AC　and　pulsed　magnetization-based　elasto-magnetic　measurement　methods　of　tensile　force　in　steel　strand　are　compared　in　the　study.　Completely　opposite　conclusions　on　the　dependency　of　maximum　magnetic　induction　on　the　tensile　force　are　drawn　from　the　two　modes.　The　opposite　conclusions　are　consistent　with　the　predicted　results　before　and　after　the　Villari　reversal　point.　Harmonic　and　spectral　analysis　techniques　are　introduced　to　investigate　new　feature　parameters　for　tensile　force　characterization.　In　AC　mode,　the　distortion　factor　of　the　induced　voltage　signals　demonstrates　the　better　stability　and　force　prediction　accuracy　than　the　conventional　time-domain　feature　parameters　of　maximum　magnetic　induction　and　coercive　force.　In　the　pulsed　mode,　the　linear　correlation　between　the　spectral　amplitudes　of　the　induced　pulsed　signals　and　the　tensile　force　is　analyzed.　A　new　parameter,　the　summation　of　the　spectrum　amplitudes　in　a　particular　band,　is　introduced　to　characterize　tensile　force.　The　calibration　curve　for　tensile　force　measurement　with　the　new　parameter　shows　a　lower　prediction　error　and　hysteresis　error　compared　to　the　time-domain　analysis　results.　Conclusions　obtained　from　the　comparative　study　on　the　performance　of　the　two　magnetization　modes　and　two　types　of　parameters　may　provide　new　insights　into　the　improvements　in　the　tensile　force　detection　accuracy　of　the　elasto-magnetic　methods.