Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

VS Code VS Ahrefs

Compare VS Code VS Ahrefs and see what are their differences

Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

VS Code logo VS Code

Build and debug modern web and cloud applications, by Microsoft

Ahrefs logo Ahrefs

Ahrefs is a toolset for SEO and marketing. We have tools for backlink research, organic traffic research, keyword research, content marketing & more. Give Ahrefs a try!
  • VS Code Landing page
    Landing page //
    2024-10-09
  • Ahrefs Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-11

Ahrefs is trusted by SEOs and marketing professionals worldwide as the ultimate toolset for SEO, powered by industry-leading data. Ahrefs crawls the web, stores tons of data and makes it easily accessible via a simple user interface. The data can be used to aid keyword research, link building, content marketing and SEO strategies. Ultimately, the tool helps to accelerate the growth of organic search traffic to a website.

VS Code features and specs

  • Cross-platform
    VS Code works on Windows, macOS, and Linux, providing a consistent development experience across different operating systems.
  • Extensibility
    A vast library of extensions allows users to add functionalities like debuggers, linters, and themes, making it highly customizable.
  • Integrated Git
    Built-in Git integration makes it easy to manage version control tasks directly within the editor.
  • Performance
    Lightweight compared to full-fledged IDEs, ensuring good performance even on systems with limited resources.
  • IntelliSense
    Advanced code completion and refactoring tools help improve coding efficiency and reduce errors.
  • Community Support
    A strong and active community provides extensive support, tutorials, and third-party extensions.
  • Debugging
    Robust debugging tools for various languages and frameworks are available out of the box.
  • Free and Open-Source
    VS Code is completely free to use and open-source, which is beneficial for both individual developers and organizations.

Possible disadvantages of VS Code

  • Limited IDE Features
    While extensible, it may lack some advanced features found in dedicated IDEs out of the box.
  • Extension Management
    Managing and configuring a large number of extensions can become cumbersome and sometimes lead to performance issues.
  • Learning Curve
    Although user-friendly, it has a steeper learning curve for beginners due to its numerous features and customization options.
  • Memory Usage
    Despite being lightweight, it can consume a significant amount of memory when multiple extensions are installed.
  • Update Frequency
    Frequent updates may sometimes introduce bugs or require users to adapt to new changes quickly.
  • Internet Dependency
    Some features and extensions may require an internet connection to function optimally.
  • Telemetry
    By default, VS Code collects usage data, which might be a concern for users sensitive about data privacy. However, this can be disabled.

Ahrefs features and specs

  • Comprehensive Data
    Ahrefs offers extensive data on backlinks, keywords, and site audits, allowing users to make well-informed decisions on their SEO strategies.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The platform has an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface, making it accessible for both beginners and experienced SEO professionals.
  • Accurate Backlink Analysis
    Ahrefs is known for its accurate and up-to-date backlink data, which is crucial for comprehensive SEO analysis and strategy development.
  • Robust Keyword Research
    The keyword research tools in Ahrefs provide detailed information and insights, helping users to identify valuable keywords for their content.
  • Site Audit Capabilities
    Ahrefs' site audit feature helps identify and fix on-site SEO issues, improving overall website health and performance.
  • Continuous Updates
    Ahrefs frequently updates its database and introduces new features, ensuring users have access to the latest SEO tools and data.
  • Competitive Analysis
    The platform allows users to analyze competitor websites in-depth, giving insights into their strategies and helping to identify opportunities.

Possible disadvantages of Ahrefs

  • High Cost
    Ahrefs is relatively expensive compared to other SEO tools, which may be a barrier for small businesses or individual users with limited budgets.
  • Learning Curve
    Despite its user-friendly interface, the vast array of features and data can initially be overwhelming for new users, requiring time to master.
  • Limited Access in Basic Plan
    The lower-tier plans limit access to certain data and features, potentially necessitating an upgrade to higher-cost plans for full functionality.
  • No Free Trial
    Ahrefs does not offer a free trial, which can make it challenging for potential users to fully assess its value before committing to a subscription.
  • API Limitations
    Access to the API is restricted and may not be comprehensive enough for advanced users requiring extensive data integration capabilities.
  • Occasional Data Gaps
    Despite frequent updates, there may occasionally be gaps or delays in data, particularly for niche or emerging markets.
  • Limited Customer Support Options
    Customer support is mainly provided via email, which might not be sufficient for urgent issues or users preferring instant support options like live chat.

Analysis of VS Code

Overall verdict

  • Yes, VS Code is generally considered a good choice for developers due to its flexibility, efficiency, and strong community support. It is lightweight, fast, and user-friendly, catering to both novice and experienced developers.

Why this product is good

  • VS Code, developed by Microsoft, is a widely popular and versatile code editor. It offers a robust extension ecosystem, which allows developers to customize their workflow and coding environment extensively. Additionally, VS Code supports numerous programming languages right out of the box and provides features like IntelliSense, debugging, Git integration, and a built-in terminal, making it a powerful tool for developers.

Recommended for

  • Web developers looking for a comprehensive yet lightweight coding environment.
  • Software developers who need an editor with extensive language support and customization options.
  • Beginner programmers who would benefit from a feature-rich editor that can grow with their skills.
  • Developers interested in an open-source tool with continuous updates and community-driven enhancements.

VS Code videos

My New Favorite Text Editor - Visual Studio Code

More videos:

  • Review - 7 reasons why I switched to Visual Studio Code from Sublime Text

Ahrefs videos

Ahrefs Review and Tutorial: Is This The Only SEO Tool You Need?

More videos:

  • Review - Ahrefs Review | FatRank Ahref Testimonial
  • Tutorial - How to Use Ahrefs Tool - Best Premium SEO Tools [2019]

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to VS Code and Ahrefs)
Text Editors
100 100%
0% 0
SEO Tools
0 0%
100% 100
IDE
100 100%
0% 0
SEO
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using VS Code and Ahrefs. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare VS Code and Ahrefs

VS Code Reviews

  1. dksinden
    · Working at SpeechKit ·

Boost Your Productivity with These Top Text Editors and IDEs
Visual Studio Code, commonly known as VS Code, is a powerful and extensible code editor developed by Microsoft. With its rich ecosystem of extensions and features like IntelliSense, debugging, and Git integration, VS Code enhances your coding productivity.
Source: convesio.com
13 Best Text Editors to Speed up Your Workflow
Finally, the Visual Studio Code website has numerous tabs for you to learn about the software. The documentation page walks you through steps like the setup and working with different languages. You’re also able to check out some tips and tricks and learn all of the Visual Studio Code keyboard shortcuts. Along with a blog, updates page, extensions library and API...
Source: kinsta.com
Jupyter Notebook & 10 Alternatives: Data Notebook Review [2023]
Previously, VS Code was more suited to developers or engineers due to its lack of data analysis capabilities, but since 2020, the VS Code team has collaborated with the Jupyter team to create an integrated notebook within VS Code. The end result is a fantastic IDE workbook for data analysis.
Source: lakefs.io
The Best IDEs for Java Development: A Comparative Analysis
Overview: Although not a traditional IDE, VS Code has gained popularity as a lightweight code editor.
Source: dev.to
20 Best Diff Tools to Compare File Contents on Linux
Visual studio code is a code editor made by Microsoft. It supports several development operations like debugging, task running, and version control. It works on Linux, macOS and Windows operating systems.
Source: linuxopsys.com

Ahrefs Reviews

  1. Cyra Brown
    · Owner at Beginu ·
    Excellent for discovering low competition keywords

    I've enjoyed using Ahrefs to inform content creation due to their keyword explorer being so useful for finding low difficulty keywords. I do prefer the legacy version of their site explorer in comparison to the new format so I hope that they do not retire certain elements of the platform.

    🏁 Competitors: SEMRush

The 16 Best Moz Alternatives for Every Budget 
Unlike competitors, Ahrefs doesn’t offer a free trial. To start using Ahrefs, you must purchase the Lite plan for $129.
10 SE Ranking Alternatives in 2025 [Free and Paid]
Users appreciate Moz Pro for its user-friendly design and accurate rank tracking, making it accessible to both beginners and experienced marketers. However, some users feel it lacks the depth in backlink analysis offered by tools like Ahrefs, which may limit its appeal for those focusing on link-building.
10 Moz Pro Alternatives in 2025 [Free and Paid]
Starting at $129/month, Ahrefs is slightly more expensive than Moz Pro but offers advanced features that justify the investment. For users who require detailed backlink data and in-depth SEO analysis, Ahrefs is a top choice.
The best alternatives to SE Ranking in 2024
But all this comes at a price. Ahrefs is quite expensive, especially considering that even with a subscription, its use is not unlimited. At the beginning of each month, you are allocated a number of credits, which varies depending on the plan, and these credits are depleted as you use many of its features. And believe me, the credits run out faster than you realize.
Source: dinorank.com
Top 6 Moz Competitors In 2024: A Detailed Review
Furthermore, Ahrefs excels in providing users with in-depth backlink data. It helps to uncover new link-building opportunities and analyze competitors’ backlink strategies. Its user-friendly interface and accurate data make it a favorite among SEO professionals.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, VS Code should be more popular than Ahrefs. It has been mentiond 1146 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

VS Code mentions (1146)

  • What Are the Best Code Editors for Collaborative Coding?
    Visual Studio Code is a highly popular, lightweight, and versatile code editor. Its Live Share extension transforms it into a powerful collaborative tool. With Live Share, developers can co-edit and co-debug codes in real-time, making it easier to handle complex projects together. It offers:. - Source: dev.to / 3 days ago
  • Before the Code: Why I Chose Web Development and How I Got Started
    Built-in terminal (you’ll love this later) Download it here. - Source: dev.to / 5 days ago
  • #The Chronicles of Sam: 10,000 Hours to Say “Hi” Automatically 💬
    Somewhere between enabling CORS and accidentally enabling IAM authentication, Sam backed out slowly and did what all developers eventually do when faced with AWS UI: They closed the tab and opened [VSCode 🖥️].(https://code.visualstudio.com/). - Source: dev.to / 10 days ago
  • Build Python Docker Development Environment on Win11 from Scratch
    Download VSCode through the following URL Https://code.visualstudio.com/. - Source: dev.to / 17 days ago
  • How to Handle File Uploads with Node.js and Express - Multer Edition
    A text editor or lightweight IDE such as Visual Studio Code. - Source: dev.to / 17 days ago
View more

Ahrefs mentions (117)

  • Ask HN: How to Get Good at SEO?
    I recently "launched" my product by mentioning it across Twitter and Discord which led some traffic to it. However, that is not a long-term strategy. I have heard about Ahrefs: https://ahrefs.com/, but I don't want to spend $129 right now since I'm not sure whether the ROI on it would be worth it. Are there any strategies or tips you might be able to share? - Source: Hacker News / 20 days ago
  • Open source Google Analytics replacement
    Posthog is pretty good but very pushy towards using their SaaS (understandably). Self hosting is not really advertised on their main site however is buried in their gh repo as a footnote [1] with indications of vague issues past 100K events/month. Haven’t delved into how to scale it past that though and they do provide some docs that I have yet to review. Also the primary repo is not FOSS, and that "100% FOSS"... - Source: Hacker News / 21 days ago
  • What We Did to Gain 3,000 GitHub Stars for the Liam Repository
    Used Ahrefs to check backlinks of competitors and similar products, adding sites that featured those products to our list of candidates. - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • How to scrape Crunchbase using Python in 2024 (Easy Guide)
    Sitemap is a standard way of site navigation used by crawlers like Google, Ahrefs, and other search engines. All crawlers must follow the rules described in robots.txt. - Source: dev.to / 4 months ago
  • How much does it cost to build and run a profitable side project?
    I eventually made my peace with email marketing, but I still dread marketing in general. That's why I like the idea of SEO, which performs like passive marketing in some sense. I used to have a Keysearch membership, but I wasn't sure about the accuracy of some of the results I was getting on my keyword research. I ended up getting an Ahrefs membership, which costs a lot more but is supposed to offer much more... - Source: dev.to / 5 months ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing VS Code and Ahrefs, you can also consider the following products

Sublime Text - Sublime Text is a sophisticated text editor for code, html and prose - any kind of text file. You'll love the slick user interface and extraordinary features. Fully customizable with macros, and syntax highlighting for most major languages.

SEMRush - All-in-one Marketing Toolkit for digital marketing professionals.

Vim - Highly configurable text editor built to enable efficient text editing

Moz - Backed by industry-leading data and the largest community of SEOs on the planet, Moz builds tools that make inbound marketing easy.

Notepad++ - A free source code editor which supports several programming languages running under the MS Windows environment.

Serpstat - Serpstat is the Swiss army knife for automating SEO processes. With a suite of powerful modules, you can track your performance, analyze your competitors, research keywords and backlinks, audit your website, and so much more.