5 Best Free Alternatives to Ahrefs & Semrush (2025 Edition)

If you are just starting your SEO journey, looking at the pricing pages of premium tools like Ahrefs or Semrush ($129/month and up) can be a shock. While these tools are powerful, they aren't strictly necessary when you're building your first site or operating on a budget.

In 2025, there are incredible alternatives that can handle 80% of your SEO needs. Here are the top 5 tools you should bookmark today.

1. Google Search Console (GSC)

Best For: Technical SEO & Performance Tracking

It might seem obvious, but Google Search Console is the single most important SEO tool in existence—and it's 100% free. Unlike third-party tools that guess your traffic, GSC gives you data directly from Google.

Key Feature: See exactly which keywords you are ranking for and how many clicks they get.
Why use it: To find "low hanging fruit" keywords where you rank on page 2, and to fix technical errors like broken pages.

2. Google Keyword Planner

Best For: Keyword Volume Data

Built for advertisers, Google Keyword Planner is invaluable for SEOs. It provides data straight from the source regarding how many people search for a specific term per month.

Key Feature: "Discover New Keywords" allows you to enter a seed keyword (like "coffee") and generate hundreds of related ideas.
Why use it: It’s the most accurate source for search volume data, helping you verify if a topic is worth writing about.

3. Ubersuggest (Free Version)

Best For: Competitor Analysis

Created by Neil Patel, Ubersuggest offers a very generous free version (limited to 3 searches daily). It mimics the interface of Ahrefs/Semrush, making it great for beginners.

Key Feature: You can type in a competitor's domain and see which keywords they rank for.
Why use it: To spy on your competition and steal their best content ideas.

4. AnswerThePublic

Best For: Content Ideas & Long-Tail Questions

AnswerThePublic visualizes search questions. It scrapes Google's "Autocomplete" data to show you exactly what questions people are asking about your topic (Who, What, Where, When, Why).

Key Feature: Generates visual "wheels" of questions related to your keyword.
Why use it: To find perfect blog post titles and FAQ sections that match specific user intent.

5. HaakonSEO

Best For: Actionable On-Page Checklists & Quick Wins

Most SEO tools overwhelm you with raw data, leaving you wondering, "Okay, but what do I do now?" HaakonSEO.com solves this. It scans your site and generates a prioritized, plain-English "to-do" list of on-page fixes.

Key Feature: Scans your page against best practices and tells you exactly what to fix (missing H1s, thin content, meta issues) to move the needle immediately.
Why use it: It's the perfect tool for action-takers. If you want to stop analyzing and start fixing the issues that actually impact your rankings, this is the tool to use.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Are free tools accurate?

A: Tools directly from Google (GSC and Keyword Planner) are the most accurate. Third-party free tools usually use estimates, but they are accurate enough to spot trends and make good decisions.

Q: Do I eventually need to pay for Ahrefs or Semrush?

A: As you scale, yes. If you are managing multiple websites or need deep backlink analysis, a paid tool becomes a time-saver. But for your first year or two, free tools combined with actionable checklists like HaakonSEO are often sufficient.