Ahrefs
SEO toolset and backlink index.
why this verdict
Keep paying — OpenAI has not replaced it
OpenAI's version overlaps, but does not finish the SEO job, so this one still earns its $129/mo.
- A named launch, not a vibe named, unlinked
- ChatGPT Search. OpenAI, January 15, 2024 — no announcement link recorded yet.
- How much of the job it covers not the job editorial call
- Parts of it. The job still needs the tool to get finished.
- Is there a free way to do it? yes
- 3 of 3 listed replacements have a usable free tier: Semrush, Moz and Google Search Console.
- What the call is worth $1,548/yr
- $129/mo at the entry paid tier — $1,548 a year per seat.
- Threatened by
- OpenAI
- Since
- January 15, 2024
- List price
- $129/mo
- Per year
- $1,548
The backstory
Ahrefs is an SEO suite built around one of the largest independent web crawlers and backlink indexes, used to research keywords, track rankings, and audit sites. ChatGPT Search answers questions directly, which pressures the top-of-funnel search traffic SEOs chase. But Ahrefs survived because the crawler and index are expensive infrastructure a chatbot cannot conjure. You still need real link data and rank tracking to compete, whoever is answering the query.
Escape hatches
Full SEO and competitive research suite
semrush.com open_in_newLink data and rank tracking with a free tier
moz.com open_in_newFree first-party search performance data
search.google.com open_in_new3 of 3 replacements have a usable free tier.