Celonis

AI-enhanced process mining and intelligence platform from Munich

Ahrefs

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

Celonis

Excellent

23/25

Ahrefs

Moderate

14/25

Score Breakdown

DimensionCelonisAhrefs

Data Residency

Where is your data stored and processed?

Celonis: EU data centres with on-premise option; German-headquartered

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

5/5

EU data centres with on-premise option; German-headquartered

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?

Celonis: German SE under EU law; strong DPA framework

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

5/5

German SE under EU law; strong DPA framework

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?

Celonis: No training on customer data; configurable retention; enterprise controls

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; configurable retention; enterprise controls

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.

Celonis: SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, ISO 27018 certified

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, ISO 27018 certified

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

Celonis: Mature enterprise platform suitable for highly regulated industries

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

5/5

Mature enterprise platform suitable for highly regulated industries

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

23/25

14/25

Best For

Celonis

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

Ahrefs

Best for EU-headquartered organisations needing maximum data sovereignty; organisations requiring broad certification coverage (SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, ISO 27018); regulated industries (BaFin, ICO); privacy-conscious teams who need strong data retention controls; organisations that need self-hosted or on-premise deployment.

Detailed Comparison

Ahrefs vs Celonis: 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. Celonis (Celonis, DE) scores 23/25 with a Gold (Excellent) trust badge. AI-enhanced process mining and intelligence platform from Munich.

Dimension-by-Dimension Breakdown

#### Data Residency

Celonis leads with 5/5 vs 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

●Celonis (5/5): EU data centres with on-premise option; German-headquartered

#### Legal Jurisdiction

Celonis leads with 5/5 vs 3/5.

●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

●Celonis (5/5): German SE under EU law; strong DPA framework

#### Data Retention & Training

Celonis 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

●Celonis (4/5): No training on customer data; configurable retention; enterprise controls

#### Certifications

Celonis 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

●Celonis (4/5): SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, ISO 27018 certified

#### Regulatory Fit

Celonis leads with 5/5 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

●Celonis (5/5): Mature enterprise platform suitable for highly regulated industries

Certifications at a Glance

Certification	Ahrefs	Celonis
ISO 27001	No	Yes
ISO 27018	No	Yes
SOC 2 Type II	No	Yes

Overall Verdict

Celonis has a clear trust advantage, scoring 23/25 compared to Ahrefs's 14/25. Celonis particularly excels in data residency, legal jurisdiction, data retention & training, certifications, regulatory fit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for EU compliance, Celonis or Ahrefs?

Celonis has a TrustKit score of 23/25 while Ahrefs scores 14/25. Celonis currently rates higher across data residency, legal jurisdiction, data retention, certifications, and regulatory fit.

How do Celonis and Ahrefs compare on data residency?

Celonis scores 5/5 for data residency (EU data centres with on-premise option; German-headquartered), 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 Celonis and Ahrefs GDPR compliant?

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

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