Ahrefs Adds Global Keyword Metrics to Free Webmaster Tools
Ahrefs added global keyword metrics to its free Webmaster Tools in May 2025, expanding what site owners can see about their keyword rankings without a paid subscription.
What changed
The Organic Keywords report in Ahrefs Webmaster Tools gained a Global toggle. Enabling it switches the keyword data from single-country metrics to worldwide aggregates, showing total global search volume and estimated traffic for each ranking keyword, alongside a list of all countries where the page holds a position.
Previously, the free tier showed keyword data scoped to the country selected at the property level. The Global view makes it easier to identify keywords where a page ranks in multiple markets, or where the bulk of search volume sits outside the primary market being tracked.
The Paid Keywords report was also upgraded to check historical SERPs up to 30 days back automatically, surfacing ad placements that would previously have been missed if the crawler hadn’t caught the SERP in its live state.
What the free tier includes
For context, Ahrefs Webmaster Tools at the free tier covers:
- Organic keyword rankings. All keywords a verified site ranks for, with position, search volume, and traffic estimates, now with the global view toggle.
- Backlink profile. Full inbound link data for verified properties: referring domains, anchor texts, and link metrics.
- Site Audit. Crawls up to 5,000 pages and flags technical SEO issues including broken links, redirect chains, and missing meta data.
The paid platform retains historical data, full Keywords Explorer access, unlimited competitor comparisons, and the complete link-building and content research toolset.
Why it matters
The global view is most useful for sites with international audiences or content that ranks across multiple markets. A page optimised for UK traffic might be picking up significant search volume in Australia, Canada, or the US without the site owner being aware of it. The toggle makes that visible without requiring separate country-level property setups.
For sites with a single-market focus, the update is less significant, though the global volume figures provide a useful sanity check against single-country estimates, which can undercount demand for queries with international intent.
How it compares
Ahrefs Webmaster Tools sits alongside a small set of capable free SEO products:
| Tool | Strengths at free tier |
|---|---|
| Ahrefs Webmaster Tools | Keyword rankings with global metrics, backlink data, site audit |
| Google Search Console | Click/impression data, index coverage, Core Web Vitals |
| Bing Webmaster Tools | Bing-specific rankings, keyword research, site scan |
| Semrush Free | Limited keyword and domain analytics |
Getting access
Ahrefs Webmaster Tools requires account creation and site verification via DNS record, HTML file, or meta tag. There is no trial period or credit card requirement.