So, you’re torn between dropping $29 on Ahrefs Starter or sticking with the good ol’ Google Keyword Planner (free).
Been there, googled that.
Here’s the real tea: it’s not about which tool is “better” overall… it’s about which one makes sense for you. Let’s break it down in a way that actually helps you decide 👇
The Basics: What These Tools Even Do
- Ahrefs → Think of it like the premium gym membership for SEO nerds. It’s loaded with keyword research, competitor spying, backlink audits, content gap analysis… basically everything you’d want to scale serious SEO.
- Google Keyword Planner (GKP) → Free, straight from Google Ads. It’s meant for advertisers, but SEOs use it to peek at search volumes and keyword ideas. Simple, effective, but not very “fancy.”
The Showdown: Where Ahrefs Wins vs Where GKP Holds Up
| Feature | Ahrefs ($29 Starter) | Google Keyword Planner (Free) |
|---|---|---|
| Keyword Difficulty (for SEO) | Gives you organic difficulty scores. Super helpful if you want to know how hard it is to rank. | Only shows paid ad competition (low/medium/high). Misleading for organic SEO. |
| Search Volume Data | More granular, often with long-tail keywords included. | Shows broad ranges unless you spend money on ads. |
| Competitor Insights | Lets you see exactly what keywords your competitors rank for + backlinks. | Zero competitor analysis. You’re on your own. |
| Historical Trends | Tracks keyword performance over time. | Limited trends, short windows. |
| Efficiency / Workflow | All-in-one SEO toolkit. Saves tons of manual effort. | Free, but requires mixing with other tools (Search Console, Trends, etc.) to get the full picture. |
Cost vs Benefit: Should You Pay $29?
This is where most people get stuck. Let’s make it simple with a few questions:
1. How much content are you pushing out?
- Posting 1–2 blogs/month? → GKP + free tools are enough.
- Publishing 5+ pieces/month? → Ahrefs starts paying off, because you’ll need more keywords and faster workflow.
2. How deep is your keyword research game?
- If you only check 10–20 keywords/month → Free tools can cover you.
- If you need 50–100+ keyword ideas/month (plus competitor checks) → Ahrefs saves you hours.
3. How competitive is your niche?
- Low competition (small blogs, niche hobbies): Free works fine.
- Medium to High competition (finance, SaaS, health, marketing): Ahrefs is a cheat code.
4. What’s the ROI on SEO traffic?
- Just for fun / personal blog? → Stick to free.
- Leads, sales, or $$$ ad revenue? → $29 is peanuts if one ranked page brings in even a single client or sale.
5. Budget reality check
- $29 is like… one Uber Eats order. If SEO is part of your business strategy, it’s a solid investment.
TL;DR: The Decision Framework
- Go with Google Keyword Planner (and other free tools) if:
- You’re starting out
- You don’t publish a ton of content
- Your niche is chill and not hyper-competitive
- You’re not ready to invest $$ yet
- Go with Ahrefs Starter ($29) if:
- You’re serious about SEO growth
- You publish content consistently
- You want competitor intel + keyword difficulty insights
- You’re in a competitive niche where every edge matters
FAQs: Ahrefs vs Google Keyword Planner
Q1. Is Ahrefs worth paying $29/month?
Yes, if you publish content regularly and want competitor insights. If you’re casual or testing SEO waters, free tools might be enough.
Q2. Does Google Keyword Planner show keyword difficulty?
Not really. It shows competition for ads, which doesn’t reflect organic SEO difficulty.
Q3. Can I rely only on Google Keyword Planner for SEO?
For beginners or low-competition niches, yes. But once you scale, you’ll hit its limits.
Q4. What makes Ahrefs better than GKP?
Keyword difficulty, competitor analysis, backlink data, and better workflow for serious SEO campaigns.
Q5. Which is better for small businesses?
If budget is tight → start with free tools.
If SEO is your main growth channel → invest in Ahrefs.