StackEvalifySEO software · Desk research
Ahrefs vs Semrush: compare plans before comparing SEO data
These tools do not meter usage the same way. Ahrefs Starter uses monthly credits for many reports and has tighter project and user limits; Semrush SEO Toolkit Pro publishes website, keyword, and crawl allowances. This page compares the entry plans and published limits, not the accuracy or completeness of either vendor’s search database.
Source check: · Desk research only; StackEvalify has not run a hands-on tool or data-accuracy test.
Quick take
Ahrefs Starter has a lower listed monthly price, but its 200-credit and single-user limits make it a different workload tier from Semrush SEO Toolkit Pro. Compare the exact number of reports, projects, tracked keywords, crawled pages, and seats you need. If you need to evaluate backlink or keyword-data accuracy, test the same domains and queries in both products; vendor-published limits cannot establish which dataset is more accurate.
Published entry-plan limits
Entry-level access
- Ahrefs
- Free access is available for verified website owners. The paid Starter plan is listed at US$29/month and includes 200 credits, 1 unverified project, 50 tracked keywords, and 1 user.
- Semrush SEO Toolkit
- The SEO Toolkit Pro plan is listed at US$139.95/month and includes 5 websites to monitor, 500 tracked keywords, and 100,000 pages to crawl per month.
How usage is limited
- Ahrefs
- Starter credits are used by opening reports and requesting data in credit-based tools. Site Audit and Rank Tracker have separate limits. Starter does not allow extra users or credits.
- Semrush SEO Toolkit
- The SEO Toolkit sets limits by tool, including report rows, keyword tracking, and monthly crawl volume. Account users share the plan’s subscription limits.
More capacity
- Ahrefs
- Lite is listed at US$129/month with 1,000 credits, 5 projects, 750 tracked keywords, and 1 included user; up to 2 additional users can be added at an extra monthly cost.
- Semrush SEO Toolkit
- Guru and Business increase project, keyword, crawl, and report limits. Historical data, content features, and API access depend on the selected tier.
Trial and billing
- Ahrefs
- Starter is a monthly plan. Ahrefs also offers free tools for verified sites; its current Starter documentation does not list a free trial.
- Semrush SEO Toolkit
- Semrush advertises a 7-day free trial. SEO Toolkit subscriptions can be billed monthly or annually; annual payment is made upfront.
Prices and plan limits are vendor-listed US examples and may vary by country, billing interval, taxes, promotions, and account age. Ahrefs credits and Semrush keyword/crawl quotas are different measures and should not be treated as equivalent units.
Choose a test that matches your work
Evaluate Ahrefs if…
Your team is small, owns the sites it needs to verify, and can work within Starter’s credit and user limits. Track how many report opens and filter changes your weekly research actually uses before sizing a paid plan.
Evaluate Semrush if…
The SEO Toolkit Pro limits for sites, tracked keywords, and monthly crawl volume fit your workload, or you want to use its 7-day trial to compare reports against your current process.
- 1. Use the same test set. Compare the same domains, keyword list, locations, devices, and date ranges in both tools.
- 2. Check quota burn. Record credit consumption, tracked-keyword count, crawl volume, export limits, and user seats required for a normal month.
- 3. Validate the buying plan. Add required seats, project count, integrations, and any separate toolkit or API access before comparing the total.
The old claims that one database is “industry-leading” or “more accurate” are not established by plan pages. A defensible accuracy comparison needs a dated, repeatable test against a known query set.
Sources and method
This page summarizes official plan, pricing, and usage documentation checked on 29 October 2026. It is desk research, not an independent crawler, backlink, or keyword-data accuracy test. Plan limits and prices can change; confirm the current terms before purchase.