Many people think Ahrefs is only useful if you pay for a subscription. While it’s true that the full platform is premium, you can still do surprisingly effective SEO if you know how to use Ahrefs for free. Ahrefs offers several free tools that allow you to do keyword research, analyze competitors, check rankings, and even track your visibility in AI-powered search engines.
In this guide, you will learn how to use Ahrefs for free step by step. We will cover free keyword research with Ahrefs, competitor analysis, ranking validation, and keyword research without Ahrefs subscription, all using tools that are intuitive and accessible even if you do not have technical SEO experience.
By the end, you will understand exactly how each free tool works, when to use it, and how to combine them into a practical SEO workflow.
Key Takeaways: Top 5 Ahrefs Free Tools
- Free Keyword Generator – Generate keyword ideas from Ahrefs’ database of 8 billion queries by entering any word or phrase.
- Keyword Difficulty Checker – Check how hard it would be to rank for a specific keyword and see top ranking competitors in SERP results.
- Website Traffic Checker – Analyze any domain or page to see ranking keywords, traffic value, countries, and top pages.
- Keyword Rank Checker – See where your website ranks for a specific keyword across selected locations.
- AI Visibility Checker – Find out whether your website appears in AI search results across Gemini, Copilot, and Google AI Mode.
Top 5 Ahrefs Free Tools You Can Use Immediately
All of the Ahrefs free tools listed below can be used directly in your web browser, without creating an account, without logging in, and without adding any card details, meaning you can access the data instantly and start your research without any setup. \
They are also super intuitive, so even people without SEO knowledge can use them easily and understand the insights they provide.
Free Keyword Generator
The first tool you should start with is the Ahrefs Free Keyword Generator. This is the foundation for free keyword research with Ahrefs.
You simply type a search query into the tool, and it pulls keyword ideas from Ahrefs’ database, which contains over 8 billion queries. You can enter one word or a full phrase, choose your target country, and instantly get keyword ideas.
What makes this tool useful is that it doesn’t just give you one list. It offers six different types of keyword ideas. These usually include variations, related keywords, questions, and other keyword groupings based on how people actually search.
This tool is ideal when:
- You are starting from scratch
- You want to find long-tail keywords
- You want content ideas based on real search data
You can quickly spot keywords with decent volume and clear intent, which makes it a great starting point if you want to use Ahrefs for free and still do proper keyword research.
Use Free Keyword Generator when:
- You don’t have keyword ideas yet and want to start from scratch
- You want to find long-tail keywords based on real searches
- You are planning blog content or service pages
- You want to see how people phrase their searches
- You need free keyword research with Ahrefs without a subscription
Keyword Difficulty Checker
Once you’ve found a keyword you like, the next step is checking how hard it would be to rank for it. This is where Ahrefs Keyword Difficulty Checker comes in.
Keyword difficulty is a metric that helps you understand how competitive a keyword is. In practice, it gives you a good idea of how strong the competition is and whether it makes sense to target that keyword with your current website.
What’s especially useful about this tool is that it doesn’t just give you a number. It also shows:
- The top-ranking competitors in SERP results
- Sometimes People Also Ask questions
- Context around who is ranking and why
Example: Keyword Difficulty 1
If you check a keyword and see a difficulty score of 1, this usually means the competition is very low. These keywords are often long-tail or niche-specific queries. They are perfect if:
- Your website is new
- You don’t have many backlinks
- You want faster results
With proper on-page SEO and useful content, ranking for these keywords is very realistic.
Example: Keyword Difficulty 41
A keyword difficulty of 41 tells a very different story. This usually means you’re competing with established websites that already have authority. Ranking for these keywords takes time, stronger content, and usually backlinks.
For keywords like this, it often makes sense to:
- Target variations first
- Cover subtopics
- Build topical authority before going after the main keyword
Using the Keyword Difficulty Checker helps you avoid wasting time on keywords that are unrealistic for your site.
Use Keyword Difficulty Checker when:
- You already have a keyword in mind
- You want to understand how hard it is to rank for that keyword
- You want to see who is currently ranking in Google
- You want to avoid targeting keywords that are too competitive
- You want to compare easy keywords versus harder ones
Website Traffic Checker
One of the most powerful Ahrefs free tools is the Website Traffic Checker. This tool alone can give you a lot of insight into both your own website and your competitors.
You can use this tool in 3 main ways.
Use Case 1: Check Your Own Website Performance
You can use Website Traffic Checker to analyze your own website and see how it performs in organic search. It shows:
- What keywords you rank for
- From which countries you get traffic
- Your estimated traffic value
- Your top ranking pages
- A traffic chart over the last five months
- Top keywords with their search volume and current position
This is especially useful if you’ve already done some SEO work and want to understand what is actually driving traffic to your site and which pages contribute the most.
Use Case 2: Analyze Competitor Websites
You can use the same metrics to analyze your competitors’ websites and understand their SEO strategy. With Website Traffic Checker, you can see:
- What keywords competitors rank for
- Which pages bring them the most traffic
- Which countries they target
- How their traffic has changed over time
This allows you to reverse engineer competitor strategies, identify keyword gaps, and discover content opportunities you can target.
Use Case 3: Analyze Individual Pages and URLs
The third and often overlooked use case is analyzing individual pages. Website Traffic Checker doesn’t only work for full domains, it also works for specific URLs.
This means you can analyze:
- Landing pages
- Service pages
- Blog posts
You can see how much organic traffic a single page gets, what keywords it ranks for, and in which positions. This is extremely useful for understanding how competitors structure their content and which pages actually perform well in search results.
Keyword Rank Checker
If you’ve already done some SEO work, or maybe you outsourced SEO efforts and want to check how you rank for particular services, Ahrefs Keyword Rank Checker is the tool to use.
The tool is very simple and has a clean UX. You enter:
- The keyword you are targeting
- Your website domain
- The country you want to check
The tool then shows whether you rank for that keyword and on what position. It also gives you a SERP overview, so you can see who else is ranking.
This tool is especially helpful if you want to:
- Validate SEO results
- Check rankings in different locations
- See if your service pages are visible or not
It’s a straightforward way to monitor progress without needing an Ahrefs subscription.
AI Visibility Checker
Search is changing fast, and more people are using AI tools instead of traditional search engines. Ahrefs has responded to this shift by launching a free AI Visibility Checker.
This tool tells you whether your website appears in AI-generated search results across three major LLMs:
- Gemini
- Copilot
- Google AI Mode
It also shows:
- Total number of citations
- Citations per model
- Monthly visibility trend
- Top topics you are cited for
- Top cited pages
This is important because ranking in AI responses is becoming just as valuable as ranking in traditional SERPs. With this tool, you can see which pages and topics make your site more visible in AI-powered search and adjust your content strategy accordingly.
How to Build a Free SEO Workflow with Ahrefs
When you use these Ahrefs free tools together, they form a simple but effective SEO system. You are not just using separate tools, you are building a structured workflow.
Here is how they connect:
Step 1: Find Keyword Opportunities
Start with Free Keyword Generator. Enter your main topic and explore the six keyword idea types. Look for relevant queries with clear intent and realistic search volume.
Step 2: Validate Competition
Take promising keywords and check them in Keyword Difficulty Checker. Focus on keywords that match your website’s current authority. Low difficulty keywords are ideal for quicker wins, while medium difficulty keywords can be long-term targets.
Step 3: Analyze Competitors and Content Gaps
Use Website Traffic Checker to study competitors. Identify:
- Their top traffic pages
- Keywords driving results
- Pages that bring the most value
You can also analyze individual URLs to understand how top-performing content is structured.
Step 4: Publish and Monitor Rankings
After creating or optimizing content, use Keyword Rank Checker to see where you stand. Check rankings in different countries and validate whether your pages are gaining visibility.
Step 5: Track AI Search Visibility
Finally, use AI Visibility Checker to see whether your website appears in AI-generated search results across Gemini, Copilot, and Google AI Mode. This adds a modern layer to your SEO strategy.
When combined, this workflow covers:
- Keyword discovery
- Competition validation
- Competitor research
- Rank tracking
- AI search visibility
It is a complete loop that allows you to research, implement, measure, and adapt without paying for a subscription.
Limitations of Using Ahrefs for Free
While Ahrefs free tools are powerful, they are designed for validation and research, not full-scale SEO management.
Here is what you should be aware of:
- You do not get deep backlink analysis
- You cannot perform bulk keyword exports
- Historical data is limited
- Advanced filtering and reporting features are restricted
These tools are best used for:
- Generating ideas
- Checking keyword competitiveness
- Analyzing competitors quickly
- Validating rankings
- Monitoring AI visibility
They are not meant to replace the full Ahrefs platform for agencies managing large portfolios or running advanced backlink campaigns.
However, for small businesses, freelancers, bloggers, and content creators, these tools are often more than enough. If used strategically, you can build and refine a solid SEO foundation without paying for a subscription.
Who Should Use Ahrefs Free Tools?
Ahrefs free tools are ideal for:
- Freelancers doing SEO audits
- Small business owners
- Bloggers and content creators
- Startups validating ideas
- Anyone doing keyword research without Ahrefs subscription
If you know how to use Ahrefs for free properly, you can get a lot of value without spending anything.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need a paid subscription to benefit from Ahrefs. By using Ahrefs free tools strategically, you can do free keyword research with Ahrefs, analyze competitors, check rankings, and even track AI visibility.
The key is knowing which tool to use at each stage and combining them into a simple workflow. If you do that, Ahrefs can still be one of the most valuable SEO resources, even when you use it for free.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are the Best Free SEO Tools Available?
Some of the best free SEO tools available include Ahrefs Free Keyword Generator, Keyword Difficulty Checker, Website Traffic Checker, Keyword Rank Checker, and AI Visibility Checker. These tools allow you to do keyword research, competitor analysis, ranking checks, and AI visibility tracking without creating an account or paying for a subscription.
Are There Any Free SEO Tools Without Sign Up?
Yes, Ahrefs offers free SEO tools that can be used without sign up, login, or entering card details. You can access tools like Free Keyword Generator, Website Traffic Checker, and Keyword Rank Checker directly in your browser and start analyzing keywords and websites instantly.
Can You Really Use Ahrefs for Free?
Yes, you can use Ahrefs for free by accessing its free SEO tools directly in your web browser. You do not need to create an account, log in, or enter any payment details. While the full Ahrefs platform is paid, tools like Free Keyword Generator, Keyword Difficulty Checker, Website Traffic Checker, Keyword Rank Checker, and AI Visibility Checker provide valuable SEO data without a subscription.
How Can I Use Ahrefs for Free Without a Subscription?
You can use Ahrefs for free by visiting the official free tools pages and entering your keyword, domain, or URL directly into the tool interface. Each tool works independently and gives you immediate access to keyword data, ranking information, traffic estimates, and AI visibility insights without requiring an Ahrefs subscription.
Is Free Keyword Research with Ahrefs Accurate?
Free keyword research with Ahrefs is based on the same underlying data sources used in the paid platform. While the free version may show limited data compared to the full suite, it still provides reliable search volume estimates, keyword variations, and competitive insights that are sufficient for validation and planning.
Can I Check Competitor Traffic for Free with Ahrefs?
Yes, you can check competitor traffic for free using the Website Traffic Checker. It allows you to analyze any domain or specific URL to see estimated organic traffic, ranking keywords, top pages, traffic value, and country distribution. This makes it possible to reverse engineer competitor strategies without paying for a subscription.
Can I Do Keyword Research Without Ahrefs Subscription?
Yes, you can perform keyword research without Ahrefs subscription by combining Free Keyword Generator and Keyword Difficulty Checker. The first tool helps you discover relevant keywords, and the second tool helps you evaluate how difficult it would be to rank for them. Together, they allow you to identify realistic opportunities without paying for access.
Does Ahrefs Offer Free AI SEO Tools?
Yes, Ahrefs offers AI Visibility Checker as a free tool. It allows you to see whether your website appears in AI-generated search results across Gemini, Copilot, and Google AI Mode. It also shows citation counts, top topics, and monthly visibility trends.
