Surfer SEO vs Ahrefs: Which Keyword Research & SEO Tool is Better?

As an SEO professional trying to grow my website through organic search engine rankings, finding the right keyword research tools is essential.

You need accurate data to identify the opportunities and determine where to focus your efforts. 

Surfer SEO and Ahrefs have been two of the leading SEO software options for years. Both offer deep keyword insights and other metrics and features to help optimize websites.

In this blog post, I will compare key aspects of Surfer SEO and Ahrefs based on my extensive use of both tools over the past 12 months. My goal is to help you understand the pros and cons of each platform so you can decide which is a better fit for your specific needs and budget.

Let’s start by exploring what each tool brings to the table.

Brief Overview: Surfer SEO vs Ahrefs

First, I’ll give you a quick overview of Surfer SEO and Ahrefs:

Surfer SEO

Surfer SEO is a powerful on-page optimization tool. It analyzes the top-ranking competitors for a given keyword and provides concrete recommendations for improving your content’s relevance and search engine appeal.

Key Selling Points:

• Data-Driven Content Guidelines: Offers specific recommendations for optimizing content.
• SERP Analyzer: Surfer SEO’s SERP Analyzer reviews top-performing content to uncover what works.
• Content Editor: Real-time suggestions to enhance content quality and SEO.
• Keyword Researcher: Identifies valuable keywords and questions within your niche.
• SEO Audit: Provides insights to identify and fix on-page issues quickly.

Ahrefs

Ahrefs is renowned for its advanced SEO tools and analytics, which help businesses and marketers improve their search engine visibility. Its vast data indexing and powerful backlink analysis tools stand out, making it indispensable for SEO professionals.

Key Selling Points:

• Robust Keyword Explorer: Extensive database with keyword difficulty scores and search volumes.
• Site Explorer: Deep dive into any website’s backlink profile and organic search traffic.
• Content Explorer: Discover popular content within your industry to inspire your strategy.
• Rank Tracker: Monitor your website’s ranking progress for targeted keywords.
• Site Audit: Comprehensive tool to detect and rectify website SEO issues.

Quick Verdict: Surfer SEO vs Ahrefs

Surfer SEO shines by offering detailed, actionable insights derived directly from analysis of what’s currently winning on the SERPs. With features like the Content Editor and SERP Analyzer, you receive tailored advice on structuring your content to match and surpass competitors.

This focus on actionable data ensures that every piece of content you produce has the potential to rank well.

With its robust set of tools, including the Keyword Explorer, Site Explorer, and Content Explorer, Ahrefs provides an unparalleled depth of data on both your site and the competition. 

Whether you’re researching new keywords, analyzing backlink profiles, or tracking your rankings, Ahrefs offers a wealth of information that can help guide your SEO strategy from inception to execution.

Product Overview: Surfer SEO vs Ahrefs

What is it?

Surfer SEO is an on-page SEO powerhouse designed to help you outrank the competition. It analyzes top-performing content and provides data-driven recommendations to improve pages’ relevance and structure.

Ahrefs is a comprehensive SEO suite offering various tools for organic traffic, monthly search volume, keyword research, backlink analysis, competitor research, and technical site audits.

Who is it for?

Surfer SEO is ideal for content creators, bloggers, and website owners who want to maximize the search engine visibility of specific pages.

Ahrefs is the preferred choice for SEO professionals, marketers, and agencies seeking a full-featured platform to manage all aspects of their search engine optimization strategy.

What makes it special?

Surfer SEO excels in its laser-focused approach to content optimization. Its competitive analysis and detailed optimization guidelines provide a clear path to higher rankings.

Ahrefs stands out due to its industry-leading backlink database and a robust suite of popular SEO tools. These offer unparalleled insights for comprehensive website analysis and improvement.

What does it do?

Surfer SEO analyzes top-ranking pages, generates content outlines tailored to your target keywords, and offers real-time guidance as you write.

Ahrefs allows you to discover profitable keywords, assess their difficulty, track your rankings, build a strong backlink profile, and conduct in-depth technical site audits.

Quick Comparison: Surfer SEO vs Ahrefs

Key Features	Surfer SEO	Ahrefs
#1) Pricing	Winner
#2) Design & Functionality	Winner
#3) Keyword Research Tools		Winner
#4) Site Audit		Winner
#5) Competitor Research & Analysis		Winner
#6) Content Optimization	Winner
#7) Backlink Analysis		Winner
#8) Keyword Rank Tracking		Winner
#9) AI SEO Content Editor	Winner
#10) Google Docs Integration	Winner
Overall	On-page Optimization Tool	Comprehensive SEO Tool

Feature Comparison: Surfer SEO vs Ahrefs

Let’s compare the features of these keyword research and SEO tools so you can make the right decision for your business.

#1) Pricing

Surfer SEO offers a more accessible starting point with its monthly entry-level plans priced from $89. This option suits content creators and smaller websites, providing optimization tools for up to 30 articles. Surfer SEO also has higher-tier plans for those needing expanded capacity or advanced features.

Ahrefs’ pricing begins at $99 per month. While this plan offers core SEO functionality, you’ll be limited in keyword tracking and report generation. To unlock Ahrefs’ full potential, considering their more comprehensive (and more expensive) plans may be necessary.

The most cost-effective choice depends on your specific requirements. Surfer SEO’s lower-priced plans often provide better value if your primary focus is on-page content optimization.  However, if you require extensive backlink analysis, technical site auditing, and a broader suite of SEO tools, Ahrefs’ expanded plans could justify the higher investment.

Verdict: Surfer SEO provides better pricing flexibility for budget-conscious content creators and smaller operations.

#2) Design & Functionality

Surfer SEO emphasizes a clean and intuitive user experience. Its primary focus on content optimization results in a streamlined workflow, making it approachable even for those with limited SEO expertise. The platform guides you smoothly through content outline creation, competitor analysis, and optimization recommendations.

Ahrefs provides a comprehensive suite of SEO tools and in-depth data, translating into a slightly steeper learning curve. Once familiar with the platform, however, it offers exceptional power and flexibility across different SEO tasks.

The choice depends on your priorities. Surfer SEO excels in simplifying and streamlining the content optimization process. Ahrefs offers unparalleled breadth and depth for seasoned SEO professionals who need sophisticated tools and extensive data for multi-faceted analysis.

Verdict: Surfer SEO stands out for its user-friendliness and targeted content optimization features. If your primary goal is to quickly and efficiently improve your content’s search results and rankings, Surfer SEO’s focused approach is an excellent choice.

#3) Keyword Research Tools

Surfer SEO provides solid keyword research capabilities. Its tools help you discover relevant terms, understand search intent, and identify opportunities to fill content gaps. The platform’s content editor integrates these insights directly, enabling you to optimize your content with targeted keywords as you write.

Ahrefs boasts an industry-leading suite of keyword research tools known for their accuracy and extensive data. It offers detailed metrics like search volumes, keyword difficulty scores, and estimated click potential. Ahrefs empowers you to uncover a broad spectrum of potentially profitable keywords to fuel your content strategy.

Both platforms offer valuable keyword insights. If your priority is in-depth data and a wide array of metrics for comprehensive keyword analysis, Ahrefs is the clear winner. Surfer SEO provides a more focused approach that suits those seeking efficient keyword insights and streamlined integration into their content creation process.

Verdict: Ahrefs leads keyword research, offering broader features and advanced data points critical for developing a robust keyword strategy.

#4) Site Audit

Surfer SEO offers a site audit feature to identify basic technical SEO issues that can negatively impact your search rankings. It provides actionable recommendations to address common problems like slow loading speeds, broken links, or missing meta descriptions.

Ahrefs excels in conducting in-depth technical site audits. Its comprehensive tools analyze your website’s structure, highlighting a wide range of potential issues affecting your search visibility. From internal linking and duplicate content to complex crawl errors, Ahrefs provides a detailed assessment of your site’s technical SEO health.

For extensive technical analysis, Ahrefs is the clear leader. It offers the most granular control and in-depth reports, making it well-suited for large-scale websites or diagnosing complex SEO issues. Surfer SEO’s audit functionality is adequate for smaller websites, primarily focusing on content optimization.

Verdict: Ahrefs stands out for its robust technical site audit capabilities, making it the preferred choice for SEO professionals and those operating larger, complex websites.

#5) Competitor Research & Analysis

Surfer SEO excels at analyzing top-ranking competitors for a given keyword. Its content editor provides insights into how rivals structure their content, the topics they address, and the keywords they target – giving you a powerful blueprint to compete for higher rankings.

Ahrefs offers a suite of tools dedicated to competitor analysis. You can dive into detailed backlink profiles, understand competitors’ organic traffic and paid search strategies, and identify gaps in their content for potential opportunities. Ahrefs provides a holistic view of the competitive landscape, enabling you to stay ahead of the curve.

Surfer SEO’s detailed competitor analysis is exceptionally valuable if you focus on outperforming specific pages with your content. For a broader perspective on competitor strategies across multiple SEO facets, Ahrefs offers more profound insights and actionable intelligence.

Verdict: Ahrefs takes the lead in competitor analysis. It provides comprehensive tools to dissect rival websites, making it invaluable for developing a winning content strategy and building a robust online presence.

#6) On-page SEO Content Optimization

Surfer SEO excels in providing data-driven insights for crafting content that aligns closely with search engine ranking factors. Its content editor meticulously analyzes top-ranking competitors and generates precise recommendations on keyword usage, structural elements, and overall content length. This guidance simplifies creating content with a high potential for search visibility.

Ahrefs also includes features for on-page optimization, enabling keyword discovery and competitor analysis. However, Its strength lies in its comprehensive SEO toolkit, which addresses a wider range of SEO activities beyond content refinement.

Surfer SEO’s specialized approach offers a distinct advantage for maximizing the ranking potential of individual pages. Its tailored analysis and actionable insights streamline the process of producing content that resonates with search algorithms. Ahrefs provides a broader set of SEO tools, making it valuable for a holistic SEO strategy, while Surfer SEO is the clear choice for content optimization.

Verdict: When on-page SEO content optimization is your primary objective, Surfer SEO is better due to its focused analysis and actionable guidance.

#7) Backlink Analysis

Surfer SEO offers basic backlink analysis features. It enables you to examine the backlinks of top-ranking pages for a specific keyword. This functionality can help you identify potential link-building opportunities and understand your competitors’ backlink profiles.

Ahrefs boasts an industry-leading backlink database and a suite of sophisticated analysis tools. Its comprehensive platform grants detailed insights into any website’s backlink profile, including domain authority, anchor text distribution, and historical link growth trends. Ahrefs empowers you to discover high-quality backlink prospects, monitor link-building progress, and develop effective SEO strategies to boost your site’s authority.

For in-depth backlink analysis and a data-driven approach to link building, Ahrefs is the clear winner. Surfer SEO provides a basic overview of competitors’ backlinks, suitable for those with less intensive link-building requirements.

Verdict: Ahrefs is the preferred choice for SEO professionals and website owners seeking powerful backlink analysis tools to enhance their search rankings.

#8) Keyword Rank Tracking for the Search Engines

Surfer SEO includes keyword rank tracking as part of its content optimization process. This feature monitors the ranking positions of related keywords targeted within your optimized content, offering insights into the effectiveness of your SEO efforts.

Ahrefs boasts a robust rank-tracking tool that goes beyond monitoring your own website’s rankings. It provides in-depth insights into competitors’ rankings, identifies fluctuations in search visibility, and offers granular data for strategic adjustments.

If your primary need is to track rankings for specific pages optimized with Surfer SEO, its built-in tracker provides valuable data.  For comprehensive keyword monitoring, competitive insights, and detailed reporting on your  SEO progress, Ahrefs offers a more robust and sophisticated solution.

Verdict: Ahrefs stands out for keyword rank tracking due to its extensive reporting, competitive analysis capabilities, and focus on actionable data to inform your SEO strategy.

#9) AI SEO Content Editor

Surfer SEO stands apart with its powerful AI-powered content editor. This feature leverages in-depth analysis of top-ranking pages to provide concrete recommendations for content optimization.  Surfer SEO’s AI helps you construct content outlines, integrate relevant keywords, and receive real-time feedback as you write, ensuring your content aligns closely with search engine ranking factors.

Ahrefs does not offer a dedicated AI content editor within its platform. While Ahrefs provides valuable keyword research and competitor analysis tools to support content creation, it lacks the specialized, AI-driven guidance found in Surfer SEO.

Surfer SEO’s AI-driven editor clearly gives it an advantage if your primary focus is streamlining individual content pieces for optimal search performance. However, for those seeking a broader, more flexible suite of SEO tools to inform content strategy without dedicated AI assistance, Ahrefs remains a compelling option.

Verdict: Surfer SEO‘s AI SEO Content Editor offers a significant edge for anyone aiming to create highly optimized content quickly and efficiently, driven by data-backed insights from competitor analysis.

#10) Google Docs Integration

Surfer SEO offers robust integration with Google Docs, allowing you to access keyword recommendations and optimization insights directly within your document. This seamless workflow eliminates the need for context switching, making crafting content aligned with SEO best practices easier.

Ahrefs does not currently provide a dedicated Google Docs integration.  While Ahrefs’ extensive data can inform your content strategy, its insights must be applied manually within your Google Docs environment.

For content teams who rely heavily on Google Docs, Surfer SEO’s integration offers a significant advantage.  Its streamlined workflow promotes efficient content creation designed for optimal search engine visibility.

Verdict: Surfer SEO‘s Google Docs integration provides a compelling advantage for teams focused on workflow efficiency and maximizing the SEO potential of content produced within Google Docs.

Final Thoughts on Surfer SEO vs Ahrefs

Both Surfer SEO and Ahrefs offer powerful tools for content strategy and search engine optimization. Thus, the right choice between Surfer SEO and Ahrefs depends on your specific SEO goals and workflow.

Prioritizing laser-focused optimization? Surfer SEO excels in providing data-driven guidance to refine individual pages for maximum search visibility. Its in-depth competitor analysis and content editor offer a compelling solution for those seeking to boost the rankings of specific pieces of content.

Need a comprehensive toolkit? Ahrefs stands out as the go-to choice for SEO professionals. It offers various tools for keyword research, backlink analysis, competitor tracking, and technical site audits, delivering the insights needed for a holistic SEO strategy.

Thus, consider Surfer SEO if your primary objective is crafting highly optimized content with streamlined workflows. Opt for Ahrefs if you require a robust suite of tools for comprehensive SEO management.

Ready to improve your site ranking? Try both SEO software tools to determine which best suits your SEO goals and workflow!