How to Check Domain Authority: Free Tools & Complete Guide

If you want to check domain authority, you need the right tool for the right metric. Domain Authority (DA), Domain Rating (DR), and Authority Score (AS) are all different scores from different companies, and none of them are interchangeable.

If you want to understand the differences between these metrics in depth, see our domain rating vs domain authority comparison. If you need the broader picture of how search engines evaluate your site, start with the website rank guide.

Sources:

• Moz Link Explorer: official Domain Authority checker
• Ahrefs Website Authority Checker: free DR lookup
• Semrush: Authority Score definition and components

What is domain authority (and why check it)?#

Domain authority is a third-party metric that estimates how likely a website is to rank in search results. The term was coined by Moz, but it has become a catch-all phrase for similar scores from Ahrefs (Domain Rating) and Semrush (Authority Score).

These scores exist because Google does not publicly share its internal ranking signals. SEO tool companies build their own approximations based on backlink data, crawl indexes, and proprietary algorithms.

Why check it:

• Benchmark against competitors: See where you stand relative to sites ranking for your target keywords.
• Evaluate link opportunities: Before pursuing a backlink, check if the linking site has meaningful authority.
• Track progress: A rising score over months indicates your link building and content strategy is working.
• Prioritize outreach: Focus guest posting and partnership efforts on higher-authority sites.

Sources:

• Search Engine Land: Google does not use SEO tool scores for rankings
• Moz: What is Domain Authority

Free tools to check domain authority#

No account required#

Account required (free tier)#

Bulk checking#

If you need to check domain authority for multiple sites at once:

• DA PA Checker: Check up to 1,000 URLs at once (free)
• Ahrefs Batch Analysis: Up to 200 domains per batch (paid)
• Moz Link Explorer CSV export: Export backlink data with DA scores (paid)

Step-by-step: check your domain authority#

Using Ahrefs (free, no account)#

Using Moz (free, account required)#

1. Go to moz.com/link-explorer
2. Create a free Moz account (or sign in)
3. Enter your domain in the search bar
4. You will see: Domain Authority (DA), Page Authority (PA), linking domains, and inbound links

Using Semrush (free, account required)#

1. Go to semrush.com/analytics/overview
2. Sign in with your free Semrush account
3. Enter your domain
4. You will see: Authority Score (AS), organic traffic estimate, backlinks count, and referring domains

How to interpret your score#

Score ranges#

Context matters more than the number#

How to benchmark:

1. Search your top 3 target keywords in Google
2. Check the DA/DR of the top 10 results for each keyword
3. Calculate the average — that is your target range

Score changes are normal#

Both DA and DR are relative scores. They can change even if you do nothing because:

• Moz and Ahrefs regularly update their indexes and algorithms
• Competitors may gain or lose links, shifting the curve
• New sites enter the web and change the overall distribution

A 2-3 point fluctuation between checks is normal. Focus on the 3-month trend, not day-to-day changes.

Sources:

• Moz: Domain Authority scoring and relative nature

DA vs DR vs Authority Score: which to use?#

These three metrics are the most popular, but they measure different things with different data.

For a detailed breakdown of how each metric works, see our DA vs DR comparison guide.

What to do after checking your score#

Knowing your score is step one. Here is what to do with it:

If your score is below 20#

You are in the fastest growth zone. Focus on:

• Get listed in quality directories — each new referring domain has outsized impact at this stage
• Publish 10-15 foundational content pieces targeting long-tail keywords in your niche
• Build internal links between your pages to distribute authority

For a list of directories that actually send traffic and backlinks, see our startup directories guide.

If your score is 20-40#

You have momentum. Focus on:

• Guest posting on sites with DA/DR higher than yours
• Creating data-driven content that attracts natural backlinks
• Building topical authority through content clusters

If your score is 40+#

You are competing with established sites. Focus on:

• Earning editorial mentions in industry publications
• Creating original research that becomes a cited source
• Strengthening your strongest pages rather than building new ones

For the full playbook on improving your score, see our domain ranking improvement guide and the free backlinks guide.

FAQs#

How do I check domain authority for free?#

Use Ahrefs Website Authority Checker for Domain Rating (free, no account) or Moz Link Explorer for Domain Authority (10 free checks/month with account).

Is domain authority a Google ranking factor?#

No. Google does not use Domain Authority, Domain Rating, or any third-party score in its ranking algorithm. These are diagnostic tools created by SEO companies to approximate ranking potential.

What is a good domain authority score?#

There is no universal "good" score. Compare your DA against the sites ranking for your target keywords. If competitors average DA 30 and you are at DA 25, you are in a competitive position. If they average DA 60, you have work to do.

Why is my domain authority different on different tools?#

Because each tool uses different data, algorithms, and scales. Moz DA, Ahrefs DR, and Semrush AS are completely separate metrics. Always compare scores within the same tool.

How often should I check domain authority?#

Monthly is sufficient for most sites. DA and DR do not change dramatically week to week. Checking monthly gives you a clear trend without creating noise from normal fluctuations.

Can I check domain authority in bulk?#

Yes. Tools like DA PA Checker (free) check up to 1,000 URLs at once. Ahrefs Batch Analysis (paid) handles 200 domains per batch. This is useful for evaluating link prospects or auditing competitor lists.