Ahrefs vs Surfer SEO:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Surfer SEO had more branded searches than Ahrefs among AI SEO tools worldwide. Surfer SEO had about 22,200 branded searches, while Ahrefs had 1,300. Surfer SEO made up 69.7% of all AI SEO tool searches we track, and Ahrefs accounted for 4.1%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about AI SEO tools, Surfer SEO appeared in all five answers and Ahrefs in three. Surfer SEO was mentioned before Ahrefs in four out of five answers.
Who do people search for more?
Surfer SEO, about 17 searches for every 1 for Ahrefs
Who does AI mention more?
Surfer SEO, mentioned in every answer we collected
Who does AI recommend more?
Surfer SEO, named ahead of Ahrefs in 4 of 5 answers
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Top AI SEO tools in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Surfer SEO appeared in all five answers. Ahrefs was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Surfer SEO was listed before Ahrefs in four out of five answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
- Surfer SEO1st
Ahrefs2nd
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Surfer SEO5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Ahrefs3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about AI SEO tools
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which AI SEO tool should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best AI SEO tools?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best AI SEO tool for content optimisation?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“ai seo tools”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“content optimisation tool”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 20, 2026.
Is Ahrefs or Surfer SEO more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Ahrefs and Surfer SEO by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven AI SEO tools we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Surfer SEO, Ahrefs. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Surfer SEO | Ahrefs |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 2025 | 70.3% | 3.3% |
| Dec 2025 | 73.4% | 2.9% |
| Jan 2026 | 72.9% | 2.8% |
| Feb 2026 | 72% | 3.4% |
| Mar 2026 | 74.8% | 3.6% |
| Apr 2026 | 73.2% | 3.4% |
| May 2026 | 68.8% | 4% |
| Jun 2026 | 67.6% | 3.2% |
| Jul 2026 | 69% | 4.1% |
| Aug 2026 | 67.4% | 3.9% |
| Sep 2026 | 69.7% | 4.1% |
| Oct 2026 | — | — |
Ahrefs sells other things too, so only its searches that name this product count here, like “ahrefs ai”.
How has branded search for Ahrefs and Surfer SEO changed worldwide over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Surfer SEO was ahead of Ahrefs in every measured month of the 11 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 11 months ending September 2026, Ahrefs’ share of searches among AI SEO tools worldwide moved from 3.3% to 4.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 1.9K to 1.3K.
- Across the 11 months ending September 2026, Surfer SEO’s share of searches among AI SEO tools worldwide moved from 70.3% to 69.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 40.5K to 22.2K.
How did search popularity change for AI SEO tools worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Surfer SEO gained share of searches among AI SEO tools worldwide, from 67.4% to 69.7%.
In September 2026, Ahrefs rose from 6th to 5th among AI SEO tools worldwide.
How are Ahrefs’ and Surfer SEO’s branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Ahrefs’ and Surfer SEO’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
1 branded search term
- ahrefs ai
Surfer SEO
1 branded search term
- surfer seo
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