Deciding between DeadLinkRadar and Ahrefs for link monitoring? Here's the quick answer:
Choose DeadLinkRadar if you primarily need broken link monitoring with smart detection. Starting at $9/month, it catches soft 404s, deleted videos, and expired file hosts that basic tools miss.
Choose Ahrefs if you need a full SEO suite with backlink analysis, keyword research, and site auditing. Link checking is one feature among many, starting at $99/month.
Let's break down the comparison.
At a Glance
| Feature | DeadLinkRadar | Ahrefs |
|---|---|---|
| Primary purpose | Broken link monitoring | Full SEO suite |
| Starting price | $9/mo (1,000 links) | $99/mo (Site Audit included) |
| Free tier | 50 links | None |
| Soft 404 detection | Yes | Limited |
| Video platform monitoring | Yes (YouTube, Vimeo) | No |
| File host detection | Yes (40+ services) | No |
| Continuous monitoring | Yes | Yes (crawl credits) |
| Alert channels | Email, Slack, Discord, webhooks | Email, in-app |
| Backlink analysis | No | Yes (industry-leading) |
| Keyword research | No | Yes |
| Rank tracking | No | Yes |
What Each Tool Does Best
DeadLinkRadar: Specialized Link Detection
DeadLinkRadar focuses exclusively on finding broken links—including the ones other tools miss.
AI-powered detection analyzes page content, not just HTTP status codes. This catches:
- Soft 404s: Pages that return HTTP 200 but display "Not Found" content
- Deleted YouTube videos: Embeds that show errors while returning valid HTTP
- Expired file hosts: MEGA, Google Drive, Dropbox links that appear valid but display "File unavailable"
- Login walls: Pages that redirect to signup forms instead of content
Multi-channel alerts notify you through Slack, Discord, Telegram, email, webhooks, or ntfy.sh. You find out when links break, not during monthly audits.
API access is included on all plans for integration with your existing workflows.
Ahrefs: Comprehensive SEO Platform
Ahrefs is an enterprise SEO suite where Site Audit (including link checking) is one component.
Backlink analysis is Ahrefs' core strength. Their link database is the largest in the industry, essential for competitive analysis and link building strategies.
Keyword research tools help identify opportunities and track rankings across search engines.
Site Audit crawls your site and identifies SEO issues—including broken links, but with basic HTTP-level detection.
Content analysis shows what performs well and identifies gaps in your content strategy.
Price Comparison
| Need | DeadLinkRadar | Ahrefs |
|---|---|---|
| Monitor 1,000 links | $9/mo | $99/mo |
| Monitor 5,000 links | $19/mo | $99/mo |
| Full SEO suite | N/A | $99-999/mo |
| Free trial | 50 links forever | None |
Cost per link monitored:
- DeadLinkRadar Pro (5,000 links): $0.004/link/month
- Ahrefs Lite (includes Site Audit): ~$0.02/link/month for equivalent coverage
If link monitoring is your primary need, DeadLinkRadar costs 80% less.
When to Choose DeadLinkRadar
You need smart detection: Your site links to file hosts, video platforms, or external sites with unreliable error handling. Basic HTTP checking misses these.
Budget matters: You want link monitoring without the $99+ monthly cost of a full SEO suite.
Alerts are critical: You need Slack/Discord notifications, not just email or dashboard checks.
Link monitoring is the priority: You don't need backlink analysis, keyword research, or rank tracking.
You want to try before buying: Free tier lets you evaluate with real links.
When to Choose Ahrefs
You need backlink analysis: Understanding your backlink profile and competitors' links is essential for your SEO strategy.
You're already paying for Ahrefs: If you're using Ahrefs for keyword research and competitor analysis, adding Site Audit makes sense.
You need a comprehensive audit: Beyond broken links, you want a full technical SEO audit covering titles, meta descriptions, indexing issues, and more.
Budget isn't constrained: $99+/month is acceptable for a full SEO toolkit.
Detection Capabilities Compared
This is where the tools differ significantly:
| Detection Type | DeadLinkRadar | Ahrefs |
|---|---|---|
| HTTP 404 errors | ✅ | ✅ |
| HTTP 500 errors | ✅ | ✅ |
| Timeout errors | ✅ | ✅ |
| Soft 404s | ✅ (content analysis) | ⚠️ (limited) |
| Deleted YouTube videos | ✅ | ❌ |
| Expired file hosts | ✅ (40+ services) | ❌ |
| Redirect chains | ✅ | ✅ |
| SSL certificate issues | ⚠️ | ✅ |
Why this matters: A typical site might have 100 broken links. Basic tools find 70. Smart detection finds 100. The 30 missed links hurt your SEO and user experience while appearing "fine" in reports.
Real-World Scenario
Consider a content publisher with 500 blog posts, 3,000 external links, and $20,000/month in affiliate revenue.
With basic detection (what Ahrefs provides):
- Finds obvious 404 errors
- Misses soft 404s from partner sites that changed URLs
- Misses expired MEGA/Dropbox download links
- Misses deleted YouTube videos in tutorials
With smart detection (DeadLinkRadar):
- Catches all the above plus hidden breaks
- Identifies 30-40% more broken links in typical audits
- Alerts immediately when affiliate links break (protecting revenue)
The Bottom Line
DeadLinkRadar and Ahrefs solve different problems.
DeadLinkRadar is a specialized tool for finding and monitoring broken links—especially the tricky ones that basic tools miss. It's the best choice when link monitoring is your primary need.
Ahrefs is a comprehensive SEO platform where link checking is one feature among many. It's the right choice when you need the full suite of SEO tools and link checking is secondary.
You might even use both: Ahrefs for quarterly SEO audits and competitive analysis, DeadLinkRadar for continuous link monitoring with smart detection.
Try DeadLinkRadar Free
See what Ahrefs' basic detection misses. Start free with 50 links—no credit card required.
Find soft 404s, expired file hosts, and broken embeds that cost you traffic and revenue. Upgrade only when you need more capacity.
Have questions about switching from Ahrefs or using both tools together? Contact us for personalized recommendations.