Ahrefs Free Plan 2026: What's Included & What's Not
Honest breakdown of the free tier limits and features
Ahrefs pricing varies by team size and features, ranging from $1 to $449 per month in 2026. Your actual cost depends on the tier you choose, contract length, and negotiated discounts.
Use the interactive pricing calculator to estimate your exact cost based on team size and requirements.
- Free tier: No free tier available
- Billing: Monthly and annual (save 15-20%)
- Hidden costs: Add ~35% for implementation, support, and training
Ahrefs offers a freemium model with limited features; upgrade to unlock more.
What's Included in the Free Plan
- Site Explorer access for verified websites only
- Site Audit for your own website
- Monitor backlinks to your site
- Track keyword rankings for your site
- Basic SEO health reports
- Email alerts for technical SEO issues
- Free forever with no credit card required
What's NOT Included (Paid Only)
- Limited access to all core tools
- 1 casual user seat included
- Site Explorer with basic metrics
- Keyword Explorer access
- Content Explorer access
- Site Audit tool
- Rank Tracker
- 7-day trial period
- 10,000 export rows per month
Free Plan Limits
| Limit | Free Plan | Paid Plans |
|---|---|---|
| verification | Must verify website ownership via Google Search Console or DNS | Unlimited/Higher |
| competitorData | No competitor research - only your own verified sites | Unlimited/Higher |
| keywordExplorer | Not included | Unlimited/Higher |
| contentExplorer | Not included | Unlimited/Higher |
| rankTracker | Limited to verified sites only | Unlimited/Higher |
| historicalData | Limited historical data access | Unlimited/Higher |
You'll Need to Upgrade When...
- You exceed the user limit
- You need features like Limited access to all core tools or 1 casual user seat included
- You require premium support or SLA guarantees
- You need to remove branding or watermarks
- You need advanced integrations or API access
Hidden Restrictions on Free Plan
- Ahrefs branding may appear on your content or communications
- Support is limited to community forums or email with longer response times
- Export options may be restricted or include watermarks
- API access is typically limited or not available
- Advanced reporting and analytics require paid plans
Free vs Paid: Which Do You Need?
Free Plan is Enough If...
- You're an individual or very small team
- You need only basic features
- You don't mind usage limits
- Branding on output is acceptable
- Community support is sufficient
You Need Paid If...
- Your team is growing beyond limits
- You need advanced features
- Professional branding is required
- You need priority support
- Integrations/API access is critical
Free vs Trial Plan Comparison
| Webmaster Tools (Free) $0 | Trial $29/month | |
|---|---|---|
| Features | 7 included | 9+ included |
| Support | Community/Email | Priority Support |
| Branding | Ahrefs branding | Your branding |
| Best For | Website owners who only need to monitor their own site's SEO health without competitive research | Users wanting to test Ahrefs features before committing to a paid plan |
Frequently Asked Questions
01 Is Ahrefs free?
Yes, Ahrefs offers a freemium plan with 7 core features included. However, there are limits on verification, competitordata that may require upgrading.
02 What's included in Ahrefs's free plan?
Ahrefs's free plan includes: Site Explorer access for verified websites only, Site Audit for your own website, Monitor backlinks to your site, Track keyword rankings for your site, Basic SEO health reports, and 2 more features. Key limits include verification: Must verify website ownership via Google Search Console or DNS, competitorData: No competitor research - only your own verified sites, keywordExplorer: Not included.
03 What's NOT included in Ahrefs's free plan?
The free plan excludes: Limited access to all core tools, 1 casual user seat included, Site Explorer with basic metrics, Keyword Explorer access, Content Explorer access. You'll also have Ahrefs branding and limited support options.
04 When should I upgrade from Ahrefs's free plan?
Consider upgrading when: you hit user or storage limits, need features like Limited access to all core tools or 1 casual user seat included, require premium support, or want to remove branding. The cheapest paid plan starts at $29/month.
05 Is Ahrefs's free plan really free forever?
Yes, Ahrefs's free plan is available indefinitely with no time limit. However, feature and usage limits may restrict what you can do without upgrading to a paid plan.
Get Ahrefs pricing updates
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