ahrefs-seo-toolbar vs seoquake
Ahrefs SEO Toolbar vs SEOquake — features, pricing, and which to choose for your SEO workflow in 2026.
Quick Verdict
When choosing between free SEO browser extensions, you're looking at two fundamentally different approaches. Ahrefs SEO Toolbar focuses on delivering the most accurate backlink data and on-page insights from the industry's largest link index. SEOquake takes a broader approach, offering a full set of SEO metrics and analysis tools that cover everything from keyword density to social signals.
The choice comes down to whether you prioritize link analysis depth or comprehensive SEO metrics breadth. Ahrefs excels at what it does best — backlinks and technical SEO audits — while SEOquake provides a Swiss Army knife approach to SEO analysis that's been refined over nearly two decades.
Feature Comparison
Ahrefs SEO Toolbar delivers precise backlink metrics including Domain Rating, URL Rating, and referring domains count directly in your browser. Its on-page SEO audit identifies technical issues like missing title tags, broken internal links, and redirect chains. The extension also shows organic search traffic estimates and highlights nofollow links on any page you visit. SEOquake offers a much broader feature set including SERP overlay with keyword difficulty, search volume, and competition metrics. It provides detailed on-page analysis with keyword density, internal/external link counts, and social media metrics. The extension includes a comprehensive SEO audit tool, page comparison features, and the ability to export data to CSV files. SEOquake also offers customizable metrics bars and SERP analysis that shows estimated traffic and social signals for search results.
Pricing Comparison
Both tools are completely free with no premium tiers or paid upgrades required. Ahrefs SEO Toolbar serves as a lead magnet for Ahrefs' paid platform, giving you a taste of their data quality without any cost. SEOquake operates as Semrush's free extension, designed to showcase their broader SEO platform capabilities. The value proposition differs significantly — Ahrefs provides premium-quality backlink data at no cost, while SEOquake delivers a comprehensive analysis suite that would typically cost hundreds of dollars in other tools.
Best For
Choose Ahrefs SEO Toolbar if you're primarily focused on link building, competitor backlink analysis, or need the most accurate domain authority metrics available. It's ideal for SEO professionals who want Ahrefs' industry-leading link data without paying for the full platform, and for agencies that need quick, reliable domain assessments while prospecting. Choose SEOquake if you need a comprehensive SEO analysis tool that covers keyword research, on-page optimization, and competitor analysis in one extension. It's perfect for content creators, digital marketers, and SEO beginners who want extensive metrics without switching between multiple tools.
The Verdict
SEOquake wins for most users due to its comprehensive feature set and versatility. While Ahrefs SEO Toolbar provides superior backlink data, SEOquake's broader functionality makes it more valuable for daily SEO work. Unless you're specifically focused on link building or need Ahrefs' precise domain metrics, SEOquake's all-in-one approach delivers better overall utility for free.