Updated: June 9, 2023.

Learn about Ahrefs SEO Toolbar and how it can help you become a better SEO.

Today, I want to talk to you about one of my absolute favorite daily SEO tools – the Ahrefs SEO Toolbar.

This SEO browser extension has genuinely transformed my SEO routine, and I can’t wait to share my thoughts, experiences, and real-life examples with you.

So, let’s dive right in and find out what makes this tool so fantastic for SEO pros like us.

Ahrefs SEO Toolbar

TL;DR: Ahrefs SEO Toolbar Video

If you don’t want to read the entire article, you can simply install Ahrefs SEO Toolbar and see it for yourself.

You can also view the below video where I show you Ahrefs SEO Toolbar and tell you a bit more about it.

How I replaced 12+ SEO tools with Ahrefs SEO Toolbar

Before I get into the nitty-gritty of the Ahrefs SEO Toolbar, let me tell you something that might make you want to grab this free extension right away.

This powerful yet simple tool has allowed me to replace over 12 separate SEO tools and SEO Chrome extensions that I used to rely on:

  • VPN: With the SERP country-changer feature, I no longer need a VPN to check search results in different countries. It simplifies my international SEO projects and saves time switching between different VPN settings.
Ahrefs SEO Toolbar showing SERP metrics and keyword data
  • Broken Link Checker: The toolbar allows me to find and highlight broken links on any page. I could say goodbye to a separate Broken Link Checker Chrome extension. 
Ahrefs SEO Toolbar Outgoing Links report
  • Heading Checker: The on-page SEO report includes a full analysis of content’s subheaders (H1-H6) and their hierarchy, so I don’t need another tool for checking headings.

    If you know me a bit, you know that I always audit SEO headings as part of any SEO audit I do.
Ahrefs SEO Toolbar showing the content data including headings
  • Meta Data Checker: The Ahrefs SEO Toolbar offers an in-depth look at any page’s meta data, including title and description along with their lengths, replacing the need for a separate metadata analysis tool.
Ahrefs SEO Toolbar displaying meta data of a page
  • Content Checker: The tool shows me content length in words and dates (published and modified).
  • Indexability Checker: In one click, I can check canonical URLs, Robots data (robots.txt, Meta Robots Tag, X-Robots-Tag HTTP), sitemap address, and hreflangs. This feature alone makes several separate tools redundant.
Ahrefs SEO Toolbar showing indexability data
  • Web Vitals: The toolbar provides quick access to Web Vitals metrics, so I don’t need to use PageSpeed Insights for every page analysis.
Ahrefs SEO Toolbar showing Metrics and Web Vitals
  • On-SERP SEO Tool: With detailed keyword metrics like search volume and keyword difficulty displayed directly in the SERP, I no longer need a separate on-SERP SEO tool for keyword analysis.
  • And more: The Ahrefs SEO Toolbar offers even more features like redirect tracer, Open Graph tags, and Twitter cards analysis, potentially replacing additional tools in your SEO toolkit.

Here’s a list of tools I’ve either stopped using or use far less frequently since I started using Ahrefs SEO Toolbar.

While I still think these tools are fantastic, having just one tool that covers all their functions has made my life so much simpler. As a minimalist, I appreciate keeping things as streamlined as possible.

SEO tools replaced by Ahrefs
Here are some of other SEO Chrome extensions that I could replace with just one Ahrefs SEO Toolbar.

The tools replaced by Ahrefs SEO Toolbar:

  • Link Redirect Trace (entirely)
  • Detailed SEO (partly)
  • SEO Pro Extension (partly)
  • NoFollow (entirely)
  • SEOcrawl (entirely)
  • Broken Link Checker (entirely)
  • PageSpeed Insights (not for all cases)
  • WebDeveloper (for checking headings and images)
  • VPN (entirely)
  • Change Geolocation (entirely)
  • User-Agent Switcher (entirely)
  • HTTP Header Spy (entirely)

By consolidating these functions into one tool, the Ahrefs SEO Toolbar has revolutionized my workflow. It saved me both time and effort. It’s allowed me to focus more on delivering top-notch work for my clients without the hassle of juggling multiple tools.

Read on to learn more about the tool or skip reading the rest and simply go ahead and install the free Ahrefs SEO Toolbar now.

So, what is the Ahrefs SEO Toolbar?

If you haven’t already heard of the Ahrefs SEO Toolbar, you must have been living under a rock. 

Ahrefs SEO Toolbar

This free browser extension is available for both Chrome and Firefox, and it’s designed to provide valuable SEO data about the pages and websites you visit. As an SEO assistant, it lets you access crucial insights and metrics directly from your browser. Developed by Ahrefs, a leading SEO tool provider, the toolbar is used by over 100k+ SEO professionals worldwide to streamline daily tasks, improve efficiency, and make informed decisions in their SEO work.

A closer look at Ahrefs SEO Toolbar key features

Now let’s take a deeper dive into some of the toolbar’s fantastic features that I can’t live without.

Free features of the Ahrefs SEO Toolbar include:

  • Metrics: Displays website and page-level SEO metrics like Domain Rating, URL Rating, Ahrefs Rank, referring pages, referring domains, search traffic, and keyword rankings.
Ahrefs SEO Toolbar metrics
  • Content Analysis: Shows meta information, including title, description, word count, headings (H1-H6), publication and modification dates, and social media tags.
  • Indexability: Checks canonical URL, robots.txt file, Robots Meta Tag, X-Robots-Tag HTTP, sitemaps, and hreflang tags.
  • Social Media: Analyzes Open Graph tags and Twitter cards for the page.
Ahrefs SEO Toolbar open graph tags and Twitter card
  • Images: Identifies missing alt text, title tags, and URL issues for images.
  • HTTP Headers: Provides HTTP headers and traces redirects for visited URLs.
  • Links: Lists all outbound links on a page with filtering options and export functionality.
  • SERP Tools: Offers keyword metrics, position numbers, results metrics, and a local search simulator.
  • User-Agent Switcher: Allows testing of website appearance for different user-agents.
Ahrefs SEO Toolbar User-agent switcher
  • SERP Settings: Customizes location, domain, language, and device preferences for SERP analysis.
Ahrefs SEO Toolbar SERP tools including local search simulator
  • Country Changer: Changes the country for search results without needing a VPN or paid service.
  • Redirect Tracer: Traces the complete redirect chain for any URL and analyzes HTTP headers.

If you have a paid subscription with Ahrefs, you’ll unlock even more fantastic features:

  • SEO metrics for every page/site visited and for Google search results
  • Keyword metrics, such as search volume and keyword difficulty, directly in SERP
Ahrefs SEO Toolbar showing simulated SERPs for United States

Final thoughts

As an SEO professional, the Ahrefs SEO Toolbar has become an essential part of my workflow. Its feature-rich interface, user-friendly design, and compatibility with Chrome and Firefox make it a go-to resource in my SEO toolkit.

Tools like the Ahrefs SEO Toolbar provide valuable insights and time-saving benefits that can give you a competitive edge. I highly recommend trying it out if you’re looking to optimize your daily work and stay ahead in the world of SEO.

Remember, knowledge is power! By integrating the Ahrefs SEO Toolbar into your SEO routine, you’re one step closer to becoming a better SEO.

That’s it for today! I hope you liked his review. Stay tuned for more expert insights and in-depth analysis of the latest SEO tools and trends. Until next time, happy optimizing!

Check my other articles with Ahrefs:

Olga Zarr is an SEO consultant with 10+ years of experience. She has been doing SEO for both the biggest brands in the world and small businesses. She has done 200+ SEO audits so far. Olga has completed SEO courses and degrees at universities, such as UC Davis, University of Michigan, and Johns Hopkins University. She also completed Moz Academy! And, of course, has Google certifications. She keeps learning SEO and loves it. Olga is also a Google Product Expert specializing in areas, such as Google Search and Google Webmasters.