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Software IndexEvery tool we track in one sortable table: entry price, free plan, AI pricing and source. AI Pricing DatabaseHow each vendor bills its AI features: bundled, add-on, metered or quote. Stack Cost CheckerPrice every tool you pay for at list price, saved in a link that re-prices later.Black Friday Software DealsVerified deals plus the discounts you can get today, checked on each vendor’s site.
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The B2B SaaS Sticker Shock IndexCheapest published entry price in 18 categories, ranked.2026 SaaS Price IncreasesEvery list-price increase we could verify, with old price, new price and source.The AI TaxHow 19 AI features are actually billed: bundled, add-on or metered.The Real Cost of a 10-Person Startup StackThree software stacks priced at published entry prices.
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Security & compliance databaseSOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA BAAs, and the plan you need for SSO, SCIM and audit logs. How to read security claimsSOC 2 vs ISO 27001, the single sign-on tax, and what “Not published” means.
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SEO SOFTWARE · MIGRATION GUIDE

Switching from Semrush to Ahrefs

There is no project importer between SEO platforms. What you move is your configuration: tracked keywords, tags and target sites. Your ranking history stays behind.

Jump to migration steps Read the full comparison
By Bill Belcamino · Last updated September 17, 2026 · Our methodologyResearched and fact-checked by the HelpCompare team
Switching from Semrush to AhrefsVerified Sep 17, 2026

Quick verdict: Export your tracked keywords from Semrush Position Tracking and import them into Ahrefs Rank Tracker as a TXT or CSV file, keeping only the keyword and tag columns. Ahrefs rebuilds backlink and audit data from its own index, so there is nothing to move there. Ranking history does not transfer, and Ahrefs offers no trial and does not generally refund — so export everything you need from Semrush before your subscription ends.

Estimate · your inputs

Switching Cost & Friction Estimator

Most buyers only budget for the new subscription. This estimates the hidden labor, data-cleanup, and retraining cost of actually making the switch.

25,000
10

Estimate assumes: 1 hour of data-mapping/cleaning labor per 2,000 records, a blended $75/hr ops rate, tiered migration & cleaning tooling fees, and 4 hours of retraining per seat at a $45/hr fully-loaded rate.

Estimated Migration Time —
Data Friction Rating —
Total Hidden Switching Cost $0

    Why teams move from Semrush to Ahrefs

    Lower entry price

    Ahrefs Lite is $129/mo against $139/mo for Semrush’s SEO plan on monthly billing, and Ahrefs Starter is $29/mo.

    Long history on higher tiers

    Ahrefs Standard keeps 2 years of historical data and Advanced 5 years.

    Clear extra-user pricing

    Ahrefs publishes per-tier prices and caps for additional users.

    How the migration actually works

    Treat this as re-creating your setup, not migrating data.

    StepWhat you do
    1Export tracked keywordsExport your keyword list and tags from Semrush Position Tracking.
    2Export anything you need to keepDownload ranking history, reports and audit results from Semrush, because they will not carry over.
    3Clean the fileRemove every column that is not a keyword or tag, as Ahrefs requires.
    4Create projects in AhrefsAdd each site as an Ahrefs project, within your plan’s project limit.
    5Import into Rank TrackerUpload the TXT or CSV file, or paste the keywords, and set locations.
    6Re-run auditsRun Site Audit on each project to rebuild technical baselines in Ahrefs.

    What this path doesn’t do for you:

    Ranking history, reports and audit history do not transfer; tracking starts fresh in Ahrefs. Plan limits also differ: Ahrefs Lite tracks 750 keywords and keeps 6 months of history, so large Semrush setups may need Standard or above. Ahrefs offers no trial and does not generally issue refunds, so size the plan before you pay.

    Pricing side by side

    PlanSemrushAhrefs
    FreeLimited free accountAhrefs Free (sites you own)
    Entry paidSEO — $139/mo ($117.33 annual)Starter — $29/mo; Lite — $129/mo
    MidStarter (SEO + AI) — $199/mo; Pro+ — $299/moStandard — $249/mo
    TopAdvanced — $549/mo; Enterprise customAdvanced — $449/mo; Enterprise $1,499/mo

    List prices checked on the vendors’ pricing pages on September 17, 2026. Confirm current rates before you buy.

    Feature parity check

    CapabilitySemrushAhrefs
    Rank tracking keyword importTXT/CSV, plus GSC and GATXT/CSV or paste
    Ranking history importNoNo
    AI search visibilityIncluded from Starter (SEO + AI)Brand Radar add-on from $199/mo
    Free trial7 daysNone
    Free optionLimited free accountAhrefs Free (sites you own)

    Going the other direction, or want the full comparison first?

    Read the Semrush vs Ahrefs comparison Switching from Ahrefs to Semrush instead?
    Verified data

    Security & access: what changes when you switch

    Security, offline and access rules that differ between Semrush and Ahrefs. Rows where both tools are the same (1) are left out; the full side-by-side is on each tool’s page: Semrush, Ahrefs.

    What changesSemrush (today)Ahrefs (after)
    Other certificationsPCI DSS Level 1sourceNot published
    Single sign-on (SAML/OIDC)YesGurusourceYesEnterprisesource
    SCIM user provisioningNot publishedYessource
    Two-factor authenticationYessourceYesEnforcement: Workspace owner/admin setting (plan not stated)source
    Data residency choicesUS onlysourceNot published
    EncryptionAES-256 at rest; TLS 1.2+ in transitsourceEncrypted at rest (AWS RDS) and in transit (TLS)source
    Mobile appsiOS, AndroidsourceNot published
    Editorial assessment

    Before you cut over

    • Set up single sign-on in Ahrefs on Enterprise before you invite the team, so accounts are created through your identity provider rather than by hand.

    Checked September 19, 2026 against each vendor’s own trust center, help docs and app pages. Hover or tap “source” to see the exact wording we relied on. “Not published” means we could not find the vendor saying it on its own site; it doesn’t mean the feature is missing. Plan names are the lowest plan the vendor says includes the feature. Security · Offline · Remote vs office · Download the data

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can Ahrefs import my Semrush projects?

    No. You can import tracked keywords from a TXT or CSV file, but projects, reports and history do not transfer.

    Does my ranking history come with me?

    No. Rank tracking starts fresh in Ahrefs, so export any history you need from Semrush first.

    What format does Ahrefs Rank Tracker need?

    A TXT or CSV file with only keyword and tag columns, or keywords pasted directly.

    Can I trial Ahrefs first?

    Ahrefs offers no trial and says it never runs discounts. Ahrefs Free gives limited access for sites you own.

    Canonical data for the tools on this page

    Every pricing fact, rating, AI billing model and switching guide we hold on each tool, on one page, with the date each figure was last verified.

    AhrefsPricing, free plan, AI cost & every comparison›SemrushPricing, free plan, AI cost & every comparison›
    Semrush vs AhrefsHead-to-head comparisonMoz Pro vs AhrefsHead-to-head comparisonMoz Pro vs SemrushHead-to-head comparison
    Ahrefs to SemrushSwitching guideAhrefs to Moz ProSwitching guideMoz Pro to AhrefsSwitching guideMoz Pro to SemrushSwitching guideSemrush to Moz ProSwitching guide

    Sources

    Prices on this page were recorded from each vendor’s own pricing page on the date shown at the top of the page. Vendors change pricing often — check the live source before you buy.

    Every figure is also in our open dataset (JSON and CSV, CC BY 4.0), with its source page and verification date. See how we research pricing.

    Cite this page: HelpCompare, “Switching from Semrush to Ahrefs: A Step-by-Step Migration Guide”, helpcompare.com/semrush-to-ahrefs-migration/ (updated ).

    Source links on this site are checked every month; last check . How sources are checked.

    Start with the job

    Guides for the jobs this software does

    Plain-language guides: the steps, what to check before you buy, common mistakes, and every tool it takes with verified prices.

    Get more leads and customersImprove Google rankingsShow up on Google Maps and get reviewsBuild a websiteAll 50 job guides
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    Build a decision brief

    From shortlist to switched

    Built for the leader who owns the selection, answers for the spend, drives the rollout, and lives with the results. HelpCompare covers the whole decision, not just the first step.

    01 · CompareWhich tool fits your team, side by side.132 comparisons 02 · Price & approveSourced, dated pricing and a one-page brief for sign-off.Decision brief 03 · SwitchWhat moves, what you rebuild, what it costs.264 guides 04 · ShareDownload and cite the data. CC BY 4.0.Open data
    Bill Belcamino, founder of HelpCompare
    About the author

    Bill Belcamino

    Founder and author, HelpCompare

    Engineer by training, operator by experience, marketer by choice. Bill spent eight and a half years as an engineer at HP, was COO of Auctiva (the number one third-party selling platform on eBay, past 200,000 users) and ran Google’s $70M/year search syndication partnership at Alot.com. Then he spent 13 years building his own web properties with his own money at stake. He has bought, trialled, integrated and cancelled more SaaS tools than he can count, and started HelpCompare because the real cost of switching tools is the part nobody covers.

    “I’ve sat on both sides of the table: the agency recommending the tool and the client paying for it.”

    Researched and fact-checked by the HelpCompare team. Pricing on this page was last verified on September 17, 2026. No paid sponsorships, no affiliate commissions.

    Read Bill’s story How we verify pricingSpot an error? Tell Bill