Ahrefs vs Semrush:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Semrush had more branded searches than Ahrefs among SEO tools in New Zealand. Semrush had about 2,020 branded searches, while Ahrefs had 900. Semrush made up 52.2% of all SEO tool searches we track, and Ahrefs accounted for 23.3%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about SEO tools, Semrush appeared in all five answers and Ahrefs in four. Semrush was mentioned before Ahrefs in four out of five answers.
Who do people search for more?
Semrush, about 2 searches for every 1 for Ahrefs
Who does AI mention more?
Semrush, mentioned in every answer we collected
Who does AI recommend more?
Semrush, named ahead of Ahrefs in 4 of 5 answers
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Top SEO tools 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 all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Semrush 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.
- Semrush1st
Ahrefs2nd
Screaming Frog3rd
SE Ranking4th
Moz Pro5th
Ubersuggest–
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
- Ahrefs4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- SE Ranking4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Screaming Frog3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Moz Pro1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Ubersuggest0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about SEO tools
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which SEO tool should I use in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best SEO tools in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best SEO tool in New Zealand for a marketing team?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best seo tool”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“technical seo tool”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 21, 2026.
Share of searches by month for Semrush, Ahrefs. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Semrush | Ahrefs | Screaming Frog | Ubersuggest | SE Ranking | Moz Pro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 45.4% | 28.2% | 7.2% | 12.7% | 5.5% | 0.85% |
| Nov 2025 | 51.8% | 19% | 8.6% | 13% | 6.8% | 0.78% |
| Dec 2025 | 51.7% | 22.1% | 8.1% | 12.2% | 5.2% | 0.74% |
| Jan 2026 | 53.5% | 23.5% | 7% | 10.4% | 4.4% | 1% |
| Feb 2026 | 51.4% | 25.4% | 7% | 9.7% | 5.2% | 1.2% |
| Mar 2026 | 53% | 20.6% | 7.3% | 12.1% | 5.3% | 1.6% |
| Apr 2026 | 51.1% | 22.3% | 8.2% | 12.2% | 5.2% | 0.99% |
| May 2026 | 49.4% | 23.9% | 7.7% | 11.2% | 6.1% | 1.6% |
| Jun 2026 | 49.9% | 21.3% | 9.6% | 12% | 6.2% | 0.96% |
| Jul 2026 | 55.2% | 23.2% | 7% | 8.3% | 5.5% | 0.78% |
| Aug 2026 | 50.2% | 24.9% | 8.3% | 9.8% | 6.3% | 0.49% |
| Sep 2026 | 52.2% | 23.3% | 8.5% | 8.5% | 6.7% | 0.78% |
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 tools in New Zealand moved from 28.2% to 23.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 1.3K to 900.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Semrush’s share of searches among SEO tools in New Zealand moved from 45.4% to 52.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 2.1K to 2K.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand SEO tools in September 2026?
2 changes
How are branded searches counted?
15 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.
Other head-to-heads among SEO tools
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