Keyword & Backlink Analyzer — Ahrefs Alternative

Analyze a domain or seed keyword for SEO and backlink research. Export organic keywords, search metrics, competing domains, referring-domain totals, and backlink records for structured site-exploration workflows. For SEO agencies, dataset rows follow the selected domain, keyword, competitor, or backlink report and retain the relevant metric context.

Workflow: put the results to work

Begin with a domain overview to understand its search footprint, then inspect organic keywords or backlinks for the next research question. Use the source-specific metrics consistently when comparing domains. The workflow supplies structured research records rather than the full Ahrefs product workspace.

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.

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. Review the Pricing tab for the current request and result event rates, plus platform usage.

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.

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.

Pricing and run costs

This Actor uses Pay per event plus Apify platform usage. The Pricing tab lists the current event rates and billing terms.

Event	Billing unit	When it applies
apify-actor-start	Actor Start	Charged when the Actor starts running. Number of events charged depends on Actor memory (one event per GB, minimum one event).
seo-api-request	SEO API request	Charged once for each successful upstream SEO API task used to build the report.
seo-record	SEO record	Charged once for each validated domain, keyword, competing-domain, or backlink row persisted to the dataset.

Run cost combines the charged events and Apify platform usage. Review the run charge limit and requested result count before starting.

Independent alternative

This Actor provides the specific workflow described above. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by Ahrefs; the named product and its trademarks belong to their respective owners.