Maximizing Data Exports from Ahrefs Content Explorer: How to Export More Than 2,000 Websites
For digital marketers, SEO professionals, and content strategists, Ahrefs Content Explorer is an invaluable tool for discovering and analyzing websites across various niches. However, a common challenge faced by users is the platform’s export limit—currently capped at 2,000 results per query. This restriction can hinder efforts to gather comprehensive datasets, especially when conducting large-scale outreach or competitor analysis.
In this article, we will explore effective strategies and best practices to bypass or work around the 2,000-result export limit, enabling you to extract more extensive data from Ahrefs Content Explorer.
Understanding the Export Limitation
Ahrefs Content Explorer’s export cap is primarily designed to optimize system performance and ensure fair usage across users. While convenient for smaller datasets, this limit can be restrictive for research requiring larger sample sizes.
Practical Methods to Export More Than 2,000 Websites
1. Utilize Multiple Filter Queries
One effective method involves segmenting your search using specific filters or keyword combinations. By narrowing down your queries with targeted filters (such as date ranges, language, or niche-specific keywords), you generate smaller result sets that cumulatively cover a broader scope of websites.
Example: Instead of running one broad search, create multiple niche-specific queries, each with unique filters, and export results separately. Later, consolidate these datasets for comprehensive analysis.
2. Sequential Export Using Pagination
Although Ahrefs does not officially support pagination for exports, you can manually implement a workaround by refining your search parameters to generate distinct segments of data. For instance, sorting results by date, domain authority, or traffic size, and then exporting in multiple batches.
Tip: Save your search criteria with slight variations to capture different segments, then export each batch individually.
3. Automate with API Access (if available)
While Ahrefs does not publicly offer an API for Content Explorer, some users with enterprise accounts or through authorized partnerships may gain access to advanced data extraction methods. Check with Ahrefs support or your account manager to explore options for API integration.
Note: This approach often requires upgrading your subscription or negotiating a custom plan.
4. Use Third-Party Tools or Scripts
Some users leverage third-party tools, automated scripts, or browser automation techniques to scrape additional data from the platform. However, caution must be exercised to adhere to Ahrefs’ terms of service,