Yes, you can use Backrefs and Ahrefs together, and plenty of SEOs run two backlink tools side by side. Neither tool blocks the other, so the real question is whether a second subscription earns its cost for your work. Confirm current plans and features on each official site before you commit.
Why people pair two backlink tools
No backlink index is complete. Each tool crawls the web differently, so each one finds links the other misses. Comparing the two gives you a wider view of a profile than either gives alone.
A simple workflow
- Export from both. Pull the referring domains and backlinks for your site, or a competitor's, from each tool.
- Merge and dedupe. Combine the lists in a spreadsheet and remove duplicate URLs and domains.
- Look at the gaps. Note which links only one tool reported. These are the ones a single-tool audit would have missed.
- Check the important ones by hand. Open the pages that matter to see whether the link is live and where it sits.
- Act from the merged list. Use it for outreach, cleanup or competitor research.
Trade-offs to weigh
- Cost: Two subscriptions cost more than one. Whether the extra coverage is worth it depends on how much link research you do.
- Metrics don't match. Each tool uses its own scoring, so don't mix authority numbers directly. Compare within one tool, and use the other mainly for link discovery.
- More data, more cleanup. Merging exports takes time, and a larger list isn't automatically a better one.
- No guaranteed outcome. Extra link data helps your analysis. It doesn't promise better rankings.
Recommended for youBest Backrefs Alternatives: Top Backlink Tools ComparedWhen one tool is probably enough
If you run a small site or only check links occasionally, one tool usually covers it. Agencies and freelancers handling many clients are more likely to benefit from a second data source. The same goes for anyone doing a detailed audit where missing a link has a real cost.
Quick decision guide
| Your situation | Leaning |
|---|---|
| Small site, occasional checks | One tool |
| Regular competitor research | Consider two, or run a trial of the second |
| Client audits or cleanups | Two sources may be worth it |
Related
Deciding between them rather than combining? Read Backrefs vs Ahrefs: Head-to-Head Comparison. For a three-way view, see Backrefs vs Ahrefs vs Semrush: Which Backlink Tool to Buy. Budget matters here too, so check Backlink Tool Pricing Compared, and browse Backrefs Alternatives & Comparisons for more options.
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