# Ahrefs Free Tools Scraper (`parseforge/ahrefs-tools-scraper`) Actor

Pull SEO metrics from Ahrefs free tools: Domain Rating, backlinks, referring domains, organic traffic, keyword difficulty, and search volume. Submit a domain or keyword and get structured results. Export to JSON, CSV, or Excel for SEO research.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/parseforge/ahrefs-tools-scraper.md
- **Developed by:** [ParseForge](https://apify.com/parseforge) (community)
- **Categories:** Developer tools
- **Features:** Limited permissions
- **Stats:** 192 total users, 8 monthly users, 90.2% runs succeeded, 1 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $22.50 / 1,000 items

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.
Since this Actor supports Apify Store discounts, the price gets lower the higher subscription plan you have.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/actors/running/actors-in-store.md#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

An Actor is a serverless cloud program that runs on the Apify platform. It has two run modes.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.

Apify vocabulary and the platform model are defined once, in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md.

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.

Do not guess an integration path. Every one of them is in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md: the Apify MCP server, Agent Skills with the Apify CLI, the JavaScript and Python clients, the REST API, and the account-free path for an agent with no human to sign in. It also carries the rule on stating cost before the first paid run.

For examples already wired to this Actor's own input schema, see the [API](#api) section below.

Each client library has reference documentation the quickstart does not restate: [JavaScript/TypeScript](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md) (`npm install apify-client`) and [Python](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md) (`pip install apify-client`).

# README

[![ParseForge](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ParseForge/apify-assets/main/banner-v4.webp)](https://apify.com/parseforge?fpr=vmoqkp)

### Ahrefs Free Tools Scraper

**Scrape Ahrefs free tools for domain authority, backlinks, and keyword difficulty, up to a million results per run.** Each row returns the exact metric Ahrefs shows, with no API key or login. Export to CSV, JSON, Excel, or XML.

Ahrefs' official API is expensive and locked behind a paid plan. This Actor queries the public free tools directly, so you can check Website Authority, Backlinks, or Keyword Difficulty for any domain or keyword without an account. It returns each result as a flat row in one fixed schema.

| Who uses it | What they scrape Ahrefs Free Tools for |
|---|---|
| SEO agencies | Bulk-check domain authority for client prospects before outreach |
| Content marketers | Prioritize keywords by difficulty score for the next quarter |
| Link builders | Screen backlink counts to find sites worth a pitch |
| Market researchers | Compare authority metrics across a list of competitors |

### What it does

This Actor collects metrics from Ahrefs free tools for the domains or keywords you provide, and returns each result as a flat row.

- 🔍 **Three tools in one:** Website Authority Checker, Backlink Checker, and Keyword Difficulty Checker.
- 📥 **Bulk targets:** Paste up to a million domains or keywords per run.
- 🌍 **Country targeting:** Set a country code for keyword tools to get local difficulty scores.
- 📊 **Flat output:** Every result lands in a single table, ready for CSV, JSON, Excel, or XML.

Results export to CSV, JSON, Excel, or XML, or straight from the API.

### What you can do with Ahrefs Free Tools data

**📈 Qualify link prospects.**

A link builder pastes 500 domains into the Backlink Checker and filters out sites with fewer than 10 backlinks before sending outreach.

**🎯 Prioritize content keywords.**

A content marketer runs 200 keyword ideas through the Keyword Difficulty Checker and picks the 20 with the lowest difficulty for next month's calendar.

**🏆 Benchmark competitors.**

An SEO agency checks Website Authority for 50 competitor domains and ranks them to decide which niches are winnable.

**🌍 Localize keyword research.**

A global team sets country to 'de' and checks keyword difficulty for German search terms before translating content.

### Why choose this scraper

|  | What you get |
|---|---|
| **No API key** | Uses the public free tools, so you skip Ahrefs' paid API entirely. |
| **Bulk by design** | One run can process thousands of targets, not one at a time. |
| **Fixed schema** | Every row has the same fields, so you can merge runs without cleanup. |
| **Export anywhere** | CSV, JSON, Excel, or XML, straight from the dataset. |

### How it compares

This Actor focuses on the three free Ahrefs tools, while the competitors below scrape the full paid Ahrefs suite or other SEO data.

| Feature | ParseForge | Ahrefs Scraper | Ahrefs All-in-One SEO Scraper - DR, Backlinks, Keywords |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website Authority Checker | Yes | Not listed | Not listed |
| Backlink Checker | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Keyword Difficulty Checker | Yes | Not listed | Yes |
| Bulk domain analysis | Yes | Yes | Not listed |
| Country targeting for keywords | Yes | Not listed | Not listed |
| No API key required | Yes | Not listed | Not listed |
| Export to CSV, JSON, Excel, XML | Yes | Yes | Not listed |

### Configure the run

Drive the Actor from a list of domains or keywords, pick the Ahrefs tool, and set a country for keyword queries. Results are collected until maxItems is reached. The Input tab lists every parameter.

A first run with the defaults:

```json
{
  "maxItems": 10,
  "tool": "website-authority-checker",
  "targets": [
    "apify.com",
    "parseforge.com"
  ],
  "country": "us"
}
```

A larger pull:

```json
{
  "maxItems": 200,
  "tool": "website-authority-checker",
  "targets": [
    "apify.com",
    "parseforge.com"
  ],
  "country": "us"
}
```

### Pricing

Pay-per-result: **$0.03 per result** collected. You pay only for the results written to your dataset.

| Results collected | Approximate cost |
|---|---|
| 100 results | $3.00 |
| 1,000 results | $30.00 |
| 10,000 results | $300.00 |

New Apify accounts start with $5 in free credit.

### Free users

Free-plan runs return up to 10 results as a preview. [Upgrade your Apify plan](https://console.apify.com/sign-up?fpr=vmoqkp) to collect up to 1,000,000 results per run.

### Run it

1. [Create a free Apify account with $5 in credit](https://console.apify.com/sign-up?fpr=vmoqkp).
2. Open the [Ahrefs Free Tools Scraper](https://apify.com/parseforge/ahrefs-tools-scraper?fpr=vmoqkp).
3. Set your inputs and any filters, then click **Start**.
4. Export the results as CSV, Excel, JSON, or XML from the **Dataset** tab.

Run it programmatically through the [Apify API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2) (`run-sync-get-dataset-items`) or the [ApifyClient](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js) for JavaScript and Python.

### Use with AI agents (MCP)

Give an AI agent live access to Ahrefs Free Tools through the Model Context Protocol. Add the Actor to Claude, Cursor, or any MCP client:

```bash
claude mcp add --transport http apify "https://mcp.apify.com?tools=parseforge/ahrefs-tools-scraper"
```

Then prompt it in plain language to run the scraper and read back the results.

### Troubleshooting

**Why am I getting no results?**

Check that your targets are valid domains or keywords. For keyword tools, make sure the country code is correct. Also verify the tool selection matches your target type.

**Why is the run slow?**

Large target lists take time because the Actor queries each one sequentially. Reduce maxItems or split the list into smaller runs.

**Why do I see empty rows?**

Some domains or keywords have no data in Ahrefs free tools. The Actor returns an empty row for those, so you can filter them out.

**Why is the country field ignored?**

Country only applies to keyword tools. For domain tools like Website Authority Checker, it has no effect.

**Why did the run fail?**

Check the run log for errors. Common causes are invalid targets or temporary blocks from Ahrefs. Retry after a few minutes.

### FAQ

| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Do I need an Ahrefs account or API key? | No. This Actor uses the public free tools, so no login or key is required. |
| Which Ahrefs tools are supported? | Website Authority Checker, Backlink Checker, and Keyword Difficulty Checker. Each takes a domain or keyword. |
| Can I check multiple domains at once? | Yes. Add as many targets as you need in the targets field, up to one million per run. |
| What does the country field do? | It sets the country code for keyword tools, so difficulty scores reflect that market. It is ignored for domain tools. |
| What is the output format? | Each result is a flat row in the dataset. You can export to CSV, JSON, Excel, or XML. |
| Is this the same as the Ahrefs API? | No, it reads the free public tools, so you get the same metrics without the paid API limits. |
| Can I run this on a schedule? | Yes, you can schedule runs in Apify to refresh metrics daily, weekly, or monthly. |
| What if a domain has no data? | The Actor returns an empty row or skips it, depending on the tool. Check the run log for details. |
| Is there a rate limit? | The Actor respects Ahrefs' public rate limits. Large runs may take longer but will complete. |
| Can I use this for commercial projects? | Yes, the data is from public tools and can be used for your own analysis or client work. |

### Related actors

Browse the full [ParseForge collection](https://apify.com/parseforge?fpr=vmoqkp) for more scrapers.

🆘 **Need help?** Email parseforge@protonmail.com with your run ID, your input, and what you expected.

⚠️ **Disclaimer.** This Actor is unofficial and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Ahrefs Pte. Ltd. It collects only publicly available data. You are responsible for using the collected data in compliance with the source's terms of service and applicable data-protection laws, including GDPR, CCPA, and PIPL. Do not use it to collect personal data unlawfully.

# Actor input Schema

## `maxItems` (type: `integer`):

How many results to collect per run.

## `tool` (type: `string`):

Which Ahrefs free tool to query.

## `targets` (type: `array`):

Domains (for domain tools) or keywords (for keyword tools). One per item. Examples: apify.com, parseforge.com, web scraping.

## `country` (type: `string`):

Country code for keyword tools (us, uk, ca, au, in, etc.). Ignored for domain tools.

## `proxyConfiguration` (type: `object`):

Optional. Ahrefs only serves residential traffic reliably; if you pick Apify Proxy without a group, RESIDENTIAL is used. Leave empty for the default (Apify residential, US).

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "maxItems": 10,
  "tool": "website-authority-checker",
  "targets": [
    "apify.com",
    "parseforge.com"
  ],
  "country": "us"
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `overview` (type: `string`):

No description

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
    "maxItems": 10,
    "tool": "website-authority-checker",
    "targets": [
        "apify.com",
        "parseforge.com"
    ],
    "country": "us"
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("parseforge/ahrefs-tools-scraper").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = {
    "maxItems": 10,
    "tool": "website-authority-checker",
    "targets": [
        "apify.com",
        "parseforge.com",
    ],
    "country": "us",
}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("parseforge/ahrefs-tools-scraper").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print(f"💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/{run.default_dataset_id}")
for item in client.dataset(run.default_dataset_id).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{
  "maxItems": 10,
  "tool": "website-authority-checker",
  "targets": [
    "apify.com",
    "parseforge.com"
  ],
  "country": "us"
}' |
apify call parseforge/ahrefs-tools-scraper --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,parseforge/ahrefs-tools-scraper"
        }
    }
}
```

The hosted server signs you in with OAuth on first connect, so no API token belongs in this config. Clients without OAuth support can send an `Authorization: Bearer <APIFY_API_TOKEN>` header instead, using a token from API & Integrations in Apify Console (https://console.apify.com/settings/integrations).

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/dkvExPigmCQqcBB8p/builds/ltdi7DzzBF7eFlKGZ/openapi.json