The Best Ahrefs API Alternatives

1. Semrush API – Best for all-in-one enterprise SEO

The most complete alternative if you're outgrowing Ahrefs' data silos and need broader coverage.

Why It’s an Alternative

Semrush isn't just a replacement for Ahrefs' backlink API—it goes far beyond that. In short, Semrush offers much more than Ahrefs.

While Ahrefs focuses heavily on link data and keyword rankings, Semrush offers APIs that cover paid search, domain-level traffic estimates, content analysis, and site audits.

If you’ve ever been frustrated by Ahrefs gating key metrics behind multiple tool views or limited credit pools, Semrush’s unified API setup will feel more flexible.

Where Ahrefs restricts API access to enterprise clients and charges separately for each data type, Semrush gives you access to the full API suite with a Business plan.

You still have usage limits, but you're not constantly hitting paywalls for basic endpoints.

Key Features

• Backlink API: Similar to Ahrefs, but with added domain-level traffic context
• Keyword and SERP APIs: Pull thousands of keywords with intent markers and live SERP features
• Rank Tracking API: Monitor position changes across locations and devices
• Site Audit API: Automate technical checks that Ahrefs limits to UI-based exports
• Traffic Analytics API: Estimate competitors' traffic sources, which Ahrefs does not offer

Pros

• Broader API coverage than Ahrefs, including PPC and content tools
• Better suited for multi-channel SEO and marketing workflows
• Less fragmented than Ahrefs’ per-feature credit system
• Clear API documentation and active developer support

Cons

• Requires a Business-tier plan (≈ $450/month), so it’s still premium
• Rate caps apply across APIs and can require planning for batch jobs
• Keyword freshness occasionally lags compared to Ahrefs’ fast updates

Pricing Snapshot

Semrush uses a credit-based system called API units. Each data request consumes a set number of units depending on the endpoint and data volume.

Access to the API is only available through the Business plan, which starts at roughly $450 per month and includes a large monthly unit allotment. If you exceed your limit, you’ll need to buy additional units separately.

Compared to Ahrefs, Semrush is actually more accessible.

Ahrefs limits full API access to custom-priced enterprise plans and charges separately for different API modules. With Semrush, once you're on the Business tier, you unlock the full API suite—no extra modules, no per-feature gatekeeping.

For teams who need consistent, broad data access, that makes Semrush easier to budget and scale.

Personal Insight / Watch-out

If I could start over, I’d map out my API calls in advance—Semrush gives you a ton of breadth, but blowing through units with redundant queries is easy.

When I’d Recommend It

Pick Semrush if you want a complete SEO data backbone and are tired of stitching together multiple tools to do what one API should.

Related: Our honest review of the entire Semrush platform

2. DataForSEO – Best for raw SEO data in custom pipelines

If you’re building dashboards or automations from scratch, this is the most flexible Ahrefs API replacement.

Why It’s an Alternative

DataForSEO is everything the Ahrefs API is not: modular, affordable, and built with developers in mind.

Where Ahrefs locks you into bundled tools and a high monthly minimum, DataForSEO offers pay-as-you-go pricing across dozens of endpoints. You only pay for the exact data you pull. That makes it ideal for teams running custom dashboards, internal tools, or client-facing reports.

Unlike Ahrefs, which leans into UI-first usage with limited API transparency, DataForSEO was designed to be API-first.

It doesn’t offer a user interface at all—you connect directly to their endpoints and structure your own tools on top. That freedom is especially valuable for technical teams who don’t want to reverse-engineer around UI limits or credit thresholds.

Key Features

• Backlinks API: Pull referring domains, link attributes, anchor text, and link status
• SERP APIs: Get live search results from Google, Bing, and other engines
• Rank Tracker API: Monitor keyword positions by location, device, and language
• On-Page API: Fetch content, meta data, and performance insights for any URL
• Task-based structure: Queue, fetch, and retrieve data asynchronously—ideal for batching

Pros

• Fully modular with no monthly minimums
• Transparent cost structure based on usage
• Fast, well-documented API with JSON responses
• Supports dozens of regions, engines, and languages

Cons

• No interface—requires some development effort to integrate
• Lacks proprietary metrics like Domain Rating (you'll need to define your own)
• No built-in visualizations or alerts
• Initial setup and authentication may feel technical for marketers

Pricing Snapshot

DataForSEO works entirely on a pay-per-call model. For example, retrieving 1,000 backlinks might cost a few cents, while a SERP scrape could be fractions of a penny per keyword. This structure gives you absolute control over costs and scale.

Compared to Ahrefs, which requires an enterprise plan just to access the API—and then charges per credit in a more opaque way—DataForSEO is radically transparent. You get a full pricing table up front and only pay for what you use. For developers, it's the opposite of the “black box” experience many find with Ahrefs.

Personal Insight / Watch-out

What surprised me was how easy it was to replicate most of Ahrefs’ backlink functionality—once I accepted that I’d need to rethink how I scored domain quality.

When I’d Recommend It

Use DataForSEO if you’re technical, budget-aware, and want total control over how your SEO data gets pulled and used.

3. Majestic API – Best for backlink history and link trust metrics

If your team lives in spreadsheets and loves link data, Majestic delivers depth where Ahrefs limits access.

Why It’s an Alternative

Ahrefs has one of the largest backlink indexes on the market, but Majestic gives it a serious run—especially when historical link analysis matters. Majestic's API provides access to a massive archive of link data, with custom metrics like Trust Flow and Citation Flow that many SEOs use as alternatives to Ahrefs’ Domain Rating.

The key difference is that Majestic gives you access to this data at a much lower starting price. While Ahrefs limits backlink API calls to enterprise clients and heavily rate-limits queries, Majestic's API is available to anyone on a paid plan and is surprisingly generous with limits for small-to-midsize use cases.

Key Features

• Backlink History API: Explore link acquisition and loss over time
• Index Comparison: Switch between Fresh and Historic indexes to analyze trends
• Trust Flow and Citation Flow: Majestic’s proprietary link quality scoring system
• URL and Domain APIs: Pull backlink profiles and link contexts at scale
• OpenApps and Raw Data Access: Flexible output for third-party tools or custom workflows

Pros

• Extremely rich backlink index with long-term data
• Trust Flow is widely cited and useful for evaluating link quality
• API access available starting at ~$50 per month
• Good documentation and clear usage limits

Cons

• Focuses only on backlinks—no keyword, rank, or content tools
• Interface is dated, and API structure can feel clunky compared to newer platforms
• Requires understanding Majestic’s unique metrics
• Limited support for SERP or multi-source data needs

Pricing Snapshot

The Silver plan starts at $49.99 per month and includes API access via OpenApps and their main developer endpoints. Higher-tier plans expand query volume and access. Pricing is predictable and tied to your account tier, not a separate credit system.

Compared to Ahrefs, Majestic is far more affordable for teams that just need link data. You won’t get keyword metrics or fancy UI exports, but if you’re comfortable building your own reports or piping data into dashboards, Majestic is a strong contender for a fraction of the cost.

Personal Insight / Watch-out

If I could start over, I’d spend more time learning how Trust Flow works—once you understand it, it becomes a solid replacement for Domain Rating.

When I’d Recommend It

Choose Majestic if link analysis is your main focus and you want more historical depth than Ahrefs provides without the enterprise price tag.

4. SE Ranking API – Best for agency reporting and rank tracking

If Ahrefs feels too rigid or expensive for client work, SE Ranking gives you flexibility where it counts.

Why It’s an Alternative

SE Ranking offers a more agency-friendly approach than Ahrefs, especially when it comes to tracking keyword positions, pulling reports, and managing multiple client sites. Where Ahrefs limits users by seats, tracked keywords, and credit bundles, SE Ranking opens things up. You can set how often rankings are checked, adjust keyword volume to match your budget, and access their API without jumping to an enterprise tier.

The SE Ranking API isn’t as deep as Ahrefs in backlink data, but it holds its own for rank tracking, keyword insights, and site audit automation. It’s built for structured reporting at scale, making it ideal for agencies that need to streamline client updates and build white-label dashboards.

Key Features

• Rank Tracker API: Track keyword positions by region, device, and schedule
• Site Audit API: Automate technical checks and crawl summaries
• Keyword Research API: Pull suggestions, volume, and competition data
• Project Management API: Fetch tasks, client reports, and visibility metrics
• User and Limits API: Monitor usage and permissions programmatically

Pros

• API access available on mid-tier plans (~$65/month)
• Fully white-labeled reporting and client management tools
• Highly configurable rank tracking (frequency, depth, regions)
• Smooth onboarding and easy API docs for non-devs

Cons

• Smaller backlink database than Ahrefs or Semrush
• Fewer advanced filters for SERP intent or anchor types
• Slower API response times on large keyword sets
• Some limitations with account-level access (e.g. only one user per API token)

Pricing Snapshot

API access begins on the Essential or Pro plans, depending on your needs, with monthly pricing starting around $65. You can choose how often to track rankings and how many keywords to include—this flexibility keeps pricing predictable and lets you scale gradually.

Compared to Ahrefs, SE Ranking offers significantly more value for the money. Ahrefs charges extra for each user, limits keyword checks on lower plans, and keeps the API behind enterprise pricing. SE Ranking flips that model by giving smaller teams access to core data features early.

Personal Insight / Watch-out

What surprised me was how much we could automate client check-ins with just the API and a Google Data Studio connector.

When I’d Recommend It

Go with SE Ranking if you run an agency or consultancy and want to keep reporting tight without getting buried in per-user or per-keyword fees.

5. Serpstat API – Best for budget keyword and backlink data

If Ahrefs breaks your budget but you still want all-in-one functionality, Serpstat gets you surprisingly close.

Why It’s an Alternative

Serpstat is often described as the “budget Ahrefs,” and when it comes to API access, that comparison holds up.

While Ahrefs gates its API behind enterprise-only plans, Serpstat includes API access even on its entry-level tiers.

The database isn’t as large as Ahrefs, but for most keyword research, backlink pulls, and rank tracking tasks, it’s more than enough—especially at the price.

Serpstat also shines with its keyword clustering and batch analysis tools, which are hard to replicate using Ahrefs’ segmented API structure.

It’s not as plug-and-play for technical teams as DataForSEO, but it offers a solid middle ground: full-stack SEO features with a usable API and no six-figure contract required.

Key Features

• Keyword API: Retrieve suggestions, difficulty, CPC, and trends
• Backlink API: Pull referring domains, link types, and anchor details
• Rank Tracking API: Monitor keywords by location and device
• Clustering API: Group keywords by SERP similarity for content planning
• Domain API: Fetch visibility scores, traffic estimates, and competitors

Pros

• API access starts at just $69 per month
• Covers all major SEO features in one system
• Great for keyword clustering and batch research
• Active customer support and roadmap updates

Cons

• Smaller index than Ahrefs, especially for long-tail keywords
• Backlink data can lag in freshness
• Occasional UI and API latency issues on large pulls
• Limited documentation depth compared to more dev-focused tools

Pricing Snapshot

Serpstat uses a tiered plan system starting at $69 per month. Each plan includes a set number of API credits, which are used based on the type and volume of requests. You can scale up or down depending on how many projects or keywords you manage.

Compared to Ahrefs, Serpstat is far more accessible for small teams. Ahrefs forces you into enterprise pricing for API access and quickly runs through credits if you’re doing keyword or backlink research at scale. Serpstat is predictable, affordable, and flexible enough to support internal tools and reports without burning through your budget.

Personal Insight / Watch-out

What stood out was how quickly we could test content ideas using their keyword clustering—something that would take multiple manual steps in Ahrefs.

When I’d Recommend It

Choose Serpstat if you're a lean team that still needs broad SEO data and automation without committing to a heavy contract.

6. SpyFu API – Best for PPC data with unlimited export options

If you rely on competitor research and Google Ads history, SpyFu offers what Ahrefs doesn’t.

Why It’s an Alternative

Ahrefs excels at organic SEO data, but it falls short on pay-per-click insights and long-term ad tracking. That’s where SpyFu comes in.

Its API gives you access to more than a decade of Google Ads data, making it a strong complement or replacement for Ahrefs if your SEO work includes PPC or competitor spend analysis.

Where Ahrefs enforces strict credit limits and data caps, SpyFu takes the opposite approach. Every paid plan includes unlimited data exports and search queries—even through the API.

This means you don’t have to second-guess how much data you’re pulling, which is a major win for reporting or internal dashboards.

Key Features

• Ad History API: Access 10+ years of Google Ads copy and budget trends
• Domain Keyword API: Pull all ranking and paid keywords by domain
• Top Competitors API: Identify who competes for the same keywords
• Ranking History API: Track changes in both organic and paid positions
• Unlimited export access: Use API freely without hitting daily or monthly caps

Pros

• API included on all plans starting at $39 per month
• No query limits or export caps—even on the entry plan
• Strong PPC and competitive research tools
• Very straightforward documentation and easy onboarding

Cons

• Less accurate for organic keyword volumes outside the US
• Lacks technical SEO tools like crawlers or site audits
• Interface feels dated and the API is less modular than newer platforms
• Backlink data is weaker than Ahrefs and less frequently updated

Pricing Snapshot

SpyFu’s Basic plan starts at $39 per month and includes API access, unlimited queries, and unrestricted data downloads. Higher plans add features but keep the same no-limit policy on data usage.

Compared to Ahrefs, SpyFu is much more relaxed with data access. While Ahrefs makes you manage usage against a credit system and restricts exports, SpyFu opens the gate completely.

You lose some depth in backlink data, but for PPC-heavy users or agencies doing competitive recon, it’s a worthy trade.

Personal Insight / Watch-out

What surprised me was how quickly I could build client-ready PPC reports without touching the UI—just a few API calls and we had ten competitors’ ad strategies mapped.

When I’d Recommend It

Pick SpyFu if you need a lightweight, cost-friendly tool to power ad research and competitor analysis without any usage stress.

7. Mozscape API – Best for local SEO data and link metrics

If you like Ahrefs' link tools but want easier access and pricing, Mozscape offers a clean alternative.

Why It’s an Alternative

Mozscape is Moz’s API for backlink data, domain metrics, and link discovery. It mirrors some of what Ahrefs offers but does so with a much lower barrier to entry. Where Ahrefs restricts API access to its highest-tier accounts and wraps data inside a credit system, Mozscape gives developers a direct, simple way to pull link data with fewer hoops.

Moz’s link index is smaller than Ahrefs, and it doesn’t update as frequently. But it’s still respected for its quality and includes long-standing metrics like Domain Authority (DA) and Page Authority (PA). For teams focused on local SEO, small business outreach, or link audits that don’t require real-time data, Mozscape is a reliable and affordable choice.

Key Features

• Link Metrics API: Retrieve DA, PA, link counts, and spam scores
• Anchor Text API: Pull commonly used anchors pointing to a domain or page
• Top Pages API: Identify most linked pages on a domain
• Linking Domains API: Surface referring domains by strength and quantity
• Simple REST structure: Easy integration with minimal setup

Pros

• API available starting at $99 per month (Moz Pro Standard plan)
• Uses stable, well-known metrics like Domain Authority
• Very easy to set up and pull into local SEO dashboards
• No enterprise-only restrictions

Cons

• Smaller and less fresh link index than Ahrefs
• Limited to link metrics—no rank tracking or keyword APIs
• Some metrics like DA are proprietary and can be misunderstood
• Not ideal for large-scale, high-volume backlink monitoring

Pricing Snapshot

Mozscape is included with Moz Pro plans starting at $99 per month. You get a set number of rows per month based on your tier. Higher plans unlock more volume and extended historical data.

Compared to Ahrefs, Moz’s pricing is far more approachable and consistent. You do not need a custom quote or large budget to access the API, and the platform avoids complex credit mechanics. For teams that just need steady link data and DA metrics, it’s a lower-cost way to get similar outputs.

Personal Insight / Watch-out

If I could start over, I’d be clearer with clients about what DA means—Moz’s scores are useful, but not interchangeable with Ahrefs' DR.

When I’d Recommend It

Use Mozscape if your link analysis needs are modest and you want predictable pricing without sacrificing data quality.