Ahrefs vs DataForSEO
Ahrefs vs DataForSEO, compared side by side on 17 data points: what each one does, how big it is, what it has raised, the tech running each site, and what users report. We score both out of 100 on traction, team and visibility: Ahrefs is on 36/100 and DataForSEO on 10/100.
Where each one leads
Ahrefs
- our overall score: 36/100 against 10/100
- domain rating: 91/100 against 76/100
- headcount: 200 against 30
- LinkedIn following: 222,086 against 209
DataForSEO
- agent readiness: 49/100 against 41/100
At a glance
| Measure | Ahrefs | DataForSEO |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | AI marketing platform for discoverability in search and AI. | Provides SEO-related data through APIs, including SERP parsing. |
| Category | SEO Tools, MarTech, AI Marketing, Content Marketing | API Platform, Data Platform, Web Search, SEO Software |
| Sells toBusiness model | B2B | B2B |
| Offering | Software | Platform |
| Founded | 2010 | 2015 |
| Headquarters | Singapore, Singapore | Tallinn, Estonia |
| Status | Active | Active |
Size, funding and growth
| Measure | Ahrefs | DataForSEO |
|---|---|---|
| Employees | 200 | 30 |
| Headcount growthLast 12 months | +22.7% | Not published |
| LinkedIn followers | 222,086 | 209 |
StartupHub scores
Our own 0-100 ratings. They measure company strength and site quality, not which product suits you.
| Measure | Ahrefs | DataForSEO |
|---|---|---|
| StartupHub scoreOur 0-100 rating | 36/100 | 10/100 |
| Traction | 20/100 | 15/100 |
| Team | 30/100 | 30/100 |
| Search visibility | 76/100 | 27/100 |
| Agent readinessHow well an AI agent can read and act on the site | D (41/100) | D (49/100) |
| Domain ratingLink authority, 0-100 | 91/100 | 76/100 |
Technology
Detected on each public site, so it reflects the marketing stack as well as the product.
| Measure | Ahrefs | DataForSEO |
|---|---|---|
| CDN | Cloudflare | Cloudflare |
| CMS | Not detected | WordPress |
| Frameworks | Not detected | Jquery |
| Analytics | Google Analytics 4, Segment, Linkedin Insight, Facebook Pixel +1 more | Google Tag Manager |
Ahrefs vs DataForSEO: common questions
Which is better, Ahrefs or DataForSEO?
On our 0-100 score Ahrefs rates higher (36/100 against 10/100). The score weights traction, team, visibility and profile completeness, so it reflects company strength rather than which product suits you. We compare the two on 17 data points above: read the rows that match what you are buying for.
How do Ahrefs and DataForSEO compare on the numbers?
Ahrefs leads on our overall score (36/100 against 10/100), domain rating (91/100 against 76/100), headcount (200 against 30), LinkedIn following (222,086 against 209). DataForSEO leads on agent readiness (49/100 against 41/100).
Read the full Ahrefs review and pricing or the DataForSEO review and pricing. You can also browse other Ahrefs alternatives we track.