Go from Ahrefs to OpenSEO
The job: SEO research suite (Backlink analysis, Keyword research, Rank tracking, Site audit). Pick where you are today and where you want to land; the move below follows your pick.
Every way to do this job · pick one
Switch app
Open source
Agent skill
Keep it and pay less
The money
$29/mo today , then $1.80/mo
Ahrefs Starter
Modeled from public list prices, with your time at $50 an hour. Show the math
Does it do the job? 4 of 4 covered
- Covered: Backlink analysis
- Covered: Keyword research
- Covered: Rank tracking
- Covered: Site audit
The work
- Setup
- About 1.5 h
- Upkeep
- 0.5 h a month
- Watch out
- Backlink index is DataForSEO's, not Ahrefs'
Make the move in four steps
Export from Ahrefs
Report graphs and tables (anything with an Export button), such as Site Explorer and Keywords Explorer results. Format: CSV for graphs; table exports offer format options…
Export stepsSet up OpenSEO
Ahrefs Lite users who mainly check backlinks and keywords for 1-2 sites.
DetailsSwitch links and integrations
Point links, embeds and integrations at OpenSEO, then send a test through every one.
Cancel Ahrefs
Turn off renewal before your renewal date, once the new setup works. Access runs until: The day before the Next billing date shown on the subscription….
How to cancel Ahrefs
The whole recipe: 5 ways out, best first
What you use
- Backlink analysis
- Keyword research
- Rank tracking
- Site audit
Not covered
- Competitor analysis
- Content explorer
- AI brand visibility
- API access
Check before switching
- You only rely on: Backlink analysis, Keyword research, Rank tracking, Site audit
- Export your data from Ahrefs before canceling
Agents: get_recipe("replace-ahrefs") on the Stackcut MCP server.
5 ways out, best first
How we got this
| You pay now: Ahrefs Starter | flat price | $29/mo |
|---|---|---|
| New cost: Ahrefs (free tier) | free plan | $0/mo |
| Difference each month | $29 − $0 | +$29/mo |
| Over 12 months | +$29 × 12 | +$348 |
| Setup, once | 0.25 h × $50/h | −$12 |
| Year one | +$348 − $12 | +$336 |
- Not counting your time (0.25 h in year one): saves $348 in year one.
Year one = 12 × (what you pay now − the new cost − upkeep) − setup, with your time at $50/hour. Prices are public list prices; hours are Stackcut’s planning estimates. Price it for your team
How we got this
| You pay now: Ahrefs Starter | flat price | $29/mo |
|---|---|---|
| New cost: Google Search Console (free tier) | free plan | $0/mo |
| Difference each month | $29 − $0 | +$29/mo |
| Over 12 months | +$29 × 12 | +$348 |
| Setup, once | 1 h × $50/h | −$50 |
| Year one | +$348 − $50 | +$298 |
- Not counting your time (1 h in year one): saves $348 in year one.
Year one = 12 × (what you pay now − the new cost − upkeep) − setup, with your time at $50/hour. Prices are public list prices; hours are Stackcut’s planning estimates. Price it for your team
How we got this
| You pay now: Ahrefs Starter | flat price | $29/mo |
|---|---|---|
| New cost: OpenSEO (self-hosted) | a small server (modeled) | $1.80/mo |
| Your upkeep time | 0.5 h/mo × $50/h | $25/mo |
| Difference each month | $29 − $1.80 − $25 | +$2.20/mo |
| Over 12 months | +$2.20 × 12 | +$26 |
| Setup, once | 1.5 h × $50/h | −$75 |
| Year one | +$26 − $75 | −$49 |
- Not counting your time (7.5 h in year one): saves $326 in year one.
Year one = 12 × (what you pay now − the new cost − upkeep) − setup, with your time at $50/hour. Prices are public list prices; hours are Stackcut’s planning estimates. Price it for your team
- No monthly fee
- Backlinks, keywords, rank tracking and audits in one UI
- MCP server for agents
- Backlink index is DataForSEO's, not Ahrefs'
- You fund a DataForSEO key ($50 minimum)
How we got this
| You pay now: Ahrefs Starter | flat price | $29/mo |
|---|---|---|
| New cost: Moz Pro | Standard plan | $99/mo |
| Difference each month | $29 − $99 | −$70/mo |
| Over 12 months | −$70 × 12 | −$840 |
| Setup, once | 1 h × $50/h | −$50 |
| Year one | −$840 − $50 | −$890 |
- Not counting your time (1 h in year one): costs $840 more in year one.
Year one = 12 × (what you pay now − the new cost − upkeep) − setup, with your time at $50/hour. Prices are public list prices; hours are Stackcut’s planning estimates. Price it for your team
How to leave Ahrefs
Export first
- Reports and tables: The Export button at the top right of any report; in Keywords Explorer, the 3-dot menu (CSV, Google Sheets (Keywords Explorer)). Exported rows count against your plan's monthly export-row limit, so export before the last billing day. help.ahrefs.com
Cancel
- Export the reports you want to keep first (see export).
- Account settings → Billing, then follow the cancellation prompts.
- Remove your card once you're on the free tier: cards can't be deleted while a subscription is active.
- Takes effect
- At the end of the billing cycle (the day before the next billing date). The account then changes to the free tier.
- Refunds
- Ahrefs' terms say it has no obligation to refund unless the law requires it. You can ask by email for a refund for non-use; Ahrefs decides.
- After you cancel
- No further charges unless you resubscribe.
Compare before you switch
Read the checked comparisons and workload guides for the tools this recipe replaces.
- Ahrefs vs Google Search Console Checked migration details, public switching accounts.
- Ahrefs vs Moz Pro Checked migration details, public switching accounts.
- Ahrefs vs OpenSEO Checked migration details, public switching accounts.
- Ahrefs vs Search Atlas Checked migration details, public switching accounts.
- Ahrefs alternatives in 2026: what to use instead, and what it really costs Compare the wider set of alternatives and their tradeoffs.
More SEO data recipes
- Semrush: Occasional keyword or rank lookups $786
- SerpApi: Search results API $288
- Moz Pro: SEO research suite
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