How to Find Low-Competition Keywords With Ahrefs in 2026
Ahrefs is a backlink and SEO toolset built around its own crawler. Its Keywords Explorer database and Keyword Difficulty (KD) score are what most SEOs use to decide what to write next.
What Is Keyword Difficulty in Ahrefs?
KD is a 0-100 score estimating how hard it is to rank in the top 10 for a term, based on the backlink strength of current ranking pages. Under 10 is easy; over 60 needs real authority. It is a guide, not a guarantee — a new site can still struggle on KD 15 terms in a competitive niche.
How Do You Run a Keyword Search?
- Open Keyword Explorer and enter a seed term.
- Switch to the Matching terms report to see related phrases.
- Set filters: KD 0-20, volume 100+, and pick a target country.
- Check the SERP overview for each candidate to see who ranks and why.
- Sort by traffic potential, not just volume — it reflects the whole topic’s value.
Which Filters Actually Matter?
Volume alone misleads. A 2,000-search term where the top result gets 80% of clicks is worth more than a 10,000-search term spread across featured snippets and ads. Ahrefs shows traffic potential next to volume for exactly this reason. Also filter by intent — informational keywords convert differently from commercial ones.
| Metric | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| KD | Rough ranking difficulty |
| Volume | Monthly search count |
| Traffic potential | Realistic clicks if you rank #1 |
| Intent | Informational vs. commercial |
How Much Does Ahrefs Cost?
The Starter plan is around $29/month but limits tools, and it has no API or project tracking. The main Site Explorer plans begin near $129/month. The free Webmaster Tools tier gives backlink data for sites you verify, but keyword research is limited. For casual users, that free ceiling comes fast.
Where Does Ahrefs Disappoint?
Keyword databases vary by country — smaller markets have thinner data. The crawler finds links slower than Google indexes them. And the price jump from Starter to full Site Explorer is steep for solo bloggers who just want KD scores.
Quick Summary
- Ahrefs KD scores ranking difficulty from 0-100 based on backlinks.
- Filter Matching terms by KD 0-20, volume 100+, and target country.
- Prioritize traffic potential over raw volume.
- Starter is ~$29/mo; full plans start near $129/mo.
- Data is thinner for small countries; crawling lags Google.