mozbar vs ahrefs-seo-toolbar
MozBar vs Ahrefs SEO Toolbar — features, pricing, and which to choose for your SEO workflow in 2026.
Quick Verdict
When you need SEO metrics while browsing the web, two extensions dominate: MozBar and Ahrefs SEO Toolbar. MozBar pioneered the browser extension SEO space in 2008 with its focus on Moz's proprietary Domain Authority and Page Authority metrics. Ahrefs launched their toolbar over a decade later in 2019, bringing their massive link database and more comprehensive on-page analysis tools directly to your browser.
The choice between these tools often comes down to whether you prioritize simplicity and Moz's established authority metrics, or prefer Ahrefs' deeper technical analysis and broader feature set. Both are free, but they pull from different data sources and offer distinctly different approaches to in-browser SEO analysis.
Feature Comparison
MozBar keeps things focused on the essentials: Domain Authority (DA), Page Authority (PA), link counts, and basic SERP analysis. When you search Google with MozBar enabled, you'll see DA/PA scores overlaid on search results, making competitor analysis instant. The extension also highlights followed vs nofollowed links on any page and shows basic page elements like title tags and meta descriptions. Ahrefs SEO Toolbar goes significantly deeper with its feature set. Beyond showing Domain Rating (DR) and URL Rating (UR) — Ahrefs' equivalents to DA/PA — it includes a complete on-page SEO audit, broken link detection, redirect chains analysis, and hreflang tag verification. The toolbar can generate exportable reports showing technical SEO issues, missing alt tags, and page speed insights. It also integrates smoothly with Ahrefs' main platform, allowing you to quickly jump from the toolbar to full keyword or backlink analysis. While MozBar focuses on quick metrics for competitive research, Ahrefs treats the browser as an extension of their comprehensive SEO platform, offering actionable technical insights alongside the basic authority metrics.
Pricing Comparison
Both tools are completely free with no hidden costs or premium tiers. MozBar requires a free Moz account but doesn't limit usage or features. Ahrefs SEO Toolbar also requires account creation but provides full functionality without requiring a paid Ahrefs subscription. The value difference lies in the data sources and depth of analysis. MozBar gives you access to Moz's link index and their proprietary authority calculations, which many SEOs still reference despite Google's move away from PageRank. Ahrefs provides access to their industry-leading backlink database and more sophisticated technical analysis tools, representing significantly more development investment in a free product.
Best For
MozBar works best for SEOs who want quick, reliable authority metrics without complexity. If your workflow involves rapid competitor research in SERPs, checking DA/PA scores for outreach prospects, or you're already invested in Moz's ecosystem of metrics, MozBar delivers exactly what you need. It's also ideal for beginners who want clean, straightforward data without overwhelming technical details. Ahrefs SEO Toolbar is superior for technical SEOs and anyone conducting comprehensive page analysis. If you need to audit pages for technical issues, track down broken links, analyze redirect chains, or want the most current backlink data available, Ahrefs provides significantly more value. It's particularly powerful for agencies juggling multiple client audits or in-house SEOs managing large, complex websites.
The Verdict
Choose Ahrefs SEO Toolbar unless you specifically need Moz's Domain Authority metric. While MozBar pioneered this space and remains perfectly functional, Ahrefs delivers substantially more features and analysis depth at the same free price point. The on-page audit capabilities alone make Ahrefs more valuable for most SEO professionals, and their backlink data is widely considered more comprehensive and current than Moz's index. MozBar still wins if DA/PA metrics are central to your reporting or client communication, but for pure functionality and insight generation, Ahrefs takes the clear advantage.