Domain authority checker

What authority scores and DR measure

An authority score estimates how strong a domain's backlinks are: how many sites link to it, and how well linked those sites are in turn. One link from a well-linked site counts for more than many links from sites nobody links to.

The numbers here are Ahrefs' Domain Rating (DR), fetched from the Ahrefs API. DR rates a domain's backlink profile on a logarithmic scale from 0 to 100, so moving from 70 to 80 takes far more than moving from 10 to 20.

Other tools have their own versions: Moz has Domain Authority and Semrush has Authority Score. Each uses its own data and formula, so the numbers differ from tool to tool. When you compare domains, compare scores from the same source.

Google doesn't use any of these scores. They're estimates that help you compare sites, for example when you pick where to launch or which sites to ask for a link. Our list of launch directories is sorted by Ahrefs DR.

How it works

1. 1

   Enter a domain, or paste any URL from the site. Subdomains are checked as their main domain.

2. 2

   We ask Ahrefs for the domain's Domain Rating. Results are kept for a day, so checking again is instant.

3. 3

   You get a number from 0 to 100 and the domain's rank. Check a few domains, then sort them or copy them all as CSV.

Questions

Is this the same as Ahrefs DR?

Yes. The number labelled Domain Rating comes straight from the Ahrefs API, so it matches what Ahrefs shows, give or take a day while we keep results cached.

Why does my new site score 0 or show no score?

Scores come from the links a crawler has found pointing to a domain, and they change as it finds new ones. A new domain with few links from other sites often scores 0 or has no data yet, and so does a typo. Listing your product on launch sites and directories is a common first step.

How do I raise my score?

Earn links from sites that are well linked themselves: launch sites, directories, guest posts, podcasts, integration partners and tools that list yours. One link from a strong, relevant site beats many from weak ones. Don't buy links; search engines penalize it.

Is it free?

Yes, and you don't need an account. To keep it free for everyone, each visitor can run a limited number of checks an hour.