Best SEO Backlink Tools: Free & Paid Compared (2026)

You can't improve what you can't measure. Backlink tools help you:

• Analyze your own backlink profile
• Spy on competitors' link strategies
• Find link building opportunities
• Monitor new and lost links
• Identify toxic links to disavow

This guide compares the best backlink tools in 2026 — from premium options with massive databases to free alternatives that get the job done.

For understanding what makes a quality backlink, see our quality vs quantity guide.

Best paid backlink tools#

1. Ahrefs#

Best for: Comprehensive backlink analysis and competitor research

• Largest backlink index (updated every 15 minutes)
• Site Explorer for deep backlink analysis
• Content Explorer to find link-worthy content
• Broken link checker
• Link intersect (find sites linking to competitors but not you)

Pricing: Starts at $99/month (Lite plan)

• Most comprehensive backlink database
• Excellent UI and ease of use
• Regular data updates
• Great for competitor analysis

• Expensive for small businesses
• Credits-based system can run out quickly

Best for: Agencies, serious SEOs, and businesses with budget for comprehensive tooling.

2. Semrush#

Best for: All-in-one SEO suite with strong backlink features

• Backlink Analytics with 43 trillion+ links indexed
• Backlink Audit tool for toxic link detection
• Link Building Tool with outreach CRM
• Backlink Gap analysis
• Bulk backlink analysis

Pricing: Starts at $129.95/month (Pro plan)

• Comprehensive SEO suite beyond just backlinks
• Built-in outreach tools
• Excellent toxic link detection
• Good for agencies managing multiple clients

• Interface can be overwhelming
• Higher price than Ahrefs for comparable features

Best for: Teams needing an all-in-one platform for SEO, PPC, and content.

3. Moz Pro#

Best for: Domain Authority tracking and link research

• Link Explorer with Domain Authority metrics
• Spam Score for identifying risky links
• Link tracking over time
• Competitor link analysis

Pricing: Starts at $99/month (Standard plan)

• Domain Authority is widely recognized
• Good spam detection
• Clean, intuitive interface
• Strong educational resources

• Smaller link index than Ahrefs/Semrush
• Less frequent data updates

Best for: Businesses focused on tracking DA and spam scores.

4. Majestic#

Best for: Historical backlink data and trust metrics

• Trust Flow and Citation Flow metrics
• Historical index going back to 2006
• Topical Trust Flow (relevance by category)
• Bulk backlink checker

Pricing: Starts at $49.99/month (Lite plan)

• Most affordable premium option
• Deepest historical data
• Unique Trust Flow metrics

• Less intuitive interface
• No additional SEO tools (backlinks only)

Best for: Budget-conscious users who need historical data.

5. SE Ranking#

Best for: Affordable all-in-one alternative

• Backlink checker and monitor
• Competitor backlink analysis
• Backlink gap analysis
• Full SEO toolkit included

Pricing: Starts at $52/month (Essential plan)

• Very affordable
• Good for small agencies
• Comprehensive feature set

• Smaller link database
• Less known, fewer integrations

Best for: Small businesses and freelancers on a budget.

Best free backlink tools#

1. Google Search Console#

• List of sites linking to you
• Top linked pages
• Top linking sites
• Anchor text data

• Only shows links Google has indexed
• No competitor analysis
• Limited filtering options
• Sample data, not complete

Best for: Basic backlink monitoring for your own site.

2. Ahrefs Free Backlink Checker#

• Top 100 backlinks for any URL
• Domain Rating and URL Rating
• Number of referring domains
• Anchor text preview

• Limited to 100 results
• No filtering or export
• Basic metrics only

Best for: Quick competitor checks and basic research.

Link: Ahrefs Free Backlink Checker

3. Ubersuggest (Free tier)#

• Backlink overview
• New and lost backlinks
• Limited daily searches

• 3 free searches per day
• Limited data depth

Best for: Occasional checks when you don't need a subscription.

4. SEO Review Tools#

• Free backlink checker
• Domain Authority checker
• Multiple free SEO tools

• Less comprehensive data
• Ad-supported

Best for: Quick checks without creating accounts.

Link: SEO Review Tools Backlink Checker

5. OpenLinkProfiler#

• Free backlink analysis
• Link influence score
• Industry categorization

• Smaller database
• Less frequent updates

Best for: Alternative free option for basic research.

Feature comparison#

Paid tools comparison#

Free vs paid: what you get#

Recommendations by use case#

Startup on a budget#

Recommendation: Start with free tools, upgrade when you have budget.

• Google Search Console (your own site)
• Ahrefs Free Backlink Checker (competitor research)
• Upgrade to SE Ranking or Majestic when ready

Growing SaaS company#

Recommendation: Invest in Ahrefs or Semrush.

Why: The time savings and competitive insights pay for themselves quickly.

• Ahrefs if backlinks are your main focus
• Semrush if you need the full marketing suite

Agency managing clients#

Recommendation: Semrush or Ahrefs agency plans.

Why: Need white-label reports, multiple projects, and outreach tools.

Local business#

Recommendation: Free tools are often sufficient.

• Google Search Console
• Occasional checks with free tools
• Focus on building links rather than analyzing them

Enterprise#

Recommendation: Multiple tools for complete coverage.

• Ahrefs (primary backlink research)
• Semrush (all-in-one platform)
• Majestic (historical data)

Getting started#

If you're new to backlink analysis#

Key metrics to track#

• Referring domains: Unique sites linking to you (more important than total links)
• Domain Rating/Authority: Overall site authority
• New vs lost links: Is your profile growing or shrinking?
• Anchor text distribution: Should be natural and varied

Start building backlinks today: Before you need fancy tools, you need backlinks. Join RankInPublic's directory to get a quality backlink from a legitimate site with real traffic — then track it with whichever tool you choose.

Every backlink you build now is authority that compounds. Start today.

FAQs#

What is the best free backlink checker?#

Google Search Console is the best free option for checking your own backlinks since it shows data directly from Google's index. For checking competitor backlinks, Ahrefs Free Backlink Checker provides the top 100 backlinks for any URL along with Domain Rating and referring domain counts.

Do I need paid tools for backlink analysis?#

Not necessarily, especially when starting out. Free tools like Google Search Console and Ahrefs Free Backlink Checker cover basic needs. However, paid tools become worthwhile when you need complete backlink data, historical tracking, competitor gap analysis, and automated alerts for new or lost links.

How often should I check my backlinks?#

For most sites, a monthly review is sufficient. Check for new backlinks gained, any lost links, and any toxic or spammy links that may need disavowing. If you are actively running link building campaigns, weekly checks help you measure progress and respond to changes more quickly.

What should I look for in a backlink tool?#

Prioritize the size and freshness of the link index, since outdated data leads to poor decisions. Beyond that, look for competitor analysis features, anchor text reporting, referring domain counts, and the ability to filter and export data. Toxic link detection and automated monitoring alerts are also valuable for maintaining a healthy backlink profile.

Is Domain Authority the same as Domain Rating?#

No. Domain Authority (DA) is a metric created by Moz, while Domain Rating (DR) is from Ahrefs. Both estimate a site's backlink strength on a 0-100 scale, but they use different algorithms and data sources. A site may score differently on each, so it is best to pick one metric and use it consistently for comparisons.

Can I lose rankings from bad backlinks?#

Yes. Low-quality or spammy backlinks can trigger Google penalties or algorithmic demotions. Use backlink tools to identify toxic links, such as those from link farms or unrelated foreign-language sites, and submit a disavow file through Google Search Console if needed.