SpeedyIndex Launches Pay-Per-Check Backlink Tool to Challenge Semrush, Ahrefs

For years, two companies have controlled how SEO professionals check their backlinks. Semrush charges US$139.95 per month just to get started. Ahrefs runs US$129 per month at its lowest tier. Both raised prices consistently, even as user complaints mounted.

Now a challenger is trying to break that grip. SpeedyIndex launched its Bulk Backlink Checker globally on May 8, 2026, targeting the exact pain point those incumbents have left exposed: cost and data accuracy.

The pitch is simple. Instead of a fixed monthly fee, SpeedyIndex charges US$0.0075 per backlink check, with index verification available from US$0.0007 per URL. Credits never expire. There is no mandatory subscription.

The Cached Data Problem Nobody Fixed

Most backlink tools rely on databases built from periodic web crawls. A tool might show you a link that existed three weeks ago but has since been removed. Or it might miss links entirely if they are loaded dynamically by JavaScript. As websites increasingly rely on frameworks like React and Vue, this gap has grown into a genuine operational problem for agencies running large link-building campaigns.

SpeedyIndex is addressing this with what it calls 100% live DOM scanning. Rather than querying a database snapshot, the tool emulates a real browser at the moment of the check, rendering JavaScript before analyzing the page. The result is a live picture of whether a link exists right now, not a historical approximation.

As Victor Dobrov, CEO of SpeedyIndex, put it: "When an SEO professional invests thousands of dollars in guest posts or massive Tier 2 link-building campaigns, they need to know if those links are live and passing equity right now, not what a crawler saw three weeks ago."

Adobe Acquisition Adds Pressure on Semrush Users

Adobe announced plans to acquire Semrush in November 2025 for approximately US$1.9 billion. For users already concerned about Semrush's pricing trajectory, absorbing the platform into a large enterprise parent raises legitimate questions about future costs and priorities.

Meanwhile, subscription fatigue is visibly reshaping buying behavior in the SEO market. Agencies managing multiple client accounts with tight technology budgets are actively reconsidering whether an all-in-one platform at US$130 to US$140 per month makes sense when specialized tools can handle specific tasks at a fraction of the cost.

The global SEO software market is valued at US$84.94 billion in 2025, projected to grow to US$295.06 billion by 2035. Rapid market expansion almost always invites challengers. SpeedyIndex is betting that the mid-tier is underserved.

What the Tool Actually Does

Beyond live link checking, the platform scans over 20 data points per URL, including server-level signals like x-robots-tag directives, 404 errors, and redirect chains. It also flags unlinked brand mentions, which is increasingly relevant as Google's AI Overviews place greater weight on entity signals rather than anchor text alone.

SpeedyIndex has also announced upcoming integrations of authority metrics from Ahrefs, Semrush, Majestic, and Yandex directly into its audit reports. If delivered, that roadmap would mean users could access data from the incumbents' databases without paying the incumbents' subscription prices.

The company reached one million users through its link indexing service before this launch, providing independent evidence of market traction. A 2025 independent test of link indexers named SpeedyIndex the top performer in speed and value.

For APAC marketing and communications teams managing regional campaigns across markets with high JavaScript adoption, the pay-as-you-go model aligns more naturally with project-based work than a recurring subscription built for high-volume power users. Whether SpeedyIndex can sustain its pricing model at scale is the question the incumbents will be watching closely.