High-quality backlinks are the backbone of strong search engine rankings : know them well.
Backlinks play a major role in improving your website’s SEO ranking. They help search engines understand your site’s authority and relevance. To analyze and improve your backlink profile, you need the best free backlink checker tools reliable, accurate, and easy to use.
In this guide, you’ll discover the top best free backlink checker tools and also Paid Tools that can help you track, audit, and build powerful backlinks for better Google rankings.
Table of Contents
Why You Need a Backlink Checker Tool
A backlink checker tool helps you:
- Find which websites are linking to yours
- Identify high-quality and spammy links
- Discover competitors’ backlinks
- Plan better link-building strategies
- Track new or lost backlinks
Without backlink analysis, your SEO strategy is incomplete. So, let’s look at the best backlink checker tools that make this job easier.
Top Best Free Backlink Checker Tools
1. Ahrefs Backlink Checker (Free Version)
Website: ahrefs.com/backlink-checker
Ahrefs offers one of the most popular backlink checkers. The free version lets you see the top 100 backlinks, referring domains, and the most used anchor texts.
Pros:
- Fast and accurate backlink data
- Easy-to-read reports
Cons: - Limited to 100 backlinks in free version
Best For: Beginners who need a quick backlink snapshot.
2.Ubersuggest Backlink Analyzer
Website: neilpatel.com/ubersuggest/
Ubersuggest offers a great balance between simplicity and power. You can find backlinks, referring domains, domain authority, and even the type of link (follow/nofollow).
Pros:
- User-friendly dashboard
- Combines keyword and backlink data
Cons: - Limited daily searches in free plan
Best For: Bloggers and freelancers who need affordable backlink insights.
3.Moz Link Explorer
Website : moz.com/link-explorer/
Moz provides one of the most reliable backlink indexes online. With the free version, you can check a few URLs per month and get DA (Domain Authority) and Spam Score data.
Pros:
- Trusted backlink metrics
- Great for link quality analysis
Cons: - Free access limited to 10 queries per month
Best For: Checking link authority and spam score.
4.Google Search Console
This is one of the best free backlink checker tools straight from Google itself. It shows all external and internal links pointing to your site.
Pros:
- 100% free and accurate
- Direct data from Google’s index
Cons: - Doesn’t show competitor backlinks
Best For: Monitoring your own backlinks directly from Google.
5. SEO SpyGlass
Website: seopowersuite.com/seo-spyglass
SEO SpyGlass by SEO PowerSuite is a downloadable backlink analysis tool. The free version lets you compare backlinks, detect penalties, and evaluate link quality.
Pros:
- Deep analysis and competitor comparison
- Detects harmful backlinks
Cons: - Software needs installation
Best For: Professionals who want full backlink audits.
Best Paid Backlink Checker Tools (For Advanced Users)
While free tools are great for quick insights, paid tools provide comprehensive backlink data, competitor analysis, and real-time updates. Let’s check some of the top premium options.
6. SEMrush Backlink Analytics
SEMrush is an all-in-one SEO platform. Its backlink analytics tool helps you analyze backlinks, anchor texts, referring domains, and toxic links.
Pros:
- Complete SEO suite
- Excellent competitor backlink reports
Cons: - Costly for beginners
Pricing: Starts at $129.95/month
Best For: Agencies and serious SEO experts.
7.Majestic SEO
Website : majestic.com
Majestic offers unique backlink metrics like Trust Flow and Citation Flow, helping you measure link quality.
Pros:
- Detailed link graph visualization
- Great for competitive link research
Cons: - Interface feels outdated
Pricing: Starts at $49.99/month
Best For: SEO professionals analyzing large websites.
8. Serpstat
Website: serpstat
Serpstat is a complete SEO and marketing toolkit. It gives backlink data, keyword tracking, and site audit features.
Pros:
- Affordable all-in-one SEO tool
- Easy-to-understand reports
Cons: - Slightly smaller backlink index
Pricing: Starts at $59/month
Best For: Growing SEO teams and freelancers.
9. LinkMiner by Mangools
Website : linkminer.com
LinkMiner focuses on simplicity and visual backlink analysis. It’s perfect for beginners who want to see live previews of links.
Pros:
- Clean interface
- Excellent for broken link building
Cons: - Limited keyword tools
Pricing: Starts at $29/month
Best For: Small business owners and bloggers.
10. RankWatch Backlink Analyzer
Website: rankwatch.com
RankWatch combines backlink tracking, keyword monitoring, and competitor analysis in one dashboard.
Pros:
- Affordable and all-in-one
- Detailed backlink reports
Cons: - Interface slightly basic
Pricing: Starts at $29/month
Best For: Agencies and growing websites.
| Feature | Free Tools | Paid Tools |
|---|---|---|
| Data Limit | Limited results | Unlimited backlink data |
| Competitor Analysis | Basic | Advanced & detailed |
| Accuracy | Moderate | Very high |
| Updates | Slow | Real-time |
| Ideal Users | Beginners / Bloggers | Agencies / Professionals |
If you’re starting your SEO journey, the best free backlink checker tools like Ahrefs Free Checker, Ubersuggest, or Google Search Console are excellent starting points. These tools help you analyze who’s linking to your website and what kind of backlinks contribute to your domain authority.
For beginners, they provide simple, actionable insights without needing to invest money upfront. However, as your website grows and you begin managing multiple projects, you’ll soon realize the need for more accurate and detailed backlink data.
In that stage, premium options like SEMrush, Majestic, and Ahrefs (Pro) offer advanced analytics, historical data, and competitive link tracking. While free versions give a snapshot, paid tools help you track trends, monitor link health, and build a solid link-building strategy.
The best free backlink checker tools not only show how many sites link to you but also highlight link quality, anchor text distribution, and referring domains. This helps you discover valuable link opportunities and identify potentially harmful links that might affect your rankings. You can start with free options to get familiar with backlink analysis, then gradually upgrade to paid versions for deeper insights and automation.
Always remember , backlinks are not just about numbers; they’re about relevance, trust, and authority. Use these tools regularly to disavow toxic links, strengthen good ones, and build meaningful relationships with authoritative websites.
With consistent backlink tracking using the best free backlink checker tools, you’ll steadily boost your site’s visibility, domain authority, and organic traffic in 2025 and beyond.
Also Read ==> keyword research