Ahrefs vs. KWFinder – Which One Is Right for You?

So, you’re searching for a premium keyword research tool.

You’re done with the restrictions and limited data from all those overrated free tools you’re using.

Yup.

You want a tool that’s comprehensive and versatile (a.k.a. a tool that’ll give you all the data you need to rank well on those stubborn SERPs).

But honestly, picking the keyword research tool that’s right for you isn’t the same as picking the best ice cream flavor on a hot day.

Because honestly, not all tools are created equal.

And if you ask me, the right question shouldn’t be, “What’s the best keyword tool?”

It’s “What’s the best keyword tool for me?”

So if you’re in over your head researching which tool you should choose…

…I’m going to make things simple for you.

I’m going to compare two of the best keyword research tools out there today, so you can understand:

• What they do

• What makes them unique

• What special features they have

• Which one will be perfect for your specific needs

Ready?

Here’s Ahrefs vs. KWFinder: a comprehensive comparison.

Ahrefs vs. KWFinder: Two of the Best Keyword Research Tools in the Market

First things first.

Before we dive into the similarities and differences between Ahrefs and KWFinder, let’s take a quick look at both of these tools and what they can do.

What Is Ahrefs? (The Do-All-End-All SEO Tool)

Source: ahrefs.com

Pricing: Lite ($99/month) Standard ($179/month) Advanced ($399/month) Agency ($999/month)

A while ago, I mentioned that Ahrefs is a premium keyword research tool.

I lied.

Because the truth is, Ahrefs is so much more than that.

Here’s how Backlinko describes it:

Source: backlinko.com

In other words, Ahrefs is a comprehensive SEO tool that has all the data you could possibly need to rank higher on Google’s SERPs.

It has all the essential features of a keyword research tool, including keyword difficulty score, search volume, and traffic potential.

Source: ahrefs.com

It has a site explorer, which allows you to analyze your own website so you can track how well you’re doing on the SERPs (and how you can improve your ranking).

Source: ahrefs.com

It has a site audit feature that allows you to keep track of your site’s health score and other data.

Source: ahrefs.com

It has a content explorer, which lets you browse through content that has done well over a period of time (including valuable data such as referring domains and page traffic).

Source: ahrefs.com

It even has a feature that allows you to research keyword data on other platforms such as YouTube, Amazon, Bing, and more.

Source: ahrefs.com

Cool, right?

Trust me, this quick overview only scratches the surface of what Ahrefs has in store for you.

So, back to our initial question.

What is Ahrefs?

Answer: Ahrefs is the do-all-end-all SEO suite for those who are serious about making it to the top of the SERPs.

It’s that simple.

What is KWFinder? (The Simple but Complete Keyword Research Tool)

Source: kwfinder.com

Pricing: Mangools Basic ($29.90) Mangools Premium ($39.90) Mangools Agency ($79.90)

The truth is, not everyone is looking for a comprehensive SEO tool that allows you to do complex stuff like site audits and content analysis.

If you’re a beginner in the dazzling world of SEO, chances are you’ll find a tool like Ahrefs to be overwhelming.

That’s because it’s packed with a ton of features that you probably don’t need right now.

So if all you need is a basic (but super accurate) tool that allows you to research whether or not you have a chance to rank for the keywords you have in mind…

…you’ll love KWFinder.

Yup!

KWFinder focuses on user-friendliness, meaning you don’t need to go to SEO school to figure out how to use it.

Just check out its intuitive interface:

Source: kwfinder.com

All in one page, you can see a keyword’s difficulty score…

Source: kwfinder.com

…search volume…

Source: kwfinder.com

…and related keywords.

Source: kwfinder.com

You can also see an SERP overview, search keywords by domain, and use filters to narrow down your search.

So in a nutshell, KWFinder is a premium research tool that gives you all the data you need on keywords.

You can check out 7 features of KWFinder in our 7 minute review here:

If you’re just starting out and all you need is a simple, intuitive tool that allows you to decide whether to go for or ditch certain keyword ideas…

…KWFinder is the tool for you.

And honestly, this tool isn’t only for beginners.

A ton of not-so-beginner bloggers and content marketers rely on it as well.

That’s because it’s affordable, easy-on-the-eyes, and surprisingly accurate and comprehensive when it comes to keyword data.

So now I’ve made things even harder for you.

If both Ahrefs and KWFinder are great…which one should you choose?

Calm down.

Here’s what I suggest: if you can afford it, subscribe to both of them.

You’ll be surprised at how well they work hand-in-hand.

But if you’re on a budget and want to select just one tool for now, read on.

We’ll go over the features of both Ahrefs and KWFinder, pitting them against each other when it comes to what they can do and how well they can do it…

…so you can pick the one that’s best for you right now.

Ahrefs vs. KWFinder: Which One Should You Choose?

When selecting the SEO tool that’s right for you, it shouldn’t be about which one is fancier or which one has the most features.

It shouldn’t be about which one is cheaper, either (although you shouldn’t rob a bank just to get the tool you like).

Here’s what it should really be about: which tool will help you accomplish your specific SEO goals.

Now, let’s look at what both tools can do, and how well they can do it.

Ahrefs vs. KWFinder: User Interface

Both Ahrefs and KWFinder have intuitive interfaces.

When researching keywords, all you need to do is type in a seed keyword, and you get all the necessary data you’re looking for in one screen.

Here’s what it looks like on Ahrefs.

Source: ahrefs.com

And here’s what it looks like on KWFinder:

Source: kwfinder.com

But although they’re both intuitive, they’re not exactly the same.

Unlike KWFinder, Ahrefs provides a ton more data than just keyword difficulty score, search volume, and SERP overview.

It also shows you a keyword’s position history over a certain period of time…

Source: ahrefs.com

…its ads position history…

Source: ahrefs.com

…and a more detailed view of keyword ideas.

Source: ahrefs.com

Is all this extra detail a good thing?

Well, like I said before, it depends.

It’s a good thing if you need it.

For instance, if you’re a content strategist creating a comprehensive editorial calendar which includes exactly when your blog posts can be expected to rank on the first page of Google, you will need data on position history (among other things).

But if you’re the average blogger or affiliate marketer who simply wants to know if a keyword is viable…

…then all that data can get messy and mind-boggling (in which case, you should go for KWFinder).

Ahrefs vs. KWFinder: Pricing

Ok, here’s the thing.

With Ahrefs and KWFinder, we’re comparing two tools that are widely dissimilar in pricing.

Yup: it’s not like comparing Ahrefs and SEMRush, which have basically the same monthly price.

So, here’s a look at Ahref’s pricing plans:

Source: ahrefs.com

And here’s a look at KWFinder’s:

Source: kwfinder.com

See how different they are?

KWFinder’s Agency plan is still cheaper than Ahref’s Lite plan.

So obviously, if you’re just getting started or on a tight budget, KWFinder is the tool for you.

Remember, though, that what you pay for is what you get.

As I mentioned earlier, Ahrefs has a ton of features that KWFinder doesn’t.

But if all you need to do is simple keyword research, you won’t need these features…

…which is why KWFinder’s price will be a win-win for you.

Ahrefs vs. KWFinder: Keyword Suggestions

Ok, so it’s impossible to find a premium SEO or keyword research tool that doesn’t offer a keyword suggestions feature.

(Eye roll.)

Keyword suggestions are so basic, you can even get them on free tools like Ubbersuggest.

Check it out:

Source: app.neilpatel.com

But here’s where you have to pay attention:

How many keyword suggestions can you get from your chosen tool?

Of course, the rule of “the more, the merrier” comes into play with keyword suggestions.

You’ll want as many ideas as you can get when planning your keywords and content.

So, let’s see how well both tools do in the keyword suggestions department.

Here’s Ahref’s results for the term “marketing”:

Source: ahrefs.com

And here’s KWFinder’s:

Source: kwfinder.com

Huge difference, right?

Honestly, Ahrefs leaves all SEO tools far behind when it comes to the sheer number of their keyword suggestions.

One thing to note, though.

The Ahrefs pricing plan you choose determines how many rows of keyword suggestions you can see.

For example, if you get their cheapest Lite plan at $99 per month, you’ll only be able to see 200,000 rows (still impressive, though).

If you go for their largest Agency plan at $999 per month, you’ll be able to see 5 million rows.

The same is true of KWFinder.

With their cheapest plan at $29.90, you’ll only be able to see 200 of 700 keyword suggestions.

With their biggest agency plan, you’ll get to see all 700 of 700 keyword suggestions.

Ahrefs vs. KWFinder: Keyword Difficulty

Here’s something every SEO should know.

You can never win without knowing a keyword’s difficulty score.

Quick example.

Let’s say you’re a passionate marketer, and you want to write about marketing plus rank for it on Google.

Do you go ahead and cook up an epic blog, hoping against hope that “somehow” it’ll “someday” rank on page #1 of Google?

Well, you can do that.

But it’ll never work.

That’s because the keyword “marketing” is WAY hard for even a savvy, experienced SEO expert.

Check out its keyword difficulty score on Ahrefs:

Source: ahrefs.com

And check it out on KWFinder:

Source: kwfinder.com

In other words, trying to rank for the term “marketing” will be nothing but a waste of time on your part.

See how important knowing a keyword’s difficulty score is?

The good news is, all premium tools give you data on keyword difficulty.

But then again, not all tools do it equally well.

So how do both Ahrefs and KWFinder fare in this department?

Check out these facts.

Ahrefs:

• Ahrefs gets their keyword difficulty scores from analyzing the backlink profiles of the top 10 results on Google.

• This is the only metric they use for determining their keyword difficulty score…

• …however, their scores are super accurate.

KWFinder:

• KWFinder gets their keyword difficulty scores from analyzing data pulled from Moz.

• The score is based on SEO stats like domain authority, page authority, Moz rank, and others.

• All things considered, KWFinder’s scores are super accurate as well.

As you can see, using Ahrefs beside KWFinder is ideal.

They each pull their keyword difficulty data from different sources, so using both hand-in-hand will give you a broader view of each keyword you’re researching.

But honestly, if you have to stick to one, both tools give surprisingly accurate keyword difficulty scores…

…meaning picking one over the other won’t be a big issue in this department.

Ahrefs vs. KWFinder: Data Filtering

Ok, so when you use a keyword research tool, expect to be inundated with data.

If you’re new to SEO, you’ll probably run screaming for the hills once you find yourself face-to-face with hundreds or even thousands of keywords.

I mean, how do you find the right keywords for you?

Do you really have time to scroll through the whole list to find keywords with the perfect keyword difficulty score and search volume?

No.

Enter, data filtering.

With data filtering, you can search for keywords based on the metrics that are important to you.

Here’s what that looks like in Ahrefs.

Source: ahrefs.com

As you can see, there are filters for keyword difficulty score, search volume, global volume, and more.

Now, let’s look at what KWFinder’s filters are like:

Source: kwfinder.com

Looks great too, don’t you think?

While there are slight differences between Ahrefs’ and KWFinder’s filters, I’d say both do a great job in helping you quickly and easily narrow down your list of keywords into manageable size.

Ahrefs vs. KWFinder: SERP Analysis

When doing keyword research, you shouldn’t rely on keyword difficulty score alone to determine whether or not to go for a keyword.

Why?

Because when you do, you can either:

• Think a keyword is easy to rank for, but be unable to make it to Google’s first page because of your competitors’ much stronger domain authority and backlink profile.

• Think a keyword is impossible to rank for, and miss out on a great opportunity to rank for it.

Let’s look at both scenarios.

Scenario #1: You want to rank for the keyword “copywriting tips.”

You do some research and find out that its keyword difficulty score isn’t that scary.

Source: kwfinder.com

So do you go on ahead and try to rank for it?

Not so fast.

Because take a look at your competitors.

Source: kwfinder.com

If your domain authority isn’t that high, you’ll have a hard time beating any of these players out, no matter how low the KD score is for that keyword.

Scenario #2: You want to rank for the keyword “compound words.”

You do keyword research, but discover that Ahrefs categorizes the keyword as “hard.”

Source: ahrefs.com

But wait.

If you scroll below to the SERP overview section, you’ll see that your competitors aren’t really that intimidating.

Just check this one out, with a DR of 30 and eight referring domains.

Source: ahrefs.com

So although the keyword “compound words” is considered hard, an overview of the SERPs shows you that a low DR site is ranking for it…

…meaning that if you do the right thing, you can easily replace them and snag that coveted position on page #1 of Google.

I know, it gets techy.

But simply put, a savvy SEO expert needs to analyze the SERPs before targeting or rejecting any keyword.

And with both Ahrefs and KWFinder, that’s easy to do.

Both offer accurate data on your competitors’ DR, backlinks, and more.

One advantage that Ahrefs has over KWFinder, though, is that it shows additional data such as how much traffic the top ranking pages are getting.

Ahrefs vs. KWFinder: Which One Is Best for You?

Ok, so we’ve gone over both Ahrefs and KWFinder.

We’ve seen what they can do, and how each can help you with keyword research and SEO.

Now, it’s time to decide.

Which one is best for you?

To help you, here’s everything we looked at previously in summary form:

In the end, it’s hard to say whether KWFinder is better than Ahrefs, or vice versa.

What it boils down to is what you need to accomplish your goals.

So if you want to get real techy and deadly serious about SEO, I recommend Ahrefs. In my opinion, it’s the #1 all-in-one SEO tool suite.

But if you’re just starting out, or if you want to keep things super simple in the keyword research department, I recommend KWFinder (start your FREE 10-day trial here. No strings attached). It’s got everything you need when it comes to keyword data, plus it’s easy-on-the-eyes and affordable too.

Ahrefs vs. KWFinder – Selecting the Perfect Tool

If you want to make it in the cutthroat world of SEO, you need a keyword research tool.

But since there are a ton of savvy tools out there…

…things can get hard.

You have to consider the kind of data you need, your budget, and your level of experience with SEO in general.

So if you’ve been feeling lost and confused, you can take it easy and narrow your choices down to two of the best tools in the industry.

That’s Ahrefs and KWFinder.

Plus, here’s the best news.

Choosing between the two is easy.

If you need a top-notch, be-all-end-all SEO tool, it’s Ahrefs.

But if you need a simple, intuitive, affordable keyword research tool, it’s KWFinder.

Easy as pie?

It is.

Want to give these two tools a try? It’s easy.

Ahrefs offers a 7-day trial to new users. It costs $7.

KWFinder also offers a trial, which is FREE and lasts for 10 days. Go here to start your FREE trial.

Image credits:

All screenshots taken by the author, February 2022.