Semrush
The all-in-one SEO and marketing suite most agencies run on
Semrush covers keyword research, backlink analysis, site audits, rank tracking, content and now AI-search visibility, all in one account. It is…
Ahrefs
Backlink and keyword data that SEOs trust most
Ahrefs is the tool SEOs pick for backlink data and its Site Explorer, Keywords Explorer and content tools are excellent. The $29 Starter plan finally opened it to solo site owners, and Webmaster Tools are free for your own verified sites.
Best for: backlink research and competitor gaps
What works
- Best backlink index in the industry
- Cheap Starter tier
- Free tools for your own sites
What to know
- No affiliate program
- Credits and limits on lower plans
Alternatives
Surfer SEO
Content editor that scores drafts against the top-ranking pages
Surfer analyses what ranks for a keyword and gives you a live content score as you write: terms to include, headings, length. Its AI writer produces…
Clearscope
Premium content optimiser used by large content teams
Clearscope grades content against the SERP with a simple A-to-F score and keeps reports clean enough to hand to writers. It now tracks how your pages…