Ahrefs Content Explorer
Content ResearchSearch billions of pages for content ideas and backlink targets
Overview
Ahrefs Content Explorer is a content research database that indexes over 11 billion web pages, making it one of the largest searchable content databases available. Built by Ahrefs as part of their SEO platform, it combines content discovery with the company's extensive backlink and organic traffic data. Unlike standalone content research tools, Content Explorer uses Ahrefs' web crawling infrastructure to provide SEO-focused metrics alongside content discovery.
The tool distinguishes itself from competitors like BuzzSumo by emphasizing SEO metrics over social signals. Where BuzzSumo shows Facebook shares and social engagement, Content Explorer surfaces domain ratings, referring domains, and estimated organic traffic. This makes it particularly valuable for SEO professionals who need to understand not just what content performs well socially, but what attracts backlinks and ranks in search results.
Content Explorer integrates smoothly with other Ahrefs tools, allowing users to jump directly from content research into backlink analysis or keyword research. This integration makes it especially powerful for competitive research and link building campaigns.
Key features
Billion-Page Database
Search through billions of web pages indexed by Ahrefs to find content on any topic. The database updates continuously and covers most major websites.
Advanced Content Filters
Filter by domain rating, referring domains, organic traffic, social shares, and publication date. Find content that meets specific performance criteria.
Content Gap Analysis
Compare your content against competitors to identify topics they cover that you don't. Reveals content opportunities in your niche.
Top Author Discovery
Identify prolific authors and influencers in any topic area. Useful for outreach, guest posting, and understanding thought leaders.
Historical Data Access
View content performance over time including backlink growth and social shares. Track how content gains momentum after publication.
Export Functionality
Export search results to CSV for further analysis in Excel or Google Sheets. Includes all metrics and filtering options.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Lite | $129/month | 10 Content Explorer searches, basic filters |
| Standard | $249/month | 100 Content Explorer searches, all filters |
| Advanced | $449/month | 200 Content Explorer searches, advanced metrics |
| Enterprise | $14,990/month | Unlimited searches, team features |
FAQ
How many pages are in Ahrefs Content Explorer database?
Ahrefs Content Explorer indexes over 11 billion pages and adds millions more daily. The database covers most major websites and blogs across all languages.
Can I find content in languages other than English?
Yes, Content Explorer supports 170+ languages. You can filter results by specific languages or search globally across all indexed content.
What's the difference between Content Explorer and BuzzSumo?
Content Explorer focuses more on SEO metrics like domain rating and organic traffic, while BuzzSumo emphasizes social media metrics. Ahrefs has broader backlink data coverage.
How does Ahrefs Content Explorer compare?
View all comparisons →Review Sentiment
1,553 reviews across 3 sources
Bottom line
With 1,553 reviews at 5.7/5, Ahrefs Content Explorer has earned its place among the top content research tools. It excels at massive index of billions of pages, though only available as part of Ahrefs suite.
People love
- +Massive index of billions of pages for discovering high-performing content in any niche
- +Powerful filtering by organic traffic, referring domains, social shares, and publish date
- +Excellent for finding link-building opportunities and content gaps
Common complaints
- –Only available as part of Ahrefs suite — no standalone pricing for Content Explorer alone
- –Credit-based usage system can feel restrictive for heavy research sessions
- –High pricing tiers may be prohibitive for freelancers and small businesses
Last updated Feb 2026