Backlinks are one of Google’s top three ranking factors. Yet, 66% of web pages have no backlinks at all, while the #1 Google result has 3.8x more backlinks than lower-ranked pages. To improve your rankings, you need tools that analyze backlinks for quality, relevance, and harmful links. Here are the top 7 tools to help:
- Ahrefs: Largest backlink database, real-time updates, and competitor insights. Starts at $99/month.
- Semrush: Strong integration with SEO tools, backlink gap analysis, and historical data. Starts at $119.95/month.
- Moz Link Explorer: Focuses on authority (Domain Authority, Page Authority) and spam detection. Starts at $99/month.
- Majestic: Offers Trust Flow and Citation Flow metrics, plus extensive historical data. Starts at $49.99/month.
- SE Ranking: Budget-friendly with toxic link detection and white-label reports. Starts at $39.20/month.
- Linkgraph (SearchAtlas): AI-driven insights, competitor gap analysis, and automated outreach. Starts at $49/month.
- SEOptimer: All-in-one SEO tool with basic backlink analysis and PDF reporting. Starts at $19/month.
These tools help you monitor backlinks, spot harmful links, and find new link-building opportunities. Whether you prioritize cost, database size, or advanced features, there’s an option for every business.
Ahrefs Vs Semrush - Best All-in-one SEO Tool Comparison
Quick Comparison
| Tool | Key Features | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|
| Ahrefs | Largest database, competitor tools | $99/month |
| Semrush | Backlink gap analysis, SEO integration | $119.95/month |
| Moz | Authority metrics, spam detection | $99/month |
| Majestic | Trust/Citation Flow, historical data | $49.99/month |
| SE Ranking | Affordable, toxic link detection | $39.20/month |
| Linkgraph | AI insights, automated outreach | $49/month |
| SEOptimer | All-in-one SEO, PDF reporting | $19/month |
Choose the tool that aligns with your goals and budget to strengthen your backlink strategy.
1. Ahrefs
Ahrefs is a top choice for backlink analysis, offering one of the largest backlink databases with over 35 trillion links and crawling 8 billion pages daily[8]. Its real-time updates and competitor analysis tools make it a go-to platform for SEO professionals.
The Site Explorer is Ahrefs' main feature for backlink research, providing detailed insights into a website's link profile. Newly discovered backlinks are typically added to the database within 15-30 minutes[8].
Here are some of the key metrics Ahrefs provides:
- Domain Rating (DR): Reflects the overall strength of a website's backlink profile.
- URL Rating (UR): Evaluates the authority of individual pages.
- Ahrefs Rank: Ranks websites based on the strength of their backlink profiles.
- Referring Domains: Tracks the number of unique websites linking to a site.
Ahrefs also shines in competitor analysis with its Link Intersect feature. This tool identifies websites linking to competitors but not to yours, helping you find link-building opportunities you might have overlooked[5].
For spotting harmful backlinks, Ahrefs offers tools to analyze:
- Link quality.
- Trustworthiness of referring domains.
- Patterns in anchor text distribution.
- Sudden increases in low-quality links[7].
Plans for small businesses start at $99/month, with a $7 trial that grants full access for 7 days. The platform pairs its intuitive interface with a rich set of features.
Ahrefs isn't just about backlinks. With its Content Explorer, users can find content ideas that attract links in their niche[5]. The Broken Link Checker adds another layer of value by helping businesses reclaim lost links and turn them into opportunities.
2. Semrush
Semrush stands out with its extensive integration across various SEO areas. It boasts an impressive database of over 43 trillion backlinks across 808 million domains [9]. The Backlink Analytics tool dives deep into domain link profiles, showing details like referring domains, anchor text distribution, and backlink types [8].
One standout feature is the Backlink Gap analysis, which allows you to compare up to 100 competitors at once, uncovering large-scale trends [8].
Here are some of its key features:
- Backlink Audit to identify harmful links
- Analysis of branded vs. non-branded anchor text
- A Link Building Tool to discover new opportunities
- Access to historical data
- Daily updates to its database
Semrush’s strength lies in its ability to provide a unified SEO overview by connecting backlink data with keyword performance metrics and technical SEO audits [9]. This integration helps users align link-building efforts with keyword strategies that matter most.
Plans start at $119.95/month, and there’s a 7-day trial available.
The platform also integrates backlink data with 21 billion keywords, offering a way to connect link quality with search opportunities [9]. This approach helps users focus on link targets tied to high-value keywords, giving an edge in backlink campaigns.
Semrush’s Backlink Audit Tool is another valuable addition, offering step-by-step guidance and tracking the impact of new links on rankings [2].
This interconnected system makes Semrush especially useful for teams managing multiple SEO strategies simultaneously.
3. Moz Link Explorer
Moz Link Explorer stands out by focusing on authority metrics, using its well-known Domain Authority (DA) and Page Authority (PA) scores. These metrics assess a website's authority based on backlink quality, helping users identify strong linking opportunities [13]. The Spam Score feature flags potentially harmful links by comparing domains to sites that have faced penalties, emphasizing the importance of link quality over sheer quantity.
With a database of over 40.7 trillion links, Moz offers robust tools for analyzing backlinks [8]. Some of its standout features include:
- Top Pages: Highlights the most-linked content from competitors.
- Link Tracking: Keeps tabs on backlink growth or losses over time.
Pricing starts at $99/month for 150 queries, with options scaling up to $299/month for enterprise users [12].
Moz Link Explorer integrates seamlessly with the broader Moz SEO toolkit. It offers user-friendly data visualizations and helpful tooltips, making it beginner-friendly while still catering to advanced users with features like automated reporting and data exports [3].
This focus on authority metrics makes Moz a strong choice for businesses that prioritize quality backlinks in their link-building strategies.
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4. Majestic
Majestic stands out by offering one of the largest backlink databases available, featuring 451 billion URLs in its Fresh Index and a staggering 8.5 trillion in its Historic Index. Instead of focusing on domain authority like Moz, Majestic uses its own metrics: Trust Flow (measuring link quality) and Citation Flow (measuring link quantity), both scored on a scale of 0-100. These metrics provide a detailed understanding of link profiles by analyzing the quality and quantity of relationships between linking domains [8][9].
Here’s what Majestic brings to the table:
- Site Explorer: Dive deep into backlink analysis.
- Clique Hunter: Identify links shared by your competitors.
- Link Context: Understand where links are placed and the anchor text used.
- Historical Link Tracking: Access a full history of your link profile.
Majestic offers plans starting at $49.99/month for basic features, with higher-tier options like API access priced at $399.99/month. Its independent crawler ensures fresh data that isn’t influenced by search engine algorithms, and you can even use its Chrome extension for quick backlink checks or bulk analysis [8][10].
With a 4.3/5 star rating from 125 reviews, Majestic is well-regarded for its ability to provide deep historical insights into backlink profiles. Compared to platforms like Ahrefs and SEMrush, it offers more extensive historical data, making it ideal for long-term link audits [9][11].
Majestic’s focus on historical data is especially useful for evaluating the long-term health of a link profile. As Google increasingly factors link history into its ranking algorithms, this tool helps you identify high-trust link opportunities while also keeping an eye on how your backlink strategy evolves over time.
5. SE Ranking
SE Ranking is a budget-friendly tool that combines detailed backlink analysis with an easy-to-use interface. It provides essential metrics without the hefty price tag, making it an attractive option for small businesses and agencies.
This tool stands out with features like toxic link detection and white-label reporting. The dashboard helps identify harmful links using Domain Trust scores and spam risk assessments, while also offering competitor insights through gap analysis [2][8].
Key features include:
- White-label reporting: Generate customized, branded reports - perfect for agencies [2].
- Toxic link detection: Identify harmful links with a detailed, multi-factor evaluation [2].
- Competitor gap analysis: Spot untapped opportunities for link building [8].
Although its database isn't as large as some top-tier competitors, SE Ranking focuses on delivering core features at a fraction of the cost. Starting at $39.20/month for the Essential plan [3], it’s about 60% cheaper than Ahrefs.
For small to medium-sized businesses or agencies managing client campaigns, SE Ranking strikes a great balance between functionality and cost. Its toxic backlink detection and customizable reports are especially useful for those looking to maximize results without overspending. Like SEOptimer, it emphasizes actionable insights over sheer data volume.
6. Linkgraph
If you're looking for mid-tier pricing with AI-driven insights, Linkgraph's SearchAtlas might be the tool for you. It sits comfortably between SE Ranking's affordability and Majestic's focus on historical data, offering a balance of cost and functionality for modern link-building strategies.
SearchAtlas boasts a massive database of over 2 trillion backlinks[8], paired with AI-powered link quality scoring. This scoring uses machine learning to assess both relevance and authority[14]. The platform also features real-time link indexing and automated outreach tools, all accessible through a user-friendly dashboard.
With pricing starting at $49/month for the Starter plan[11], SearchAtlas is more budget-friendly than bigger names like Ahrefs or Semrush. It has earned a 4.7/5 rating from 31 G2 reviews[12], making it a solid choice for small businesses and agencies.
For those prioritizing link-building efforts, the tool's competitor backlink gap analysis[10] can be a game-changer. By combining in-depth backlink analysis with automated outreach, SearchAtlas is especially helpful for agencies juggling multiple client campaigns.
7. SEOptimer
SEOptimer is a great choice for businesses looking for backlink analysis as part of a complete SEO toolkit. It combines backlink tracking with full SEO auditing, making it a practical option for small businesses that need an all-in-one solution. While it doesn’t dive as deep as dedicated backlink tools, its integration with key SEO features is perfect for teams with limited time.
The backlink tracking features focus on the most important metrics, all displayed in a user-friendly dashboard. SEOptimer includes tools for analyzing referring domains, monitoring anchor text distribution, and detecting harmful backlinks[8]. Data is updated weekly, ensuring you stay informed and can act quickly when needed[6].
One standout feature is the platform’s ability to create polished PDF reports. These reports provide an overview of your backlink profile, show link quality distributions, and include monthly comparisons[2]. This makes it easier to track progress and pinpoint areas that need attention in your link-building efforts.
With a 4.7/5 rating on G2[11], SEOptimer is valued for basic backlink monitoring, though advanced users might lean toward more specialized tools. It also simplifies the process of managing harmful links by allowing users to export a disavow file with ease[7].
Tool Features and Pricing
When it comes to SEO tools, three key factors determine their effectiveness: how up-to-date the database is, how relevant the metrics are, and whether they provide actionable insights into competitors. Semrush and Ahrefs excel in delivering real-time data, while Majestic and Moz focus more on historical trends.
For small businesses, choosing the right tool often boils down to three considerations: balancing cost with features, ensuring the metrics align with their specific goals, and how well the tool integrates with their existing workflows.
While having a large volume of data is important, the frequency of updates and the availability of actionable metrics often hold more weight for ongoing campaigns. For example, Ahrefs offers a live index for continuous updates [1]. On the other hand, Majestic provides both a Fresh Index (updated daily) and a Historic Index (updated monthly) [4]. These update cycles can significantly impact how quickly businesses can react to changes in their link profiles.
Each platform also evaluates link quality differently. Some prioritize authority-based metrics, while others lean on trust signals. These differences highlight the varying philosophies behind link value measurement.
Pricing for these tools varies widely. For instance, SE Ranking starts at $39/month for its basic plan, while Semrush's premium tier costs $119.95/month. Most platforms also offer free trials, making it easier for businesses to find a tool that fits both their budget and their needs.
Integration capabilities also differ. Semrush works smoothly with most marketing tools, while Ahrefs and Moz offer more SEO-focused connections. This is why agencies like BrightSide SEO often rely on a combination of tools to perform thorough audits and achieve better results.
Conclusion
Backlink analysis plays a key role in SEO, helping businesses stay competitive and improve rankings. With 66% of pages having no backlinks, regularly evaluating your link profile can make a huge difference. Choosing from these seven tools allows businesses to better manage one of Google’s top-ranking factors.
For those who find metrics like trust flow or spam risk scores confusing, professional services can help turn raw data into actionable strategies. For example, BrightSide SEO includes backlink analysis in their SEO packages, blending tool-based insights with expert advice to create effective link-building plans.
Whether you rely on one tool or a combination of several, consistent analysis helps businesses refine their link-building efforts, adapt to algorithm changes, and outpace competitors. Often, the best results come from pairing multiple tools with expert guidance to maintain a strong and competitive backlink profile.
