At a glance
| Semrush | Ahrefs | |
|---|---|---|
| Known for | Traditional SEO | Backlinks and keywords |
| Starting price | $99 a month for the AI Visibility Toolkit (25 prompts) | Brand Radar AI from $199 a month |
| Trial | No free trial for the toolkit | Not listed |
| AI engines | ChatGPT and Google AI Mode for prompt tracking | Not listed on the pricing page |
| API access | Not listed for the toolkit | Not listed for Brand Radar |
| Countries and languages | 220+ countries for prompt tracking | Priced per check and location |
| Last checked | November 2026 | November 2026 |
From each vendor's public pricing and plan pages. Prices change, so confirm on their sites before you buy.
Who should choose Semrush
Teams already using Semrush who want AI prompt tracking inside the same suite.
Worth knowing: Prompt tracking covers fewer AI engines than dedicated tools, and the toolkit has no free trial.
Who should choose Ahrefs
Ahrefs users who want AI brand mention data next to their SEO data.
Worth knowing: Engine coverage and API details are not listed on the pricing page.
The key differences
- Price: Semrush starts at $99 a month for the AI Visibility Toolkit (25 prompts), while Ahrefs starts at Brand Radar AI from $199 a month.
- Trial: Semrush: no free trial for the toolkit. Ahrefs: not listed.
- AI engines: Semrush lists chatGPT and Google AI Mode for prompt tracking. Ahrefs lists not listed on the pricing page.
- API: Semrush: Not listed for the toolkit. Ahrefs: Not listed for Brand Radar.
- Markets: Semrush: 220+ countries for prompt tracking. Ahrefs: Priced per check and location.
How to decide
- 1Write down the AI engines your buyers actually use, and check each tool covers them on the plan you can afford.
- 2Count the prompts, brands and countries you need now and in a year, and price both tools at that size.
- 3Check whether you need an API or exports for your own reports.
- 4Run a trial with 20 to 50 of your own buyer questions, and compare what each tool shows with what you see when you ask the same questions yourself.
- 5Pick the one that shows you something you can act on fastest.
A third option to consider
If neither fits, Variask is another option. It starts at $99 a month (75 prompts), has a trial of 7 days for $1, tracks 9 engines: ChatGPT, ChatGPT app, Gemini, Claude, Perplexity, Grok, DeepSeek, Copilot, Google AI Overviews and AI Mode, and includes API access and multiple countries on every plan. Compare it on the same checklist above.