Alternatives to Ahrefs API in 2026: 9 APIs Compared

Semrush is the closest full-suite alternative to Ahrefs, with API access to keyword, domain, backlink, and position data. Published comparisons list API access on the Business plan near 499 dollars a month, plus unit packages, with no free API-only tier. That price buys breadth, which suits large agencies that already use Semrush for other work.

The catch is cost and complexity. Small teams will find the entry price hard to justify for one project, and rate limits plus a one-month caching restriction need planning. If you need many data types in one contract and have enterprise volume, Semrush is the strongest pick. If you need only links or only SERP data, a specialist will cost less.

Moz API, also called Mozscape, is the easiest low-cost way to add authority metrics to a tool. The free tier offers 50 rows a month, and the Starter plan is listed at 20 dollars a month, with higher tiers scaling by rows. Domain Authority and Page Authority are widely used in reporting, so clients often recognize them at once.

The limit is depth. Moz focuses on link and authority data, not on full keyword research or live SERP scraping, and keyword metrics lack the PPC granularity some teams need. For a budget tool that needs classic URL metrics and Spam Score, Moz is a clear win. For a full Ahrefs replacement, pair it with a SERP API.

Majestic is a specialist, not a generalist, and that focus is its strength for link work. Its API gives access to Fresh and Historic backlink indexes, with Trust Flow and Citation Flow metrics that many link builders trust for quality checks. Published comparisons list the full API tier at 399.99 dollars a month, with no free trial.

The trade-off is scope. Majestic does not cover keyword research, SERP results, or site audits, so you will need another API for those jobs. If your main work is backlink audits, domain trading, or link quality checks, Majestic is worth the price. If you need an all-in-one API, look at SE Ranking or Semrush instead.

DataForSEO is our pick for developers building a custom tool, because it offers a wide API suite on pay-as-you-go pricing. Published comparisons list a minimum deposit near 50 dollars, with SERP tasks from about 0.0006 dollars each on standard queues, and a small trial credit. That model suits variable volume, since quiet months cost little.

The catch is effort. There is no ready dashboard, so you build the interface, handle retries, and watch usage closely. Backlink and LLM endpoints may also need a monthly minimum top-up. If you have developer time and want flexible, broad data without a large subscription, DataForSEO is the best value here.

SerpApi does one job well: it returns live search results as structured JSON, with location targeting and support for many engines. Its Starter plan is listed at 25 dollars a month for 1,000 searches, with a free tier for testing. That simplicity makes it a good choice for rank tracking, SERP feature checks, and small research tools.

The limit is scope. SerpApi does not offer a backlink index or keyword database like Ahrefs, so it cannot replace those parts of an Ahrefs workflow. If you need only SERP data, SerpApi is fast to integrate and easy to budget. If you need links too, pair it with Moz or Majestic.

Bright Data SERP API suits high-volume SERP work, with pay-per-success pricing listed at 1.50 dollars per 1,000 successful results and a free allowance of 5,000 records a month in published comparisons. Its large proxy network and compliance features appeal to enterprises that need reliable geo-targeted results at scale.

The trade-off is that Bright Data is a scraping platform, not an SEO suite, so you get SERP data, not keyword or backlink databases. Pricing also varies by plan, with lower per-1,000 rates on larger plans. For a team running millions of SERP checks, Bright Data is a strong choice. For a small tool, SerpApi or DataForSEO may be simpler.

SE Ranking is the best balanced choice for agencies that want many data types without enterprise pricing. Its API covers rank tracking, keyword data, backlinks, site audits, and AI search metrics, with pay-as-you-go from 50 dollars and a 14-day trial offering 100,000 credits with no card. Subscription plans also include API access, with an add-on listed near 45 dollars a month on annual billing.

The limit is index size. SE Ranking backlink data is useful, but its index is smaller than Ahrefs, so deep link forensics may need Majestic as well. For most agency reporting, rank tracking, and keyword work, SE Ranking offers the best cost-to-value mix in this list.

Serpstat offers an all-in-one API at a budget price, with keyword, domain, backlink, rank, and audit endpoints. Published comparisons list API access from higher tiers, with Team plans near 119 to 129 dollars a month, while lower plans may offer no API credits. That makes Serpstat a mid-size team tool rather than a true starter API.

The catch is tier gating. A 50 dollar plan alone may not include API credits, so check the current plan table before buying. Backlink depth also trails Ahrefs, and audit data is less deep than specialist tools. If you want one API for many jobs at a moderate price, Serpstat is a solid option.

SpyFu API is the specialist pick for PPC and competitor research. It offers years of ad history, organic ranking history, Kombat competitor comparisons, and domain stats, with API access listed on Pro plans near 119 dollars a month. For a team that tracks what rivals spend and rank for, that history is hard to match at this price.

The limit is breadth. SpyFu does not offer the full backlink or keyword depth of Ahrefs, and its index is smaller, with data quality varying by region. It also has no free trial for the API in published comparisons. Use SpyFu when PPC history is the core need, and pair it with a link or SERP API for a fuller picture.