Tool Comparisons
Semrush vs Ahrefs for Local SEO: Which Should You Use?
Local SEO is a must-have for small businesses. According to a recent study, 72% of consumers who search for a local business on their phone visit the store within a day, and 28% of those searchers make a purchase within the same day. But with so many SEO tools on the market, choosing the right one can be overwhelming. In this article, we'll compare two popular options: Semrush and Ahrefs, to help you decide which one is best for your local SEO needs.
72↑
Local SEO Searchers Visit Store
within a day
28↑
Same-Day Purchases
within the day
30→
Small Business Owners Use SEO
as a percentage
50↓
Average SEO Budget
in dollars
Semrush vs Ahrefs: Key Differences
Both Semrush and Ahrefs offer robust SEO toolsets, but they cater to different types of businesses and users. Here's a brief overview of each tool:
Semrush: All-in-One SEO Solution
Semrush is a comprehensive SEO platform that offers a wide range of features, including keyword research, technical SEO audits, competitor analysis, and content optimization. Its user-friendly interface makes it accessible to businesses of all sizes, from solo entrepreneurs to large corporations.
Ahrefs: Keyword Research and Link Building
Ahrefs is primarily a keyword research and link building tool, with a focus on providing actionable insights for content creation and backlink acquisition. Its advanced features, such as SERP analysis and content gap analysis, make it a favorite among SEO specialists and agencies.
Which Tool is Right for Your Local Business?
When choosing between Semrush and Ahrefs, consider your specific needs and goals. If you're a small business owner with limited resources, Semrush might be the better choice due to its user-friendly interface and all-in-one approach. However, if you're an SEO specialist or have a dedicated marketing team, Ahrefs might be more suitable due to its advanced features and robust link building capabilities.
Let's dive deeper into the features and pricing of each tool to help you make an informed decision.
Semrush Pricing and Features
Semrush offers a range of pricing plans, from the $99.95/month Guru plan to the $449.95/month Business plan. The main differences between plans include:
- Project limit: 500 vs 500 (Guru), 1500 vs 1500 (Pro), 5000 vs 5000 (Business)
- Keywords limit: 500 vs 500 (Guru), 1000 vs 1000 (Pro), 3000 vs 3000 (Business)
- Backlink analysis: 100 vs 100 (Guru), 500 vs 500 (Pro), 1000 vs 1000 (Business)
Semrush also offers a 30-day free trial, allowing you to test its features and pricing before committing to a plan.
Ahrefs Pricing and Features
Ahrefs offers a range of pricing plans, from the $99/month Lite plan to the $999/month Agency plan. The main differences between plans include:
- Keywords limit: 100 vs 100 (Lite), 500 vs 500 (Standard), 1000 vs 1000 (Advanced), 5000 vs 5000 (Agency)
- Backlink analysis: 500 vs 500 (Lite), 1000 vs 1000 (Standard), 2000 vs 2000 (Advanced), 5000 vs 5000 (Agency)
- Content gap analysis: Included in all plans
Ahrefs also offers a 7-day free trial, allowing you to test its features and pricing before committing to a plan.
What About the Cost?
When choosing between Semrush and Ahrefs, consider the cost of each tool and its features. While both tools offer competitive pricing, Semrush might be more expensive in the long run due to its project limit and keyword limit. However, Ahrefs' advanced features and robust link building capabilities might justify the higher cost for businesses with dedicated marketing teams.
Semrush vs Ahrefs Pricing Comparison
Semrush Guru
$99.95Semrush ProBest
$199.95Semrush Business
$449.95Ahrefs Lite
$99Ahrefs Standard
$179Ahrefs Advanced
$449Ahrefs Agency
$999Pricing per month
Tips for Choosing the Right SEO Tool
When selecting an SEO tool for your local business, consider the following tips:
- Start small: Begin with a basic plan and scale up as your business grows.
- Focus on your goals: Choose a tool that aligns with your specific SEO needs and goals.
- Consider your budget: Evaluate the cost of each tool and its features before making a decision.
Pro Tip
Don't forget to check for free trials and discounts before committing to a plan!
Local SEO Best Practices
Regardless of which SEO tool you choose, follow these best practices to improve your local SEO:
- Claim and optimize your Google My Business listing: Ensure your business is accurately listed and up-to-date.
- Use location-specific keywords: Include location-based keywords in your website content and meta tags.
- Build high-quality backlinks: Focus on acquiring links from authoritative sources to boost your website's credibility.
DataLatte Take
At DataLatte, we specialize in helping local businesses improve their online visibility with our expert SEO services. Contact us today to learn more about our services!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the difference between Semrush and Ahrefs?
A: Semrush is an all-in-one SEO solution, while Ahrefs is primarily a keyword research and link building tool.
Q: Which tool is better for small businesses?
A: Semrush might be more suitable for small businesses due to its user-friendly interface and all-in-one approach.
Q: What is the cost of Semrush and Ahrefs?
A: Semrush pricing starts at $99.95/month, while Ahrefs pricing starts at $99/month.
Q: Can I get a free trial of Semrush and Ahrefs?
A: Yes, both tools offer a free trial: Semrush offers a 30-day free trial, while Ahrefs offers a 7-day free trial.
Q: What are the key features of Semrush and Ahrefs?
A: Semrush offers keyword research, technical SEO audits, competitor analysis, and content optimization, while Ahrefs provides keyword research, link building, and content gap analysis.
Get Started with Local SEO Today!
If you're ready to take your local business to the next level with improved online visibility, contact us at DataLatte today to schedule a free consultation. We'll help you choose the right SEO tool and create a customized plan to meet your specific needs and goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I use just Ahrefs for local SEO if I own a coffee shop in Austin?
You can, but you’ll be missing tools for local listings, review monitoring, and Google Business Profile management. Ahrefs is excellent for keyword research and backlinks. For a coffee shop, that means you can find local search terms and see who links to competitors. But you’ll need to manually update your Google Business Profile and Yelp. If that’s fine, Ahrefs works. If you want one dashboard to manage your online presence, Semrush is better.
Q: Is Semrush worth $139/month for a small hair salon with a $300 marketing budget?
Depends on your goals. If you’re already spending $200/month on Google Ads with no tracking, Semrush might pay for itself by showing you which keywords to bid on. I’ve seen hair salons save $100/month in wasted ad spend by switching to Semrush’s keyword recommendations. If you don’t run ads and only need basic keyword research, Ahrefs Lite at $129 might be overkill too. Consider Semrush’s free trial first to see if the local SEO features actually improve your booking rate.
Q: Which tool is better for tracking local rankings — my store in Nashville?
Both track local rankings. Semrush lets you set a specific location (zip code or city) and device type. Ahrefs also has a rank tracker with location filters. I prefer Semrush for local because its reports include Google Maps pack positions, not just organic web results. Ahrefs focuses on organic web ranking. If you own a yoga studio, you probably care more about appearing in the local pack than ranking #2 on Wikipedia. Semrush shows both.
Q: Do I need both Semrush and Ahrefs, or can I get by with one?
You can get by with one, but you’ll miss data. I ran a test for a Chicago bakery using only Semrush. It missed a backlink from a local food blog that Ahrefs caught. But the bakery didn’t care because their local listings were perfect. If your business relies heavily on backlinks (like a blog-driven pet grooming site), you might need both. If you’re a plumber who only cares about local pack and ads, Semrush is enough.
Q: How accurate are the local keyword volumes in these tools?
Not perfect. Semrush and Ahrefs both estimate search volumes. For local terms (e.g., “Denver pet grooming”), the numbers are often underreported because they sample data from Google’s API. I’ve seen actual search volume be 2x higher. Use volumes as directional, not exact. The trend — whether volume is rising or falling — is more useful. For pricing, I trust Semrush’s local volume estimates slightly more because they incorporate location-specific data from their own clickstream panel.
Q: Can I use these tools to spy on my competitors’ Google Ads spend?
Semrush gives you an estimate of competitor ad spend and top keywords. Ahrefs does not. If you want to see what ads your local competitor is running, Semrush’s “Advertising Research” is the only option here. I used it for a dentist in NYC who was losing patients to a competitor running “Invisalign NYC” ads. Semrush showed the competitor was spending $4,000/month on that keyword. The dentist realized he couldn’t outbid them, so he targeted “clear aligners NYC” instead — cheaper, less competition. He got a 20% conversion rate on a $200/month ad budget.
I’ve worked with over 50 small business owners in the last two years at DataLatte. Nine out of ten were overpaying for SEO tools because they bought the wrong one first. They’d ask “Which is better, Semrush or Ahrefs?” without considering their actual needs — local listings, PPC, backlinks, budget. The answer is never one-size-fits-all. What matters is: What do you actually need to move the needle for your business in your city? At OMD, we wasted $10,000 on enterprise SEO tools for a client that needed a $200 local listing fix. I still cringe when I think about it. That’s why I now start every conversation with a free audit of what you’re spending and what you’re missing. Book a free consultation — I’ll tell you which tool to keep, which to cancel, and whether you need both. No generic decks, just a direct answer. You’ll probably save enough in the first month to buy yourself a decent coffee. No regrets.
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Nataliia
Local marketing strategist with 10+ years at global agencies — OMD, Dentsu, GroupM, and BBDO. Now helping small businesses get the same data-driven edge. Based in Europe, working with clients in the US, UK, Australia, and beyond.
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