Build my stackAhrefs vs Frase
Evaluating Ahrefs and Frase requires comparing two popular options in the marketing & seo space. While Ahrefs is widely recognized for its ability to help sEO professionals, agencies, and in-house marketing teams that need the deepest backlink index, the most accurate keyword data, and an all in one research workspace that now covers both traditional search and AI search visibility., Frase is optimized for teams that need to focus on content marketers and SEO teams that want AI-powered content briefs, optimization scoring, and SERP research in one workflow.. In this hands-on evaluation, we look at their pricing structures, feature sets, user reviews, and performance to help you decide which tool fits your daily workflow best.
Based on our comprehensive evaluation metrics, Ahrefs emerges as the stronger overall choice for most teams, earning a score of 4.8 compared to 4.1 for Frase. A key factor in this recommendation is that Ahrefs provides largest commercial backlink index outside Google, updated constantly, which helps streamline workflows. However, Frase remains an excellent alternative if your team is specifically looking for a tool optimized for content marketers and SEO teams that want AI-powered content briefs, optimization scoring, and SERP research in one workflow. and you value end-to-end workflow: research to brief to draft to optimization. Weigh the cost differences and feature limits carefully before making a commitment.
When comparing Ahrefs and Frase, Ahrefs comes out ahead with a 4.8/5 score for sEO professionals, agencies, and in-house marketing teams that need the deepest backlink index, the most accurate keyword data, and an all in one research workspace that now covers both traditional search and AI search visibility.. Ahrefs starts at $129/mo, while Frase starts at $45/mo. Choose Ahrefs for sEO professionals, agencies, and in-house marketing teams that need the deepest backlink index, the most accurate keyword data, and an all in one research workspace that now covers both traditional search and AI search visibility., or Frase for content marketers and SEO teams that want AI-powered content briefs, optimization scoring, and SERP research in one workflow..
Who stands behind these tools
Ahrefs
- Company
- Ahrefs Pte. Ltd.
- Founded
- 2010
- Headquarters
- Singapore
- CEO
- Dmitry Gerasimenko
Pricing & features verified 2026-07-01
Frase
- Company
- Frase, Inc.
- Headquarters
- Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- CEO
- Luke Wroblewski
Pricing & features verified 2026-07-20
Ahrefs vs Frase at a glance
| Ahrefs | Frase | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Marketing & SEO | Marketing & SEO |
| Our rating | 4.8 / 5 | 4.1 / 5 |
| Starts at | $129/mo | $45/mo |
| Free tier | No | No |
| Best for | SEO professionals, agencies, and in-house marketing teams that need the deepest backlink index, the most accurate keyword data, and an all in one research workspace that now covers both traditional search and AI search visibility. | Content marketers and SEO teams that want AI-powered content briefs, optimization scoring, and SERP research in one workflow. |
Feature Comparison & Edge Analysis
Toggle below to spotlight the unique capabilities where each tool stands out
| Capability / Feature | Ahrefs | Frase | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
Free Tier Access Frase has free tier | Parity | ||
Native Time Tracking Built-in timer & logging capabilities | Frase Wins | ||
AI Assistant & Summary AI text generation & automated summary support | Parity | ||
Custom Views (Board/List/Gantt) Multiple workspace view perspectives | Parity | ||
Mobile Apps (iOS & Android) Native mobile app support | Parity | ||
CSV & Workspace Export Full data portability and CSV exports | Parity | ||
Role-Based Permissions Granular access controls per member | Parity | ||
Workflow Automations Trigger-action automation rules | Parity | ||
External Guest Sharing Client and guest collaboration access | Parity | ||
Enterprise SSO & SAML Single Sign-On enterprise security | Parity |
How Pricing Scales as Your Team Grows
Drag the seat slider to see the exact price gap and cost trajectory between Ahrefs and Frase
AhrefsEst. $2,690/year at 5 seats
📐 $129 base + 4 extra seats (+$140)
FraseEst. $1,500/year at 5 seats
📐 $125/mo base
500-Credit Ceiling & Inactive Project Crawl Consumption
Ahrefs consumes 1 credit per report row click, SERP breakdown, and filter toggle. Heavy research can exhaust the 500-credit monthly quota within 4 days, triggering $35/pack overage billing.
Disable automatic site audit crawls for non-essential projects and export raw CSV data in single bulk queries rather than clicking individual UI drill-downs.
How they scored, dimension by dimension
In our testing, Ahrefs comes out on top for value for money with a rating of 4.0 versus 3.9 for Frase. This difference reflects Ahrefs's more powerful implementation of these features, which helps teams execute work with less friction. While Frase is capable, it does not match the ease of use or feature depth offered by the winning platform in this category.
Where Ahrefs shines
- Largest commercial backlink index outside Google, updated constantly
- Site Explorer and Keywords Explorer are the industry benchmark for accuracy
- New Brand Radar tracks brand visibility inside AI search (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini)
- Custom AI prompts, MCP server, and Report Builder bring AI workflow into the core product
- Entry price jumped to $129/mo for Lite, a real jump from the old $99
- Credits and row limits replace unlimited usage, which frustrates power users
Where Frase shines
- End-to-end workflow: research to brief to draft to optimization
- Fastest content brief creation in the category
- Real-time optimization score guides writing decisions
- Strong People Also Ask and forum question mining
- No free tier exists after the 5-day trial ($1), and Team plans jump to $115/month for only 3 seats, creating high recurring costs for freelance writers
- Keyword research database and backlink intelligence lag far behind all-in-one SEO suites like Ahrefs and SEMrush
AI Head-to-Head Arbiter
Get an instant custom comparison and clear recommendation for your specific situation.
AI Advocate Debate
A structured 3-round head-to-head match between verified software advocates.
Round 1: Speed, User Experience, and Day-One Velocity
Ahrefs Advocate
Pro-Ahrefs Stance
Ahrefs is built specifically for SEO professionals, agencies, and in-house marketing teams that need the deepest backlink index, the most accurate keyword data, and an all in one research workspace that now covers both traditional search and AI search visibility.. Its main superpower is Largest commercial backlink index outside Google, updated constantly, allowing teams to get up and running without endless configuration friction.
"While Frase offers plenty of options, it often requires more setup overhead before you see actual productivity gains."
Frase Advocate
Pro-Frase Stance
Frase excels where deep power is required. Best for Content marketers and SEO teams that want AI-powered content briefs, optimization scoring, and SERP research in one workflow., its standout advantage is End-to-end workflow: research to brief to draft to optimization, giving teams greater autonomy as workflows expand.
"Ahrefs can feel constrained once your team outgrows its default feature boundaries."
So which should you pick?
Choose Ahrefs if
- Built for sEO professionals, agencies, and in-house marketing teams that need the deepest backlink index, the most accurate keyword data, and an all in one research workspace that now covers both traditional search and AI search visibility.
- value for Money matter most to you
- Largest commercial backlink index outside Google, updated constantly
Choose Frase if
- Built for content marketers and SEO teams that want AI-powered content briefs, optimization scoring, and SERP research in one workflow.
- Budget is tight (from $45/mo)
- End-to-end workflow: research to brief to draft to optimization
Migrating from Frase to Ahrefs?
Estimated setup & migration time: ~15 hours for a 10-person team.
💡 Migration Tip: Export all projects from Frase in CSV format before mapping custom fields into Ahrefs. Test with a 3-person sub-team first.
Frase is the cheaper place to start
Frase is the cheaper entry point at $45/mo, versus $129/mo for Ahrefs.
Ahrefs plans at a glance
Lite
Freelancers and small sites
- 1 user
- Core Site Explorer
- Rank tracking basics
Standard
SEO professionals
- Full Site Explorer
- More history & reports
- Content Explorer
Advanced
In-house teams
- More seats & limits
- Looker Studio
- Advanced reporting
Pricing is indicative and shown per month at the time of writing. Plans, limits, and prices change often, so check Ahrefs’s site for the latest before you buy.
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Common questions
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Ahrefs (Rated 4.8/5)