Authority Hacker is a name that often pops up in the world of digital marketing, offering a suite of tools and training programs. But what’s beneath the surface, and is this program a good fit for you? Let’s take a peek and see if it lives up to the hype.
Spoiler alert: It might not be the golden ticket you’re looking for.
Breaking down what Authority Hacker offers, you’ll find a range of promises, from comprehensive training modules to a community of like-minded marketers. It sounds impressive at first glance. Dig a bit deeper, and some cracks may start to show. While their training might seem useful, there are limitations that could leave you frustrated rather than empowered.
And then there’s the training. Sure, they cover a lot of ground, but is the quality up to par with the best out there? You’ll find some useful nuggets, but often it feels like a mixed bag, with some content falling short of truly actionable advice.
Support is another area where Authority Hacker could do better. A responsive and helpful support team can make a world of difference, but unfortunately, the feedback here isn’t the best – slow response times and lackluster help seem to be recurring issues.
The community aspect doesn’t really exist. It is more of a stand alone digital product, with videos and training offered by the owners (and some guests). The engagement really lacks, and the support is offered through old school “email support” and their live chat (bot driven) platform.
When we talk about cost, that’s where things get really interesting. Authority Hacker isn’t cheap, and the value you get might not justify the price tag. At $997 for the course, there are other alternatives out there that offer more bang for your buck. In fact, if you are looking for some straight up Video training, you could venture off to Youtube and get a lot of value. You however need much more than training to build an actual business online, so paying this much for training (and leaving out all of the other costs) is setting you up for a very expensive experience.
If you’re already feeling a bit hesitant about Authority Hacker, you may not be alone.
In-Depth Review of Authority Hacker.
Authority Hacker’s suite of tools seems promising, but they fall short in some key areas.
(1) The Tools.
Rated 1 out of 5, refers to tools, but doesn’t have their own subset of tools. They have a “swipe” file with their tools (many of which you need to buy to follow along with the training) that are good tools, but they are not provide as part of your fees that you pay to join this program.
So when you “buy in” to this course, expect more fees, some of which can be in the $100’s per month with research tools like Ahrefs.
(2) The Training.
The training modules are another mixed bag, earning a 4 out of 5 rating. While there’s a broad array of topics covered, the focus has been on SEO and the tactics utilized have led to much of the SEO world being decimated with the recent Google updates.
Some sections shine with valuable insights, but others can feel generic and outdated. If you’re looking for cutting-edge strategies, you might find yourself wanting more.
There is the notion that those following the exact strategies taught, and that are advocated within the case studies and testimonials are not bullet proof, in fact they aren’t working for others.
“The ones that publically promote ASS as helping them, such as epicgardening, deviated to such an extent that their success cannot really be linked to the course itself, despite claims of that being the catalyst. As an aside, his cousins site “castandspear” follows his same approach and can’t replicate the success. The ones I have seen who are “killing it” in authority hacker pro platinum don’t implement the systems taught. – From Reddit“
Paying this much for “training”, you would want to make sure that you are able to get results from the training.
(3) The Support.
Support is an area where Authority Hacker really misses the mark, with a rating of 2 out of 5. The responsiveness and helpfulness of the support team has been frequently criticized.
Slow response times and generic answers can leave you feeling stranded when you need help the most. This lack of robust support might make your journey more stressful than necessary.
(4) The Community.
The community is somewhat better, scoring a 2 out of 5. The platform simply lacks a community internally, you are sent off to a Facebook group which as we all know, when you are Facebook you are going to face all the distractions and ads that come with that.
You see this commonly with companies that are not “tech savvy”, which is also something that you would hope for from a business that is promoting success within the Internet. Many products that have been deemed lower quality in reviews, lean on platforms like Facebook Groups to control and manage their community and support (versus having them internally).
(5) The Cost.
Now for the cost—arguably one of the most critical factors. Authority Hacker comes in at a 2 out of 5 when it comes to value for money. You are paying $997 for JUST training. Training that might be antiquated now, as Google has recently made a lot of changes to their search platform and Authority Hacker has pivoted to “doing video reviews from your phone” as one of their primary business models.
Also, the Authority Hacking Pro system fetches a much higher price tag, with the owners charging up to $6,000 for this.
The hefty price tag combined with the mixed quality of tools, training, and support makes it hard to justify the investment. There are definitely cheaper, if not superior, alternatives out there.
Something else to pay attention to is “public” reviews within the top review platform, TrustPilot. Authority Hacker only has ONE review, with a 3.7 out of 5 rating.
The pros and cons list should paint a clear picture. On the positive side, you’ll find an array of courses and a somewhat active community on Facebook. On the downside, the high cost, mediocre support, and limited flexibility of tools can be significant drawbacks, making it a tough choice for many.
Comparing Authority Hacker vs Wealthy Affiliate.
OK, now for alternatives and one in particular. Let’s talk about how Authority Hacker stacks up against Wealthy Affiliate, a company that you can actually try for free, and get direct access to support, expert, training, and the ‘tech” you need to run a business online.
Both platforms aim to equip you with the know-how and tools to build a successful online business, but the differences are quite significant.
First off, Wealthy Affiliate shines when it comes to offering a robust selection of tools. Whether it’s website builders, hosting, or keyword research tools and platforms, they’ve got you covered. On the other hand, Authority Hacker’s tools don’t exist, while Wealthy Affiliate’s ease of use within their Hub environment offer you full integration with your business and make your experience smooth and streamlined.
When it comes to training, Wealthy Affiliate is often praised for its comprehensive and up-to-date content. There are daily tutorials released (typically 3-5 new tutorials per day), along with expert live 1-hour classes that are streamed throughout the week.
From beginner to expert, they have a range of courses that are consistently updated and relevant. Authority Hacker might have a broad range, but it often falls into the trap of being too general or outdated.
Support at Wealthy Affiliate is also a game-changer. You get quick, helpful responses from a dedicated community, and there’s even a live chat feature that is rife with affiliate marketing and online business experts that ensures you’re never left hanging. Authority Hacker, with its slow and sometimes unhelpful support, pales in comparison.
A lively community can make a world of difference, and Wealthy Affiliate excels here. The interaction is frequent and supportive, creating a nurturing environment for learning and growth. Authority Hacker’s community activity doesn’t always hit the same mark, often feeling more stagnant and less engaging.
Finally, let’s talk cost.
Wealthy Affiliate offers a Starter membership that lets you dip your toes in for free. You can start building your business without spending a dime initially, which is a huge advantage if you’re cautious about investing up front. Authority Hacker’s offerings are notably more expensive, and they lack that risk-free starting point and introduction to their main training.
Below is a breakdown of the two programs, and how the compare to one another.
If you are looking to get started with your own niche business online, or build on your existing business, you can get started for completely free with the Wealthy Affiliate platform.
Conclusion: Making a Smart Choice for YOU.
After examining the ins and outs of Authority Hacker, it’s clear this platform has some notable shortcomings. From tools that don’t quite cut it to a support system that leaves much to be desired, Authority Hacker struggles to justify its hefty price tag.
Comparing it to other services that have been around longer like Wealthy Affiliate (close to two decades), the differences are hard to ignore. Wealthy Affiliate’s intuitive tools, comprehensive training, responsive support, and engaging community present a far stronger package. Plus, you can get started with Wealthy Affiliate at no cost, which is perfect for dipping your toes in before making a commitment.
For anyone looking to build an online business efficiently and affordably, Wealthy Affiliate stands out as the smarter choice. Its free Starter membership lets you kick off your journey with zero financial risk, making it easy to see if the platform suits your needs before diving deeper.
So, while Authority Hacker has its merits, if you’re serious about setting up a successful venture with robust support and up-to-date training, Wealthy Affiliate is the way to go. Don’t settle for less when a better alternative offers free access to start building something you love.
Hi Kyle!
You raised important points about the program’s value and effectiveness. The detailed analysis of the tools, training, support, and community aspects paints a clear picture of what potential buyers can expect. Authority Hacker seems to struggle with delivering a high-quality experience that justifies its $997 price tag, particularly when considering the slow support response and additional costs for necessary tools.
On the other hand, the comparison with Wealthy Affiliate is quite illuminating, highlighting its strengths in terms of comprehensive training, community support, and a robust suite of tools—all available with a risk-free starting option. For someone new to building an online business, Wealthy Affiliate appears to offer more value and flexibility without a hefty upfront cost.
It really seems that Wealthy Affiliate wins out against most comparable affiliate marketing platforms that I have seen. WA really provides an excellent suite of tools for the investment.
– Scott
There is definitely a lot of great content available within Authority Hacker, but their focus on SEO with the recent updates in Google and the drastic changes, certainly require a big shift in education. I have seen a good deal of focus being put on “video reviews” and publishing those within the latest marketing blitz.
While it is a viable way to get reach through platforms like Youtube, it requires people to be comfortable with doing videos.
Also, when building a website for the intent of SEO there are lots of potential fees associated with that, that aren’t readily discloses. You will need a high quality website platform, hosting, research tools, tracking tools, and in some cases “backlink” acquisition.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts here Scott.
It sounds like the program could be a game-changer for anyone looking to build authority and make a solid income online. The price tag of $997 is definitely steep, though. Do you think it’s worth the investment if you’re just starting out, or is it more suited for those with some experience under their belt? I’d love to hear your thoughts on that
Though they offer solid SEO information, the price tag is steep and there are much cheaper and more current training resources out there that offer real time, daily and weekly training updates. Wealthy Affiliateis one example of this, but there are others.
These guys do know their SEO, though a large percentage of the SEO crowd was obliterated with the recent Google updates that heavily focused on the rewarding longer tailed, user generated content. I would assume that a high % of customers were impacted by this update.