7 Best Free Ahrefs Alternatives in 2026 (Actually Work)

Let's be honest: Ahrefs is expensive. At $99/month for the basic plan, it's out of reach for most bloggers, freelancers, and small businesses.

But here's the good news: You don't need Ahrefs to do SEO in 2026.

After testing 20+ free SEO tools, I found 7 that do 80% of what Ahrefs does - without the massive price tag.

📌Why Look for Ahrefs Alternatives?

For most people just starting with SEO, that's a lot of money for a tool.

🏆1. Ubersuggest (Best Free Overall)

Free tier: 3 searches/day

Neil Patel's Ubersuggest is the closest thing to Ahrefs you'll find for free.

What You Get Free:

• Keyword research with volume & difficulty
• Backlink data (limited)
• Site audit (limited pages)
• Competitor analysis

The Catch:

Only 3 free searches per day. But that's enough for casual SEO work.

Verdict: Best for beginners who need keyword ideas.

🏆2. Google Search Console (Best for Your Own Site)

Free tier: Unlimited (for your sites only)

This is Google's official SEO tool, and it's 100% free. No limits.

What You Get:

• Real search performance data (clicks, impressions, CTR)
• Which keywords you actually rank for
• Index coverage and errors
• Core Web Vitals data

The Catch:

Only works for sites you own/verify.

Verdict: Essential for every website owner. Use this first.

📌3. Moz Free SEO Tools

Free tier: 10 queries/month

Moz offers several free tools even without an account:

Free Tools Include:

• Link Explorer: Check backlinks (10 queries/month)
• Keyword Explorer: Limited searches
• Domain Analysis: Check any site's DA
• MozBar: Chrome extension for quick checks

Verdict: Best for checking Domain Authority quickly.

📌4. Ahrefs Webmaster Tools (Yes, Really)

Free tier: Unlimited for your sites

Here's a secret: Ahrefs offers a free version called Ahrefs Webmaster Tools.

What You Get Free:

• Full site audit
• Backlink profile for your sites
• Organic keywords you rank for
• Limited compared to paid, but still valuable

Verdict: If you only need Ahrefs for your own sites, this is perfect.

📌5. Semrush Free Tier

Free tier: 10 queries/day

Semrush has a generous free tier that rivals Ubersuggest.

What You Get:

• 10 keyword lookups per day
• Limited site audits
• Basic competitor analysis

Verdict: Great supplement to other free tools.

📌6. Answer The Public

Free tier: 3 searches/day

Not a direct Ahrefs replacement, but incredible for content ideas.

What You Get:

• Visual keyword maps
• Question-based keywords ("how to", "what is")
• Comparison keywords ("vs", "or")

Verdict: Best for finding blog post ideas.

📌7. Ubersuggest + ScreamingFrog Combo

Cost: $0 (both have free tiers)

For a complete free SEO stack:

• Ubersuggest: Keyword research
• ScreamingFrog: Technical SEO audits (500 URLs free)
• Google Search Console: Performance data

This combo gives you 90% of what Ahrefs does.

❓❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a completely free version of Ahrefs?

Yes! Ahrefs Webmaster Tools is free for your own verified sites. It includes site audits, backlink data, and organic keyword tracking.

What's the best free keyword research tool?

Ubersuggest and Google Keyword Planner are the best free options. Ubersuggest shows difficulty scores, while Keyword Planner gives exact search volumes for ads.

Can I do SEO without paid tools?

Absolutely. Google Search Console + Ubersuggest free tier + Moz free tools cover most SEO needs for small to medium sites.

Is Ahrefs worth $99/month?

For SEO professionals and agencies, yes. For bloggers and small businesses, the free alternatives above will likely be sufficient until you're making money from SEO.

📌Bottom Line

You don't need to pay $99/month to do SEO. Start with:

1. Google Search Console (free, unlimited)
2. Ubersuggest (3 free searches/day)
3. Ahrefs Webmaster Tools (free for your sites)

Once you're making money from SEO, then consider upgrading to paid tools.

Related: Ahrefs Review 2026 | Best Free AI Tools | SEO Tools Category