Why We Built a Chat-Based Alternative to Ahrefs
I paid $129/month for Ahrefs for two years. I used maybe 10% of its features. Here's why I finally built a simpler, more affordable SEO tool.
The $3,096 Frustration
That's how much I spent on Ahrefs over two years. Don't get me wrong—Ahrefs is an incredible tool. It's powerful, comprehensive, and packed with features. The problem? I didn't need 90% of them.
Every time I opened Ahrefs, I'd see this overwhelming dashboard with dozens of metrics, charts, and options. All I wanted was to:
- Check keyword search volumes
- See what my site ranks for
- Analyze SERP competition
- Monitor a few backlinks
Instead, I'd spend 10 minutes clicking through menus, trying to remember which report did what. It felt like using Photoshop when all I needed was MS Paint.
💡 Sound familiar? If you've ever paid for an SEO tool and thought "there has to be an easier way," you're not alone. Reddit threads like this one get hundreds of upvotes from people asking the same question.
The "Dashboard Bloat" Problem
Modern SEO tools suffer from what I call "dashboard bloat". They're designed for enterprise SEO agencies managing 100+ clients. If you're a:
- Indie hacker with 1-3 projects
- Startup founder wearing multiple hats
- Freelance marketer doing client work
- Small agency with 5-10 clients
...you don't need a tool designed for enterprises. You need something that just answers your questions.
What I Actually Wanted
Instead of navigating menus, I wanted to just ask:
- "What's the search volume for 'chat-based SEO tool'?"
- "Show me keywords related to my site"
- "Where does my site rank for 'keyword research'?"
- "Analyze the top 10 results for 'best SEO tools'"
And get instant answers. No clicking through 5 different menus. No trying to remember which report does what. Just natural conversation.
Why Chat-Based? Why Now?
After using ChatGPT for a year, I realized: chat interfaces are just better for ad-hoc research. You don't need to learn where things are. You just ask.
But here's the problem: ChatGPT doesn't have real SEO data. It can give you advice, but it can't tell you:
- Actual search volumes
- Current keyword rankings
- Live SERP results
- Real backlink profiles
So I thought: What if we combined ChatGPT's conversational interface with Ahrefs' real data?
That's Keywords.chat.
Building for Real People, Not Enterprises
I spent 3 months talking to indie hackers, startup founders, and freelance marketers. The same frustrations came up over and over:
- "Ahrefs is too expensive for my side project" ($129/month is 2x the cost of server hosting)
- "I only use 2-3 features but pay for everything" (most people never use Site Audit, Content Explorer, or Alerts)
- "It takes too long to find what I need" (5-10 clicks to get to the data you want)
- "I forget how to use it between sessions" (the learning curve is real)
So we built Keywords.chat with three core principles:
- Conversational First – No menus, no reports. Just ask questions.
- Essential Tools Only – Keyword research, rank tracking, SERP analysis, backlinks. That's it.
- Indie Hacker Pricing – $59/month. Literally half the cost of Ahrefs or SEMrush.
How It Compares
Here's an honest comparison with the tools I've used:
| Feature | Keywords.chat | Ahrefs | SEMrush |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | $59/mo | $129/mo | $140/mo |
| Interface | Chat-based | Complex dashboard | Complex dashboard |
| Learning Curve | 5 minutes | Hours/Days | Hours/Days |
| Keyword Research | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Rank Tracking | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| SERP Analysis | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Backlink Analysis | ✅ | ✅ (more detailed) | ✅ (more detailed) |
| Site Audit | ✅ | ✅ (more detailed) | ✅ (more detailed) |
| Content Explorer | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Competitor Alerts | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
Where Ahrefs/SEMrush Win
Let's be honest: Ahrefs and SEMrush have more features. If you're running an agency with 50+ clients and need:
- Historical backlink data going back 10 years
- Competitor rank tracking alerts
- Content gap analysis across 20 competitors
- White-label PDF reports
...then Ahrefs or SEMrush are probably worth the money.
Where Keywords.chat Wins
But if you're an indie hacker, startup founder, or small agency, you probably don't need all that. You need:
- Speed – Get answers in seconds, not minutes
- Simplicity – No learning curve, just ask questions
- Affordability – $59/mo vs $129-140/mo = $840-972 saved per year
The Real ROI
Here's what I realized after switching to Keywords.chat (yes, I use my own tool now):
- I actually use it daily – No friction = more consistent SEO work
- I get answers 5x faster – No navigating menus, just ask and get results
- I save $840/year – That's 14 months of server costs for my side project
Real Talk: If you're running a profitable enterprise SEO agency, stick with Ahrefs. If you're an indie hacker trying to grow a side project, you'll get 80% of the value at 45% of the cost with Keywords.chat.
What's Next
We're launching Keywords.chat in private beta soon. Here's what we're working on:
- Multi-project management – Track multiple sites in one chat
- Automated rank tracking – Weekly reports sent to your inbox
- Competitive analysis – Compare your site to competitors
- API access – Integrate keyword data into your own tools
Join the Waitlist
Be among the first to try Keywords.chat. No credit card required. 7-day free trial when we launch.
Get Early Access →Final Thoughts
Building an alternative to Ahrefs wasn't about making a "better" tool. It was about making a simpler tool for people who don't need enterprise features.
If you've ever felt overwhelmed by SEO tools, frustrated by high prices, or just wished you could "ask a question and get an answer"—we built Keywords.chat for you.
And hey, if you try it and decide Ahrefs is still better for you? That's totally fine. We're not trying to replace the 800-pound gorilla. We're just giving indie hackers a simpler, more affordable option.
Have questions about Keywords.chat? Want to share your own Ahrefs frustration story? Drop a comment on Reddit or reach out at hello@keywords.chat