Ahrefs vs. Moz Pro: Which SEO Tool Should You Use?

Ahrefs and Moz Pro are big names in the world of search engine optimization (SEO) tools, and bring unique benefits. On one hand, Ahrefs is a comprehensive keyword research tool that’s perfect for those looking to boost their keyword ranking power. On the other, Moz Pro has detailed website analytics tools to help optimize sites.

But which one is better? Get answers with this Ahrefs vs. Moz breakdown!

Is Ahrefs or Moz better?

Whether Ahrefs or Moz is better for you depends on what you want from an SEO tool — and how much you’re willing to pay for it. While both tools have similar features, Moz’s slow growth in advancing its toolkit makes Ahrefs a competitive, but pricier, option.

Ahrefs vs. Moz Pro comparison

When comparing Ahrefs vs. Moz Pro, there are many pros and cons to consider between the two. To help you make sense of it all, we’ve created a comparison chart to summarize the pros and cons we’ll be covering in this article, plus some key features for SEO tools.

Is Moz Pro missing what you need in an SEO tool? Check out our full list of Ahrefs alternatives to find another option!

Which is better, Ahrefs or Moz Pro?

When comparing Moz Pro and Ahrefs, we need to weigh their pros and cons. Both SEO tools bring several advantages and disadvantages to the table, and it’s important to know what they are and what they potentially mean for your business should you decide to go with either platform. Below is an overview of the pros and cons of Moz Pro and Ahrefs.

Ahrefs pros

First, let’s look at the pros of Ahrefs. As a popular SEO tool, Ahrefs brings quite a few benefits to the table that bring more and more users to their platform. Check them out below.

Keyword research

Arguably, the biggest pro of Ahrefs is its keyword research tool, Keyword Explorer. Many people turn to Ahrefs as a Moz alternative for keyword research because of its detailed analytics capabilities.

With Ahref’s Keyword Explorer, users can discover keyword insights like:

• Target and related keywords
• Long-tail keywords
• Click ratio
• Keyword difficulty
• Keyword rank tracking
• Competitor keyword rankings

Backlink analysis

Ahref’s backlink analysis tool is another feature that’s highly praised by users for its intuitiveness and detailed insights. Users can closely monitor websites linking to their own site, those linking to competitors, and any broken links within their site. Ahrefs backlink analyzer is a powerful tool that can help users understand and improve their backlink strategy, which is an integral part of any SEO campaign.

Competitor analysis

Another one of Ahref’s pros is its competitor analysis tools. From identifying keywords to analyzing backlink data, Ahrefs gives businesses the tools they need to understand different aspects of their competitors’ SEO performance and how to improve their own.

Ahrefs cons

While Ahrefs has plenty of perks, it also has some downsides to its platform. Below are some cons of Ahrefs that many users have experienced.

User experience

Ahrefs’ software isn’t particularly hard to use, but it can be difficult to navigate at times, considering the sheer amount of features and tools available at the top subscription levels. Especially for people new to SEO analytics tools and how to use them for business, the platform can feel a bit overwhelming at first.

Pricing

Ahrefs isn’t the cheapest SEO tool on the market, which can be a bummer if you’re looking for a budget-friendly platform. Ahrefs’ prices are especially steep if you’re an individual or small business who wants to access all of what the platform has to offer but can’t afford the larger monthly subscription fees.

Limited features

Sticking with pricing, another disadvantage of Ahrefs is the limited features available with the platform’s free trial and lower-priced subscriptions. Like most subscription services and tools, the more you pay, the more you get.

While it’s expected to not have access to all of Ahrefs’ tools at the cheapest levels, its basic offerings are very limited.

Moz pros

Now, let’s switch gears and learn a bit more about another great SEO tool — Moz. Like Ahrefs, Moz Pro also brings various benefits to the table.

Website analysis and audit

One of Moz Pro’s key strengths is its website analysis and auditing tools. Moz Pro’s website analysis tools allow users to analyze their sites and identify technical SEO issues, as well as analyze key aspects of competitor sites like backlinks and ranking keywords. 

Keyword research

Moz Pro also has the advantage of having extensive keyword research capabilities that help users closely monitor keyword data like density, visibility, traffic, and volume. Users can also monitor competitor keywords and use the insights from Moz Pro to improve their keyword strategies and outrank competitors.

Backlink analysis

Another pro of Moz’s SEO tool is its backlink analyzer, which helps users improve the pool of domains linking to their site. Moz Pro’s link profile analyses look and page and domain authority, crawling backlinks to generate reports that offer users detailed insights into their backlink profile and that of their competitors.

Moz cons

With pros come cons. Below are a few of Moz’s downsides, as reported by customers.

Learning curve

Moz Pro has a distinct learning curve that comes with trying to understand and utilize the platform’s features to their full potential. Additionally, Moz Pro’s user experience and interface are tricky to navigate compared to other SEO platforms on the market. Many users have reported having a hard time with Moz Pro’s onboarding process.

Limited features

Like Ahrefs, Moz Pros’ full suite of SEO tools comes at a higher price. While Moz Pro’s lower-tier plans offer a variety of SEO features, they’re limited, and users can’t unlock their full potential unless they subscribe to a more expensive plan.

Pricing

While many users say Moz Pro’s extensive features make it worth it, the price of Moz’s higher subscription plans is expensive, making the platform less accessible for smaller businesses and start-ups looking to improve their SEO strategies. As we said earlier, more features and tools come at a higher price.

Can’t decide between Ahrefs or Moz Pro? Try a free alternative

Choosing between SEO tools can be tricky, especially with the expansive features of Ahrefs and Moz Pro. Trying a free alternative like SEO.com can help you build your SEO skills while also growing your understanding of what you need in an SEO platform.

Try SEO.com’s offerings, from rank tracking to competitor analysis to SEO audits, by signing up now!