Scale AI

AI data labeling and enterprise AI platform for building production-grade AI systems

Ahrefs

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

Scale AI

Strong

20/25

Ahrefs

Moderate

14/25

Score Breakdown

DimensionScale AIAhrefs

Data Residency

Where is your data stored and processed?

Scale AI: US-based cloud hosting with on-premise deployment available; FedRAMP cloud for government; data isolated per project

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

4/5

US-based cloud hosting with on-premise deployment available; FedRAMP cloud for government; data isolated per project

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?

Scale AI: US Delaware corporation subject to CLOUD Act; standard SCCs available for international data transfers

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 subject to CLOUD Act; standard SCCs available for international data transfers

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?

Scale AI: Customer data used only for contracted tasks with strict annotator access controls; cryptographic audit trails; no cross-customer data sharing

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

5/5

Customer data used only for contracted tasks with strict annotator access controls; cryptographic audit trails; no cross-customer data sharing

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.

Scale AI: SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, FedRAMP Moderate and FedRAMP High — among the highest compliance credentials in the AI sector

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

5/5

SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, FedRAMP Moderate and FedRAMP High — among the highest compliance credentials in the AI sector

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

Scale AI: Government-grade security posture suitable for defence, intelligence, financial services, and healthcare AI development workloads

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

Government-grade security posture suitable for defence, intelligence, financial services, and healthcare AI development workloads

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

20/25

14/25

Best For

Scale AI

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

Ahrefs

Best for organisations requiring broad certification coverage (SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, FedRAMP Moderate); regulated industries (DoD, CISA); privacy-conscious teams who need strong data retention controls; organisations that need self-hosted or on-premise deployment.

Detailed Comparison

Ahrefs vs Scale 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. Scale AI (Scale AI, US) scores 20/25 with a Silver (Strong) trust badge. AI data labeling and enterprise AI platform for building production-grade AI systems.

Dimension-by-Dimension Breakdown

#### Data Residency

Scale AI leads with 4/5 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

●Scale AI (4/5): US-based cloud hosting with on-premise deployment available; FedRAMP cloud for government; data isolated per project

#### 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

●Scale AI (2/5): US Delaware corporation subject to CLOUD Act; standard SCCs available for international data transfers

#### Data Retention & Training

Scale AI leads with 5/5 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

●Scale AI (5/5): Customer data used only for contracted tasks with strict annotator access controls; cryptographic audit trails; no cross-customer data sharing

#### Certifications

Scale AI leads with 5/5 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

●Scale AI (5/5): SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, FedRAMP Moderate and FedRAMP High — among the highest compliance credentials in the AI sector

#### Regulatory Fit

Scale 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

●Scale AI (4/5): Government-grade security posture suitable for defence, intelligence, financial services, and healthcare AI development workloads

Certifications at a Glance

Certification	Ahrefs	Scale AI
FedRAMP High	No	Yes
FedRAMP Moderate	No	Yes
ISO 27001	No	Yes
SOC 2 Type II	No	Yes

Overall Verdict

Scale AI has a clear trust advantage, scoring 20/25 compared to Ahrefs's 14/25. Scale AI particularly excels in data residency, data retention & training, certifications, regulatory fit.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Scale AI has a TrustKit score of 20/25 while Ahrefs scores 14/25. Scale AI currently rates higher across data residency, legal jurisdiction, data retention, certifications, and regulatory fit.

How do Scale AI and Ahrefs compare on data residency?

Scale AI scores 4/5 for data residency (US-based cloud hosting with on-premise deployment available; FedRAMP cloud for government; data isolated per project), 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 Scale AI and Ahrefs GDPR compliant?

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

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