7 Best Moz Alternatives in 2026

1. Ahrefs — Best backlink index

Ahrefs is the direct upgrade if backlinks are why you opened Moz in the first place. Its crawler is one of the most active on the web, and Site Explorer's referring-domain, anchor text and lost-link reporting is deeper than Link Explorer's.

It also covers keyword research, rank tracking and site audits, so it replaces all four Moz Pro modules rather than one. Ahrefs Webmaster Tools gives you free audit and backlink data for domains you verify, which is a genuine free path if you only care about your own site.

Best for: Teams whose core need is link research and competitor link analysis.

Skip it if: You want something cheaper than Moz, not more expensive.

2. Semrush — Best all-round replacement

Semrush covers the widest surface area of any tool here: organic and paid keywords, backlink analytics with a Backlink Gap report, position tracking, site audit, plus content and local tools.

Its Authority Score plays the same role as Domain Authority, and the Backlink Gap report is the closest thing to a one-click answer to 'who links to my competitors but not to me'. If you're consolidating tools rather than trimming spend, this is the swap.

Best for: Agencies and in-house teams replacing several tools at once.

Skip it if: You only use one Moz module and want to spend less.

3. Majestic — Cheapest serious link index

Majestic does one thing: backlinks. It's been crawling the web for links longer than almost anyone, and its Trust Flow and Citation Flow pair is the most useful alternative to Domain Authority precisely because it separates quality from quantity.

There's no keyword research and no rank tracking, which is why it's usually the cheapest way to keep a real link index on your desk after cancelling Moz.

Best for: Link builders who want an independent index and don't need the rest of the suite.

Skip it if: You need keyword and rank data in the same tool.

4. Mangools — Best budget suite

Mangools bundles KWFinder, SERPChecker, SERPWatcher, LinkMiner and SiteProfiler. It is deliberately simpler than Moz Pro, and considerably cheaper.

LinkMiner covers backlink checks and SiteProfiler gives you an authority-style overview, so the Moz workflow survives the move — you just get a smaller index and a much friendlier interface.

Best for: Freelancers and small sites who found Moz Pro overkill for the price.

Skip it if: You need enterprise-scale link data or API access.

5. SE Ranking — Best rank tracking value

SE Ranking's rank tracker is its strongest module and it's usually cheaper per tracked keyword than Moz. It also ships a backlink checker, site audit, competitor research and white-label client reporting.

That reporting layer is the reason agencies pick it: you can hand clients a branded dashboard without paying agency-tier pricing.

Best for: Agencies who mainly need tracking plus client-ready reports.

Skip it if: Backlink depth is your priority.

6. Serpstat — Best API value

Serpstat covers keywords, backlinks, rank tracking, site audit and competitor analysis at a lower entry price than Moz, and its API credits are generous relative to the suites.

If you're building internal dashboards or pulling SEO data into a spreadsheet workflow, the API allowance matters more than the UI polish.

Best for: Data-minded teams who pull SEO metrics into their own reporting.

Skip it if: You want the most accurate link index available.

7. Backlinkforme — Free directory plus a link gap and audit dashboard

Backlinkforme is the tool you're reading about right now, so treat this entry as what it is: our own pitch, judged on the same terms as everything else on the page.

It's built around two things the big suites bury. First, a curated directory of free and foundational backlink opportunities — profile sites, directories, Web 2.0 platforms and guest post targets — that you can filter and save to a personal list. Second, a dashboard that runs a backlink audit of your own domain and a competitor link gap analysis, ranking the opportunities it finds from easiest to hardest to win.

The backlink data behind those reports comes from DataForSEO, the same kind of index the paid suites license, so referring domains and authority scores are real numbers rather than estimates we invented. Every account gets a free audit and a free gap analysis; premium unlocks a monthly quota plus CSV export.

What it is not: a keyword research suite, a rank tracker or a site auditor. If those are what you're replacing, pair it with one of the tools above.

Best for: Anyone whose actual job to be done is 'find links I can realistically get', not 'run a full SEO suite'.

Skip it if: You need keyword research, rank tracking and technical audits in the same subscription.