Best Moz Alternatives in 2026: 8 SEO Tools Compared
Looking for Moz alternatives in 2026? We compare 8 SEO tools for keyword research, backlinks, rank tracking and audits, with prices and honest trade-offs.
- Editor's choice
AhrefsDeep backlink and keyword research
Starts at$29 per monthVisit ahrefs.comFull review - Great alternative
SemrushAll-in-one SEO and marketing teams
Starts at$139.95 per monthVisit semrush.comFull review - Also consider
SE RankingAgencies that need clear client reporting
Starts at$129 per monthVisit seranking.comFull review
TL;DR:
- Ahrefs is our pick for most people who want deep backlink data, while Semrush suits teams that also need paid search and content tools.
- SE Ranking and Serpstat offer a broader all-in-one toolkit at a lower entry price than the two biggest suites.
- Mangools and Ubersuggest are the friendliest budget options, but both trade data depth for simplicity and price.
- Majestic and SpyFu are specialists, so they work best as a second tool or for a specific job, not as a sole SEO platform.
- Free plans and trials vary a lot, so test rank tracking and backlink data on your own site before committing to a year.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starts at | Free plan? | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ahrefs | Deep backlink and keyword research | $29 per month | Yes | Visit |
| Semrush | All-in-one SEO and marketing teams | $139.95 per month | Yes | Visit |
| SE Ranking | Agencies that need clear client reporting | $129 per month | Free trial | Visit |
 Mangools | Beginners and small niche sites | See website | Yes | Visit |
 Majestic | Judging link quality | $49.99 per month | No | Visit |
 SpyFu | Competitor and paid search research | $39 per month | Yes | Visit |
 Serpstat | Value all-in-one SEO on a budget | $50 per month | Free trial | Visit |
 Ubersuggest | Cheapest simple SEO toolkit | $12 per month | Yes | Visit |
The best Moz alternatives
Moz helped popularise metrics such as Domain Authority, but many site owners now want deeper backlink data, fresher rank tracking, or a lower price. The tools below cover that full range, from full suites to focused specialists.
Ahrefs is the tool we point to first when backlinks are the main job. Site Explorer shows who links to a competitor, which pages earn those links, and how that profile has changed over time. Keywords Explorer pairs search volume with difficulty and click data, which helps you judge if a keyword is worth chasing before you write.
The catch is the price ladder. Starter at $29 per month is a useful entry point for occasional research, but serious users often need Lite or Standard for more projects, tracked keywords, and history. If you only audit your own site, start with the free Webmaster Tools tier and see how much of the paid toolkit you actually miss.
- Very large backlink index
- Clear Site Explorer and Keywords Explorer workflow
- Free Webmaster Tools for your own sites
- Costs rise quickly at higher tiers
- Lower plans have credit and report limits
- No free trial on paid plans
Semrush is the closest thing to a marketing department in a single subscription. Beyond keyword research and rank tracking, you get paid search data, content planning tools, and site audits that flag technical problems in plain language. For a team that already pays for separate tools, that breadth can replace two or three subscriptions.
That breadth is also the downside. A solo blogger may use only a small part of what Pro includes, and still pay the full monthly price. Start with the free account or a short trial, run one real audit and one competitor report, and check how often you would repeat those tasks in a normal month.
- Covers SEO, paid search, content, and social tools in one account
- Strong site audit
- Large keyword database
- Expensive for a solo site owner
- The interface can feel crowded at first
- Useful add-ons raise the bill
SE Ranking stands out for how tidy its agency workflow feels. Projects, rank tracking, audits, and reports live in one place, and the Agency Pack adds white-label reporting for client work. That matters when you send the same report every month and want it to look like your own work, not a vendor template.
The trade-off is data depth. Its backlink index is not as large as the leaders, so link prospecting may need a second check elsewhere. For rank tracking, local SEO, and regular audits across several sites, though, it is a strong mid-priced choice, and the 14-day trial is long enough to test it on real client sites.
- Daily rank tracking and audits in one workspace
- White-label reporting through an add-on
- 14-day trial with no card required on the trial offer
- No permanent free plan
- Backlink data is smaller than Ahrefs
- Add-ons add up for agencies
Mangools is the suite we suggest to someone who finds Ahrefs and Semrush overwhelming. KWFinder shows keyword difficulty in a simple score, SERPChecker explains the pages already ranking, and SERPWatcher tracks positions without a steep learning curve. The whole bundle is built around getting a small site moving, not around enterprise reporting.
Heavy users will hit limits sooner than they expect, and link research is the weakest part of the bundle. If your main work is finding topics a small site can realistically rank for, Mangools fits well. If you run link outreach every week, pair it with a dedicated link tool or step up to a larger suite.
- Easy to learn
- KWFinder is strong for long-tail keywords
- One subscription includes five tools
- Backlink data is thinner than the big suites
- Daily lookup limits can frustrate heavy users
- Fewer advanced reporting options
Majestic does one job and does it with unusual depth. Trust Flow estimates how close a site sits to trusted seed sites, while Citation Flow reflects link volume, and the gap between the two can flag bulk low-quality links. The historic index also helps when you are checking an aged domain or tracing links that have disappeared.
Do not buy Majestic as your only SEO tool. It has no full keyword research, rank tracking, or site audit suite to match the all-in-one platforms. Buy it when link quality is the decision you make most often, such as outreach, link audits, or buying domains, and keep a cheaper tool for keywords and rankings.
- Trust Flow and Citation Flow separate quality from volume
- Long historic link index
- Useful for domain buying research
- Backlinks only, so you still need other tools
- Single-user plans
- The interface feels dated next to newer suites
SpyFu answers a different question from most SEO tools: what have competitors actually been doing, and for how long. You can see their organic keywords, their paid keywords, and past ad copy, which is useful when you are planning a campaign or trying to understand why a rival suddenly ranks. The history goes back years on higher plans, which helps you spot seasonal patterns.
The weakness is that SpyFu is not a full replacement for a backlink suite or a technical audit tool. Treat its traffic and spend figures as estimates for comparison, not as exact numbers. For competitor research on a budget, it is hard to beat, especially at the Basic tier.
- Long history of competitor keywords and ad copy
- Clear PPC data
- Lower entry price than the big suites
- Backlink analysis is weaker than Ahrefs or Majestic
- Interface is less polished
- Some data is estimated, not exact
Serpstat is a practical middle ground. It covers the core SEO jobs in one subscription, and its keyword clustering helps turn a long list of related terms into topic groups you can actually write around. For a freelancer or small agency, that combination of breadth and price is the main selling point.
You should still expect limits. Lower plans cap daily searches, and backlink research will not match Ahrefs in depth. Run the 7-day trial on your busiest workflow, such as a site audit plus a competitor keyword gap, and check the limits before you pay for a year.
- Keyword research, audits, rank tracking, and backlinks in one plan
- Clustering tools for large keyword lists
- Lower entry price than Semrush
- Link index is smaller than the leaders
- Daily search limits on lower plans
- Some reports need time to learn
Ubersuggest is built for owners who do their own SEO and want clear answers without a large bill. Keyword ideas, a basic site audit, rank tracking, and competitor overviews sit in a dashboard that is easy to read, and the Chrome extension adds quick data while you browse search results. The low monthly price makes it easy to keep for a whole year.
The limits show up as soon as you work in a competitive niche or need a deep technical audit. Backlink data is thinner, and the audit covers on-page basics rather than complex technical issues. For a first SEO tool, or a second tool for quick checks, it is good value. For agency link work, look higher up this list.
- Very low monthly price
- Simple dashboard for beginners
- Lifetime purchase option on some offers
- Chrome extension for quick checks
- Smallest backlink database in this list
- Audit is basic for technical SEO
- Keyword data can be less accurate in competitive niches
How we picked these
We compared official feature pages, pricing pages, and app store listings, plus public reviews, to check what each tool actually covers today. We favoured tools that are actively sold and maintained, that cover at least one core Moz-style job well, and that offer a free plan or trial where possible. We did not claim hands-on testing we did not do, and we left out tools that only duplicate one narrow feature without a clear use case.
What to check before you pay
Start with the job, not the brand. Write down the three tasks you will repeat every week, such as rank tracking, keyword research, or link audits, and score each tool only on those tasks. A suite that looks impressive in a demo can still be poor value if you use one report a month.
Check limits in the fine print. Tracked keywords, projects, daily searches, and audit pages all vary by plan, and the cheapest tier often caps exactly the thing you need most. Use a trial on your own site, import your real keywords, and run a full audit before the trial ends.
Think about reporting and sharing. Agencies need white-label reports and multiple seats, while a solo owner may only need exports for personal notes. If you work with clients, confirm the cost of extra seats and white-label features before you compare headline prices, since those add-ons change the ranking fast.
Finally, check data freshness for your niche. Backlink and keyword data can be thinner outside large US markets, so search for a few of your own target keywords and a known competitor domain in each trial. The tool that returns useful data for your actual market is the right pick, even if a larger tool wins on paper.
FAQ
What are the best free Moz alternatives?
Ahrefs Webmaster Tools, Semrush with a free account, Mangools with a free plan, and Ubersuggest with limited free searches all let you start without paying. Free tiers usually limit projects, daily searches, or history, so they suit occasional checks rather than daily agency work. Try two free options on the same site and keep the one whose data you understand fastest.
What is the best alternative to Moz for backlinks?
Ahrefs is our pick for backlink depth, and Majestic is the specialist pick for judging link quality with Trust Flow. Ahrefs gives you a broader view of competitors and new links, while Majestic helps you spot low-quality links and research aged domains. Many link builders use one of these alongside a cheaper all-in-one tool for keywords and audits.
Are there top free Moz alternatives that work for small businesses?
Yes, and the best fit depends on the task. Ubersuggest and Mangools keep costs low for keyword research and basic audits, while a free Semrush or Ahrefs account can cover occasional competitor checks. Small businesses should start free, track a small set of keywords for a month, and only pay when the free limits start slowing real work.
What are good alternatives to Moz for agencies?
SE Ranking and Semrush are strong agency picks because they combine rank tracking, audits, and reporting in one workspace. SE Ranking is usually cheaper and clearer for client reporting, while Semrush adds paid search and content tools that larger teams use. Check seat prices and white-label costs, since those matter more than the headline plan price for agencies.
Is Ubersuggest a good alternative to Moz?
Ubersuggest is a good budget alternative for beginners and small sites, but it is not a like-for-like replacement for Moz Pro in depth. It covers keyword ideas, basic audits, and rank tracking at a much lower price, and its simple layout helps owners who do SEO part time. For deep backlink research or complex technical audits, pair it with Ahrefs or Majestic, or choose a larger suite.
How do I choose between Ahrefs, Semrush, and SE Ranking?
Choose Ahrefs if backlinks drive your decisions, Semrush if you also run paid search and content work, and SE Ranking if you want agency reporting at a lower price. Run the same competitor report and the same site audit in each trial, then compare the findings, not the feature lists. The tool that gives you a clear next action for your own site is the one to keep.