Brandwave

Ahrefs vs Semrush:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Semrush had more branded searches than Ahrefs among SEO rank tracking platforms worldwide. Semrush had about 673,000 branded searches, while Ahrefs had 351,000. Semrush made up 56.7% of all SEO rank tracking platform searches we track, and Ahrefs accounted for 29.5%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about SEO rank tracking platforms, Semrush appeared in all five answers and Ahrefs in four. Semrush was mentioned before Ahrefs in every answer.

Among SEO rank tracking platforms worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Semrush, about 92% more searches than Ahrefs

Semrush 673K searchesAhrefs 351K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Semrush, mentioned in every answer we collected

Semrush in 5 of 5Ahrefs in 4 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Semrush, named ahead of Ahrefs in every answer

Semrush first in 5Ahrefs never first

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Top SEO rank tracking platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Semrush appeared in all five answers. Ahrefs was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Semrush was listed before Ahrefs in every answer.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Semrush1st
  2. SE Ranking2nd
  3. AccuRanker3rd
  4. Ahrefs4th
  5. Nightwatch5th
  6. Mangools SERPWatcher6th
  7. Wincher7th
  8. Moz–
  9. ProRankTracker–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Semrush5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • SE Ranking5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • AccuRanker5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Ahrefs4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Nightwatch3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Mangools SERPWatcher3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Wincher1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Moz0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • ProRankTracker0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about SEO rank tracking platforms

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.

Is Ahrefs or Semrush more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Ahrefs and Semrush by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all nine SEO rank tracking platforms we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Ahrefs and Semrush among SEO rank tracking platforms worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Semrush, Ahrefs. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthSemrushAhrefsMozSE RankingAccuRankerProRankTrackerWincherNightwatchMangools SERPWatcher
Oct 202553.4%32.4%8.8%4.8%0.38%0.1%0.04%0.17%<0.01%
Nov 202557.3%28.5%9.4%4.2%0.26%0.09%0.03%0.18%<0.01%
Dec 202558.9%24.4%11.8%4.3%0.26%0.08%0.03%0.15%0.01%
Jan 202652.1%32.3%10.4%4.7%0.29%0.08%0.03%0.11%<0.01%
Feb 202652.9%32.8%8.6%4.8%0.3%0.46%0.04%0.06%0.05%
Mar 202657.4%29.9%7.7%4.2%0.29%0.4%0.08%0.06%0.03%
Apr 202654.8%31.8%9%4%0.26%0.05%0.05%0.03%<0.01%
May 202648%34.1%9.6%7.9%0.19%0.07%0.06%0.03%<0.01%
Jun 202652.9%32.3%10.6%3.9%0.2%0.04%0.04%0.03%<0.01%
Jul 202649.4%36.8%9.9%3.6%0.19%0.05%0.03%0.03%<0.01%
Aug 202654.1%31.5%10.9%3.3%0.2%0.06%0.02%0.03%<0.01%
Sep 202656.7%29.5%9.3%4.2%0.25%0.05%0.03%0.03%<0.01%

How has the Ahrefs and Semrush comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Semrush was ahead of Ahrefs in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Ahrefs’ share of searches among SEO rank tracking platforms worldwide moved from 32.4% to 29.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 500K to 351K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Semrush’s share of searches among SEO rank tracking platforms worldwide moved from 53.4% to 56.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 823K to 673K.

How did search popularity change for SEO rank tracking platforms worldwide in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Semrush gained share of searches among SEO rank tracking platforms worldwide, from 54.1% to 56.7%.

  2. In September 2026, Ahrefs lost share of searches among SEO rank tracking platforms worldwide, from 31.5% to 29.5%.

How are branded searches counted?

3 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Ahrefs’ and Semrush’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Ahrefs

2 branded search terms

  • ahrefs
  • ahrefs backlink checker

Semrush

1 branded search term

  • semrush

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among SEO rank tracking platforms

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