Cluo vs Ahrefs Brand Radar: AU$50 flat vs the US$828-a-month reality
Ahrefs is the gold standard for backlink research, and Brand Radar runs on the largest claimed AI prompt database in the category (400M+ prompts). The catch is the maths: custom prompt tracking is sold as AI Indexes at US$199 a month PER PLATFORM, or US$699 a month for the bundle, on top of an Ahrefs plan from US$129. Real cost: US$828 to US$1,148 a month - more in one month than a year of Cluo. Cluo gives you ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Copilot, Claude and AI Overviews plus daily Google rank tracking and Search Console for AU$50 a month flat. Ahrefs wins on backlink depth. Cluo wins decisively on cost and on tracking Claude, which Ahrefs doesn't cover at all.
At a glance
| Feature | Cluo | Ahrefs |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | AU$50 flat | US$129 Lite + US$199/index or US$699 bundle |
| Realistic all-in cost | AU$50/mo | US$828-1,148/mo (~AU$1,225-1,700) |
| Free trial | Available | None |
| AI engines tracked | ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Copilot, Claude, AI Overviews | 7 engines, no Claude |
| Custom prompt tracking | Yes, included | Only via paid AI Indexes |
| Google keyword tracking | Yes, daily | Yes (strong) |
| Search Console | Yes | Yes |
| Sentiment scoring | Yes | No |
| Setup | 2-minute self-serve | Suite onboarding, no trial |
| Contract | Cancel anytime | Monthly or annual |
What does Ahrefs Brand Radar really cost?
The Lite-plan-included Brand Radar is search-backed prompt data only. Custom prompt tracking - the part where you define the queries you care about and track them over time - is sold separately: US$199 a month per individual AI platform, or US$699 a month for all platforms. Practical minimums: one platform = US$129 + US$199 = US$328/mo (~AU$500). All platforms = US$828-1,148/mo (~AU$1,225-1,700) depending on base plan. That is more per month than Cluo costs per year.
Where does Ahrefs genuinely win?
Site Explorer is the best backlink research tool in the industry. Keywords Explorer has one of the deepest keyword databases. Brand Radar's 400M+ prompt database is the largest claimed in the category, and Ahrefs is the only major player tracking YouTube, TikTok and Reddit brand mentions (in beta). Bootstrapped, profitable, no investor pressure. If the link graph is central to your work, Ahrefs is hard to beat.
Where does Cluo win?
Cost, Claude, and custom prompts as standard. Claude is a top-3 LLM by usage and Ahrefs doesn't track it at all. Cluo does. Cluo's custom prompt tracking is included in the AU$50, not a US$199-per-platform add-on. Multiple 2026 third-party reviews flag Brand Radar's inconsistent AI-mention detection, and Ahrefs offers no sentiment scoring and no free trial. Cluo has both.
Choose Ahrefs if...
You run SEO at mid-market or enterprise level where backlink analysis and competitive content research are central, you want YouTube/TikTok/Reddit mention tracking, you can budget the all-platforms bundle, and not tracking Claude is acceptable.
Choose Cluo if...
You run an SMB, service business or in-house team. You want Claude included, custom prompts as standard, daily Google ranks and Search Console in one dashboard at a flat AUD price, with a free trial before you commit.
Frequently asked questions
Is Brand Radar included in Ahrefs Lite?
The search-backed data is included. Custom prompt tracking is sold as separate AI Indexes at US$199 a month per platform, or US$699 a month for the bundle.
Does Ahrefs track Claude?
No. Brand Radar covers ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Copilot, Grok, AI Overviews and AI Mode. Claude is not on the list. Cluo tracks Claude.
What is the cheapest useful Ahrefs AI setup?
Lite at US$129 plus one AI Index at US$199 - about AU$500 a month for one AI platform. Cluo covers six engines for AU$50.
Does Ahrefs have a free trial?
No standard trial. Webmaster Tools is free but limited to domains you own. Cluo offers a free trial.
How accurate is Brand Radar?
Multiple 2026 third-party reviews flag inconsistent AI-mention detection and underreporting. Test against your own data before committing at the higher tiers.
Updated June 2026. Pricing verified 5 June 2026.
See the Cluo dashboard
AU$50 a month flat. Claude included. AI and Google rankings in one place.