Alternatives to Ahrefs for Keyword Research

Why People Look for Ahrefs Alternatives

Ahrefs is a well-known name in SEO, but it’s not the right fit for everyone. Common complaints include pricing that scales quickly, features most users never touch, and workflows designed for SEO specialists rather than developers or content creators.

If you need keyword research without the overhead of a full SEO suite, there are focused alternatives that deliver better value.

Top Ahrefs Alternatives

Delulu9 – Best for Claude Code and Cursor Users

Delulu9 is purpose-built for keyword research inside dev tools. It pulls from Google, Bing, and Reddit, categorizes intent, and scores difficulty. At $12/mo flat, it costs a fraction of Ahrefs while covering the keyword research use case completely.

The Reddit data is a genuine differentiator. Ahrefs doesn’t show you which keywords Reddit threads rank for in Google, but Delulu9 does. This matters because Reddit results now dominate many “best tool” and “alternative to” searches.

Google Keyword Planner

Free and directly from Google. The data is less granular than Ahrefs, but for basic keyword research it works. Best suited as a starting point rather than a primary tool.

Mangools

A simpler, cheaper alternative with a clean interface. Good keyword difficulty scoring and SERP analysis. Lacks the depth of Ahrefs but covers 80% of what most people need.

Keywords Everywhere

A browser extension that shows keyword data as you browse. Pay-as-you-go pricing keeps costs low. Limited compared to Ahrefs but excellent for quick research.

Ahrefs vs. Alternatives Comparison

When to Stay with Ahrefs

If you need backlink analysis, site auditing, rank tracking, and keyword research all in one platform, Ahrefs delivers. It’s a comprehensive SEO suite, and that breadth has real value for SEO professionals managing multiple client sites.

When to Switch

If keyword research is your primary need and you work in Claude Code, Cursor, or similar dev environments, a focused tool like Delulu9 gives you better workflow integration at a lower price. You get Google, Bing, and Reddit data without paying for features you won’t use.

Try a Focused Alternative

Delulu9 gives you keyword research from Google, Bing, and Reddit for $12/mo. No bloat, no surprise bills, direct integration with Claude Code and Cursor.