# Ahrefs vs Frase: which do AI models recommend for SEO, September 2026

GTM AI Recommendation Index, September 2026 Edition, SEO and content optimization platforms. One of twelve models named Ahrefs first on the direct prompt; zero named Frase. Page: https://gtm-ai-index.com/marketing/seo-content-optimization/ahrefs-vs-frase/

| | First-choice share | Rank | Negative rate | Labels | Models naming it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ahrefs | 4% | #6 of 16 | 14% | 51 | 12 of 12 |
| Frase | 4% | #7 of 16 | 7% | 41 | 12 of 12 |

## The direct prompt, model by model

- Qwen 3.7 Flash: ahrefs first (first choices: Ahrefs, Semrush) (alternatives: Clearscope, HubSpot, SE Ranking, Screaming Frog, Sitebulb, Surfer SEO)
- GPT-5.4 mini: neither first, one named (first choices: Semrush) (alternatives: Ahrefs, Clearscope, Conductor)
- Gemini 3.5 Flash: neither first, one named (first choices: Semrush, Surfer SEO) (alternatives: Ahrefs, Clearscope, SE Ranking)
- Perplexity Sonar: neither first, one named (first choices: Semrush) (alternatives: Ahrefs, Clearscope, Surfer SEO)
- Grok 4.1 Fast: neither first, one named (first choices: Surfer SEO) (alternatives: Ahrefs, Clearscope, Frase, MarketMuse, Semrush)
- DeepSeek V4 Flash: neither first, one named (first choices: Semrush) (alternatives: Ahrefs, Clearscope, MarketMuse, Surfer SEO)
- Llama 4 Maverick: neither first, one named (first choices: Keygrip) (alternatives: Ahrefs, Clearscope, Screaming Frog, Semrush, Surfer SEO)
- Kimi K2: neither first, one named (first choices: Semrush) (alternatives: Ahrefs, Clearscope, MarketMuse, Screaming Frog, Surfer SEO)
- GLM 4.7 FlashX: neither first, one named (first choices: Semrush) (alternatives: Ahrefs, Clearscope, NeuronWriter, Surfer SEO)
- MiniMax M2.5: neither first, one named (first choices: Surfer SEO) (alternatives: Ahrefs, MarketMuse)
- Claude Haiku 4.5: neither named (first choices: Sight AI) (alternatives: Intero Digital, Stratabeat, Ubersuggest, Virayo, Writesonic)
- Mistral Small: neither named (first choices: HubSpot Content Hub, HubSpot Marketing Hub) (alternatives: Clearscope, MarketMuse, Semrush, Surfer SEO)

## What the models said about Ahrefs

- "Avoid: Enterprise tools (Ahrefs/Semrush $99–$139); overkill for small budgets." (Grok 4.1 Fast, budget prompt, hard negative)
- "Tools to Skip on a Budget - Ahrefs ($108+/mo)" (DeepSeek V4 Flash, budget prompt, hard negative)
- "The price increase in 2024 changed the value calculation, with the Lite plan jumping from $99 to $129 per month" (Claude Haiku 4.5, negative prompt, soft negative)
- "Choose Ahrefs or Semrush if you need a baseline tool for overall website health, backlink tracking, and competitor espionage." (Gemini 3.5 Flash, comparative prompt, first choice)
- "Go with Semrush (for the extra marketing tools) or Ahrefs (if you care primarily about backlinks)" (Qwen 3.7 Flash, comparative prompt, first choice)
- "The best SEO content optimization tool for a mid-sized B2B company would be Ahrefs or SEMrush" (Llama 4 Maverick, paraphrase prompt, first choice)

## What the models said about Frase

- "Frase - Low-cost option with user reports of inaccurate recommendations" (Mistral Small, negative prompt, hard negative)
- "Criticized as "dead" in 2026—doesn't account for LLMs" (GLM 4.7 FlashX, negative prompt, hard negative)
- "excellent tools when used correctly, but they are highly dangerous when misused" (Gemini 3.5 Flash, negative prompt, soft negative)
- "Frase gives you content briefs and optimization at a fraction of the cost... it offers the most functionality per dollar" (Claude Haiku 4.5, budget prompt, first choice)
- "Frase is the best starting point for most small companies" (GPT-5.4 mini, budget prompt, first choice)
- "Budget-conscious | Frase | $15/month" (Kimi K2, negative prompt, first choice)

Share is the count of first choices across the direct, paraphrase, budget and scale prompts over all twelve models, for a mid-market B2B company; rank is within the category. Comparisons are drawn for the top eight products in each category. Published under CC BY 4.0; the output is the models' output, and nothing here is a recommendation by the index.