Compare focused backlink research with a broader project and keyword workflow.
THE ATN TAKE · EDITORIAL ASSESSMENT
Start by listing the tasks: backlink history and link context point to a different evaluation than daily keyword tracking and a multi-tool SEO project. Majestic and Semrush package those tasks differently. Check permitted customer use before subscribing, and treat affiliate eligibility as a separate question. [1][4][2][7]
MajesticBacklink research using Site Explorer and the Fresh Index; Historic Index is included in Pro. [1]
SemrushKeyword and competitor research, site audits and position tracking; additional AI-search plans are offered. [2]
Free entry
MajesticFree signup and tools are offered. The first-purchase Lite/Pro seven-day refund requires a support request; it is not a free trial. [1][3]
SemrushUS$0 plan: one demo project and 10 reports per day across core tools; no credit card required. [2]
Paid entry · monthly billing
MajesticLite: US$49.99/month or US$499.99 every 12 months. Pro: US$99.99/month. Prices exclude VAT. [1]
SemrushSEO: US$139/month on monthly billing. The US$117.33/month display is an annual-billing equivalent, not a monthly-payment offer. [2]
Included limits to notice
MajesticLite: one user, 5,000 Site Explorer rows per search and one million analysis units. Pro adds Historic Index and raw exports. Limits use different units from tracked keywords. [1]
SemrushSEO: five monitored websites and 500 daily tracked keywords. Other tool allowances and add-ons must be checked against the selected plan. [2]
Adult-business eligibility
MajesticContributions and interactive services cannot promote sexually explicit material. Permission for the intended adult-business research workflow was not established. [4]
SemrushTerms cover internal business use within plan limits. Explicit adult-business permission was not established; confirm your intended use. [5]
Affiliate status
MajesticAn older official developer page says no traditional affiliate program and describes case-by-case OpenApps partnerships. Current public cash commission terms are unverified. [6]
SemrushThe public program prohibits affiliate promotion on adult websites. This restriction is separate from customer-use eligibility. [7]
Decision pointATN assessment
MajesticA defined backlink investigation where index history and report allowances matter more than bundling unrelated tools. Confirm intended use first. [1][4]
SemrushCheck service eligibility and required allowances before paying; do not budget for affiliate income from promotion on an adult site. [5][2][7]
Published entry plans have different scopes and allowances. Prices are dated snapshots; confirm currency, billing term, taxes and add-ons. Customer-use policies and affiliate-promotion rules are separate. This comparison does not establish permission for an adult-business workflow or prove research accuracy.
Majestic Lite includes Fresh Index research; Pro expands history and exports. Semrush’s checked SEO entry includes five sites and 500 daily tracked keywords. A lower starting price is useful only if the required report is actually in that tier. [1][2]
Plan the evaluation window
Semrush documents a limited free account. Majestic advertises a conditional seven-day refund for first-time Lite/Pro purchases. A refund route still requires an initial payment and timely action; do not call it free access. [2][1][3]
Keep promotional rules separate
Semrush’s affiliate restrictions on adult-site promotion are not a complete answer about customer use. Majestic’s contribution standards also do not establish blanket approval for adult-business analysis. Leave both workflow questions open until the applicable rules are clear. [7][4]
Research based · No hands-on testing or numeric scores · Direct links, no affiliate tracking. Our editorial standards