Comparison · Last updated June 2026
Moz vs Ahrefs
Moz and Ahrefs are both full-suite SEO platforms covering keyword research, rank tracking, site audits, and backlink analysis, but they serve different budgets and skill levels. Moz leans toward beginners and small teams with a lower entry price and simpler interface, while Ahrefs targets serious link builders and technical SEOs who need the deepest backlink index in the industry. Here is how they actually compare.
🏆 Who should choose which?
Moz
Ahrefs
Ahrefs
Moz
📊 Quick specs
Quick verdict
Choose Moz if you want an approachable SEO toolkit at a lower monthly cost and do not need the deepest backlink data on the market. Choose Ahrefs if backlink analysis, competitive link research, and keyword depth are central to your SEO work and you can justify the higher starting price.
What is Moz?
Moz is an SEO platform built around its own Domain Authority (DA) metric, offering keyword research, rank tracking, site audits, and backlink analysis in one dashboard. It is one of the older names in SEO tooling and is positioned as an accessible entry point for marketers who are newer to SEO, with a simpler interface and a lower starting price than most full-suite competitors.
What is Ahrefs?
Ahrefs is an SEO platform built around one of the largest backlink indexes in the industry, alongside keyword research, rank tracking, site audits, and content research tools. It uses its own Domain Rating (DR) metric and is widely used by agencies, in-house SEO teams, and technical SEOs who need deep, frequently refreshed link and keyword data.
Key differences at a glance
Backlink data: Ahrefs maintains a larger and more frequently updated backlink index, which matters most for competitive link building and link audits. Moz's index is smaller and updates less often, which is a real limitation for heavy link-focused work.
Price: Moz starts at $49/mo ($39/mo annual), noticeably cheaper than Ahrefs' $129/mo Lite plan, making Moz the more accessible option for solo users and small budgets.
Metric (DA vs DR): Moz uses Domain Authority (DA) and Ahrefs uses Domain Rating (DR). Both are proprietary 0-100 scores estimating a site's link-based ranking strength, but they are calculated differently and are not directly comparable across tools.
Learning curve: Moz's interface is simpler and better suited to SEO beginners, while Ahrefs has more depth and more surface area, which means a steeper learning curve but more capability once you are up to speed.
Pros and cons
Moz
Strengths
- Lower starting price than most full-suite SEO tools
- Simple, beginner-friendly interface
- Free MozBar browser extension for quick on-page checks
- AI Visibility beta for tracking AI search presence
Limitations
- Smaller keyword database (~500M) than top competitors
- Backlink index is smaller and updates less frequently
- No free plan, only a 7-day trial
Ahrefs
Strengths
- Deepest backlink index in the industry
- Strong keyword research with large, frequently refreshed database
- Robust site audit and rank tracking tools
- Trusted standard for agencies and technical SEO teams
Limitations
- Highest starting price among mainstream SEO suites ($129/mo)
- No free plan beyond Webmaster Tools for your own verified site
- Steeper learning curve for newcomers
Pricing comparison
Moz Moz Pro has four paid tiers: Starter at $49/mo ($39/mo billed annually), Standard at $99/mo, Medium at $179/mo, and Large at $299/mo. There is no ongoing free plan, but Moz offers a 7-day free trial plus the permanently free MozBar browser extension and limited free lookups. Verified June 2026.
Ahrefs Ahrefs has three core self-serve tiers: Lite at $129/mo, Standard at $249/mo, and Advanced at $449/mo, plus custom-priced Enterprise. There is no free plan for external sites, but Ahrefs Webmaster Tools is free for a site you have verified ownership of. Verified June 2026.
Moz is the cheaper way into a full SEO suite, with its Starter plan costing less than half of Ahrefs' entry-level Lite plan. Ahrefs costs more at every tier, but that premium buys a materially deeper backlink index and keyword database. For team-by-team cost modelling, use our AI Cost Calculator.
Which tool should you choose?
Choose Moz if you…
- → You are new to SEO, managing a small site or a handful of client sites, and want an approachable tool with a lower monthly cost. Moz is also a reasonable fit if backlink depth is not your primary concern.
Choose Ahrefs if you…
- → You run competitive link building campaigns, need the most complete backlink data available, or work in technical SEO where keyword and crawl depth matter. Ahrefs is the stronger choice if budget allows for the higher tiers.
Not sure which fits your workflow? Take our AI Tool Finder Quiz for a recommendation based on your role and needs.
Bottom line: Moz vs Ahrefs
Moz and Ahrefs both cover the core SEO workflow, keyword research, rank tracking, site audits, and backlinks, but they are built for different users.
Moz wins on price and simplicity; Ahrefs wins on data depth and is the more trusted choice for serious link building and technical SEO work.
🔄 Switching? Keep in mind
If you are moving from Moz to Ahrefs, expect a learning curve as you adjust from DA to DR and get familiar with Ahrefs' larger toolset. If you are moving from Ahrefs to Moz for cost reasons, be aware you will lose access to Ahrefs' larger backlink index and keyword database.
Frequently asked questions
Is Moz or Ahrefs better for backlinks?
Ahrefs is better for backlink analysis. It maintains a larger, more frequently refreshed backlink index than Moz, which matters directly for link building, link audits, and competitive link research. Moz's backlink data is usable for smaller sites but is not as comprehensive.
Is Moz cheaper than Ahrefs?
Yes. Moz starts at $49/mo ($39/mo billed annually), while Ahrefs starts at $129/mo for its Lite plan. Moz is the cheaper option at every comparable tier, though Ahrefs offers more data depth for the higher price.
DA or DR: which metric is better?
Neither Domain Authority (Moz) nor Domain Rating (Ahrefs) is objectively better; they are different proprietary scoring systems built on each company's own index, so scores are not directly comparable between tools. Use whichever metric matches the tool your team already relies on for benchmarking.
Can I try Moz or Ahrefs for free?
Neither has a full free plan. Moz offers a 7-day free trial plus the free MozBar extension and limited free lookups. Ahrefs has no external free plan, but Ahrefs Webmaster Tools is free for a site you have verified ownership of.
Which is better for keyword research?
Ahrefs generally has the larger and more frequently updated keyword database, so it surfaces more long-tail and niche terms. Moz's keyword tools are solid for small sites but its roughly 500 million keyword database is smaller and updates more slowly.
See something wrong? Report an issue · Suggest a tool