Surfer SEO vs. Ahrefs: Which SEO Tool Is Best for You in 2023?
Last Updated on October 16, 2023 by Corey Fox
Two names consistently stood out in my quest to find the best SEO tools: Surfer SEO and Ahrefs.
Both have been praised for their innovative features and robust capabilities.
I’ve spent hours exploring every nook and cranny of these tools, and today, I’m eager to share my insights with you.
Whether you’re a seasoned SEO specialist or a beginner digital marketer, learning about Surfer and Ahrefs can help you optimize your content and rank higher.
By the end of this article, you will have a better understanding of which tool is right for you. This should help you make a smart choice based on your goals.
Surfer SEO and Ahrefs: A Brief Overview
Surfer SEO and Ahrefs are strong tools for SEO. They help you get more website traffic and improve search engine rankings.
Surfer SEO focuses on on-page SEO strategies and optimizes new and existing content with its content editor.
Ahrefs is best known for its backlink authority checker, making it an ideal choice for building high-quality backlinks.
When choosing an SEO tool, it’s important to consider your specific campaigns and goals because Google’s algorithm looks at more than 200 ranking factors.
Key Features Comparison
Here, we compare the key features that Surfer SEO and Ahrefs bring.
Both tools provide various functionalities, including keyword research, content optimization, and backlink analysis.
However, each tool has strengths and weaknesses that can impact your SEO strategy.
Keyword Research Capabilities
Surfer SEO and Ahrefs offer comprehensive keyword research tools, providing valuable keyword insights, search volume, and difficulty scores.
Surfer SEO’s keyword research tool offers a comprehensive list of related keywords based on a given search term and insightful data like monthly search volume, making it useful to target specific locations or regions.
Ahrefs, on the other hand, stands out with its Advanced Research metrics and analysis of keyword difficulty scores.
Its Keyword Explorer tool supports over 100 languages and includes “Click Metrics” to show if people click on Google search results.
Known for its accuracy in providing relevant keywords, Ahrefs makes finding profitable keywords a breeze.
Content Optimization Tools
Regarding content optimization, Surfer SEO shines with its on-page optimization tool, Content Editor, and its very own Chrome Extension, Keyword Surfer.
The Content Editor recommends optimizing content based on the target keyword, such as the recommended word count, headings, and other on-page factors.
Surfer SEO’s AI-powered approach using natural language processing models helps analyze top SERPs and provides insights for content optimization.
Ahrefs also offers valuable features for content optimization, such as its Ahrefs Site Explorer and Content Explorer tools.
This tool allows you to search for popular content related to your target keyword, providing ideas for creating new content or optimizing existing content.
Though Ahrefs does not have a dedicated content editor like Surfer SEO, its diverse features can help optimize content for better search engine rankings.
Backlink Analysis and Tracking
Given the significant role backlinks play in off-page SEO, the ability to analyze and track them is an essential feature in any SEO tool.
Surfer SEO offers a backlink checker within its SERP analyzer, allowing you to track competition, get keyword suggestions, and discover backlinks.
While Surfer SEO provides fundamental backlink analysis, Ahrefs excels in this area with its extensive backlink database and Site Explorer tool.
Ahrefs’ Site Explorer allows you to analyze a website’s backlink profile and organic search traffic, making it a go-to choice for backlink analysis and tracking. With additional features like Site Audit and Rank Tracker, Ahrefs provides a comprehensive toolset for off-page SEO.
Ease of Use and Interface
For SEO tool novices, user-friendly interfaces and ease of use are essential requirements.
Surfer SEO is known for its straightforward approach, making it easier to pick up and providing a shorter learning curve than Ahrefs.
Surfer SEO’s Content Editor can also be easily integrated with Google Docs, enhancing user-friendliness.
Ahrefs, while offering a robust set of features, can be intimidating. However, with extensive documentation, tutorials, and community support, you can quickly become proficient in navigating Ahrefs’ interface and making the most of its powerful SEO capabilities.
Pricing and Plans
Surfer SEO and Ahrefs have various pricing plans and packages to accommodate different user types and budgets. Surfer SEO’s packages range from $69/month to $249/month if subscribed yearly.
The Essential plan allows crafting and modifying up to 15 articles, while the Advanced plan is for larger companies looking to optimize 90 articles monthly.
Ahrefs’ plans range from $99/month to $999/month, offering flexibility to accommodate users from small startups to large corporations.
Though Ahrefs is on par with similar services like SEMrush and Moz in terms of pricing, it’s essential to consider your specific features and requirements when choosing the right plan.
Integration with Other Tools and Platforms
Compatibility with other popular SEO and marketing tools is crucial for seamless workflow management.
Integration with other tools can help streamline processes, reduce manual labor, and improve the overall effectiveness of your SEO strategy.
Integrating Surfer SEO and Ahrefs with other digital marketing tools and platforms creates a more cohesive and efficient workflow.
Data can be seamlessly transferred between platforms, reducing the risk of errors that can occur with manual data entry.
Having all your data in one place can provide a more holistic view of your SEO efforts, enabling you to make more informed decisions and strategies for your campaigns and content creations.
Customer Support and Resources
The availability of customer support and resources significantly aids you in harnessing the full potential of your chosen SEO tools.
Surfer SEO and Ahrefs offer extensive documentation, tutorials, and community support.
However, Surfer SEO goes the extra mile with additional resources and a more comprehensive support system.
Ahrefs, on the other hand, provides thorough documentation, tutorials, and community support to help users navigate its vast array of features and tools.
With guidance and resources, you can quickly enhance your SEO campaigns using Surfer SEO or Ahrefs.
Real-World Case Studies
Real-world case studies showcase the effectiveness of both Surfer SEO and Ahrefs in improving website rankings and traffic. Here are some examples:
NBABlast.com increased its traffic by 3000% with Surfer AI.
ClickUp boosted their blog.
A healthcare agency improved content publishing by 247% using Surfer.
These success stories highlight the capabilities of Surfer SEO in optimizing content and boosting search engine rankings.
While I don’t have explicit case studies for Ahrefs, it’s worth considering that SEO professionals widely use Ahrefs, and it has a strong reputation in the digital marketing community.
With its robust backlink analysis and keyword research features, Ahrefs has undoubtedly contributed to the success of numerous businesses in improving their website rankings and traffic.
FAQs
In this part, I’ll tackle some commonly asked queries about Surfer SEO and Ahrefs, dispelling common misconceptions and providing insights into their capabilities and features.
I’ll begin by examining the differences between these two tools and then discuss their strengths.
Why is Surfer SEO good?
Surfer SEO is an excellent SEO software for search engine optimization, thanks to its unique features and focus on content optimization. With over 500 ranking factors, in-depth keyword research, and backlink analysis, Surfer SEO provides a comprehensive solution for optimizing your content and boosting your website’s rankings. Surfer SEO stands out for its effectiveness and ease of use among popular SEO tools.
Its user-friendly interface and powerful content editor make it popular among SEO professionals.
Does Surfer SEO have keyword research?
Yes, Surfer SEO offers a powerful keyword research tool that provides:
A list of keywords
Their search volume
Keyword difficulty score
Other metrics
It also generates a list of related keywords and provides insights on meta tags, allowing you to optimize their content for search engines more effectively.
However, compared to Ahrefs, Surfer SEO may not have as extensive keyword research features, such as a dedicated keyword explorer tool.
Is Ahrefs good for keyword research?
Ahrefs is renowned for its robust keyword research capabilities, making it an excellent choice for businesses looking for profitable keywords.
With its Advanced Research metrics, keyword difficulty scores, and extensive language support, Ahrefs’ Keyword Explorer tool provides accurate and relevant keywords, helping you target and rank for specific searches.
Does Surfer SEO use AI?
Surfer SEO uses artificial intelligence (AI) in the form of natural language processing (NLP) models to analyze the top search engine results pages (SERPs) and provide insights for content optimization.
By leveraging AI, Surfer SEO can generate more precise and relevant content recommendations, reducing time and effort while identifying new opportunities for content optimization.
How do I increase my SEO score on Surfer?
To improve your SEO score on Surfer, follow these steps:
Focus on creating high-quality, relevant content that incorporates appropriate keywords throughout.
Use Surfer SEO’s Content Editor feature to optimize your content for multiple keywords.
Ensure that your content is well-structured and easy for search engines to understand.
By following these steps, you can improve your SEO score on Surfer.
You can effectively boost your SEO score by following these tips and using Surfer SEO’s features and recommendations.
Does Surfer SEO have keyword research?
Absolutely. Surfer SEO offers a detailed keyword research tool to provide a comprehensive list of related keywords based on a given search term and insightful data like monthly search volume.
This makes it incredibly useful for businesses targeting specific locations or regions. However, while Surfer SEO’s keyword research tool is robust and intuitive, it might not be as extensive as Ahrefs. Ahrefs is known for its advanced research metrics and analysis of keyword difficulty scores, making it a powerhouse in keyword research.
Is Ahrefs the king of keyword research?
Ahrefs’ Keyword Explorer tool offers extensive keyword data, including search volume, keyword difficulty, click metrics, etc.
Ahrefs also makes it an invaluable tool for businesses targeting global audiences. Moreover, the accuracy of its keyword data is widely recognized in the SEO community, making Ahrefs a strong competitor in keyword research.
Summary
Surfer SEO and Ahrefs offer powerful features and tools for improving website rankings and traffic. Surfer SEO excels in content optimization and user-friendliness, whereas Ahrefs shines in backlink analysis and keyword research.
Ultimately, the choice between Surfer SEO and Ahrefs depends on your specific needs and budget.
By understanding each tool’s strengths and weaknesses, you can make an informed decision and choose the best SEO tool for your business in 2023.
