Ahrefs vs Moz
The data leader against the industry teacher. A comparison that was close a decade ago and is instructive today.
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Ahrefs
The backlink king with the cleanest data in SEO.
Moz Pro
The industry teacher, no longer the industry leader.
Prices last checked on
| Feature | Ahrefs | Moz Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 4.6 / 5 | 3.9 / 5 |
| Price | From $29/mo | From $79/mo |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Best for | Link building and competitor research | DA-focused reporting workflows |
| Category | All-in-one suites | All-in-one suites |
| Provider | Ahrefs Pte. Ltd. | Moz (Ziff Davis) |
| Visit Ahrefs | Visit Moz Pro |
Our verdict
Ahrefs wins on every measurable axis. It has a substantially larger and fresher link index, better keyword data, faster crawls, and a product that ships improvements quarterly. Moz keeps two real assets. Domain Authority still gets asked for by name by clients and journalists, and its learning resources remain the best free SEO education anywhere.
If your reporting depends on DA or your team grew up on Moz workflows, the switching cost is real. Everyone else starting fresh at this price level chooses Ahrefs and does not look back.
“The tool SEO professionals trust most for the data itself. That means the largest live backlink index in the industry and a keyword explorer that rarely misleads. Less broad than Semrush, more loved by specialists, and the Brand Radar add-on answers the AI question for $199 a month extra.”Editorial team, on Ahrefs
“The veteran that invented Domain Authority and taught a generation SEO through its blog. The product is solid and the community resources remain excellent, but the data and pace of innovation now trail Semrush and Ahrefs at a similar price.”Editorial team, on Moz Pro
Frequently asked questions
Is Moz Pro still worth it compared to Ahrefs?
Only if Domain Authority or an existing workflow ties you to it. Ahrefs wins on every measurable axis. It has a larger and fresher link index, better keyword data, faster crawls, and a product that ships improvements quarterly. Moz keeps two real assets, the DA metric that clients and journalists ask for by name, and free learning resources that remain the best SEO education anywhere.
Which is cheaper, Moz Pro or Ahrefs?
Moz Pro Standard at $99 a month, $1,188 a year, undercuts Ahrefs Lite at $108 a month, $1,296 a year, but the gap is small enough that data quality decides it rather than price. Ahrefs also opens lower with a $29 Starter plan on usage credits. US dollars, last checked August 2026. Moz Standard covers 3 projects and 300 keywords.
Can I still report Domain Authority if I move to Ahrefs?
Not directly. DA is Moz's own metric, so it comes from Moz and nowhere else, while Ahrefs reports its own link metrics instead. If client reports or media pitches are anchored on DA, that is a genuine switching cost. Either you keep Moz alongside your main tool for reporting, or you move clients onto metrics from the platform you use every day.