Alternatives to Ahrefs API in 2026: 8 APIs Compared

DataForSEO is the closest all round replacement for Ahrefs API if you work with raw data at scale. It offers separate APIs for search results, backlinks, keywords, domain data and on page audits, all billed per request with a prepaid balance. The standard SERP price is low, which makes it practical for rank tracking, keyword research and large data pulls that would cost far more in API units elsewhere.

The trade-off is that DataForSEO is built for developers, not for marketers who want a ready made report. You need code or a tool that calls the API, and you need to manage your balance and request limits. If you have that skill in house, DataForSEO is hard to beat on cost and coverage. If you do not, a dashboard tool with an API, such as SE Ranking, may be easier.

SerpApi does one job well: it returns live search results in clean JSON, including organic results, AI Overviews where available, local results and shopping results. That focus makes it easy to integrate, and the documentation is clear for developers building rank trackers, AI search tools or research scripts. The free tier gives you a small monthly allowance to test with.

It is not a full SEO API. SerpApi does not replace Ahrefs for backlink analysis or keyword difficulty, so teams that need those data sets will need a second API. Use SerpApi when your main need is fresh SERP data, and pair it with a link API if you also need backlink history.

SE Ranking suits teams that want both a dashboard for daily work and an API for custom reports. The platform covers rank tracking, keyword research, backlinks, site audits and AI search visibility, and the API exposes much of that data. That pairing means a marketer can check a report in the dashboard while a developer pulls the same data into an internal tool.

Pricing is credit based, and the entry plan includes a set number of credits. Pure API users can also buy a prepaid wallet or an API only plan, but those options cost more than the standard plan. SE Ranking is best for agencies and in house teams that already need a dashboard, rather than developers who only need raw SERP calls.

Semrush API gives access to the same data that powers Semrush reports: keywords, domains, backlinks, traffic estimates and position tracking. For a team already paying for Semrush, the API can feed that data into internal dashboards and client reports without manual exports. The data quality and coverage are strong, especially for keyword and competitor research.

The problem is price and access. API units are sold separately from standard plans, and full access often starts at a high monthly level. Small teams and solo developers will find DataForSEO or SerpApi far cheaper for the same volume. Semrush API is a fit for larger teams that already rely on Semrush and can justify the cost.

Moz Links API is a focused alternative for teams that mainly need link metrics. It returns Domain Authority, Page Authority, linking domains and spam related signals for a URL or domain. The free tier gives a small monthly row allowance, and the paid entry plan is affordable for small projects such as prospecting, link audits or client reports.

It will not replace Ahrefs for keyword research or SERP data, and rate limits on low plans mean it is not built for large crawls. Use Moz Links API when you need a quick, trusted link score for a list of domains, and use a second API for SERP or keyword work. That split keeps costs low while covering the most common link tasks.

Majestic is the specialist for backlink history. Its index goes back many years, and its Trust Flow and Citation Flow metrics are still used by link builders to judge the quality of a linking domain. For a deep link audit, a penalty review or a competitor link profile, Majestic often shows links that newer tools miss.

The API is not a general SEO API. It does not cover keyword volumes or live SERP data in the same way, and there is no free tier to test with. Majestic is best for SEO professionals who already understand link metrics and need history. If you need a broad API for many data types, DataForSEO or SE Ranking will serve you better.

Serper is the simplest option on this list. You top up a balance, call the API for Google search results, and pay per query. The free tier gives a generous number of queries without a card, which makes it easy to test a prototype or a small internal tool. The API response is clean and easy to parse.

The limits are clear. Serper covers Google, not the wider set of engines and data types that DataForSEO or SerpApi offer, and prepaid credits expire after six months. That makes it a good fit for a focused Google SERP project, but not for a team that needs backlinks, keywords and multi engine data in one place.

Bright Data SERP API is built for scale. It charges per successful request, offers a monthly free credit allowance, and uses a large proxy network to fetch results that simpler APIs may struggle with. For teams pulling millions of SERP pages, or working in regions where results vary by location, that infrastructure matters.

The product range is wide, and pricing across Bright Data products can be confusing at first. Small teams may find SerpApi or Serper simpler and cheaper for low volumes. Bright Data is best when volume, location coverage or resilience are the main requirements, and you have a developer who can manage the setup.