How to Cancel Ahrefs Subscription in a Few Steps
Need to cancel your Ahrefs subscription? Learn how to do it in a few easy steps and manage your finances effectively.
Are you facing issues with canceling your Ahrefs subscription? If you require assistance with the cancellation or completely removing your account from Ahrefs, we are here to help! This guide will take you through the cancellation methods and how you can use its alternatives.
How to Cancel Ahrefs Subscription (Step-by-Step Guide)
Canceling your Ahrefs plan is quite straightforward if you follow the correct process. Here’s how to do it:
Step 1: Log In to Your Ahrefs Dashboard
Start by visiting Ahrefs and logging in to your account with your registered email and password.
Once logged in, go to the main dashboard where your tools and projects are listed.
Step 2: Go to Billing Settings
At the top-right corner of the screen, click on your Profile Icon or Account Settings.
From there, navigate to the Billing section. This is where you’ll see your current plan details, payment history, and renewal date.
Step 3: Select Cancel Subscription
Under the subscription details, you should see an option to:
Cancel plan
Stop subscription
Disable auto-renewal
Click on Cancel Subscription.
You may be asked to confirm the reason for cancellation such as high pricing, switching tools, or temporary pause.
Step 4: Confirm Cancellation
Once you confirm, your subscription will remain active until the end of the current billing cycle.
This means you will still have access to Ahrefs tools until your paid period expires and you won’t lose access immediately.
After that date, your account will switch to a limited free mode unless you decide to delete it.
That’s all there is to it, that’s how to cancel Ahrefs subscription in just a few steps.
How to Cancel Ahrefs Subscriptions
Ahrefs is one of the most popular SEO tools in the world, used by marketers, agencies, content creators, and website owners to analyze backlinks, track rankings, and perform keyword research.
If you’ve been using Ahrefs for SEO research, backlink audits, or competitive analysis, there’s no denying that it’s one of the most powerful tools in the industry. But like any subscription service, there may come a time when you need to pause, downgrade, or stop your membership.
Whether you’re switching to another SEO tool, cutting costs, or no longer need premium features, learning how to cancel Ahrefs subscription properly can help you avoid unwanted charges.
While it is extremely powerful, there may come a time when you want to stop using it or reduce your subscription costs. In that situation, knowing how to cancel Ahrefs subscription correctly becomes very important so that you do not get charged for the next billing cycle.
Whether you are switching to another SEO platform, cutting down on expenses, or simply do not need premium features anymore, this detailed guide will walk you through everything you need to know. You will learn:
How to cancel Ahrefs subscription step by step
What happens after cancellation
How much is an Ahrefs subscription and why users reconsider the cost
The Ahrefs refund policy and when an Ahrefs refund is possible
How to delete Ahrefs account permanently if you no longer wish to keep your data
By the end of this article, you will clearly understand your options and be able to manage your Ahrefs account with confidence.
Why Someone Might Want to Cancel an Ahrefs Subscription
Ahrefs is packed with features such as Site Explorer, Keyword Explorer, Content Explorer, Rank Tracker, and backlink analysis tools. Many businesses rely on it daily. However, there are several valid reasons users decide to cancel their subscription.
Some of the most common reasons include:
The cost of the plan is too high compared to current needs
The user is shifting to another SEO platform
The project for which the tool was needed is complete
The business or website is going through budget cuts
A free or cheaper alternative now feels sufficient
Whatever your reason may be, following the right process ensures that cancellation happens smoothly and without billing issues.
How Much Is an Ahrefs Subscription
Before understanding how to cancel Ahrefs subscription, it helps to know how much is an Ahrefs subscription and why pricing is often the key factor behind cancellation.
Ahrefs plans typically include multiple tiers such as Lite, Standard, Advanced, and Enterprise. As the plan level increases, users receive higher limits, more advanced features, and deeper data access. However, the pricing can feel expensive, especially for individuals, freelancers, or small teams.
If you are only using Ahrefs occasionally or your SEO workload has reduced, paying for a full premium plan may no longer feel practical. In many cases, this cost factor leads users to either downgrade or search for cancellation steps.
What Happens After You Cancel Your Ahrefs Subscription
After you successfully cancel, here is what you can expect:
Auto renewal stops and you will not be billed again for the next cycle
Your account remains active until your current payment period ends
Your projects and historical data stay stored in your account
You can reactivate your plan anytime if you return later
Cancellation does not delete your data or remove your profile. That only happens if you choose to permanently delete Ahrefs account.
Many users prefer to keep their account in free mode in case they want to resubscribe in the future.
Understanding the Ahrefs Refund Policy
A common concern for users is whether they are eligible for an Ahrefs refund after cancellation. To understand this, you must be aware of the Ahrefs refund policy.
In most situations, Ahrefs does not provide refunds once a billing cycle has already started. When you make a payment, you are essentially paying for access to the platform for the entire month or year, depending on your plan.
This means:
Canceling midway through a billing cycle does not result in a partial refund
You continue using the service until your paid period ends
Refunds are generally only considered in rare cases such as billing errors or technical problems
If you feel there has been a mistake or you were charged incorrectly, you can still contact Ahrefs support and raise a refund request. However, it is important to understand that approval is not guaranteed and depends completely on their internal policy.
How to Request an Ahrefs Refund
If you wish to try requesting an Ahrefs refund, here are the general steps you can follow:
Log into your Ahrefs account
Go to Help Center or Support
Submit a ticket to the billing support team
Explain your situation clearly and politely
Provide invoice details or payment references
Be honest and straightforward regarding the reason for your refund request. Support teams usually respond more positively when the request is clear and reasonable. Even so, keep in mind that the decision ultimately depends on the Ahrefs refund policy.
How to Delete Ahrefs Account Permanently
Canceling your subscription only stops payments. If you want your profile and stored data completely removed from the system, you will need to delete Ahrefs account manually. This is usually done by users who do not plan to return to the platform at all.
Follow these steps to learn how to delete Ahrefs account:
Sign in to your Ahrefs account
Go to Account Settings
Scroll to the bottom of the settings page
Click on Delete Account or Close Account
Confirm the deletion action
Once your account is deleted:
All your stored projects, reports, and data are permanently erased
You cannot restore the account later
You will need to create a completely new profile if you join again
Before deleting, make sure you download or save any important reports you may need for future reference.
Should You Cancel or Downgrade Instead
Before canceling completely, it may be worth considering whether downgrading your plan would be a better option. Many users find that a smaller plan still supports their needs at a more affordable cost.
Downgrading might be useful if:
You still perform occasional keyword or backlink research
You are managing a small personal website
You want to reduce expenses without losing full access
If your purpose is cost reduction rather than full exit from the platform, a downgrade could be a better solution than cancellation.
Popular Alternatives to Ahrefs After Cancellation
If you have decided to cancel because of pricing or features, you may be looking for alternative SEO tools that offer similar functionality. Some popular Ahrefs alternatives include:
Semrush
Semrush is one of the most powerful all-in-one SEO and digital marketing platforms, often considered the closest alternative to Ahrefs. It offers in-depth keyword research, competitive analysis, backlink tracking, site audits, content marketing tools, and PPC research capabilities.
Many agencies and large marketing teams prefer Semrush because it covers SEO, social media, advertising, and content optimization under a single dashboard.
While its pricing is similar to Ahrefs, Semrush provides a broader range of marketing features, making it especially useful for businesses that manage multi-channel campaigns rather than SEO alone.
Moz Pro
Moz Pro is a long-standing SEO platform known for its user-friendly interface and strong focus on education and SEO fundamentals. It includes features like keyword research, rank tracking, on-page optimization suggestions, and a solid backlink index through Link Explorer.
Moz is often preferred by beginners, startups, and small businesses because the learning curve is easier compared to Ahrefs or Semrush. In addition, the Moz community, blog, and learning academy make it a great option for marketers who want to build both skills and strategy while using the tool.
While its backlink data may not be as deep as Ahrefs, Moz remains reliable for long-term SEO growth and authority tracking.
Ubersuggest
Ubersuggest is one of the most affordable Ahrefs alternatives, making it appealing for freelancers, new bloggers, and small businesses with limited budgets. The tool offers essential SEO features such as keyword ideas, search volume analysis, competitor content research, basic backlink tracking, and site audit reports.
Ubersuggest also provides helpful content suggestions and traffic estimates for competing pages, which is useful for content marketing and blog growth.
Although it does not match Ahrefs in terms of database size or technical depth, it delivers strong value at a fraction of the cost especially for users who only need core SEO insights rather than advanced analytics.
SE Ranking
SE Ranking is a versatile SEO platform that combines affordability with professional-grade features. It includes accurate rank tracking, backlink monitoring, keyword research, website audits, and competitor analysis tools.
One of its key advantages is flexible pricing, users can adjust the frequency of rank updates to control costs, which is appealing for agencies and consultants managing multiple projects.
SE Ranking also offers white-label reporting and project-based workspaces, making it a great choice for teams that need reporting capabilities for clients. While it may not be as well-known as Ahrefs or Semrush, it consistently receives strong feedback for accuracy and overall value.
Mangools (KWFinder, SERPWatcher, and LinkMiner)
Mangools is a bundle of lightweight yet powerful SEO tools that are easy to use and visually intuitive. Its suite includes KWFinder for keyword research, SERPWatcher for rank tracking, LinkMiner for backlink analysis, and SERPChecker for SERP insights.
Mangools is ideal for bloggers, niche site owners, and small teams who want clean, simple SEO tools without overwhelming dashboards. KWFinder, in particular, is widely appreciated for its keyword difficulty scoring and ease of discovering long-tail, low-competition keywords.
While Mangools may not offer as many enterprise-level features as Ahrefs, it performs exceptionally well for everyday SEO research at a budget-friendly price.
Each tool has its own strengths, pricing levels, and usability style. The right choice depends on your project type, data needs, and budget preferences.
Ahrefs is highly respected for its backlink database and competitor research accuracy, but many alternatives still provide strong features at a lower price making them worthwhile options to explore after cancellation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Canceling Ahrefs Subscription
Here are some common questions users often ask about how to cancel Ahrefs subscription.
1. Can I cancel Ahrefs anytime
Yes, you can cancel your subscription at any time from your billing settings page. The cancellation takes effect after your current paid period ends.
2. Will I lose access immediately after I cancel
No. You retain full access until your billing cycle finishes. After that, your account moves into inactive or limited mode.
3. Will Ahrefs charge me again after I cancel
No, once you disable auto renewal or cancel successfully, you will not be billed for the next cycle.
4. Can I reactivate my subscription later
Yes, you can log back in and restart your subscription at any time unless you choose to permanently delete your account.
5. Does cancellation automatically delete my data
No. Your projects and history remain saved unless you choose to manually delete Ahrefs account.
Final Thoughts on Canceling an Ahrefs Subscription
Knowing how to cancel Ahrefs subscription is important if you no longer need the tool or want to avoid extra charges. The process is simple once you follow the steps in your billing settings. Always review your renewal dates and be sure cancellation is completed before the next cycle begins.
Make sure you understand the Ahrefs refund policy and do not expect automatic refunds once a billing period has started. If your goal is long term account closure, you also have the option to delete Ahrefs account permanently.
Ahrefs remains a powerful SEO tool, but your subscription should always match your current priorities and budget. If it no longer aligns with your needs, canceling or downgrading ensures that you stay in control of your finances and software expenses.