Ahrefs API

Access real-time Ahrefs SEO data directly through the Ahrefs API to analyze websites, research keywords, track rankings, and make data-driven SEO decisions.

First-Time Setup

If this is your first time using the Ahrefs API, read references/setup.md for complete setup instructions. You'll need:

• An Ahrefs account (Enterprise plan for full API access, or Lite+ for limited free test queries)
• An API key from your Ahrefs workspace

After setup, return here for usage guidance.

Core Capabilities

Ahrefs API provides access to:

1. Site Explorer - Domain metrics, backlinks, organic traffic, referring domains
2. Keywords Explorer - Search volume, keyword difficulty, SERP analysis, related keywords
3. Rank Tracker - Position tracking, visibility metrics, competitor rankings (requires pre-configured projects)
4. Site Audit - Technical SEO issues, crawl data, site health (requires pre-configured projects)
5. SERP Overview - Top 100 SERP results for any keyword
6. Batch Analysis - Process up to 100 targets per request
7. Brand Radar - Brand performance stats

For detailed capability reference, see references/capabilities.md.

Authentication

All API requests require an API key passed via the Authorization header:

Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY

Store your API key securely. Consider using environment variables:

export AHREFS_API_KEY="your-api-key-here"

Usage Workflow

1. Understand the Request

Identify what SEO data is needed:

• Domain/URL analysis → Site Explorer endpoints
• Keyword data → Keywords Explorer endpoints
• Position tracking → Rank Tracker endpoints (requires project)
• Technical SEO → Site Audit endpoints (requires project)
• SERP data → SERP Overview endpoints

2. Make API Requests

Use curl or similar tools to call the Ahrefs API. Base URL: https://api.ahrefs.com/v3

Example - Get domain overview:

curl -X GET "https://api.ahrefs.com/v3/site-explorer/domain-overview?target=example.com" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $AHREFS_API_KEY"

Example - Keyword metrics:

curl -X GET "https://api.ahrefs.com/v3/keywords-explorer/overview?keyword=seo+tools&country=us" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $AHREFS_API_KEY"

3. Process and Present Results

• Parse JSON responses
• Extract relevant metrics
• Present data in clear, actionable formats
• Highlight key insights and opportunities
• Suggest next steps based on findings

Common Workflows

Keyword Research + Cross-Reference

1. User provides keyword list
2. Make batch API calls to Keywords Explorer
3. Parse and consolidate metrics (volume, difficulty, CPC)
4. Present analysis with prioritization recommendations

See references/workflows.md for detailed workflow patterns with example API calls.

Competitive Analysis

1. Identify target domain and competitors
2. Call Site Explorer for each domain
3. Compare metrics (DR, organic traffic, referring domains)
4. Analyze top organic keywords
5. Identify content gaps
6. Provide actionable recommendations

Site Audit Review

Note: Requires pre-configured Site Audit project in Ahrefs web interface.

1. Call Site Audit API for project data
2. Identify critical issues by severity
3. Prioritize fixes by impact
4. Provide technical recommendations

API Limits & Best Practices

Rate Limiting

• 60 requests per minute by default
• API returns HTTP 429 if limit exceeded
• Implement exponential backoff for retries

API Unit Consumption

• Each request consumes API units from your monthly allowance
• Cost depends on the number of rows returned (minimum 50 units per request)
• Track usage in Account settings → Limits and usage
• Enterprise plans include units; additional units can be purchased

Optimization Tips

• Batch requests when possible (up to 100 targets)
• Limit result rows using limit parameter
• Select specific columns with select parameter to reduce costs
• Cache results when appropriate
• Use date ranges to limit historical data

Plan-Specific Access

• Enterprise: Full API access
• Lite/Standard/Advanced: Limited free test queries (check your plan for specifics)

Error Handling

Common HTTP status codes:

• 200 OK - Success
• 400 Bad Request - Invalid parameters
• 401 Unauthorized - Invalid or missing API key
• 403 Forbidden - Insufficient permissions or plan limits
• 429 Too Many Requests - Rate limit exceeded
• 500 Internal Server Error - Ahrefs server issue

Always check response status and handle errors gracefully.

When API Key is Missing

If the API key is not configured:

1. Provide setup instructions from references/setup.md
2. Guide through API key generation in Ahrefs Account settings
3. Explain how to securely store the key (environment variables recommended)
4. Test the connection with a simple API call

Resources

• API Documentation: https://docs.ahrefs.com/docs/api/reference/introduction
• API Key Management: https://app.ahrefs.com/account/api-keys
• Pricing & Limits: https://ahrefs.com/pricing
• Limits & Usage Tracking: https://app.ahrefs.com/account/limits-and-usage/web