Ahrefs Alternative — Site Explorer, Keywords & Backlinks

SEO agencies and AI agents get one Ahrefs-style Site Explorer dataset row from a domain or seed keyword: domain overview (organicTraffic, organicKeywordCount, backlinks, referringDomains, rankScore), plus organic keywords, competing domains, keyword overview, keyword ideas, and backlinks — ready for Apify API, schedules, and MCP.

Best fit for this Actor

• Score a competitor domain's organic traffic estimate, keyword count, and backlink summary in one Site Explorer-style row.
• Export the organic keywords a domain ranks for, with volume, CPC, difficulty, and rank.
• Expand a seed phrase into keyword ideas, then keep the ones with workable volume.

When you already have a finished keyword list and only need volume plus CPC, start with Keyword Search Volume API. After you pick phrases to watch, continue with Keyword Rank Tracker. For Semrush-shaped naming of the same report family, see SEMRush Alternative.

Practical scenario

An SEO lead pastes semrush.com, keeps mode on domain_overview, and runs the Actor. The dataset returns one row with organicTraffic, organicKeywordCount, backlinks, referringDomains, and rankScore. They then switch mode to organic_keywords with maxResults 5 to inspect the highest-volume ranking phrases before briefing content. Unknown or empty matches finish SUCCEEDED with VALID_EMPTY and no seo-record charge.

Quick start input

{
  "mode": "domain_overview",
  "target": "semrush.com",
  "locationName": "United States",
  "languageCode": "en",
  "maxResults": 5
}

target accepts a bare domain or a full URL. Keyword modes use keywords instead of target.

Input reference

Field	Type	What it controls
mode	enum	domain_overview, organic_keywords, competitors, keyword_overview, keyword_ideas, or backlinks. Default domain_overview.
target	string	Domain or URL for domain and backlink modes. Example: semrush.com.
keywords	array	Seed phrases for keyword_overview and keyword_ideas. Example: ["seo tools"].
locationName	string	Country name. Default United States.
languageCode	string	Language code such as en. Default en.
maxResults	integer	Row cap 1–100. Default 5. Domain overview still writes at most one row.

Owner API credentials are already configured for Store runs. Bring a domain or keyword list; no buyer API key field is required.

What data you receive

One dataset item is one domain, keyword, competing-domain, or backlink row.

{
  "mode": "domain_overview",
  "target": "semrush.com",
  "domain": "semrush.com",
  "locationName": "United States",
  "languageCode": "en",
  "organicKeywordCount": 1200,
  "organicTraffic": 45000,
  "backlinks": 9000,
  "referringDomains": 1200,
  "rankScore": 450,
  "source": "ahrefs_alternative/domain_overview",
  "status": "OK",
  "fetchedAt": "2026-08-22T00:00:00.000Z"
}

Field	Meaning
organicTraffic / organicKeywordCount	Organic traffic estimate and ranking-keyword count
backlinks / referringDomains	Live backlink summary for the same domain
rankScore	Upstream SEO rank score, not Ahrefs Domain Rating (DR)
source	Mode provenance label for the row

OUTPUT and RUN_SUMMARY in the default key-value store hold outcome, itemsPushed, chargedEventCounts, and providerCostUsd. Download the dataset as JSON, CSV, Excel, or HTML.

Use through the API

curl -X POST "https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/khadinakbar~ahrefs-alternative/runs" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $APIFY_TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"mode":"domain_overview","target":"semrush.com","maxResults":5}'

Use with AI agents through Apify MCP

Run an Ahrefs-style Site Explorer domain overview for semrush.com in the United States. Return organicTraffic, organicKeywordCount, backlinks, referringDomains, rankScore, source, and fetchedAt. Read OUTPUT.outcome and itemsPushed. Read OUTPUT.outcome and itemsPushed. Treat rankScore as an upstream SEO score (distinct from Ahrefs Domain Rating).

Connect via https://mcp.apify.com. Cost signal: about $0.05 per successful SEO API request plus $0.01 per saved row.

Connect the workflow

• When you already have phrases and only need volume plus CPC, then use Keyword Search Volume API.
• After you choose phrases to monitor, continue with Keyword Rank Tracker.
• For Semrush-named reports from the same backend family, continue with SEMRush Alternative.
• For broader SERP capture after keyword selection, continue with Google SERP All-in-One Scraper.

Pricing

This Actor uses Pay per event plus Apify platform usage. The live Pricing tab is the current source of truth for billing details.

• apify-actor-start: $0.00005 per run
• seo-api-request: $0.05 per successful upstream SEO API task
• seo-record: $0.012 per persisted row

A domain-overview prefill is two API tasks plus one row. Empty matches have no seo-record charge. Provider cost is recorded in RUN_SUMMARY.providerCostUsd.

How it works

1. Normalize the domain or keyword list for the selected mode.
2. Call the matching upstream SEO API endpoint for that mode.
3. Charge seo-api-request after each successful task.
4. Charge seo-record, then write each validated dataset row.

Best results

• Use a real hostname such as semrush.com for Site Explorer and organic-keyword modes.
• Keep maxResults at 5 while you confirm the output shape, then raise it for exports.
• Treat traffic, volume, and rank as model estimates for public keywords and domains you are authorized to research.
• A valid query with no match finishes SUCCEEDED with VALID_EMPTY.

Builder's note

I found that mirroring the SEMRush Alternative owner SEO API stack for an Ahrefs-named Store SKU keeps Site Explorer overview, organic keywords, competing domains, ideas, and backlinks available with credentials already wired. Domain overview merges two provider tasks into one billed row so a first run stays forecastable. Treat rankScore as an upstream SEO score, distinct from Ahrefs Domain Rating (DR).

Legal and responsible use

Use this Actor with public SEO research you are authorized to run. Metrics are independent of Ahrefs Pte. Ltd. Follow applicable law and the upstream data provider terms, and keep the output in your own compliance workflow.

Issues and feature requests: use the Actor Issues tab on Apify.