How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- Ahrefs is the strongest direct replacement for backlink and keyword research, with Lite starting at $129 per month and a Starter plan at $29 per month for lighter work.
- Semrush is the broadest suite here, covering SEO, content, and PPC in one subscription, starting at $139 per month, but extra seats and reports add cost.
- SE Ranking gives the most tracked keywords at its entry price, with Core at $129 per month or $103.20 per month billed annually, including 2,000 daily keyword checks.
- Mangools and Ubersuggest are the honest budget picks for freelancers and small sites, with Mangools Basic at $37.70 per month billed annually and Ubersuggest plans listed from $29 per month in some listings.
- Screaming Frog is not a suite, but at $279 per licence per year it is the best value technical crawler for teams that already have research tools.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 Ahrefs | Backlink and keyword research depth | $29 per month (Starter) | Yes |
 Semrush | All-in-one SEO, content, and PPC | $139 per month | Free trial |
 SE Ranking | Rank tracking value for agencies | $129 per month (Core) | Free trial |
 Mangools | Simple keyword research for beginners | $37.70 per month (Basic, billed annually) | Yes |
 Ubersuggest | Low-cost checks for small sites | See website | Yes |
 Serpstat | Budget all-in-one research | $69 per month (Individual) | Free trial |
 SpyFu | Competitor keyword and PPC history | $39 per month (Basic) | Yes |
 Screaming Frog | Technical site crawling | $279 per licence per year | Yes |
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
The best Moz Pro alternatives
#1Ahrefs
Best for: Backlink and keyword research depth4.5/5 on
G2 (717 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit ahrefs.com
Starting price$29 per month (Starter)
Free planYes
Ahrefs earns its place first because its backlink data is the reason most people leave Moz Pro. Site Explorer shows who links to a competitor, which pages earn those links, and how a link profile changes over time, with a level of detail that Moz Pro users often find thin. Keyword Explorer pairs that link view with search volume, difficulty, and parent topic ideas, so research and outreach can live in one workflow.
The catch is price structure. Starter at $29 per month is useful for light research, but teams that track rankings daily and run full audits usually need Lite at $129 per month or Standard at $249 per month. Ahrefs Webmaster Tools is free for verified sites and is a good way to test the interface before paying. If backlinks drive your decisions, Ahrefs is hard to beat, but budget for the tier that matches your keyword count.
What we like- Deep backlink index and Site Explorer
- Clear keyword difficulty and traffic estimates
- Free Webmaster Tools for sites you verify
Watch out for- Lite at $129 per month is the first full tier
- Weekly rank refresh on base plans in some listings
- Extra users and credits add cost
#2Semrush
Best for: All-in-one SEO, content, and PPC4.4/5 on
G2 (4,035 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit semrush.com
Starting price$139 per month
Free planFree trial
Semrush suits teams that want one subscription to cover more than rank tracking. Beyond keyword research and site audits, it includes PPC keyword history, content templates, social scheduling, and traffic analytics for competitor domains. That breadth matters for agencies and in-house teams that report on organic and paid work together, rather than juggling three separate tools.
The price reflects that breadth. The SEO plan starts at $139 per month, or $117.33 per month billed annually in recent listings, and Pro and Advanced tiers rise to $299 and $549 per month in some comparisons. A 7-day free trial helps, but check seat prices and report add-ons before you commit, because a team of three can pay far more than the headline plan price. If you only need rank tracking and backlinks, Semrush may be more tool than you need.
What we like- Broad suite covering SEO, PPC, social, and content
- Strong keyword gap and competitor traffic tools
- Large keyword and domain databases
Watch out for- Extra seats cost $45 per month or more on lower plans
- Some content and historical features need higher tiers
- Learning curve for new users
#3SE Ranking
Best for: Rank tracking value for agencies4.7/5 on
G2 (1,606 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit seranking.com
Starting price$129 per month (Core)
Free planFree trial
SE Ranking is the value pick among full suites, and the numbers explain why. Core at $129 per month, or $103.20 per month billed annually, includes 10 projects and 2,000 keywords tracked daily, which is more daily tracking than Ahrefs Lite or Semrush entry plans offer at similar prices. Site audits cover up to 250,000 pages per month on Core, and integrations with Google Analytics 4 and Search Console keep reporting grounded in real traffic.
The honest limit is that SE Ranking is not a one-for-one Ahrefs replacement for deep link research. Its backlink checker is solid for routine work, but teams that live in link data may still want Ahrefs alongside it. A 14-day free trial with no card required makes it easy to test. For agencies and small teams that track many clients, SE Ranking often delivers the best limits per dollar.
What we like- 2,000 keywords tracked daily on Core
- 10 projects on the entry plan
- White-label reporting available as an add-on
Watch out for- Agency Pack costs $69 per month extra
- Backlink history differs from Ahrefs
- Some advanced AI features sit on higher tiers
#4Mangools
Best for: Simple keyword research for beginners4.7/5 on
G2 (97 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit mangools.com
Starting price$37.70 per month (Basic, billed annually)
Free planYes
Mangools is built for people who found Moz Pro either too expensive or too busy. KWFinder gives keyword ideas, difficulty, and SERP previews without a wall of menus, and SERPWatcher tracks rankings in a simple daily view. The suite also includes LinkMiner for backlink checks and SiteProfiler for domain overviews, which cover the basics most small sites need.
Basic costs $61 per month billed monthly, or $37.70 per month billed annually, with 100 keyword lookups a day and 200 tracked keywords. A free plan exists with low daily limits, plus a 10-day Free+ period for new accounts. That makes Mangools a low-risk switch for bloggers and freelancers. Larger sites with thousands of keywords will hit limits quickly and should look at SE Ranking or Ahrefs instead.
What we like- Clean interface that beginners learn fast
- KWFinder, SERPChecker, and rank tracking in one suite
- Free plan with daily limits and no card
Watch out for- Basic rank updates are weekly in some listings
- No full site crawl allowance comparable to suites
- Daily lookup limits on lower plans
#5Ubersuggest
Best for: Low-cost checks for small sites4.2/5 on
G2 (160 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit neilpatel.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
Ubersuggest fits owners who check SEO a few times a month rather than daily. It covers keyword ideas, content ideas, site audits, and competitor overviews in a single dashboard, and its reports are easier to explain to a client or boss than a dense suite report. Free searches let you test keyword ideas before paying, which is useful for a single site.
The trade-off is depth and frequency. Entry tiers in public listings range from around $12 to $29 per month depending on promotion and billing, so check the current pricing page before budgeting, because promotional offers change. Weekly rank checks and monthly AI refresh limits on entry plans mean Ubersuggest is not ideal for agencies tracking many clients daily. For one or two small sites, it is a fair, low-cost Moz Pro alternative.
What we like- Low entry cost in many listings
- Keyword ideas, site audits, and backlink overviews
- Simple reports for non-specialists
Watch out for- Rank checks are weekly on entry tiers in some listings
- No API on lower plans
- Data depth is thinner than Ahrefs or Semrush
#6Serpstat
Best for: Budget all-in-one research4.6/5 on
G2 (464 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit serpstat.com
Starting price$69 per month (Individual)
Free planFree trial
Serpstat is a practical middle ground between Mangools and the big suites. Individual at $69 per month, or $50 per month billed annually in recent listings, bundles the core jobs a small team needs: research, tracking, audits, and backlink checks. That single-plan coverage is why it appeals to teams that want to replace Moz Pro without paying suite prices.
The limits to check are credits and rendering. Rank tracking consumes checks, and the entry plan does not include JavaScript rendering or API access, so technical teams and reporting-heavy agencies may need a higher tier. A free trial helps you test whether its data covers your niche and country well. If it does, Serpstat can save a meaningful amount each month compared with Ahrefs or Semrush.
What we like- Keyword research, rank tracking, audits, and backlinks in one plan
- Lower entry price than major suites
- Team and API options on higher tiers
Watch out for- Entry plan excludes JavaScript rendering and API access
- Tracking consumes credits
- Interface feels dense for beginners
#7SpyFu
Best for: Competitor keyword and PPC history4.6/5 on
G2 (518 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit spyfu.com
Starting price$39 per month (Basic)
Free planYes
SpyFu does one job better than most suites: showing what competitors have ranked for and advertised on over time. You can see a rival's most successful keywords, ad copy history, and estimated PPC spend patterns, which is useful for content planning and paid search research. For agencies pitching new clients, that history is often more persuasive than a single current ranking snapshot.
The weakness is that SpyFu is not a complete Moz Pro replacement on its own. Site audits and technical tools are thinner, and Basic rank tracking refreshes weekly rather than daily. Limited free searches let you test a domain before paying. Pair SpyFu with a crawler or a rank tracker if you need full coverage, or use it as a focused competitor tool alongside SE Ranking or Ahrefs.
What we like- Long competitor keyword and ad history
- Clear PPC and organic overlap views
- Basic at $29 per month billed annually in some listings
Watch out for- Rank refresh is weekly on Basic
- No AI brand monitoring on Basic
- Weaker site audit depth than full suites
Starting price$279 per licence per year
Free planYes
Screaming Frog is included because many Moz Pro users actually need a better crawler, not another rank tracker. The SEO Spider runs on your computer, crawls a site, and reports broken links, redirect chains, duplicate titles, missing meta data, and other technical issues in a spreadsheet-style view. That output is directly useful for developers and technical SEOs.
It is not a suite, and that distinction matters. Screaming Frog does not track rankings, research keywords, or monitor backlinks, so teams that drop Moz Pro entirely will still need another tool for those jobs. The free version crawls up to 500 URLs, which suits small sites, while the paid licence at $279 per year removes that limit. For technical audits, it is the best value tool in this list.
What we like- Crawls up to 500 URLs free, unlimited when paid
- Detailed checks for broken links, redirects, and duplicate content
- Integrates with Search Console, Analytics, and PageSpeed data
Watch out for- Desktop software, not a cloud suite
- No keyword research or rank tracking
- Learning curve for non-technical users
How we chose
We compared vendor pricing pages, product documentation, and public reviews on G2, Capterra, and Reddit, and we checked feature lists for rank tracking frequency, project limits, keyword allowances, crawl limits, and seat costs. We favoured tools that cover a clear Moz Pro job, whether that is full-suite replacement, budget research, competitor history, or technical crawling, and we noted where a lower price comes with weekly updates, credit limits, or missing API access.
We did not claim hands-on testing, and we did not invent ratings, user counts, or awards. Prices change often, and annual billing changes the monthly figure, so the figures above state the billing basis where a vendor lists it. Where listings conflicted, we used the vendor pricing page figure where possible and marked the rest as needing a check on that page before purchase.
Choosing by team size and budget
Start with the job, not the brand. A freelancer with one site needs keyword ideas, a few hundred tracked keywords, and a basic audit. A small agency needs many projects, daily tracking, and client reports. An in-house team at a larger company needs seat controls, historical data, and integrations with analytics tools.
If you track many keywords
SE Ranking Core and Ahrefs Lite are the natural shortlist, because their keyword allowances differ sharply at similar prices. Count the keywords you actually track today, add a margin for new pages, and compare that total with the plan limit, not with the marketing headline. Weekly versus daily refresh also matters: weekly tracking hides short ranking moves that daily tracking would catch.
If budget is the main limit
Mangools Basic, Ubersuggest, and Serpstat Individual all cost less than half of a major suite entry plan in many listings. Accept their limits in return: fewer tracked keywords, weekly updates on some tiers, and thinner backlink history. That trade is fair for small sites, but it becomes costly if you later pay for add-ons to fix gaps.
If you need a specialist tool
Add Screaming Frog for technical work and SpyFu for competitor history, rather than expecting one suite to be best at everything. A two-tool setup often costs less than a top-tier suite plan and gives better depth in each area. Keep a single reporting sheet so data from both tools stays comparable month to month.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Moz Pro alternative overall?
Ahrefs is the strongest all-round replacement for research and backlink depth, while SE Ranking offers better rank tracking value at a similar entry price. The best choice depends on whether backlink data or tracked keyword volume matters more to your work.
Is there a free Moz Pro alternative?
Mangools offers a free plan with daily limits, Ahrefs offers free Webmaster Tools for verified sites, and Screaming Frog crawls up to 500 URLs free. None of these free tiers fully replaces a paid suite for a large site, but all are useful for testing or for a single small site.
Why do people leave Moz Pro?
Common reasons in public reviews include limited tracked keywords on lower plans, thinner backlink data compared with Ahrefs, and a need for broader PPC, content, or technical tools. Some users also prefer a simpler interface, which is where Mangools and Ubersuggest appeal.
Can one tool replace Moz Pro completely?
Yes, for most teams, if you choose a full suite such as Ahrefs, Semrush, or SE Ranking. Focused tools such as Screaming Frog or SpyFu cover only part of the job, so they work best alongside a suite or a rank tracker rather than alone.
How much should a small business pay for an SEO tool?
A small site can start at $29 to $69 per month with Ubersuggest, Mangools, or Serpstat, depending on current pricing and billing. Larger sites and agencies usually need $129 to $249 per month for a suite plan that covers enough keywords, projects, and seats.
Does Domain Authority transfer to another tool?
No, Domain Authority is a Moz metric, and other tools use their own scores, such as Domain Rating at Ahrefs or Authority Score at Semrush. Treat scores from different tools as separate scales, and compare trends within one tool rather than mixing scores across tools.
Sources we checked (8)
- https://ahrefs.com
- https://www.semrush.com
- https://seranking.com
- https://mangools.com
- https://neilpatel.com/ubersuggest/
- https://serpstat.com
- https://www.spyfu.com
- https://www.screamingfrog.co.uk
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.