Ahrefs vs Visual Sitemaps
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Visual Sitemaps has the lower starting price: about $29 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
- Visual sitemap generation
- AI-optimized maps
- Page screenshots
- Content and SEO planner
- Competitor tracking
- PDF and CSV reports
| Feature | Ahrefs | Visual Sitemaps |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | SEO toolset known for its backlink index and keyword data | Visual sitemaps of any site with AI audits for SEO and UX |
| Category | Marketing | Marketing |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting price | $129/mo | $29/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Made by | Ahrefs | Visual Sitemaps |
| Based in | Singapore | – |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
|
|
Pricing compared
Visual Sitemaps has the lower starting price: about $29 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
- 25 pages per month
- Screenshot export
- AI maps with your own key
Mini
$29/mo
- 1,500 pages per month
- 1 AI optimized map
- Content and SEO planner
Pro
$99/mo
- 4,000 pages per month
- 30 AI optimized maps
- 100 maps with your own key
Team
$399/mo
- 25,000 pages per month
- 150 AI optimized maps
- 4,000 page maps
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
Visual Sitemaps
- Free plan with 25 pages monthly
- Bring-your-own-key AI option
- Covers private sites too
- Page limits restrict large sites
- Pro and Team plans are pricey
- AI maps are capped per 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 Visual Sitemaps if you want:
- Free plan with 25 pages monthly
- Bring-your-own-key AI option
- Covers private sites too
Watch out: page limits restrict large sites.
Ahrefs vs Visual Sitemaps FAQ
What is the difference between Ahrefs and Visual Sitemaps?
Ahrefs: SEO toolset known for its backlink index and keyword data. Visual Sitemaps: Visual sitemaps of any site with AI audits for SEO and UX. Both are marketing tools.
Is Ahrefs or Visual Sitemaps cheaper?
Visual Sitemaps has the lower starting price: about $29 a month, against $129 for Ahrefs.
Do Ahrefs and Visual Sitemaps have free plans?
Ahrefs: Yes. Visual Sitemaps: Yes.
Who makes Ahrefs?
Ahrefs is made by Ahrefs, based in Singapore.
Who makes Visual Sitemaps?
Visual Sitemaps is made by Visual Sitemaps.
Which should I choose, Ahrefs or Visual Sitemaps?
Choose Ahrefs if you value strong backlink data and clean, fast interface. Choose Visual Sitemaps if you value free plan with 25 pages monthly and bring-your-own-key ai option.