Choosing between Ahrefs and Semrush for AI visibility? Ahrefs Brand Radar wins on data and channel coverage. Semrush AI Toolkit wins on integration and price. We compare both tools across five feature areas with clear winners, honest pros and cons, and AI Peekaboo alternative starting at $50.
The two giants of the SEO world, Ahrefs and Semrush, have both entered the AI visibility ring. Ahrefs has launched its standalone Brand Radar, while Semrush has integrated its AI Visibility Toolkit into its existing platform. Both promise to help you navigate the new world of AI search, but they do so in very different ways.
This article will break down the key differences between these two powerful tools, so you can decide which one is the right fit for your business. We'll cover:
| Feature | Scrunch AI | AthenaHQ | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $100/month | $295/month (with first month at $95) | Scrunch AI |
| AI Models Tracked | 1 (Explorer) to 8 (Growth) | 8+ | AthenaHQ |
| Key Feature | AXP (Agent Experience Platform) | Athena Citation Engine (ACE) | Tie |
| Free Trial | 7-day free trial | No free trial | Scrunch AI |
| Best For | Startups and Mid-Market businesses | Enterprises and multi-team organizations | Tie |
Ahrefs Brand Radar is a standalone tool designed to give you a comprehensive view of your brand's visibility across AI answers, YouTube, and Reddit. It boasts the largest AI visibility database in the industry, with over 259 million search-backed prompts. Brand Radar is built for deep analysis, allowing you to research any brand, product, region, or person with zero setup and zero waiting time. It's a powerful tool for data-driven marketers who want to understand their brand's presence in the new AI-powered search landscape.
Semrush AI Visibility Toolkit is an integrated solution that adds a new layer of AI visibility to the existing Semrush platform. It's designed for SEOs and marketers who want to monitor how their site and competitors are positioned across AI systems. The toolkit is built with SMBs, agencies, and mid-market companies in mind, offering a practical and scalable way to strengthen your presence in AI-driven search. It's a great option for existing Semrush users who want to add AI visibility to their existing SEO workflow.
Let's take a closer look at how Ahrefs Brand Radar and Semrush AI Visibility Toolkit stack up in a few key areas.
Winner: Ahrefs Brand Radar. With 6 AI models and the addition of YouTube and Reddit, Brand Radar offers a more comprehensive view of your brand's visibility across multiple channels.
Winner: Ahrefs Brand Radar. The sheer size of its prompt database gives it a significant advantage in terms of data depth and accuracy.
Winner: Semrush AI Visibility Toolkit. The seamless integration with the rest of the Semrush toolkit provides a more unified workflow for SEOs and marketers.
Winner: Semrush AI Visibility Toolkit. The addition of AI-generated recommendations and a dedicated site audit for AI readiness gives it the edge in content and technical optimization.
Winner: Tie. Both tools are well-suited to their target audiences. Ahrefs is the choice for data purists, while Semrush is the practical choice for most businesses.
Here's a breakdown of the monthly pricing for Ahrefs Brand Radar and Semrush AI Visibility Toolkit:
Ahrefs Brand Radar:
Semrush AI Visibility Toolkit:
Pros:
Cons:
Pros:
Cons:
While Ahrefs and Semrush are the undisputed leaders in the SEO space, their AI visibility tools may not be the right fit for everyone. AI Peekaboo offers a compelling alternative, especially for agencies and businesses that need a dedicated, cost-effective AI visibility solution.
AI Peekaboo provides deep AI search analytics, competitor tracking, and citation analysis across 5 different AI engines. It's designed to be a high-ROI solution for businesses of all sizes, with plans starting at just $50/month. For agencies, Peekaboo offers full white-label capabilities and an API for custom data integrations. If you're looking for a powerful, affordable, and agency-friendly AI visibility tool without the complexity of a full SEO suite, AI Peekaboo is a great choice.
So, which tool is right for you? Here's the bottom line:
Ultimately, the best way to decide is to book a demo with both Ahrefs and Semrush to see which platform is the best fit for your specific needs.
Full transparency: I’m the Founder and CEO of AI Peekaboo, and we’re included in this list. I’ve seen firsthand how AI Peekaboo drives a measurable understanding and results for agencies and brands to better understand their presence in AI answers. That said, I’ve made every effort to provide an honest, balanced comparison. The other tools featured here are genuinely strong options, each with unique strengths and proven track records. My goal isn’t to claim that AI Peekaboo is the best alternative to Ahrefs Brand Radar and Semrush AI Visibility Toolkit. It’s to help you find the right fit for your specific needs, budget, and growth stage.
Despite my connection to AI Peekaboo, this comparison offers value because I’ve done the research you don’t have time for. I’ve analyzed various tools, compared pricing models, and identified what differentiates each tool's approach to AI SEO (or AEO/GEO). Rather than hiding my bias, I’m acknowledging it upfront so you can factor it into your decision-making.
I'm Filipe, the CEO & Co-Founder of Peekaboo. I lead all commercial and customer facing functions here at the company. I am obsessed about making sure our customers are heard and have a great experience with us!