kitio.aiAhrefs vs Listener
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Ahrefs starts at $129/mo and Listener starts at See pricing page. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
At a glance
Best for
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Site Explorer
- Keywords Explorer
- Site Audit
- Rank Tracker
- Brand Radar
- Unified network dashboard
- Listener AI insights
- Total Listener Value metric
- Listener heat map
- Sponsorship inventory
- Sales enablement pages
| Feature | Ahrefs | Listener |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | SEO toolset known for its backlink index and keyword data | Podcast sponsorship reporting across audio, YouTube and social |
| Category | Marketing | Marketing |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Paid |
| Starting price | $129/mo | See pricing page |
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Made by | Ahrefs | Listener |
| Based in | Singapore | – |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
Ahrefs starts at $129/mo and Listener starts at See pricing page. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
5 plans
Free
Free
- Limited site audit and explorer data
- For verified websites
Lite
$129/mo
- 1 user, up to 2 extra at $40/mo
- 750 tracked keywords
- 6 months of history
- 100,000 crawl credits
Standard
$249/mo
- 1 user, up to 5 extra at $60/mo
- 2,000 tracked keywords
- 2 years of history
- 500,000 crawl credits
Advanced
$449/mo
- 1 user, up to 10 extra at $80/mo
- 5,000 tracked keywords
- 5 years of history
- 1.5M crawl credits
Enterprise
$1499/mo
- Annual commitment required
- From 3 users
- Uncapped API access
- Custom API endpoints
3 plans
Essential
$49/mo
- 1 podcast profile
- Apple, Spotify and hosting data
- Listener AI insights
Pro
$249/mo
- Up to 3 podcast profiles
- Multi-show dashboard
- 3 team seats
Network
From $1,000/mo
- Full network analytics
- Audience overlap insights
- Cross-channel inventory
Prices in USD, checked Oct 28, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
Ahrefs
- Strong backlink data
- Clean, fast interface
- Free tools for your own sites
- Starter plan has tight limits
- Add-ons raise the real cost quickly
Listener
- Combines audio, video and social reach
- Built around sponsor reporting
- Plans for single shows and networks
- No free plan
- Network tier starts at $1,000 a month
- Most useful for shows that sell ads
Which one should you choose?
Choose Ahrefs if you want:
- Strong backlink data
- Clean, fast interface
- Free tools for your own sites
Watch out: starter plan has tight limits.
Choose Listener if you want:
- Combines audio, video and social reach
- Built around sponsor reporting
- Plans for single shows and networks
Watch out: no free plan.
Ahrefs vs Listener FAQ
What is the difference between Ahrefs and Listener?
Ahrefs: SEO toolset known for its backlink index and keyword data. Listener: Podcast sponsorship reporting across audio, YouTube and social. Both are marketing tools.
Is Ahrefs or Listener cheaper?
Ahrefs starts at $129/mo and Listener starts at See pricing page. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Do Ahrefs and Listener have free plans?
Ahrefs: Yes. Listener: No.
Who makes Ahrefs?
Ahrefs is made by Ahrefs, based in Singapore.
Who makes Listener?
Listener is made by Listener.
Which should I choose, Ahrefs or Listener?
Choose Ahrefs if you value strong backlink data and clean, fast interface. Choose Listener if you value combines audio, video and social reach and built around sponsor reporting.