Ahrefs vs RankNow.ai
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. RankNow.ai has the lower starting price: about $20 a month, against $129 for Ahrefs.
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
- AI keyword research chat
- AEO Analyzer
- Site audit
- Rank tracker
- Local SEO suite
- API access
| Feature | Ahrefs | RankNow.ai |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | SEO toolset known for its backlink index and keyword data | Credit-based SEO toolkit with an AI keyword research chat |
| Category | Marketing | Marketing |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting price | $129/mo | $19.99/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Made by | Ahrefs | Micro SERP Technologies FZC LLC |
| Based in | Singapore | United Arab Emirates |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
|
|
Both offer: Site audit, Rank tracker.
Pricing compared
RankNow.ai has the lower starting price: about $20 a month, against $129 for Ahrefs.
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
4 plans
Free
Free
- $1 daily free credit
- Keyword explorer and overview
- AEO Analyzer
Plus
$19.99/mo
- $20 monthly credits
- Site explorer and site audit
- 7-day free trial
Pro
$99.99/mo
- $100 monthly credits
- Advanced analytics
Business
$499.99/mo
- $500 monthly credits
- Team features
- Priority support
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
RankNow.ai
- Free daily credit for basic research
- Checks visibility in several AI engines
- Local SEO tools included
- Credits are used up per keyword lookup
- Several tools are still marked coming soon
- Big price jump after the Plus plan
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 RankNow.ai if you want:
- Free daily credit for basic research
- Checks visibility in several AI engines
- Local SEO tools included
Watch out: credits are used up per keyword lookup.
Ahrefs vs RankNow.ai FAQ
What is the difference between Ahrefs and RankNow.ai?
Ahrefs: SEO toolset known for its backlink index and keyword data. RankNow.ai: Credit-based SEO toolkit with an AI keyword research chat. Both are marketing tools.
Is Ahrefs or RankNow.ai cheaper?
RankNow.ai has the lower starting price: about $20 a month, against $129 for Ahrefs.
Do Ahrefs and RankNow.ai have free plans?
Ahrefs: Yes. RankNow.ai: Yes.
Who makes Ahrefs?
Ahrefs is made by Ahrefs, based in Singapore.
Who makes RankNow.ai?
RankNow.ai is made by Micro SERP Technologies FZC LLC, based in United Arab Emirates.
Which should I choose, Ahrefs or RankNow.ai?
Choose Ahrefs if you value strong backlink data and clean, fast interface. Choose RankNow.ai if you value free daily credit for basic research and checks visibility in several ai engines.