Ahrefs Academy vs Semrush Academy: Which Free SEO Academy Wins?
Two free SEO academies from the biggest tool brands, compared. Ahrefs Academy is tight and workflow-led; Semrush Academy is broader across content, PPC and AI search. Here is how to choose.
By The AcademyGems desk
The short answer
Both are free. Choose Ahrefs Academy for a tight, workflow-led path through keyword research, technical SEO and link building. Choose Semrush Academy for broader coverage across SEO, content, PPC and AI search, taught by recognised practitioners. Many SEOs do both, since neither costs anything.
Ahrefs Academy
- Price
- Free
- Best for
- Learning practical SEO for free, with real tool workflows.
- Covers
- SEO, Content marketing, Marketing strategy
Pros
- Completely free SEO courses for beginners and beyond
- Practical, workflow-led: keyword research, technical SEO, link building
- Clear teaching from a respected SEO tool company
Cons
- Naturally leans toward Ahrefs tooling and workflows
- Narrower than HubSpot Academy on inbound and CRM basics
- Not a coaching program; no live feedback on your site
Semrush Academy
- Price
- Free
- Best for
- Marketers learning SEO, content and AI-search workflows for free.
- Covers
- SEO, Paid advertising, Content marketing
Pros
- Free courses, webinars and certifications across SEO and marketing
- Strong SEO and content depth, including AI-search topics
- Taught by practitioners and recognisable experts such as Brian Dean
Cons
- Naturally leans toward Semrush tooling and workflows
- Less broad than HubSpot Academy for CRM and sales basics
- Not a full coaching program for startup growth execution
The short version
Both are free SEO academies run by the two best-known SEO tool brands, so trying either is risk-free and doing both costs nothing. The real difference is scope: Ahrefs Academy is focused and workflow-first, while Semrush Academy is broader across the whole marketing stack. More on our marketing and growth hub.
How they differ
- Scope: Ahrefs Academy stays close to core SEO (keywords, technical, links). Semrush Academy spans SEO plus content, PPC, social, analytics and AI search.
- Teaching style: Ahrefs is tightly workflow-led, showing you how to actually do the task. Semrush mixes courses, webinars and certifications, with named practitioner instructors such as Brian Dean and Andy Crestodina.
- Certification: both offer free certificates. Semrush has the larger, more varied certification catalogue.
- Tooling bias: each naturally teaches its own tool's workflows, so the academy you pick nudges you toward that platform.
Choose Ahrefs Academy if
You want to learn SEO fundamentals cleanly and practically, especially keyword research and link building, without wading through a huge catalogue. It is the more focused starting point for a true beginner who wants to just learn SEO.
Choose Semrush Academy if
You want breadth beyond core SEO, current AI-search material, or a wider range of certificates to show. It is the better fit if you also handle content, paid ads or competitive research, not just organic search.
Where they overlap
Both teach the same SEO foundations well, and both are free, so this is less either/or than it looks. If you are serious about SEO, the strongest move is to take Ahrefs Academy for the focused workflow reps and Semrush Academy for the broader, more current catalogue.
The verdict
For a clean, focused intro to SEO, start with Ahrefs Academy. For breadth, AI search and more certificates, use Semrush Academy. Neither costs anything, so commit to one to learn the fundamentals, then raid the other for the topics it covers better.
Common questions
- Are Ahrefs Academy and Semrush Academy free?
- Yes, both are free to learn, including their SEO courses and certifications. You do not need a paid Ahrefs or Semrush subscription to take the training, though a subscription helps if you want to follow along on your own site.
- Which is better for SEO beginners?
- Ahrefs Academy is the more focused, workflow-led starting point for core SEO. Semrush Academy is better if you want broader coverage across content, PPC and AI search alongside SEO.
- Should I do both?
- Yes, if you are serious about SEO. Both are free, so take Ahrefs Academy for focused keyword and link workflows and Semrush Academy for breadth and current AI-search topics.