kitio.aiAhrefs vs MarketMuse
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Ahrefs starts at $129/mo and MarketMuse 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
- Topic authority analysis
- Content briefs
- Cluster planning
- Content scoring
- Inventory audits
| Feature | Ahrefs | MarketMuse |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | SEO toolset known for its backlink index and keyword data | Content strategy and topic authority planning with AI |
| Category | Marketing | Marketing |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting price | $129/mo | See pricing page |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Made by | Ahrefs | Siteimprove |
| Based in | Singapore | United States |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
Ahrefs starts at $129/mo and MarketMuse 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
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
MarketMuse
- Strong for topic cluster planning
- Site-wide view of content gaps
- Detailed writer briefs
- Steep learning curve
- Pricing is unclear after the acquisition
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 MarketMuse if you want:
- Strong for topic cluster planning
- Site-wide view of content gaps
- Detailed writer briefs
Watch out: steep learning curve.
Ahrefs vs MarketMuse FAQ
What is the difference between Ahrefs and MarketMuse?
Ahrefs: SEO toolset known for its backlink index and keyword data. MarketMuse: Content strategy and topic authority planning with AI. Both are marketing tools.
Is Ahrefs or MarketMuse cheaper?
Ahrefs starts at $129/mo and MarketMuse starts at See pricing page. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Do Ahrefs and MarketMuse have free plans?
Ahrefs: Yes. MarketMuse: Yes.
Who makes Ahrefs?
Ahrefs is made by Ahrefs, based in Singapore.
Who makes MarketMuse?
MarketMuse is made by Siteimprove, based in United States.
Which should I choose, Ahrefs or MarketMuse?
Choose Ahrefs if you value strong backlink data and clean, fast interface. Choose MarketMuse if you value strong for topic cluster planning and site-wide view of content gaps.