.com\/?ajs_aid=undefined)\n- [![Nutshell Logo](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/wp-content\/themes\/seofx\/assets\/img\/footer\/nutshell-logo.png)](https:\/\/www.nutshell.com\/)\n- [![TeamAI Logo](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/wp-content\/themes\/seofx\/assets\/img\/footer\/teamai-logo-v2.png)](https:\/\/teamai.com\/)\n- [![OmniSEO Logo](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/wp-content\/themes\/seofx\/assets\/img\/footer\/omniseo-logo-white.png)](https:\/\/omniseo.com\/)\n\n© 2026 SEO.com \\| Powered by WebFX\n\n- [Privacy & Terms of Use](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/privacy-policy\/)\n- [![](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/wp-content\/themes\/seofx\/assets\/icons\/privacy_choices.svg) Your Privacy Choices](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/my-data-preferences\/)\n- [Sitemap](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/sitemap\/)\n- [© 2026 SEO.com]()\n\nMenu\n\nEnglish\n\n- [Español](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/es\/blog\/ahrefs-vs-spyfu\/ \"Language switcher : Spanish\")\n- [Français](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/fr\/blog\/ahrefs-vs-spyfu\/ \"Language switcher : French\")\n- [Deutsch](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/de\/blog\/ahrefs-vs-spyfu\/ \"Language switcher : German\")\n- [हिंदी](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/hi\/blog\/ahrefs-vs-spyfu\/ \"Language switcher : Hindi\")\n- [Português](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/pt\/blog\/ahrefs-vs-spyfu\/ \"Language switcher : Portuguese\")\n- [Português Brasileiro](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/pt-br\/blog\/ahrefs-vs-spyfu\/ \"Language switcher : Brazilian Portuguese\")","attrs_readable_markdown":"Your needs and budget will determine whether Ahrefs or SpyFu is better. While Ahrefs is a comprehensive choice for an SEO tool, its cost can make SpyFu the preferred choice for users focused on competitor research.\n\nKeeping up with your [search engine optimization (SEO)](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/basics\/glossary\/seo\/) efforts is a big task — too big to do alone without the help of an [SEO tool](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/tools\/) like Ahrefs or SpyFu. Looking to learn more about these options? Check out our breakdown of SpyFu vs. Ahrefs below\\!\n\nWhether Ahrefs or SpyFu is better for SEO depends on your particular needs. If your priority is keyword research or backlink analysis, Ahrefs is the way to go. But if you care more about competitor research or just want a less expensive tool, SpyFu is better.\n\n## Compare Ahrefs vs. SpyFu\nLearn more about Ahrefs vs. SpyFu in the table below:\n\n|   |   |   |\n|---|---|---|\n| Features | Ahrefs | SpyFu |\n| Average rating | 4\\.5 \/ 5 | 4\\.6 \/ 5 |\n| Best for | SEO beginners SEO professionals Small and large businesses | SEO beginners SEO freelancers Small businesses |\n| Pricing | Starting at \\$99 \/ month | Starting at \\$33 \/ month |\n| Strengths | Learning curve Keyword research Backlink analysis | Competitor research Pricing rates PPC data |\n| Weaknesses | Pricing structure Customer support | Data accuracy PPC vs. SEO focus |\n| Site audits | Full SEO audit Historical SEO audits | Basic SEO audit |\n| Keyword research | Competitor keyword data Keyword metrics, including traffic value | Competitor keyword data |\n| Keyword rank tracking | Track up to 10,000 keywords | Track rank history |\n| SEO content | Content gaps | Topic ideas |\n| Competitor research | Keywords Backlinks Estimated traffic | Keywords Backlinks PPC-based data |\n| Backlink analysis | Backlink gaps | Keyword-based backlink recommendations |\n| Customer support | Online chat Resource library Online forums | Online chat Phone Resource library |\n| Ease of use | High | High |\n| AI | Keyword analysis Free AI tools | SEO content |\n## Inside Ahrefs\nLearn more about Ahrefs’ pros and cons below:\n\n### Ahrefs pros\nThere are several upsides to choosing Ahrefs as your SEO tool. Those upsides include:\n\n- **Free plan:** One of the best things about Ahrefs is that it offers some free tools for things like [keyword research](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/tools\/keyword-research\/) and [link building](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/tools\/link-building\/), which is obviously very convenient.\n- **Keyword research:** Keyword research is one of Ahrefs’s biggest strengths. It’s perfect for helping you find the ideal keywords to target in your SEO content.\n- **Backlink analysis:** Ahrefs is also extremely useful for analyzing your backlink profile and figuring out which websites link to you.\n### Ahrefs cons\nAs nice as the above Ahrefs advantages are, there are also several disadvantages that prompt users to seek [Ahrefs alternatives](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/blog\/ahrefs-alternatives\/). Those disadvantages include:\n\n- **Pricing:** Ahrefs may offer some free tools, but its paid plans are wildly expensive, to the point that many businesses can’t afford them at all. If that’s the case, you might want to consider something like [Ubersuggest vs. Ahrefs](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/blog\/ubersuggest-vs-ahrefs\/) (depending on your needs).\n- **Lots of downtime:** Compared to other tools, Ahrefs has a lot of downtime — that is, time during which the platform is down. This can be understandably frustrating for businesses.\n- **Customer support:** Ahrefs isn’t known for its customer support. Many users say their customer service team is unhelpful and slow to respond.\n## Inside SpyFu\nLearn more about SpyFu’s pros and cons below:\n\n### SpyFu pros\nSpyFu comes with its own set of benefits, including the following:\n\n- **Free plan:** Like Ahrefs, SpyFu does offer a free plan. And in this case, it’s an actual plan rather than some individual free tools like with Ahrefs.\n- **Competitive analysis:** SpyFu’s number one strength is its ability to gather intelligence about your competitors’ SEO. That makes it one of the biggest benefits of using the tool, making it one of the best [competitor analysis tools](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/tools\/competitor-analysis\/) out there.\n- **User-friendliness:** Overall, SpyFu is very easy to use, setting it apart from many of its competitor tools that can be tricky to navigate.\n### SpyFu cons\nAlthough the benefits listed above are definitely good to have, there are also some downsides to using SpyFu. Those downsides include:\n\n- **Inaccurate data:** SpyFu users have been known to complain about data accuracy in the tool. Obviously, receiving inaccurate data from your SEO tool is a big problem.\n- **Lack of search engine distinction:** Some users have said that SpyFu fails to distinguish between traffic earned from Google vs. other search engines, making it hard to know where your traffic comes from.\n- **Non-user-friendly graphs:** Even though user-friendliness is a strong point for SpyFu overall, its graphs are the exception, with many people finding them hard to navigate and use.\n## Compare Ahrefs vs. SpyFu in-depth\nNow that we’ve seen some of the biggest pros and cons of each tool, which is better: Ahrefs or SpyFu? See how they stack up in relation to five key components of a good SEO tool below:\n\n### Ease of use\nReports vary on how easy it is to use Ahrefs. Some users find the interface a little overwhelming, but others say it’s perfect. Ultimately, it’s hard to draw a solid conclusion about it — it just depends on your individual perception.\n\nOn the other hand, SpyFu is generally recognized as being very user-friendly across the board (with the sole exception of its graphs). That means that SpyFu wins in this category by a small margin.\n\n**Winner:** SpyFu\n\n### Pricing\nThere’s no contest in this category: SpyFu wins in a heartbeat. First of all, though both tools offer free versions, only SpyFu’s is a free plan in the true sense of the word — Ahrefs’s is more of a collection of individual free tools.\n\nAnd then, when you look at their paid plans, it’s even more obvious that SpyFu comes out on top. Its cheapest plan is only \\$16 per month, while [Ahrefs’ pricing](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/blog\/ahrefs-pricing\/) starts at \\$99 per month and goes up as high as \\$999 per month. Not very affordable for companies on a small budget\\!\n\n**Winner:** SpyFu\n\n### Research\nA good SEO tool will help you research new opportunities to expand your campaigns, be it by finding keywords or investigating what your competitors are doing. Both Ahrefs and SpyFu excel here but in different areas.\n\nSpyFu’s strength is in competitor research, while Ahrefs is one of the [best rank tracking tools](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/tools\/rank-tracking\/). So, which one wins out?\n\nThe deciding factor is the fact that SpyFu has been known to have issues with data accuracy. It’s close, but that cinches it for Ahrefs in this category.\n\n**Winner:** Ahrefs\n\n### Generate Keyword Ideas in Seconds\nGenerate up to 50 tailored keyword ideas with essential data like search volume, keyword difficulty, and CPC – no login required\\!\n\n![](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/wp-content\/themes\/seofx\/assets\/img\/ctas\/saas-mini-tool-in-content-cta\/keyword-gen.png)\n### Analysis\nIn addition to helping you research new SEO opportunities, both SpyFu and Ahrefs also help you analyze your existing data to see how your campaigns are already performing. In this category, Ahrefs comes out on top. Not only is it great for assessing your keyword rankings, but it can also give you deep insights into your backlink profile.\n\n**Winner:** Ahrefs\n\n### Customer support\nFinally, any good software should have a solid customer support team as well. SpyFu does okay here — its customer support team doesn’t have rave reviews, but it hasn’t earned frequent complaints, either.\n\nOn the other hand, Ahrefs has caused a lot of frustration due to its slow and unhelpful customer service, as we mentioned earlier. For that reason, SpyFu takes this category.\n\n**Winner:** SpyFu\n\n## Choose the right SEO tool for your needs\nWhen it comes to SEO tools, both Ahrefs and SpyFu offer distinct advantages, but your choice ultimately depends on your specific needs and budget. Understanding their strengths and weaknesses can help you make an informed decision for your SEO strategy.\n\nLooking for a reliable SEO solution? Learn how our expert team can help you navigate the complexities of SEO with tailored strategies that drive results. [Get a proposal today](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/contact\/) to discover how we can support your online visibility\\!\n\n### Let’s Drive Results Together ![Purple Arrow](https:\/\/www.seo.com\/wp-content\/themes\/seofx\/assets\/img\/ctas\/shared\/purple_arrow.svg)","meta_canonical":null}

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URL	https://www.seo.com/blog/ahrefs-vs-spyfu/
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Meta Title	Ahrefs vs. SpyFu: Which Is Better for SEO in 2024?
Meta Description	Both Ahrefs and SpyFu are excellent SEO tools, but which is better for your company? Find out in this Ahrefs vs. SpyFu comparison guide!
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Boilerpipe Text	Your needs and budget will determine whether Ahrefs or SpyFu is better. While Ahrefs is a comprehensive choice for an SEO tool, its cost can make SpyFu the preferred choice for users focused on competitor research. Keeping up with your search engine optimization (SEO) efforts is a big task — too big to do alone without the help of an SEO tool like Ahrefs or SpyFu. Looking to learn more about these options? Check out our breakdown of SpyFu vs. Ahrefs below! Whether Ahrefs or SpyFu is better for SEO depends on your particular needs. If your priority is keyword research or backlink analysis, Ahrefs is the way to go. But if you care more about competitor research or just want a less expensive tool, SpyFu is better. Compare Ahrefs vs. SpyFu Learn more about Ahrefs vs. SpyFu in the table below: Features Ahrefs SpyFu Average rating 4.5 / 5 4.6 / 5 Best for SEO beginners SEO professionals Small and large businesses SEO beginners SEO freelancers Small businesses Pricing Starting at $99 / month Starting at $33 / month Strengths Learning curve Keyword research Backlink analysis Competitor research Pricing rates PPC data Weaknesses Pricing structure Customer support Data accuracy PPC vs. SEO focus Site audits Full SEO audit Historical SEO audits Basic SEO audit Keyword research Competitor keyword data Keyword metrics, including traffic value Competitor keyword data Keyword rank tracking Track up to 10,000 keywords Track rank history SEO content Content gaps Topic ideas Competitor research Keywords Backlinks Estimated traffic Keywords Backlinks PPC-based data Backlink analysis Backlink gaps Keyword-based backlink recommendations Customer support Online chat Resource library Online forums Online chat Phone Resource library Ease of use High High AI Keyword analysis Free AI tools SEO content Inside Ahrefs Learn more about Ahrefs’ pros and cons below: Ahrefs pros There are several upsides to choosing Ahrefs as your SEO tool. Those upsides include: Free plan: One of the best things about Ahrefs is that it offers some free tools for things like keyword research and link building , which is obviously very convenient. Keyword research: Keyword research is one of Ahrefs’s biggest strengths. It’s perfect for helping you find the ideal keywords to target in your SEO content. Backlink analysis: Ahrefs is also extremely useful for analyzing your backlink profile and figuring out which websites link to you. Ahrefs cons As nice as the above Ahrefs advantages are, there are also several disadvantages that prompt users to seek Ahrefs alternatives . Those disadvantages include: Pricing: Ahrefs may offer some free tools, but its paid plans are wildly expensive, to the point that many businesses can’t afford them at all. If that’s the case, you might want to consider something like Ubersuggest vs. Ahrefs (depending on your needs). Lots of downtime: Compared to other tools, Ahrefs has a lot of downtime — that is, time during which the platform is down. This can be understandably frustrating for businesses. Customer support: Ahrefs isn’t known for its customer support. Many users say their customer service team is unhelpful and slow to respond. Inside SpyFu Learn more about SpyFu’s pros and cons below: SpyFu pros SpyFu comes with its own set of benefits, including the following: Free plan: Like Ahrefs, SpyFu does offer a free plan. And in this case, it’s an actual plan rather than some individual free tools like with Ahrefs. Competitive analysis: SpyFu’s number one strength is its ability to gather intelligence about your competitors’ SEO. That makes it one of the biggest benefits of using the tool, making it one of the best competitor analysis tools out there. User-friendliness: Overall, SpyFu is very easy to use, setting it apart from many of its competitor tools that can be tricky to navigate. SpyFu cons Although the benefits listed above are definitely good to have, there are also some downsides to using SpyFu. Those downsides include: Inaccurate data: SpyFu users have been known to complain about data accuracy in the tool. Obviously, receiving inaccurate data from your SEO tool is a big problem. Lack of search engine distinction: Some users have said that SpyFu fails to distinguish between traffic earned from Google vs. other search engines, making it hard to know where your traffic comes from. Non-user-friendly graphs: Even though user-friendliness is a strong point for SpyFu overall, its graphs are the exception, with many people finding them hard to navigate and use. Compare Ahrefs vs. SpyFu in-depth Now that we’ve seen some of the biggest pros and cons of each tool, which is better: Ahrefs or SpyFu? See how they stack up in relation to five key components of a good SEO tool below: Ease of use Reports vary on how easy it is to use Ahrefs. Some users find the interface a little overwhelming, but others say it’s perfect. Ultimately, it’s hard to draw a solid conclusion about it — it just depends on your individual perception. On the other hand, SpyFu is generally recognized as being very user-friendly across the board (with the sole exception of its graphs). That means that SpyFu wins in this category by a small margin. Winner : SpyFu Pricing There’s no contest in this category: SpyFu wins in a heartbeat. First of all, though both tools offer free versions, only SpyFu’s is a free plan in the true sense of the word — Ahrefs’s is more of a collection of individual free tools. And then, when you look at their paid plans, it’s even more obvious that SpyFu comes out on top. Its cheapest plan is only $16 per month, while Ahrefs’ pricing starts at $99 per month and goes up as high as $999 per month. Not very affordable for companies on a small budget! Winner : SpyFu Research A good SEO tool will help you research new opportunities to expand your campaigns, be it by finding keywords or investigating what your competitors are doing. Both Ahrefs and SpyFu excel here but in different areas. SpyFu’s strength is in competitor research, while Ahrefs is one of the best rank tracking tools . So, which one wins out? The deciding factor is the fact that SpyFu has been known to have issues with data accuracy. It’s close, but that cinches it for Ahrefs in this category. Winner : Ahrefs Generate Keyword Ideas in Seconds Generate up to 50 tailored keyword ideas with essential data like search volume, keyword difficulty, and CPC – no login required! Analysis In addition to helping you research new SEO opportunities, both SpyFu and Ahrefs also help you analyze your existing data to see how your campaigns are already performing. In this category, Ahrefs comes out on top. Not only is it great for assessing your keyword rankings, but it can also give you deep insights into your backlink profile. Winner : Ahrefs Customer support Finally, any good software should have a solid customer support team as well. SpyFu does okay here — its customer support team doesn’t have rave reviews, but it hasn’t earned frequent complaints, either. On the other hand, Ahrefs has caused a lot of frustration due to its slow and unhelpful customer service, as we mentioned earlier. For that reason, SpyFu takes this category. Winner : SpyFu Choose the right SEO tool for your needs When it comes to SEO tools, both Ahrefs and SpyFu offer distinct advantages, but your choice ultimately depends on your specific needs and budget. Understanding their strengths and weaknesses can help you make an informed decision for your SEO strategy. Looking for a reliable SEO solution? Learn how our expert team can help you navigate the complexities of SEO with tailored strategies that drive results. Get a proposal today to discover how we can support your online visibility! Let’s Drive Results Together
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Sorry, no results have been found, please try other search criteria. ##### ##### Showing 1 - 10 out of 832 for: - [Article](https://www.seo.com/blog/ahrefs-vs-spyfu/) [Previous](https://www.seo.com/blog/ahrefs-vs-spyfu/) [Next](https://www.seo.com/blog/ahrefs-vs-spyfu/) - [SEO](https://www.seo.com/) - [Blog](https://www.seo.com/blog/) - Uncategorized # Ahrefs vs. SpyFu: Which Is Better for SEO? While Ahrefs shines in keyword research and backlink analysis, its high pricing and poor customer support are drawbacks; SpyFu, on the other hand, is more user-friendly and affordable, excelling in competitive analysis, but struggles with data accuracy. - ![Headshot of a smiling man in blue shirt on a black background.](https://www.seo.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/matthew_gibbons-150x150.png) [Matthew Gibbons](https://www.seo.com/blog/author/mgibbons/) ![](https://www.seo.com/wp-content/themes/seofx/assets/img/blog/header/verified-icon.png) Senior Data & Tech Writer WebFX ![Author block right corner shape](https://www.seo.com/wp-content/themes/seofx/assets/img/blog/header/author-block-right-corner-shape.svg) - Last Updated February 4, 2025 - 7 min. read Ahrefs vs. SpyFu: Which is better? Your needs and budget will determine whether Ahrefs or SpyFu is better. While Ahrefs is a comprehensive choice for an SEO tool, its cost can make SpyFu the preferred choice for users focused on competitor research. Keeping up with your [search engine optimization (SEO)](https://www.seo.com/basics/glossary/seo/) efforts is a big task — too big to do alone without the help of an [SEO tool](https://www.seo.com/tools/) like Ahrefs or SpyFu. Looking to learn more about these options? Check out our breakdown of SpyFu vs. Ahrefs below\! ## Is Ahrefs or SpyFu better? Whether Ahrefs or SpyFu is better for SEO depends on your particular needs. If your priority is keyword research or backlink analysis, Ahrefs is the way to go. But if you care more about competitor research or just want a less expensive tool, SpyFu is better. ## Compare Ahrefs vs. SpyFu Learn more about Ahrefs vs. SpyFu in the table below: \| \| \| \| \|---\|---\|---\| \| Features \| Ahrefs \| SpyFu \| \| Average rating \| 4\.5 / 5 \| 4\.6 / 5 \| \| Best for \| SEO beginners SEO professionals Small and large businesses \| SEO beginners SEO freelancers Small businesses \| \| Pricing \| Starting at \$99 / month \| Starting at \$33 / month \| \| Strengths \| Learning curve Keyword research Backlink analysis \| Competitor research Pricing rates PPC data \| \| Weaknesses \| Pricing structure Customer support \| Data accuracy PPC vs. SEO focus \| \| Site audits \| Full SEO audit Historical SEO audits \| Basic SEO audit \| \| Keyword research \| Competitor keyword data Keyword metrics, including traffic value \| Competitor keyword data \| \| Keyword rank tracking \| Track up to 10,000 keywords \| Track rank history \| \| SEO content \| Content gaps \| Topic ideas \| \| Competitor research \| Keywords Backlinks Estimated traffic \| Keywords Backlinks PPC-based data \| \| Backlink analysis \| Backlink gaps \| Keyword-based backlink recommendations \| \| Customer support \| Online chat Resource library Online forums \| Online chat Phone Resource library \| \| Ease of use \| High \| High \| \| AI \| Keyword analysis Free AI tools \| SEO content \| ## Inside Ahrefs Learn more about Ahrefs’ pros and cons below: ### Ahrefs pros There are several upsides to choosing Ahrefs as your SEO tool. Those upsides include: - Free plan: One of the best things about Ahrefs is that it offers some free tools for things like [keyword research](https://www.seo.com/tools/keyword-research/) and [link building](https://www.seo.com/tools/link-building/), which is obviously very convenient. - Keyword research: Keyword research is one of Ahrefs’s biggest strengths. It’s perfect for helping you find the ideal keywords to target in your SEO content. - Backlink analysis: Ahrefs is also extremely useful for analyzing your backlink profile and figuring out which websites link to you. ### Ahrefs cons As nice as the above Ahrefs advantages are, there are also several disadvantages that prompt users to seek [Ahrefs alternatives](https://www.seo.com/blog/ahrefs-alternatives/). Those disadvantages include: - Pricing: Ahrefs may offer some free tools, but its paid plans are wildly expensive, to the point that many businesses can’t afford them at all. If that’s the case, you might want to consider something like [Ubersuggest vs. Ahrefs](https://www.seo.com/blog/ubersuggest-vs-ahrefs/) (depending on your needs). - Lots of downtime: Compared to other tools, Ahrefs has a lot of downtime — that is, time during which the platform is down. This can be understandably frustrating for businesses. - Customer support: Ahrefs isn’t known for its customer support. Many users say their customer service team is unhelpful and slow to respond. ## Inside SpyFu Learn more about SpyFu’s pros and cons below: ### SpyFu pros SpyFu comes with its own set of benefits, including the following: - Free plan: Like Ahrefs, SpyFu does offer a free plan. And in this case, it’s an actual plan rather than some individual free tools like with Ahrefs. - Competitive analysis: SpyFu’s number one strength is its ability to gather intelligence about your competitors’ SEO. That makes it one of the biggest benefits of using the tool, making it one of the best [competitor analysis tools](https://www.seo.com/tools/competitor-analysis/) out there. - User-friendliness: Overall, SpyFu is very easy to use, setting it apart from many of its competitor tools that can be tricky to navigate. ### SpyFu cons Although the benefits listed above are definitely good to have, there are also some downsides to using SpyFu. Those downsides include: - Inaccurate data: SpyFu users have been known to complain about data accuracy in the tool. Obviously, receiving inaccurate data from your SEO tool is a big problem. - Lack of search engine distinction: Some users have said that SpyFu fails to distinguish between traffic earned from Google vs. other search engines, making it hard to know where your traffic comes from. - Non-user-friendly graphs: Even though user-friendliness is a strong point for SpyFu overall, its graphs are the exception, with many people finding them hard to navigate and use. ## Compare Ahrefs vs. SpyFu in-depth Now that we’ve seen some of the biggest pros and cons of each tool, which is better: Ahrefs or SpyFu? See how they stack up in relation to five key components of a good SEO tool below: ### Ease of use Reports vary on how easy it is to use Ahrefs. Some users find the interface a little overwhelming, but others say it’s perfect. Ultimately, it’s hard to draw a solid conclusion about it — it just depends on your individual perception. On the other hand, SpyFu is generally recognized as being very user-friendly across the board (with the sole exception of its graphs). That means that SpyFu wins in this category by a small margin. Winner: SpyFu ### Pricing There’s no contest in this category: SpyFu wins in a heartbeat. First of all, though both tools offer free versions, only SpyFu’s is a free plan in the true sense of the word — Ahrefs’s is more of a collection of individual free tools. And then, when you look at their paid plans, it’s even more obvious that SpyFu comes out on top. Its cheapest plan is only \$16 per month, while [Ahrefs’ pricing](https://www.seo.com/blog/ahrefs-pricing/) starts at \$99 per month and goes up as high as \$999 per month. Not very affordable for companies on a small budget\! Winner: SpyFu ### Research A good SEO tool will help you research new opportunities to expand your campaigns, be it by finding keywords or investigating what your competitors are doing. Both Ahrefs and SpyFu excel here but in different areas. SpyFu’s strength is in competitor research, while Ahrefs is one of the [best rank tracking tools](https://www.seo.com/tools/rank-tracking/). So, which one wins out? The deciding factor is the fact that SpyFu has been known to have issues with data accuracy. It’s close, but that cinches it for Ahrefs in this category. Winner: Ahrefs ### Generate Keyword Ideas in Seconds Generate up to 50 tailored keyword ideas with essential data like search volume, keyword difficulty, and CPC – no login required\! [Generate Keyword Ideas Now](https://www.seo.com/tools/keyword-generator/) ![](https://www.seo.com/wp-content/themes/seofx/assets/img/ctas/saas-mini-tool-in-content-cta/keyword-gen.png) ### Analysis In addition to helping you research new SEO opportunities, both SpyFu and Ahrefs also help you analyze your existing data to see how your campaigns are already performing. In this category, Ahrefs comes out on top. Not only is it great for assessing your keyword rankings, but it can also give you deep insights into your backlink profile. Winner: Ahrefs ### Customer support Finally, any good software should have a solid customer support team as well. SpyFu does okay here — its customer support team doesn’t have rave reviews, but it hasn’t earned frequent complaints, either. On the other hand, Ahrefs has caused a lot of frustration due to its slow and unhelpful customer service, as we mentioned earlier. For that reason, SpyFu takes this category. Winner: SpyFu ## Choose the right SEO tool for your needs When it comes to SEO tools, both Ahrefs and SpyFu offer distinct advantages, but your choice ultimately depends on your specific needs and budget. Understanding their strengths and weaknesses can help you make an informed decision for your SEO strategy. Looking for a reliable SEO solution? Learn how our expert team can help you navigate the complexities of SEO with tailored strategies that drive results. [Get a proposal today](https://www.seo.com/contact/) to discover how we can support your online visibility\! ### Let’s Drive Results Together ![Purple Arrow](https://www.seo.com/wp-content/themes/seofx/assets/img/ctas/shared/purple_arrow.svg) [Get SEO Proposal](https://www.seo.com/contact/) ![Headshot of a smiling man in blue shirt on a black background.](https://www.seo.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/matthew_gibbons.png) Matthew Gibbons is a Senior Data & Tech Writer at WebFX, where he strives to help businesses understand niche and complex marketing topics related to SEO, martech, and more. With a B.A. in Professional and Public Writing from Auburn University, he’s written over 1,000 marketing guides and video scripts since joining the company in 2020. In addition to the WebFX blog, you can find his work on SEO.com, Nutshell, TeamAI, and the WebFX YouTube channel. When he’s not pumping out fresh blog posts and articles, he’s usually fueling his Tolkien obsession or working on his latest creative project. ![Team WebFX](https://www.seo.com/wp-content/themes/seofx/assets/img/ctas/sidebar-meet-webfx/team-webfx.png) ### Meet![WebFX](https://www.seo.com/wp-content/themes/seofx/assets/img/footer/webfx-logo.png) The top digital marketing company behind SEO.com. Ready to get results? Connect with us, today\! #### [Table of Contents]() - [Is Ahrefs or SpyFu Better?](https://www.seo.com/blog/ahrefs-vs-spyfu/#5b42ffb3709738da87dc1fd1aa92046e-0) - [Compare Ahrefs vs. SpyFu](https://www.seo.com/blog/ahrefs-vs-spyfu/#5b42ffb3709738da87dc1fd1aa92046e-1) - [Inside Ahrefs](https://www.seo.com/blog/ahrefs-vs-spyfu/#5b42ffb3709738da87dc1fd1aa92046e-2) - [Inside SpyFu](https://www.seo.com/blog/ahrefs-vs-spyfu/#5b42ffb3709738da87dc1fd1aa92046e-5) - [Compare Ahrefs vs. SpyFu In-depth](https://www.seo.com/blog/ahrefs-vs-spyfu/#5b42ffb3709738da87dc1fd1aa92046e-8) - [Choose the Right SEO Tool for Your Needs](https://www.seo.com/blog/ahrefs-vs-spyfu/#5b42ffb3709738da87dc1fd1aa92046e-14) #### [Related Resources]() - [Ahrefs vs. Moz Pro: Which SEO Tool Should You Use?](https://www.seo.com/blog/ahrefs-vs-moz/) - [AI Overview Checker](https://www.seo.com/tools/ai-overview-checker/) - [Backlink Checker](https://www.seo.com/tools/backlink-checker/) ![Team WebFX](https://www.seo.com/wp-content/themes/seofx/assets/img/ctas/sidebar-meet-webfx/team-webfx.png) ### Meet![WebFX](https://www.seo.com/wp-content/themes/seofx/assets/img/footer/webfx-logo.png) The top digital marketing company behind SEO.com. Ready to get results? Connect with us, today\! #### What to read next 7 Things to Consider When Hiring an AI SEO Agency (And How You Know You Need One) - Apr 08, 2026 - 7 min. read [Keep Reading](https://www.seo.com/blog/hire-ai-seo-agency/) Should You Outsource AI SEO? 5 Things to Consider If You Do - Apr 02, 2026 - 5 min. read [Keep Reading](https://www.seo.com/blog/outsource-ai-seo/) Local Reach Just Got Better: Meet Apple Maps Ads - Mar 25, 2026 - 3 min. read [Keep Reading](https://www.seo.com/blog/apple-maps-ads/) - ###### ##### [Semrush vs. Moz: Which Is Better for SEO?](https://www.seo.com/blog/semrush-vs-moz/) - ![](https://www.seo.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/savannah-swanson-headshot-scaled.png) Semrush and Moz Pro are robust SEO tools with unique strengths and weaknesses. Semrush excels in analytics and keyword research, while Moz Pro shines with its Explorer tools. Choosing between the two will depend on your needs and budget. [Read Now](https://www.seo.com/blog/semrush-vs-moz/) - ###### ##### [Semrush vs. Ahrefs (2026): Which Is The Better Tool?](https://www.seo.com/tools/semrush-vs-ahrefs/) Explore our comprehensive comparison of SEO tools Semrush and Ahrefs, with Semrush emerging as a top choice due to its expansive database, diverse features, and cost-effective pricing model. [Read Now](https://www.seo.com/tools/semrush-vs-ahrefs/) - ###### ##### [Ahrefs vs. Moz Pro: Which SEO Tool Should You Use?](https://www.seo.com/blog/ahrefs-vs-moz/) - ![](https://www.seo.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/savannah-swanson-headshot-scaled.png) Ahrefs and Moz Pro are renowned SEO tools, with Ahrefs excelling in keyword research and backlink analysis, and Moz Pro offering robust website analytics, though both have been criticized for their complexity and pricing. [Read Now](https://www.seo.com/blog/ahrefs-vs-moz/) - ###### ##### [5 Best SEO Rank Tracking Tools to Outrank Your Competitors](https://www.seo.com/tools/rank-tracking/) - ![Headshot of smiling woman with black-framed glasses and brunette hair.](https://www.seo.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/maria_carpena.png) Top SEO rank tracking tools like SEMrush, Ahrefs, Mangools, SE Ranking, and SEO Powersuite are crucial for monitoring your pages’ position in SERPs, analyzing keyword performance, and more! Learn more about these tools below\! 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Readable Markdown	Your needs and budget will determine whether Ahrefs or SpyFu is better. While Ahrefs is a comprehensive choice for an SEO tool, its cost can make SpyFu the preferred choice for users focused on competitor research. Keeping up with your [search engine optimization (SEO)](https://www.seo.com/basics/glossary/seo/) efforts is a big task — too big to do alone without the help of an [SEO tool](https://www.seo.com/tools/) like Ahrefs or SpyFu. Looking to learn more about these options? Check out our breakdown of SpyFu vs. Ahrefs below\! Whether Ahrefs or SpyFu is better for SEO depends on your particular needs. If your priority is keyword research or backlink analysis, Ahrefs is the way to go. But if you care more about competitor research or just want a less expensive tool, SpyFu is better. ## Compare Ahrefs vs. SpyFu Learn more about Ahrefs vs. SpyFu in the table below: \| \| \| \| \|---\|---\|---\| \| Features \| Ahrefs \| SpyFu \| \| Average rating \| 4\.5 / 5 \| 4\.6 / 5 \| \| Best for \| SEO beginners SEO professionals Small and large businesses \| SEO beginners SEO freelancers Small businesses \| \| Pricing \| Starting at \$99 / month \| Starting at \$33 / month \| \| Strengths \| Learning curve Keyword research Backlink analysis \| Competitor research Pricing rates PPC data \| \| Weaknesses \| Pricing structure Customer support \| Data accuracy PPC vs. SEO focus \| \| Site audits \| Full SEO audit Historical SEO audits \| Basic SEO audit \| \| Keyword research \| Competitor keyword data Keyword metrics, including traffic value \| Competitor keyword data \| \| Keyword rank tracking \| Track up to 10,000 keywords \| Track rank history \| \| SEO content \| Content gaps \| Topic ideas \| \| Competitor research \| Keywords Backlinks Estimated traffic \| Keywords Backlinks PPC-based data \| \| Backlink analysis \| Backlink gaps \| Keyword-based backlink recommendations \| \| Customer support \| Online chat Resource library Online forums \| Online chat Phone Resource library \| \| Ease of use \| High \| High \| \| AI \| Keyword analysis Free AI tools \| SEO content \| ## Inside Ahrefs Learn more about Ahrefs’ pros and cons below: ### Ahrefs pros There are several upsides to choosing Ahrefs as your SEO tool. Those upsides include: - Free plan: One of the best things about Ahrefs is that it offers some free tools for things like [keyword research](https://www.seo.com/tools/keyword-research/) and [link building](https://www.seo.com/tools/link-building/), which is obviously very convenient. - Keyword research: Keyword research is one of Ahrefs’s biggest strengths. It’s perfect for helping you find the ideal keywords to target in your SEO content. - Backlink analysis: Ahrefs is also extremely useful for analyzing your backlink profile and figuring out which websites link to you. ### Ahrefs cons As nice as the above Ahrefs advantages are, there are also several disadvantages that prompt users to seek [Ahrefs alternatives](https://www.seo.com/blog/ahrefs-alternatives/). Those disadvantages include: - Pricing: Ahrefs may offer some free tools, but its paid plans are wildly expensive, to the point that many businesses can’t afford them at all. If that’s the case, you might want to consider something like [Ubersuggest vs. Ahrefs](https://www.seo.com/blog/ubersuggest-vs-ahrefs/) (depending on your needs). - Lots of downtime: Compared to other tools, Ahrefs has a lot of downtime — that is, time during which the platform is down. This can be understandably frustrating for businesses. - Customer support: Ahrefs isn’t known for its customer support. Many users say their customer service team is unhelpful and slow to respond. ## Inside SpyFu Learn more about SpyFu’s pros and cons below: ### SpyFu pros SpyFu comes with its own set of benefits, including the following: - Free plan: Like Ahrefs, SpyFu does offer a free plan. And in this case, it’s an actual plan rather than some individual free tools like with Ahrefs. - Competitive analysis: SpyFu’s number one strength is its ability to gather intelligence about your competitors’ SEO. That makes it one of the biggest benefits of using the tool, making it one of the best [competitor analysis tools](https://www.seo.com/tools/competitor-analysis/) out there. - User-friendliness: Overall, SpyFu is very easy to use, setting it apart from many of its competitor tools that can be tricky to navigate. ### SpyFu cons Although the benefits listed above are definitely good to have, there are also some downsides to using SpyFu. Those downsides include: - Inaccurate data: SpyFu users have been known to complain about data accuracy in the tool. Obviously, receiving inaccurate data from your SEO tool is a big problem. - Lack of search engine distinction: Some users have said that SpyFu fails to distinguish between traffic earned from Google vs. other search engines, making it hard to know where your traffic comes from. - Non-user-friendly graphs: Even though user-friendliness is a strong point for SpyFu overall, its graphs are the exception, with many people finding them hard to navigate and use. ## Compare Ahrefs vs. SpyFu in-depth Now that we’ve seen some of the biggest pros and cons of each tool, which is better: Ahrefs or SpyFu? See how they stack up in relation to five key components of a good SEO tool below: ### Ease of use Reports vary on how easy it is to use Ahrefs. Some users find the interface a little overwhelming, but others say it’s perfect. Ultimately, it’s hard to draw a solid conclusion about it — it just depends on your individual perception. On the other hand, SpyFu is generally recognized as being very user-friendly across the board (with the sole exception of its graphs). That means that SpyFu wins in this category by a small margin. Winner: SpyFu ### Pricing There’s no contest in this category: SpyFu wins in a heartbeat. First of all, though both tools offer free versions, only SpyFu’s is a free plan in the true sense of the word — Ahrefs’s is more of a collection of individual free tools. And then, when you look at their paid plans, it’s even more obvious that SpyFu comes out on top. Its cheapest plan is only \$16 per month, while [Ahrefs’ pricing](https://www.seo.com/blog/ahrefs-pricing/) starts at \$99 per month and goes up as high as \$999 per month. Not very affordable for companies on a small budget\! Winner: SpyFu ### Research A good SEO tool will help you research new opportunities to expand your campaigns, be it by finding keywords or investigating what your competitors are doing. Both Ahrefs and SpyFu excel here but in different areas. SpyFu’s strength is in competitor research, while Ahrefs is one of the [best rank tracking tools](https://www.seo.com/tools/rank-tracking/). So, which one wins out? The deciding factor is the fact that SpyFu has been known to have issues with data accuracy. It’s close, but that cinches it for Ahrefs in this category. Winner: Ahrefs ### Generate Keyword Ideas in Seconds Generate up to 50 tailored keyword ideas with essential data like search volume, keyword difficulty, and CPC – no login required\! ![](https://www.seo.com/wp-content/themes/seofx/assets/img/ctas/saas-mini-tool-in-content-cta/keyword-gen.png) ### Analysis In addition to helping you research new SEO opportunities, both SpyFu and Ahrefs also help you analyze your existing data to see how your campaigns are already performing. In this category, Ahrefs comes out on top. Not only is it great for assessing your keyword rankings, but it can also give you deep insights into your backlink profile. Winner: Ahrefs ### Customer support Finally, any good software should have a solid customer support team as well. SpyFu does okay here — its customer support team doesn’t have rave reviews, but it hasn’t earned frequent complaints, either. On the other hand, Ahrefs has caused a lot of frustration due to its slow and unhelpful customer service, as we mentioned earlier. For that reason, SpyFu takes this category. Winner: SpyFu ## Choose the right SEO tool for your needs When it comes to SEO tools, both Ahrefs and SpyFu offer distinct advantages, but your choice ultimately depends on your specific needs and budget. Understanding their strengths and weaknesses can help you make an informed decision for your SEO strategy. Looking for a reliable SEO solution? Learn how our expert team can help you navigate the complexities of SEO with tailored strategies that drive results. [Get a proposal today](https://www.seo.com/contact/) to discover how we can support your online visibility\! ### Let’s Drive Results Together ![Purple Arrow](https://www.seo.com/wp-content/themes/seofx/assets/img/ctas/shared/purple_arrow.svg)
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