Ahrefs vs Semrush:Which is more popular by branded search?
In August 2026, Semrush had more branded searches than Ahrefs among SEO software platforms worldwide. Semrush was estimated to have 736K branded searches compared to Ahrefs’ 393K, and held a 54.3% Share of Search versus Ahrefs’ 29%. Worldwide · English terms: these are worldwide searches for English-language branded terms.
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Which is more popular in search, Ahrefs or Semrush?
Compare search marketing platforms for keyword research, rank tracking, site audits, and competitor analysis. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time.
Share of Search by month for Semrush, Ahrefs. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of search table
| Month | Semrush | Ahrefs | Ubersuggest | SE Ranking | Mangools | Serpstat | Moz Pro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 49.6% | 29.8% | 14.5% | 4.4% | 0.89% | 0.58% | 0.18% |
| Nov 2025 | 53% | 25.9% | 15.4% | 3.8% | 1.1% | 0.62% | 0.15% |
| Dec 2025 | 55.4% | 22.6% | 16.1% | 4% | 1.2% | 0.53% | 0.19% |
| Jan 2026 | 47.7% | 29.1% | 17% | 4.2% | 1.3% | 0.56% | 0.2% |
| Feb 2026 | 49.5% | 30% | 14.3% | 4.3% | 1.1% | 0.58% | 0.22% |
| Mar 2026 | 65.8% | 19.5% | 10.8% | 2.6% | 0.66% | 0.43% | 0.16% |
| Apr 2026 | 52.8% | 28% | 14.2% | 3.5% | 0.88% | 0.47% | 0.17% |
| May 2026 | 47.1% | 31.1% | 13% | 7.1% | 0.97% | 0.52% | 0.19% |
| Jun 2026 | 52.9% | 28.4% | 13.8% | 3.4% | 0.84% | 0.45% | 0.17% |
| Jul 2026 | 49.6% | 34.5% | 11.2% | 3.4% | 0.83% | 0.37% | 0.16% |
| Aug 2026 | 54.3% | 29% | 12.2% | 3% | 0.9% | 0.4% | 0.14% |
| Sep 2026 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
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 11 months ending August 2026.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Ahrefs’ estimated Share of Search among SEO software platforms worldwide moved from 29.8% to 29%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 505K to 393K.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Semrush’s estimated Share of Search among SEO software platforms worldwide moved from 49.6% to 54.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 841K to 736K.
How did search popularity change for SEO software platforms worldwide in August 2026?
2 changes
In August 2026, Semrush gained estimated Share of Search among SEO software platforms worldwide, from 49.6% to 54.3%.
In August 2026, Ahrefs lost estimated Share of Search among SEO software platforms worldwide, from 34.5% to 29%.
How each brand is measured
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.
Put your own brand in this comparison
Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.