Majestic vs Ahrefs: which should you choose?
Quick answer: Majestic is built for link-building, while Ahrefs suits agencies. For most users Majestic is the stronger default, but Ahrefs can be the better fit depending on your budget and use case. Majestic has the lower entry price.
If you're weighing Majestic against Ahrefs, the right answer depends on your priorities. Below we compare them on pricing, strengths and the use cases each one fits, then give a clear verdict.
Side-by-side
| Majestic | Ahrefs | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Backlinks | Seo Suite |
| What it's known for | Backlink-focused tool built on one of the largest historic link indexes, known for Trust Flow and Citation Flow metrics for link prospecting and analysis. | Industry-leading backlink index and all-in-one SEO suite (Site Explorer, Keywords Explorer, Site Audit, Rank Tracker) trusted for the depth and freshness of its link and keyword data. |
| Pricing | ~$49.99/mo Lite, ~$99.99/mo Pro, ~$399.99/mo API (annual cheaper) | ~$129/mo Lite, ~$249/mo Standard, ~$449/mo Advanced, ~$1,499/mo Enterprise (annual cheaper); limited free Webmaster Tools |
| Best audience | Link builders and SEOs focused purely on backlink analysis and prospecting. | SEO agencies, in-house teams and serious professionals focused on backlink and competitive analysis. |
| Best for | link-building, backlink-analysis | agencies, backlink-analysis |
| Entry price | ~$49.99/mo | ~$129/mo |
| Biggest strength | Massive historic link index dating back to 2006. | Largest commercial backlink index with very fresh crawling. |
| Main caveat | Backlink-only; no keyword research, audit or rank tracking. | Expensive, with steep jumps between tiers. |
Features compared
The feature sets only partly overlap. Here is what each one actually gives you:
Majestic key features
- Site Explorer with Fresh and Historic backlink indexes
- Trust Flow and Citation Flow flow metrics
- Bulk Backlink Checker
- Clique Hunter (Pro)
Ahrefs key features
- Site Explorer for backlink and organic traffic analysis
- Keywords Explorer with clickstream-enriched search volume across 10+ search engines
- Site Audit crawler for technical SEO issues
- Rank Tracker for desktop and mobile positions
Pricing tiers side by side
Majestic plans
| Plan | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Lite | ~$49.99/mo | Fresh Index, Site Explorer, Bulk Backlink Checker |
| Pro | ~$99.99/mo | Historic Index, Clique Hunter, higher unit allowance |
| API | ~$399.99/mo | programmatic access for agencies/tools |
Ahrefs plans
| Plan | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Lite | ~$129/mo | 750 tracked keywords, 5 projects, 25k API units |
| Standard | ~$249/mo | 2,000 tracked keywords, more historical data |
| Advanced | ~$449/mo | higher limits, more seats and API units |
| Enterprise | ~$1,499/mo | 10,000+ tracked keywords, 2M API units |
Tiers compiled from the vendors' published plans and independent reviews; prices are approximate and change often, so confirm current figures (and your region's taxes) on each vendor's site.
Strengths compared
Where Majestic wins
One of the largest historic backlink indexes, anchored by Trust Flow and Citation Flow.
- Massive historic link index dating back to 2006.
- Trust Flow / Citation Flow are established link-quality metrics.
That makes it the stronger pick for link builders and SEOs focused purely on backlink analysis and prospecting.
Where Ahrefs wins
The deepest and freshest backlink index in the industry, the reference for link analysis.
- Largest commercial backlink index with very fresh crawling.
- Accurate keyword and traffic data trusted by agencies.
That makes it the stronger pick for sEO agencies, in-house teams and serious professionals focused on backlink and competitive analysis.
Verdict: choose by fit
Both are good at the job, so let your priorities decide.
- Choose Majestic if you fit its core audience — link builders and SEOs focused purely on backlink analysis and prospecting.
- Choose Ahrefs if you fit its core audience — sEO agencies, in-house teams and serious professionals focused on backlink and competitive analysis.
FAQ
Is Majestic better than Ahrefs?
Majestic is the stronger default for most users, but Ahrefs can be the better fit depending on your budget and use case.
What is the main difference between Majestic and Ahrefs?
Majestic is one of the largest historic backlink indexes, anchored by Trust Flow and Citation Flow. Ahrefs is the deepest and freshest backlink index in the industry, the reference for link analysis.
Which is cheaper, Majestic or Ahrefs?
Entry pricing differs: Majestic starts at ~$49.99/mo, while Ahrefs starts at ~$129/mo. Compare the tiers above against your usage.
Sources
Facts above are drawn from these independent reviews and the vendors' own pages for Majestic and Ahrefs: