Ahrefs vs Semrush
Ahrefs vs Semrush, compared side by side on 12 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 Semrush on 60/100.
Where each one leads
Ahrefs
Leads on none of the measures we hold for both companies.
Semrush
- our overall score: 60/100 against 36/100
- agent readiness: 50/100 against 41/100
- headcount: 2,245 against 200
- LinkedIn following: 550,363 against 222,086
At a glance
| Measure | Ahrefs | Semrush |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | AI marketing platform for discoverability in search and AI. | Semrush is a leading online visibility management SaaS platform offering over 55 products and tools to help 10,000,000 digital marketers worldwide improve their online marketing results and workflow. |
| Category | SEO Tools, MarTech, AI Marketing, Content Marketing | SEO Tools |
| Sells toBusiness model | B2B | B2B |
| Offering | Software | Not published |
| Founded | 2010 | 2008 |
| Headquarters | Singapore, Singapore | Not published |
| Status | Active | Active |
Size, funding and growth
| Measure | Ahrefs | Semrush |
|---|---|---|
| Employees | 200 | 2,245 |
| Headcount growthLast 12 months | +22.7% | Not published |
| Total funding | Not published | $40.0M |
| LinkedIn followers | 222,086 | 550,363 |
StartupHub scores
Our own 0-100 ratings. They measure company strength and site quality, not which product suits you.
| Measure | Ahrefs | Semrush |
|---|---|---|
| StartupHub scoreOur 0-100 rating | 36/100 | 60/100 |
| Traction | 20/100 | 58/100 |
| Team | 30/100 | Not published |
| Community | Not published | 8/100 |
| Search visibility | 76/100 | 46/100 |
| Quality | Not published | 78/100 |
| Agent readinessHow well an AI agent can read and act on the site | D (41/100) | D (50/100) |
| Domain ratingLink authority, 0-100 | 91/100 | 92/100 |
Technology
Detected on each public site, so it reflects the marketing stack as well as the product.
| Measure | Ahrefs | Semrush |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting | Not detected | Google Cloud |
| CDN | Cloudflare | Not detected |
| Analytics | Google Analytics 4, Segment, Linkedin Insight, Facebook Pixel +1 more | Not detected |
| Support stack | Not detected | Intercom |
Product and pricing
| Measure | Ahrefs | Semrush |
|---|---|---|
| Key features | Not published | Traffic & Market Analysis, Search Engine Optimization, Content Marketing, AI Visibility Tracking, Social Media Management, Advertising Optimization |
Ahrefs vs Semrush: common questions
Which is better, Ahrefs or Semrush?
On our 0-100 score Semrush rates higher (60/100 against 36/100). 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 12 data points above: read the rows that match what you are buying for.
How do Ahrefs and Semrush compare on the numbers?
Semrush leads on our overall score (60/100 against 36/100), agent readiness (50/100 against 41/100), headcount (2,245 against 200), LinkedIn following (550,363 against 222,086).
Read the full Ahrefs review and pricing or the Semrush review and pricing. You can also browse other Ahrefs alternatives we track.