⚡ Bottom Line Up Front
Depends on your focus: Semrush for marketing, Ahrefs for
backlinks
Semrush wins for all-in-one digital marketing
(SEO + PPC + social + content). Ahrefs wins for
pure SEO — better backlink data, faster index, cleaner UX. For
European markets, Semrush has better local keyword databases.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Semrush | Ahrefs | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keyword Database | 26B+ keywords | 19B+ keywords | 🏆 Semrush |
| Backlink Index | 43T links | 35T links | 🏆 Semrush (size) / Ahrefs (freshness) |
| Content Tools | AI Writing, Topic Research | Content Explorer | 🏆 Semrush |
| PPC Analysis | Included | Not included | 🏆 Semrush |
| UI/UX | Dense, feature-rich | Clean, intuitive | 🏆 Ahrefs |
| Site Audit | Excellent | Excellent | Tie |
| Price (Annual) | $117.33/mo | $99/mo | 🏆 Ahrefs |
| EU Keyword Data | Excellent | Good | 🏆 Semrush |
Our Recommendation
If you're an SEO specialist who lives in backlink analysis and keyword research, Ahrefs is the sharper tool. If you're a marketing manager who needs SEO + content + PPC + social in one dashboard, Semrush gives you more bang for the buck.
For European markets specifically, Semrush has significantly better keyword databases for smaller languages (Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish). Ahrefs is catching up but still lags in Nordic keyword coverage.
Try Semrush Free →7-day trial · Affiliate link
Try Ahrefs →7-day trial $7 · Affiliate link