HubSpot AI

AI-powered CRM, marketing, and sales platform

Ahrefs

AI-enhanced SEO toolset with industry-leading backlink index and keyword research capabilities

HubSpot AI

Strong

17/25

Ahrefs

Moderate

14/25

Score Breakdown

DimensionHubSpot AIAhrefs

Data Residency

Where is your data stored and processed?

HubSpot AI: US/EU hosting available

Ahrefs: Singapore-incorporated and bootstrapped; data processed across global infrastructure; no formal per-customer data residency selection but alternative jurisdiction to US CLOUD Act-covered vendors

3/5

US/EU hosting available

3/5

Singapore-incorporated and bootstrapped; data processed across global infrastructure; no formal per-customer data residency selection but alternative jurisdiction to US CLOUD Act-covered vendors

Legal Jurisdiction

Which laws govern the company and your data?

HubSpot AI: US Delaware corporation; publicly traded

Ahrefs: Singapore incorporation provides a favourable alternative to US-based alternatives; Singapore has PDPA data protection legislation and is not subject to US CLOUD Act; GDPR DPA available

2/5

US Delaware corporation; publicly traded

3/5

Singapore incorporation provides a favourable alternative to US-based alternatives; Singapore has PDPA data protection legislation and is not subject to US CLOUD Act; GDPR DPA available

Data Retention & Training

Is your data used for model training?

HubSpot AI: No training on customer data

Ahrefs: Primarily processes public web index data; customer account and project data retained per privacy policy; no known use of customer data for model training

4/5

No training on customer data

3/5

Primarily processes public web index data; customer account and project data retained per privacy policy; no known use of customer data for model training

Certifications

ISO 27001, SOC 2, Cyber Essentials, etc.

HubSpot AI: SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001

Ahrefs: No publicly confirmed SOC 2 or ISO 27001 certifications; GDPR DPA available; cookie-free Web Analytics reduces personal data exposure

4/5

SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001

2/5

No publicly confirmed SOC 2 or ISO 27001 certifications; GDPR DPA available; cookie-free Web Analytics reduces personal data exposure

Regulatory Fit

Suitability for regulated industries and professional services

HubSpot AI: Established CRM with good compliance; suitable for general regulated business

Ahrefs: Bootstrap model and Singapore jurisdiction are notable differentiators; absence of formal security certifications limits suitability for highly regulated sectors requiring SOC 2 evidence

4/5

Established CRM with good compliance; suitable for general regulated business

3/5

Bootstrap model and Singapore jurisdiction are notable differentiators; absence of formal security certifications limits suitability for highly regulated sectors requiring SOC 2 evidence

Total Score

17/25

14/25

Best For

HubSpot AI

Best for teams that prioritise data residency (scores 3/5) and need a bronze-tier tool.

Ahrefs

Best for privacy-conscious teams who need strong data retention controls; teams on a tight budget.

Detailed Comparison

Ahrefs vs HubSpot AI: Trust & Compliance Comparison

Ahrefs (Ahrefs, SG) scores 14/25 overall with a Bronze (Moderate) trust badge. AI-enhanced SEO toolset with industry-leading backlink index and keyword research capabilities. HubSpot AI (HubSpot, Inc., US) scores 17/25 with a Silver (Strong) trust badge. AI-powered CRM, marketing, and sales platform.

Dimension-by-Dimension Breakdown

#### Data Residency

Both score equally at 3/5.

●Ahrefs (3/5): Singapore-incorporated and bootstrapped; data processed across global infrastructure; no formal per-customer data residency selection but alternative jurisdiction to US CLOUD Act-covered vendors

●HubSpot AI (3/5): US/EU hosting available

#### Legal Jurisdiction

Ahrefs leads with 3/5 vs 2/5.

●Ahrefs (3/5): Singapore incorporation provides a favourable alternative to US-based alternatives; Singapore has PDPA data protection legislation and is not subject to US CLOUD Act; GDPR DPA available

●HubSpot AI (2/5): US Delaware corporation; publicly traded

#### Data Retention & Training

HubSpot AI leads with 4/5 vs 3/5.

●Ahrefs (3/5): Primarily processes public web index data; customer account and project data retained per privacy policy; no known use of customer data for model training

●HubSpot AI (4/5): No training on customer data

#### Certifications

HubSpot AI leads with 4/5 vs 2/5.

●Ahrefs (2/5): No publicly confirmed SOC 2 or ISO 27001 certifications; GDPR DPA available; cookie-free Web Analytics reduces personal data exposure

●HubSpot AI (4/5): SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001

#### Regulatory Fit

HubSpot AI leads with 4/5 vs 3/5.

●Ahrefs (3/5): Bootstrap model and Singapore jurisdiction are notable differentiators; absence of formal security certifications limits suitability for highly regulated sectors requiring SOC 2 evidence

●HubSpot AI (4/5): Established CRM with good compliance; suitable for general regulated business

Certifications at a Glance

Certification	Ahrefs	HubSpot AI
ISO 27001	No	Yes
SOC 2 Type II	No	Yes

Overall Verdict

HubSpot AI has a clear trust advantage, scoring 17/25 compared to Ahrefs's 14/25. HubSpot AI particularly excels in data retention & training, certifications, regulatory fit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for EU compliance, HubSpot AI or Ahrefs?

HubSpot AI has a TrustKit score of 17/25 while Ahrefs scores 14/25. HubSpot AI currently rates higher across data residency, legal jurisdiction, data retention, certifications, and regulatory fit.

How do HubSpot AI and Ahrefs compare on data residency?

HubSpot AI scores 3/5 for data residency (US/EU hosting available), while Ahrefs scores 3/5 (Singapore-incorporated and bootstrapped; data processed across global infrastructure; no formal per-customer data residency selection but alternative jurisdiction to US CLOUD Act-covered vendors).

Are HubSpot AI and Ahrefs GDPR compliant?

Both tools are assessed across five compliance dimensions. HubSpot AI has a regulatory fit score of 4/5 and Ahrefs scores 3/5. Check the full comparison above for a detailed breakdown.

Explore Each Tool