In the past few months, I have noticed that Ahrefs' accuracy seems to be decreasing. While I understand that it relies on estimates, there used to be a consistent margin of error. However, recently I have seen fluctuations of up to +/-50%, which is quite extreme. This discrepancy is evident across all the websites we manage on Ahrefs. For example, our main site supposedly lost 20 keywords according to Ahrefs' report, despite it being one of our most successful months. Other tools like Google Search Console and Semrush show hundreds of new keywords, which Ahrefs fails to recognize. Additionally, when comparing traffic estimates, Ahrefs is only predicting 1/10th of our actual traffic (while Semrush is off by 30%, which is less inaccurate for an estimate).Furthermore, when it comes to backlinks, Ahrefs is not recognizing many high-quality DA80+ links that we have obtained from reputable sites like Entrepreneur, CMSwire, and Fast Co. In contrast, Semrush is able to detect most of these backlinks, though not all of them. This raises concerns as to the reliability of Ahrefs’ data accuracy, especially in competitor analysis, which is a crucial aspect of our tool usage.
Ultimately, while our main objective is not to rank in Ahrefs, these discrepancies raise doubts about the tool’s reliability. It also makes me question whether we should continue using it, especially if our competitors are also receiving inaccurate data. I am interested to know if others have noticed similar trends.
It’s not uncommon for SEO tools to experience fluctuations in accuracy, as they all rely on algorithms and estimations. However, a +/-50% variation is concerning, especially if it’s consistent across multiple websites. This indicates a potential issue with Ahrefs’ data collection or processing, potentially leading to unreliable insights.
While Ahrefs is a widely used and generally reliable tool, discrepancies with other platforms like Google Search Console and Semrush highlight the importance of cross-referencing data from multiple sources. This helps to identify potential inaccuracies and obtain a more comprehensive understanding of website performance.
If these discrepancies persist, it’s crucial to evaluate the impact on your SEO strategies and consider alternative tools or methods for competitor analysis. You may also want to contact Ahrefs support to report the issue and inquire about potential resolutions.