Semrush vs Ahrefs vs Moz: Which SEO Tool Is Worth the Money in 2025?
You’re spending $100-$500/month on an SEO tool — you need to pick the right one. After testing all three extensively, here’s the definitive comparison.
Quick Verdict
- Best overall: Semrush (largest database, most features)
- Best for backlinks: Ahrefs (most accurate link index)
- Best for beginners: Moz (simplest interface, best educational resources)
- Best value: Semrush Pro at $119/month covers 95% of use cases
Pricing Comparison (2025)
| Plan | Semrush | Ahrefs | Moz |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry plan | $119/mo (Pro) | $129/mo (Lite) | $99/mo (Standard) |
| Mid plan | $229/mo (Guru) | $249/mo (Standard) | $179/mo (Medium) |
| Agency plan | $449/mo (Business) | $449/mo (Advanced) | $299/mo (Large) |
| Free trial | 7 days free | 7 days free | 30 days free |
Database Size (Critical for Coverage)
| Metric | Semrush | Ahrefs | Moz |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keywords (US) | 24 billion | 20 billion | 1.25 billion |
| Backlinks index | 43 trillion | 35 trillion | 40 trillion |
| Index freshness | Daily | Every 15-30 min | Weekly |
| Countries tracked | 142 | 170+ | N/A |
Feature-by-Feature Breakdown
Keyword Research
Winner: Semrush — Largest database, Keyword Magic Tool generates thousands of variations, Keyword Gap shows opportunities vs competitors instantly.
Backlink Analysis
Winner: Ahrefs — Industry gold standard for backlinks. Crawls faster, updates more frequently, and the Link Intersect feature is unmatched.
Site Audit
Winner: Semrush — 130+ technical SEO checks vs Ahrefs 100+. Better integration with Google Analytics for traffic correlation.
Content Marketing
Winner: Semrush — Topic Research, Content Template, SEO Writing Assistant, and Post Tracking all in one platform.
Local SEO
Winner: Moz — Moz Local is the industry standard for local listing management.
My Recommendation by Use Case
- Freelancer/blogger: Moz Standard ($99) or Ahrefs Lite ($129)
- In-house SEO: Semrush Pro ($119) — best ROI for full feature set
- Agency: Semrush Guru ($229) for unlimited projects + historical data
- Link builders: Ahrefs Standard ($249) — unbeatable backlink data
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