Ahrefs pricing
Ahrefs pricing in 2026 and a pay-per-use alternative
See current Ahrefs pricing, plan limits, AI visibility costs, and how a monthly subscription compares with pay-as-you-go SEO research in FlexQueries.
- Starter
- $29 per month
- Lite
- $129 per month
- FlexQueries
- $0 monthly fee
Reading the plans
The lowest price does not include the same working limits
Ahrefs Starter gives beginners access to Site Explorer, Keywords Explorer, Site Audit, and Rank Tracker, but it limits report usage, projects, rows, exports, and tracked keywords. Lite raises those limits and includes more of the workflow a working SEO team expects.
Ahrefs remains a strong choice for teams that depend on its backlink history, proprietary metrics, and Content Explorer. A pay-per-use workspace fits better when the work is intermittent and the team does not need those proprietary datasets every week.
AI visibility
Brand Radar has its own pricing and plan limits
Ahrefs includes a small custom-prompt allowance with Lite and higher plans. Its Brand Radar AI visibility index has separate pricing in current US materials, starting at $199 per month for one platform index. Custom prompt packages also have their own monthly limits and overage rates.
FlexQueries puts AI mention lookups, prompt research, and scheduled monitoring in the same pay-as-you-go balance used for keyword, domain, backlink, and audit work.
Choosing a model
Compare the work, not only the monthly headline
- Choose Ahrefs when deep backlink history, Content Explorer, and steady daily use justify a plan.
- Choose FlexQueries when usage changes by project and each paid action should be quoted before it runs.
- Keep Ahrefs if its proprietary history is central, and test overlapping FlexQueries workflows before changing anything.
- Use the FlexQueries estimator to model a representative month rather than assuming metered pricing is cheaper at every volume.
Current pricing
Current Ahrefs plan prices
US monthly list prices are shown before tax. Annual billing and regional prices can differ.
Scroll to compare all columns
| Ahrefs option | Monthly billing | Annual-only rate | Selected limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $29 | See vendor for annual offers | Limited research and tracking allowance |
| Lite | $129 | See vendor for annual offers | 750 tracked keywords; 5 custom AI prompts included |
| Standard | $249 | See vendor for annual offers | 2,000 tracked keywords; 10 custom AI prompts included |
| Advanced | $449 | See vendor for annual offers | 5,000 tracked keywords; 20 custom AI prompts included |
| Brand Radar AI index | $199 | See vendor for annual offers | Starting price for one platform index; all AI indexes $699/month |
| Custom prompt tracking | $50 | See vendor for annual offers | Standalone package starts at 2,500 checks/month; distinct from the AI index |
| Enterprise | Annual only | $1499/month, annual commitment | Annual commitment |
Keep researching
Useful next pages
FAQ
Common questions
How much does Ahrefs cost per month in 2026?
Ahrefs lists Starter at $29, Lite at $129, Standard at $249, and Advanced at $449 per month in its current US pricing materials. Enterprise and add-on pricing differ.
Is Ahrefs Starter the same as Ahrefs Lite?
No. Starter has lower report credits, rows, exports, projects, and tracked-keyword limits. Lite is the entry plan for a broader ongoing workflow.
Is FlexQueries a complete Ahrefs replacement?
It covers many keyword, domain, rank, audit, backlink, AI visibility, and MCP workflows. It does not reproduce Ahrefs' proprietary backlink history or Content Explorer one for one.
Is pay as you go always cheaper than Ahrefs?
No. Metered pricing works best for light or variable use. A team with high, steady demand should compare its real workload with the included Ahrefs limits and the FlexQueries estimator.
Pay as you go
Run the SEO work you need.
Create an account without a card, use the included balance, and add funds when you want to run more research.
