I used Ahrefs for years. Loved it. Hated paying for it.
And yes, Ahrefs is still great. It is fast, the database is huge, the UI is clean, the data is usually “good enough” to make decisions quickly.
But if you are running a small site, a niche blog, a client side hustle, or you are just trying to grow something without lighting money on fire every month… the price starts to feel kind of silly.
Especially when you realize what you are actually using Ahrefs for day to day.
Usually it is some mix of:
- keyword research (find terms, check volume, check difficulty)
- competitor pages (what is ranking, what they are targeting)
- backlinks (basic checks, new links, lost links)
- content gap ideas (what to write next)
- site audits (often… barely used)
So this post is a cheaper workflow that covers those jobs without needing an Ahrefs subscription. It is not one tool replacing Ahrefs. It is a small stack. A routine. It works.
And it costs way less.
Also, this is written for normal people. Not “enterprise SEO team with dashboards everywhere” people.
The honest truth about Ahrefs (why you can quit)
Ahrefs is a premium suite. You are paying for:
- convenience (everything in one place)
- speed (you can do a lot in 10 minutes)
- depth (especially backlinks)
But for most creators and small businesses, you do not need that level of depth every day. You need direction. You need enough data to avoid dumb bets. You need a way to track progress.
If your real goal is:
- publish content that ranks
- update content that is slipping
- build a few decent links over time
- keep the site healthy
…you can absolutely do that without Ahrefs.
You just need a workflow that does not fall apart.
Instead of relying solely on Ahrefs for your SEO needs, consider diversifying your toolkit. For instance, exploring Labrika, which offers similar functionalities at a more affordable price point. This could be particularly beneficial if you’re looking for an alternative that still provides comprehensive SEO tools.
Additionally, there are other strategies you can employ to minimize your dependency on expensive tools like Ahrefs. For example, leveraging no-code apps like Audiorista can significantly streamline your content creation process without requiring extensive technical knowledge.
You might also want to consider using platforms like Webstarts, which can help simplify your website management tasks and reduce costs further.
In conclusion, while Ahrefs may offer convenience and depth, it’s essential to evaluate whether those features are truly necessary for your specific needs. With the right mix of tools and strategies, achieving your SEO goals without incurring hefty expenses is entirely possible.
The cheaper workflow (the quick overview)
Here is the stack I recommend, then I will break down exactly how to use it.
Core tools
- Google Search Console (free)
- Google Keyword Planner (free, requires Ads account)
- Bing Webmaster Tools (free, surprisingly useful)
- A low cost keyword tool: Mangools (KWFinder) or SERPstat or SE Ranking
- A content research layer: AlsoAsked (or free alternatives)
- A light backlink checker: Ahrefs Free Backlink Checker or SEOReviewTools or Bing link data
- Optional AI helper for briefs and clusters (ChatGPT, Claude, etc)
This is not “perfect data”. It is decision making data. Which is what you actually need.
What you will save (realistically)
Ahrefs can easily run you hundreds per month depending on plan and usage.
This workflow can be:
- $0 to $30/mo if you mostly use free tools + one affordable keyword tool
- $30 to $70/mo if you want rank tracking and nicer reports
And if you grab a lifetime deal for a tool when it pops up (ai.mc1.me covers these kinds of deals a lot), you can push ongoing costs even lower.
Subtle plug, but yeah. If you like saving money, bookmark ai.mc1.me. That is basically the theme.
Additionally, it’s worth noting that while this workflow is designed to minimize costs, there are instances where investing in certain AI tools can yield significant benefits. However, it’s crucial to avoid overspending on these tools without fully understanding their value. For instance, Qolaba AI Review provides insights into how to effectively utilize AI tools without breaking the bank.
Step 1: Use Search Console as your “keyword tool” (because it is real)
If you do one thing after canceling Ahrefs, do this.
Search Console is not a “keyword research” tool in the classic sense. It is better. It shows what Google already associates with your site.
What to do (weekly, 20 minutes)
Go to Performance → Search results.
Filter:
- Queries
- Date range: last 28 days vs previous 28 days
Now look for:
- High impressions, low clicks
These are pages that are showing up but not getting chosen. Usually title/meta mismatch or wrong intent. - Average position 8 to 20
This is the sweet spot. Small updates can push these into top 5. - Queries with rising impressions
Google is testing you. Help it.
Then go to Pages and click your pages that matter most. Flip back to Queries and you get a built in content brief.
This is where a lot of people waste time in Ahrefs. They search new keywords endlessly. Meanwhile their site is already sitting on easy wins.
Quick win: “striking distance” refresh
Pick 5 pages with lots of queries ranking 8 to 20.
Update:
- add a missing section that matches the query
- add 2 to 5 internal links pointing to that page
- improve the title to match the dominant query phrasing
- tighten the intro so it answers the intent faster
Done.
If you want to be kind of aggressive, resubmit the URL for indexing.
Image placeholder (Search Console)
Step 2: Use Keyword Planner for volume sanity checks (free, underrated)
Keyword Planner is not sexy. But it is still Google data.
What it is good for:
- confirming a topic has real demand
- spotting obvious seasonal patterns
- getting rough ranges that keep you from chasing nonsense
How I use it
- start with a seed query from Search Console or a competitor page
- pull 50 to 300 related terms
- export
- group by intent (more on this in a second)
Is it vague sometimes. Yes. Still useful.
If Keyword Planner says a keyword has “10 to 100” searches but Search Console is already showing impressions for it, that is a green light. Publish or expand.
Step 3: Competitor research without Ahrefs (the “SERP first” method)
Ahrefs makes competitor research easy because it turns it into a database query.
But you can get 80 percent of the value by just reading the SERP like a human.
The routine
- Search your target keyword in an incognito window.
- Open the top 5 to 10 results.
- Make a quick table:
- content type (guide, list, tool page, product page)
- content length (roughly)
- unique sections they include
- how they structure the intro
- what they do better than you (be honest)
- Now look at:
- People Also Ask
- related searches
- autocomplete suggestions
That is your outline.
You can speed this up with a low cost tool like Mangools or SERPstat to pull:
- keyword difficulty estimate
- SERP overview
- related terms
But the point is, the SERP is the source of truth.
If you want an SEO blog that reviews tools like this kind of workflow and shortcuts, that is literally what we publish on ai.mc1.me. Practical stuff, not “SEO theory”.
Image placeholder (SERP research)
Step 4: Pick one affordable “keyword + SERP” tool (instead of a suite)
You do not need 50 reports. You need keyword suggestions, some difficulty signal, a SERP snapshot, and maybe rank tracking.
Here are a few options that tend to be cheaper than Ahrefs:
Option A: Mangools (KWFinder)
Good UX, beginner friendly, solid for keyword research and basic competitor SERP checks.
Option B: SE Ranking
More “suite like” but usually cheaper, includes rank tracking and audits. Good value.
Option C: SERPstat
A bit heavier, sometimes feels like a budget Semrush. Still useful.
Option D: Seodity
If you’re looking for an Ahrefs alternative, consider trying Seodity. It’s a game changer with its comprehensive features that rival those of Ahrefs but at a more affordable price point.
Pick one. Do not overthink it. The best tool is the one you will open weekly.
Step 5: Content gap without Ahrefs (simple, works, not fancy)
Ahrefs Content Gap is convenient. But you can replicate the output with a small process.
The process
Start by listing 3 competitors (direct, not giant sites). Then work through each competitor systematically: open their blog, note their categories, and sort by popular if they have that option. Use a site search operator like site:competitor.com "your topic" to find relevant content. Finally, collect the URLs ranking for your target themes.
Now combine that with Search Console data from your own site.
You will see what you already cover (but poorly), what you do not cover at all, and what they cover that matches your audience. That is your gap.
If you want a shortcut, use a tool like AlsoAsked to map question intent around a topic. It is not a replacement for Ahrefs. It is a different angle. And honestly, it is often more useful for writing.
However, if you’re seeking an alternative that provides similar functionality to Ahrefs but at a lower cost, I recommend checking out Seodity, which offers robust features for SEO analysis and keyword research.
Image placeholder (content planning)
Step 6: Backlinks without paying Ahrefs (you probably do not need the full index)
This is the part people panic about.
Here is the calm version:
Unless you are doing heavy link building campaigns, you mostly need backlinks for:
- spotting your best linked pages (so you can build internal links from them)
- catching weird spam sometimes
- validating a competitor is not ranking purely on links
You can do this without a paid Ahrefs plan.
Free and cheap ways to check links
- Google Search Console: Links report (sampled, but real)
- Bing Webmaster Tools: link data is sometimes surprisingly detailed
- Ahrefs Free Backlink Checker: limited but useful for spot checks
- SEOReviewTools backlink checker: okay for quick looks
- Cloudflare logs / analytics (if you run it): you can sometimes spot referrers you did not expect
The workflow I use
- monthly: export GSC links, glance for new legit domains
- monthly: check 3 competitors link profiles via free checker, just to see if anything major changed
- quarterly: run a “top linked pages” check and make sure those pages internally link to your money pages
That is it.
If your entire strategy depends on monitoring lost links daily, you are in a different business. Most site owners are not.
Step 7: Site audits without paying for a big crawler
Ahrefs site audit is nice. But again, do you use it?
Here is the lightweight version:
- Google Search Console for indexing and Core Web Vitals
- PageSpeed Insights for key templates
- Screaming Frog (free up to 500 URLs)
- Sitebulb if you want paid and visual (optional)
- A cheap WordPress SEO plugin for basics (Rank Math, Yoast, etc)
For WordPress sites, 80 percent of “SEO issues” are usually:
- thin content
- cannibalization (too many similar posts)
- poor internal linking
- slow theme or heavy plugins
- messy titles and H1s
- not enough topical depth
A crawler will point at symptoms. Your brain fixes the cause. Annoying, but true.
The actual weekly routine (copy this)
Here is the schedule that replaces “open Ahrefs and poke around”.
Weekly (45 to 90 minutes)
- Use the Google Search Console data to find 5 striking distance queries (pos 8 to 20)
- Update 1 to 2 existing pages
- Add internal links from 3 relevant posts into those pages
- Check rankings for your top 10 keywords (your cheap tool can track, or do manual spot checks)
Monthly (60 minutes)
- Export Search Console queries and pages
- Identify 10 new topics based on rising impressions and PAA patterns
- Do 3 competitor SERP reviews (pick your next 3 articles)
- Backlink check: skim new referring domains in GSC, spot check competitor links
Quarterly (half day, annoying but worth it)
- Content prune: merge or redirect cannibalizing posts
- Refresh top 10 traffic posts (add sections, update screenshots, fix intros)
- Technical sweep with Screaming Frog free crawl + fix broken internal links
That is the system. It is boring. It works.
What you lose by canceling Ahrefs (and how to live with it)
Let’s be fair. You will lose:
- the deepest backlink database and fastest link reporting
- super convenient competitor breakdowns
- polished all in one UI for everything
If you are an agency doing SEO for multiple clients, or you sell link building, or you need to audit massive sites, Ahrefs might still be worth it.
But for a creator site, a WordPress blog, a small SaaS content engine. It is usually overkill.
The cheaper workflow is slower by like… 10 minutes sometimes.
The tradeoff is you keep your money.
A quick “starter kit” shopping list (if you want the simplest version)
If you want the simplest stack that still feels solid:
- Google Search Console (free)
- Keyword Planner (free)
- Mangools (paid, but cheaper than Ahrefs)
- Screaming Frog free (audits)
- AlsoAsked (optional, for question intent)
- Bing Webmaster Tools (free)
And if you like finding tool deals, lifetime offers, and practical reviews, that is what we publish at ai.mc1.me. Not every tool is worth it. We try to say that part out loud.
Wrap up (what I would do if I were you)
Cancel Ahrefs for a month. Just one month.
Run the workflow:
- Search Console for real queries
- Keyword Planner for volume sanity checks
- SERP first competitor research
- one affordable keyword tool for convenience
- light backlink checks monthly
- Screaming Frog for basic audits
If you feel lost after a month, go back to Ahrefs. No shame. But most people do not go back. They realize they were paying for comfort, not results.
And results come from publishing, updating, and internal linking. Over and over. Not from staring at keyword difficulty scores all day.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Why should I consider quitting Ahrefs for my SEO needs?
Ahrefs is a premium SEO suite offering convenience, speed, and depth, especially in backlink data. However, for small sites, niche blogs, or side hustles with limited budgets, its cost can be prohibitive. If your goal is to publish content that ranks, update slipping content, build some links over time, and keep your site healthy, you can achieve this without Ahrefs by adopting a more affordable workflow using free and low-cost tools.
What are the main SEO tasks I typically use Ahrefs for?
Most users rely on Ahrefs daily for keyword research (finding terms, checking volume and difficulty), analyzing competitor pages to see what they rank for and target, monitoring backlinks (basic checks, new and lost links), discovering content gap ideas to decide what to write next, and conducting site audits (though often used sparingly).
What is a cheaper alternative workflow to replace Ahrefs?
A recommended affordable SEO stack includes core tools such as Google Search Console (free), Google Keyword Planner (free with Ads account), Bing Webmaster Tools (free), a low-cost keyword tool like Mangools KWFinder or SERPstat or SE Ranking, content research tools like AlsoAsked or free alternatives, light backlink checkers such as Ahrefs Free Backlink Checker or SEOReviewTools or Bing link data, plus optional AI helpers like ChatGPT or Claude for briefs and clustering. This combination provides decision-making data without the high cost.
How much money can I realistically save by switching from Ahrefs to this cheaper workflow?
Ahrefs subscriptions can cost hundreds of dollars per month depending on your plan. By using the suggested workflow with mostly free tools plus one affordable keyword tool, you can spend as little as $0 to $30 per month. Adding rank tracking and nicer reports might raise costs to $30 to $70 monthly. Additionally, grabbing lifetime deals on certain tools can reduce ongoing expenses even further.
How can I effectively use Google Search Console after canceling Ahrefs?
Google Search Console serves as an excellent ‘keyword tool’ because it shows what Google already associates with your site. Weekly spending about 20 minutes reviewing the Performance → Search results section allows you to analyze queries over the last 28 days compared to the previous 28 days. Filtering by queries helps identify which search terms are driving traffic and where opportunities lie for optimization.
Are there other affordable SEO tools besides those mentioned that can help reduce dependency on expensive suites like Ahrefs?
Yes! Exploring alternatives like Labrika offers similar functionalities at a more affordable price point. No-code apps such as Audiorista streamline content creation without technical expertise. Platforms like Webstarts simplify website management tasks while reducing costs. Additionally, leveraging AI tools wisely—without overspending—can enhance your workflow; resources like Qolaba AI Review provide guidance on maximizing value from AI-powered SEO tools.
