Best Alternatives to Ahrefs API in 2026: 8 Tools Compared

DataForSEO is built for developers, not dashboard users. You deposit funds, call the APIs you need, and pay per request, which makes costs track usage rather than seats. The range is broad, covering live and standard SERP data, keyword ideas and volumes, backlink data, on-page audits and AI search data, so one account can feed several internal tools. Documentation is detailed, and the MCP server helps AI coding tools call the APIs in plain language.

The trade-off is that you build everything yourself. There is no friendly dashboard to fall back on, and you need to handle queues, polling and result parsing. Backlink coverage is also a known gap beside Ahrefs, so teams whose main job is link research should test sample domains first. For data pipelines, reporting tools and AI agents, DataForSEO is often the most flexible Ahrefs API alternative.

SE Ranking is the closest like-for-like replacement for many agencies because it pairs a full SEO suite with an API. Rank tracking, keyword research, backlink checks, site audits and AI search data are available through the same account, which suits client dashboards and internal reporting. A pay-as-you-go option starting at $50 also helps smaller teams that do not want a large monthly plan for occasional API calls.

The API is credit based, so you need to model what a daily job actually consumes, not just the plan price. Some endpoints are async, which means your code must poll for results rather than getting an instant answer. For agencies that already use SE Ranking, the API is a natural extension. For others, it is a strong middle ground between raw data APIs and enterprise suites.

Semrush API suits large teams that already use Semrush for marketing, PPC and content work. Its data covers domains, keywords, backlinks, traffic estimates and trends, and the Trends endpoints use clickstream data that smaller APIs cannot match. If your dashboards already pull from Semrush, keeping one vendor can simplify contracts, support and data definitions.

Cost is the barrier. API access requires an Advanced or Business tier, reported at $549 per month in 2026 sources, and API units are bought separately. That total is hard to justify for a single small job, such as checking a handful of domains each week. Semrush API fits enterprise reporting and market research, not a low-volume side project.

Moz Links API does one job well. It returns link metrics that many SEOs still use as a shorthand for site strength, including Domain Authority, Page Authority and Spam Score, plus backlink data for a domain. The entry price is low, and a free tier with 50 rows a month lets a developer test the format before paying. For tools that only need a quick authority check, Moz avoids paying for a full suite.

The limit is scope. Moz will not replace Ahrefs for keyword research, rank tracking or site audits, so it works best as a specialist API inside a larger stack. Rate limits on lower tiers are also tight, with the free tier limited in request speed. Use Moz when link metrics are the main need, and pair it with a SERP or keyword API for other data.

Majestic has long been the specialist choice for backlink research. Its index covers a long history, and Trust Flow and Citation Flow give a quick sense of link quality that raw link counts do not. For link audits, competitor link research and outreach lists, Majestic data is often cleaner to explain to a client than a long export of URLs with no quality signal.

Majestic is not a full Ahrefs replacement. It does not offer the same breadth of keyword, content and AI search data, and API billing uses index units that need careful modelling. Teams that mainly need link data will find it strong value. Teams that need a bit of everything should look at SE Ranking or DataForSEO instead, or use Majestic beside one of them.

Serpstat offers a practical all-in-one API for smaller teams. It covers keyword research, domain analysis, backlinks, rank tracking and site audits, which is enough for many client reports and internal tools. Pricing is lower than Semrush or Ahrefs enterprise tiers, and a trial helps teams test endpoint coverage in their own markets before committing.

The catch is plan detail. Some sources note that the lowest plan does not include API credits, so you may need a higher tier to get usable API access. Data depth also varies by country and niche, so test your own keywords and domains rather than trusting a global database size. Serpstat fits budget-conscious agencies that need several data types from one vendor.

SerpApi answers a narrow question well: what does a search results page show right now? It returns live organic results, ads, knowledge panels and local results from major engines, with location and device options. That makes it useful for rank checks, SERP feature monitoring and tools that need fresh results rather than a cached database. The starting plan is low, and a free tier helps with testing.

SerpApi does not replace Ahrefs. It has no backlink index, no keyword volume database and no site audit, so a full SEO tool would need other APIs beside it. It also bills by searches, so a daily job across thousands of keywords can become expensive. Use SerpApi when live SERP data is the core need, and pair it with a keyword or link API for the rest.

Bright Data SERP API suits teams that need search results at scale, across many locations and engines. Its proxy network helps avoid blocks and gives geo-targeted results, which matters for international rank tracking and market research. Pricing per successful result can be efficient when many queries fail or return no useful data, and a free allowance helps with early testing.

This is a developer tool, not a plug-and-play SEO suite. Small teams may find the setup, proxy options and billing model heavier than a simple SERP API such as SerpApi. Bright Data also does not provide a backlink or keyword database, so it fits best inside a stack where other APIs cover those jobs. For large, location-heavy SERP work, it is a strong Ahrefs API alternative for that slice of the job.