Key takeaways
- Ahrefs vs Moz is a data versus ease question. Ahrefs has the bigger backlink index and keyword database. Moz is easier to learn and starts at $49 a month.
- Domain Authority and Domain Rating are both link-based scores from 0 to 100. Neither is used by Google. DR moves faster and reflects more links.
- For rank tracking, Moz Standard tracks 300 keywords for $99 and Ahrefs Lite tracks 750 for $129. A dedicated tracker does better than both.
- The Ahrefs Starter plan at $29 undercuts Moz Starter at $49 for one person doing research.
Ahrefs vs Moz is a comparison between a data company and a teaching company. Moz wrote the guides that taught most of us SEO and invented Domain Authority. Ahrefs built the backlink crawler that most professionals now trust. In 2026 both sell subscriptions in the $50 to $450 range. This comparison covers backlinks, authority metrics, keyword research, rank tracking, audits, and price, with numbers from both pricing pages on September 16, 2026.
We build Zutrix, a rank tracking and SEO platform that competes with both on tracking. We keep our product to one marked section. For a wider set of options, see our Ahrefs alternatives and Moz alternatives guides.
Ahrefs vs Moz: the quick verdict
| Moz Pro | Ahrefs | |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest plan | Starter, $49 | Starter, $29 |
| Main entry plan | Standard, $99 | Lite, $129 |
| Tracked keywords on that plan | 300 | 750 |
| Higher tiers | Medium $179, Large $299 | Standard $249, Advanced $449 |
| Authority metric | Domain Authority (DA) | Domain Rating (DR) |
| Backlink index | Smaller | Largest in the industry |
| Keyword database | Smaller | Very large, with click data |
| Free option | Free trial, MozBar extension | Webmaster Tools for your own site |
| Annual discount | 20% | About 17% |
Pricing
Moz Pro has four plans: Starter at $49, Standard at $99, Medium at $179, and Large at $299 a month, with 20 percent off on annual billing. Ahrefs has Starter at $29, Lite at $129, Standard at $249, Advanced at $449, and Enterprise from $1,499. Annual billing saves about 17 percent. Extra users cost $40 to $80 a month on Ahrefs.
Moz is cheaper at every matching tier except the very bottom, where Ahrefs Starter at $29 beats Moz Starter at $49. The Ahrefs Starter plan uses credits, so it suits light use. Moz Starter is a full but small plan. Read our Moz pricing and Ahrefs pricing breakdowns for the fine print.
$29
Ahrefs Starter, cheapest way into either tool
$99
Moz Standard, 300 tracked keywords
$129
Ahrefs Lite, 750 tracked keywords
Domain Authority vs Domain Rating
Domain Authority is Moz's score from 1 to 100 that predicts how well a site can rank based on its links. Domain Rating is Ahrefs' score on the same scale, based on the strength of the backlink profile. Both are logarithmic, so moving from 20 to 30 is easy and 70 to 80 is hard. Google uses neither.
The practical difference is the data behind them. DR draws on the larger Ahrefs index and updates more often, so it reflects new links within days. DA is recalculated less often and can lag. DA is the number more clients know. DR is the number more SEOs trust. Report one, explain it once, and stop switching. Our referring domains vs backlinks guide explains the input that drives both.
Backlink data
Ahrefs wins this without much debate. Site Explorer shows more links, updates faster, and gives better anchor text and linking page reports. Moz Link Explorer has improved but still finds fewer links for most sites and updates more slowly. For link building, competitor link analysis, and lost link alerts, Ahrefs is the tool.
Moz's Spam Score is a useful extra for spotting risky links quickly. Ahrefs shows similar signals but does not roll them into one number. For a monthly client report, either is enough. For serious link work, Ahrefs. Our guide on how to check backlinks shows both in use.
Keyword research
Ahrefs Keywords Explorer has a far larger database, click estimates, and parent topics. Moz Keyword Explorer has a smaller database, a Priority score that blends volume and difficulty, and a clean interface. For a beginner, Moz's Priority score is a helpful shortcut. For anyone building a content plan, Ahrefs finds more and tells you more. Difficulty scores differ between the two and cannot be compared directly.
Rank tracking
Neither tool is generous here. Moz Standard tracks 300 keywords, Medium 1,500, Large 3,000, with weekly updates by default. Ahrefs Lite tracks 750, Standard 2,000, Advanced 5,000, with update frequency tied to plan. Both work, and both cost more per keyword than dedicated trackers by a wide margin.
Site audit
Both crawl your site and list issues. Ahrefs Site Audit is more detailed and comes free in Webmaster Tools for sites you own. Moz Site Crawl is simpler and explains issues in plain language, which beginners appreciate. For a technical SEO, Ahrefs. For a business owner, Moz is easier to act on. Our technical SEO checklist lists what any audit should catch.
Moz vs Ahrefs for agencies and freelancers
Agencies tend to settle on Ahrefs because one login covers a backlink checker, a keyword research tool, and an audit for every client. Freelancers with two or three clients often start on Moz Standard for the price, then move up. The seat rules matter here. Moz includes more users on its higher plans. Ahrefs charges per extra seat and caps how many you can add.
A practical middle path is common: Ahrefs Starter at $29 for research, MozBar free for Domain Authority, and a dedicated rank tracker for daily positions and client reports. That stack costs less than Moz Medium and gives you better data at every step.
Learning, interface, and support
Moz's strength is teaching. The Beginner's Guide to SEO, the Moz Academy, and the help articles are some of the best in the industry, and the interface explains every metric on hover. Ahrefs has excellent YouTube training and a faster interface once you know it, but assumes more knowledge. Both offer email support. Moz's is often praised for friendliness.
- +Pick one authority score for client reports and explain it once.
- +Use Ahrefs Webmaster Tools and MozBar for free before paying either.
- +Check keyword volumes for your niche in both trials.
- xConvert DA to DR or the reverse. They are different formulas.
- xBuy Moz or Ahrefs mainly for rank tracking.
- xAssume the cheaper plan has the same data. Ahrefs Starter is credit based.
Who should pick Ahrefs, and who should pick Moz?
| You are | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A professional SEO or link builder | Ahrefs | Best backlink and keyword data |
| New to SEO | Moz | Guides, academy, gentle interface |
| Clients ask for Domain Authority | Moz, or free MozBar | DA is the number they know |
| One person, light research | Ahrefs Starter | $29 a month |
| Mostly tracking rankings | Neither, use a tracker | Better limits for less money |
| Content planning | Ahrefs | Click data and parent topics |
FAQ
Common questions
Written by the Zutrix team
Last reviewed September 16, 2026
Zutrix has built rank tracking and SEO software for more than eight years. Our guides come from the same team that runs the product, and every how-to is checked against what we see in real ranking data across the keywords our customers track. We write them for people who are new to SEO and for agencies who want a clear answer fast.
Search volume and difficulty figures come from live Google results and third-party keyword data.
Sources and further reading