Key Takeaways
- Building a website is just the first step in making it a valuable marketing asset. You should work on its SEO to make it visible in search engines and attract potential customers. Backlinks are your website’s VIP pass to rankings at the top. For Google and other search engines, they’re a clear sign of authoritativeness and trust.
- But not all backlinks are a win. Toxic citations can hurt your rankings as they drag your ranking down. The best free backlink checker tools monitor who is linking to your website and caution you about malignant ones. In addition, you can peer inside your competitors’ linking strategies and steal a trick or two from them.
- Think of the best free backlink checker tool as your personal SEO spy. It visits the web pages to find each one of your backlinks and reports the amount you have, where they come from, and whether they do or don’t help you in search rankings. If you’re in a competitive mood, some tools allow you to peek at your competitors’ backlink game and use their best link-building strategies.
As stated, not all free backlink checkers are built the same. So, let’s unfold it.
Comprehensive Backlink Data
They are magnifying glasses that let you see in crystal-clear detail or blurred security cameras you have little hope of deciphering. Comprehensive data—that’s what differentiates a good and “why did I even try this?” checker.
Advanced Filters
The best free backlinks checker tools show total backlinks, referring domains, link types (dofollow/nofollow), and authority scores.
Anchor Text Analysis
Improper anchor text usage may be toxic and cause ranking drops. You can find out what words people link to you with an in-built anchor text analysis. It helps with branding and keeps your anchor texts from being a disorganized mess.
Competitor Backlink Comparison
Competitor backlink comparison is a great way to figure out if your rivals are outranking you. The best free online backlink checker lets you compare and find backlink opportunities. The more intersections it suggests, the better.
Historical data
Backlinks aren’t static and doesn’t mean your backlink profile stays the same and you don’t track the changes in them. Otherwise, you would only catch the problems once snowball.
User-Friendly Interface
Hard pass if the tool you are using has an early 2000s user interface and needs PhD skills to navigate.
Export Options
Spreadsheets are sometimes necessary to equip you with the data you need. If you want to quickly scrape backlinks and then manage the data using AI-powered tools or prompts, export options is something to pay attention to.
Because they’re free, which also makes them a nice option for those entrepreneurs running small businesses, startups, or even as just solo entrepreneurs who can’t afford fancy SEO software. The best free backlink checker tool gives you insights without burning a hole in your wallet.
On top of that, they’re a fantastic starting place for new SEO personnel to learn the ropes without feeling stressed and confused by overall software, with much less hidden paywalls.
How to Choose the Best Free Backlink Checker
With all of the options out there, how do you make the right choice? Keep these in mind:
- Ease of use. You do not want a headache but quick insight.
- Accuracy and comprehensiveness of data. Some tools skimp on data. The best backlink checker free tools give you the full picture.
- User interface and experience. If the interface is annoying, you will avoid using it.
- Extra features. These are competitor analyses, export options, historical data, and elements we discussed above.
Now that you know what makes the best free backlink checker, let’s check out the top tools that won’t cost you a cent.
#1. SE Ranking
SE Ranking is a full-fledged SEO platform, and its free backlink checker is one of the best free backlink checker tools for getting a snapshot of your backlink profile. It boasts a huge backlink database that has grown extensively during the last year. The free version has a 14-day usage limit, but according to its level of insights, it is a rockstar tool for small businesses, beginners, and even big companies for some special cases.
Key Features
All of your total backlinks, referring domains, and link types, such as dofollow and nofollow, are displayed in one dashboard. It also provides a breakdown of what anchor texts are being used and which is good to have so you can see how you are being referenced on the web. Its built-in competitor tracking feature allows you to see their backlinks for the sites from which they are getting link juice. The historical data will track changes over time in the backlinks. SE Ranking also provides its unique Domain and Page Trust metrics, which define the authoritativeness of the checked websites.
Pros and Cons
The tool is super user-friendly and can be used by beginners. If you wish to outrank rivals, competitor analysis is a nice touch. You can trust the data with solid accuracy. However, the free usage is limited to 14 days, so you won’t be able to track how new backlinks campaigns are performing, which is a downside.
How to Use
The good news is that using SE Ranking’s free backlink checker is very easy, and you don’t have to waste time onboarding. Hit Search on the site and enter your URL. You will have a list of backlinks, referring domains, and anchor texts. When analyzing your backlink list and anchor texts, you’ll be able to make a list of toxic links to disavow. You can also use our backlink checker tool to identify the pages with the most links and compare them to your focus page list.
Pricing Plans
A free backlink checker is a great beginning. However, when you need more, upgrading makes sense. Full backlink data, keyword tracking, and site audits begin around $65 a month and include checking from 10,000 to 100,000 backlinks, based on your package. The maximum number of domains it allows to check per day is 300, which is quite impressive.
#2. Ahrefs Backlink Checker
Ahrefs is a powerhouse in the SEO industry. Using its free backlink checker from that list will give you reliable results. This tool is famous for its huge backlink database, allowing you to get a quick but powerful look into your link profile.
Key Features
With the free version, you will find the top 100 backlinks that come into your site. Displayed are referring domains, page authority scores, and anchor text distribution. That includes being able to check new and lost backlinks. You can run the same check on competitors to see who’s linked to them.
Pros and Cons
Ahrefs has one of the largest backlink databases out there, so you’re getting nothing short of great data. Fast, reliable, and easy to use. The competitor analysis feature is good for finding new link-building opportunities. The catch? The free version shows only the top 100 backlinks, so you don’t get the whole picture. To expand the report, you need to use the paid version. Features such as historical data and export options are stuck behind the paid plans.
How to Use
Enter your domain on their Website Checker page and hit search. No registration needed. The site will provide you with a quick backlink overview of the strongest links pointing to your site. Now, use the discovered insights to find high-quality backlinks and apply them in your SEO strategy.
Working on links, you may also find their Broken Link Checker tool useful—it helps to find errors that prevent your getting link juice from websites you have already earned.
Pricing Plans
Ahrefs’ paid plans are $129 per month or higher and include complete access to their backlink database, keyword research, competitive analyses, etc. Investing in it is worth it if you need deeper insights. However, the free tool is enough for a quick backlink audit.
#3. Linkody
If you’re searching for something basic but efficient for backlink tracking, Linkody is a good option. This is made to help people who don’t want to bother with their backlink tool yet look for an easy way to check them. It’s a paid tool, so if you need to know about your site’s link profile quickly, the free backlink checker is great for a quick snapshot.
Key Features
This one of the best free backlink checker tools shows total backlinks, referring domains, and essential link data like domain authority and spam score. Additionally, it tracks lost and new backlinks so that you can keep your pulse on your link-building efforts.
Analyzing the anchor text will help you see which sites link to you. The tool spies on competitor backlinks, which is always a plus. The results are provided instantly without registration, and the report can be accessed via a URL. Export to CSV is also free.
Pros and Cons
Clean and user-friendly layout is one of the best strengths of Linkody. It doesn’t take to be a pro to start using it. Data is accurate and updated monthly, so you are always working with a fresh perspective. However, within a month, you won’t be able to check on updates. As expected, the free version is limited to 100 links per URL.
How to Use
Go to Linkody’s website, enter your domain, and hit search. The backlink report will be created by the tool, showing referring domains, anchor texts, and link status—live or lost. If you’re using it to monitor competitors’ backlinks, then just enter their URL.
Pricing Plans
Linkody’s paid plans start at around $14.90 per month, which is more affordable than the big-name SEO tools. This is a good free backlink checker, but if you need continuous monitoring and weekly reports, another tool may be best.
SEOmator
Unlike other backlink checkers on this list, SEOmator is an SEO audit tool. But if you’re here just for the backlinks, don’t worry—the free backlink checkers it offers provides a decent amount of data. If you’d like to analyze your SEO as well as backlink insights, it’s a great tool.
Key Features
The free Backlink Checker Tool by SEOmator gives you a backlink profile summary, showing the number of backlinks and referring domains. It also can check the links’ quality to spot dangerous links harming your ranks. We particularly like the ability to get a quick backlink health check to see if the current link building initiatives are working or not.
Pros and Cons
SEOmator is great if you want an all-in-one SEO tool focused on technical audits with backlink analysis. It has a simple interface and a mix of tech and off-page SEO insight. Bear in mind the free version doesn’t provide you with a full backlink breakdown. While the tool is useful, it’s not as focused on backlinks as some other best free backlink checker tools.
How to Use
Visit SEOmator’s website, find it’s free Backlink Checker Tool, and enter the domain you would like to analyze. Backlinks, on page SEO, and other metrics about the site will be generated into a report. If you require backlink data, focus on the off-page SEO section.
Pricing Plans
SEOmator’s pricing starts from $49/mo for full access to its SEO audit tools, such as backlink tracker, rank checker, and more. Its best free backlinks checker gives a quick overview, but if you want detailed insights, upgrading is necessary.
SEO Review Tools
SEO Review Tools is a go-to for anyone who is after a tool to check backlinks fast and free of charge. It uses data from the top sources to provide a snapshot of your site’s link profile with its free backlink checker. Overall, it’s a great option for small businesses and freelancers, as well as anyone who just wants to see a quick look at their backlinks without committing to a paid tool.
Key Features
This best free backlink checker tool gives you total backlinks, referring domains, and the quality of links pointing to your site. It also offers insights about the anchor text. You can view which links are follow and no-follow and how many links are worth their SEO value.
Pros and Cons
The biggest advantage is it’s completely free and doesn’t need any signups or subscriptions. The tool is simple, fast, and does what it is supposed to do without being too complex. The caveat is that it derives data from external sources, which makes it not as comprehensive as full-blown paid backlink trackers. Also, their report is limited to the top backlinks pointing at your domain, showing one link per domain.
How to Use
Head to the SEO Review Tools website, insert your domain and trigger the search button. In a matter of seconds, you’ll dive right into a valuable backlink report providing you with referring domains, as well as the anchor text and link status. All you have to do to check a competitor’s backlinks is enter the URL of this competitor instead.
Pricing Plans
It’s 100% free, no strings attached and no premium upgrades. However, if you want to monitor continuously or want advanced backlink tracking, you will need a more powerful SEO tool.
Backlinko
Although they’re most known for their content, Backlinko does provide a free backlink checker using Semrush’s database. If you’re seeking good-quality backlink data without the paid SEO tool commitment, this may work for you. Given that it is running on Semrush’s database, you are getting insights from one of the biggest names in the SEO industry completely for free.
Key Features
This best free backlink checker tools option provides total backlinks, referring domains, and link authority metrics. It will display the five strongest backlinks pointing to your site, with information on competitors’ backlinks. The tool also highlights whether links are follow or nofollow and tells you their SEO impact. The data is powered by Semrush and is thus reliable and regularly updated.
Pros and Cons
The best thing about Backlinko is that it’s extremely accurate—a tiny replica of Semrush’s backlink checker. On the downside, you only get 5 backlink results before needing to create a free Semrush account. For in-depth analysis, you will have to pay for the full Semrush subscription.
How to Use
Go to Backlinko’s website, enter the domain, and generate a report. In fact, the tool will show a limited set of backlinks and provide content with useful insights on building your link profile. Also, if you want more data, you must upgrade to Semrush.
Pricing Plans
If you try to use the free backlink checker by Backlinko, you’ll get a taste of Semrush’s backlink data analysis. If you want to check up to 10 URLs per day or get full access, then you need to sign up for Semrush, which starts at around $139.95 per month. The free tool is more like an educational than a professional tool, so I can recommend it for newbies who need guidance in link building.
SEO SpyGlass
Based on SEO PowerSuite, SpyGlass is a powerful backlink checker tool that helps to discover the impact of your site’s backlink profile. It’s a paid tool, but its free version still punches hard into details about your backlinks without spending your dimes. If you’re seeking an alternative to Ahrefs and similar big names that still offer good backlink data, this service is well worth the shot.
Key Features
SEO SpyGlass will fully dissect backlinks—they will show you referring domains, anchor text distribution, and the site’s link authority. A backlink database is one of its best features, as it gathers data from its own as well as external databases. You will also get a penalty risk analysis, which can highlight different harmful links that could influence your SEO negatively.
The benefit of the penalty risk feature is that it provides you with the information required to decide which links to disavow to keep your backlink profile clean. Backlink tracking of competitors is included, which shows where they get their best links. Unlike the best backlink checker free versions provided by other platforms, SEO SpyGlass also lets you store historical data to track changes over time.
Pros and Cons
A huge plus of SEO SpyGlass is the sheer amount of free backlink data you receive. In addition, it offers a desktop app that allows you to run the more detailed reports without an additional browser-based tool. If you wish to maintain an unblemished link profile, then the penalty risk analysis is a game changer.
On the downside, if users don’t want to install/download it, there’s no cloud-based solution. It also restricts the free version to the number of backlinks you can analyze in one go.
How to Use
Download and install SEO SpyGlass. Enter the target URL, and the tool will fetch backlink data, including the total number of backlinks and referring domains for each quality score. To analyze a competitor, just change the URL.
Pricing Plans
One of the free version’s drawbacks is it only allows you to check backlinks and is limited to 1,100 backlinks. However, if you need unlimited backlink checks and full reports, you will need to upgrade. The tool offers yearly paid licenses. For example, the Professional plan costs $349 per year, and the Enterprise plan is about $599 per year.
Majestic
The Majestic’s Backlink database is one of the largest, and the tool has been around forever. It offers a free backlink checker version with stats on link data, which is a good option for a quick backlink overview. Majestic is all about link analysis, so if reporting and analysis are your focus, this is one of the best free backlink checker tools to start with.
Key Features
Majestic’s greatest strength is its huge backlink index, offering access to recent backlinks (Fresh Index) and old backlinks (Historic Index). The tool also offers you the most important metrics, such as Citation Flow and Trust Flow, to know the quality of the backlink.
You can see stats on Referring Domains Breakdown, Duplicate Backlink Analysis, Backlink History, External Referring URLs, Supplemental Links, and more in the free version. It also includes an anchor text analysis to see how people are linking to your pages and a summary of up to 10 anchor text variants seen on your website most often.
Pros and Cons
Where Majestic stands out the most is the sheer amount of backlink data it has, and it is one of the best in terms of having the most impressive data set. Trust Flow and Citation Flow are unique and highly useful when assessing link quality. But just a handful of backlinks will be shown since the actual free version is quite limited. There’s also a feeling that the interface could have been updated to mesh with modern SEO tools.
How to Use
Simply enter your domain name into Majestic’s site and hit ‘search.’ You will get a backlink overview with referring domains and Trust Flow and Citation Flow values. If you want to check a competitor’s backlinks, simply enter their URL.
Pricing Plans
Compared to the full version, the free backlink checker will only provide you with a small piece of the total data. Majestic offers three main plans. Fresh Index data starts at $49.99 per month on Lite. Historic Index is also available for Pro, which starts at $99.99 per month and unlocks additional advanced features. The API plan is sent at $399.99 per month.
Seobility
Seobility is another solid all-in-one SEO tool that offers all things SEO. Although there are more popular and better known platforms, Seobility provides a fair volume of backlink data with a simple UI for free. If you’re running a small business, working on personal projects, or just getting started with SEO, Seobility is one of the free backlink checker tools to try.
Key Features
With Seobility, you get a deep backlink profile of the websites, including a number of backlinks, referring domains, and link rating scores. The tool also classifies backlinks according to their type. As with the other backlink checkers, Seobility includes anchor text analysis so you can see how other sites link to you. But unlike many free backlink checkers, it also provides insights into the link strength, giving you an idea of how valuable each backlink is for SEO.
Pros and Cons
Seobility is very easy to use. Everything is displayed clearly, which makes it perfect for beginners. A nice touch is the feature for scoring the quality of a backlink, which prompts users to concentrate only on the most valuable links. The free version, however, will only provide you with three backlink checks per day. And it lacks historical data tracking unless you upgrade.
How to Use
Run a quick scan on Seobility’s backlink checker—just enter your domain there. It will show backlink count, referring domains, anchor texts, and link types in the report. Simply enter the URL of a competitor’s, and it’ll generate their backlink profile.
Pricing Plans
Seobility has a free plan that allows for a limited number of daily searches. During a 14-day trial, you can try Premium, which includes backlink checking tools. The Premium plan costs $50 per month with more frequent checks and complete SEO analysis, while the Agency plan is $200 per month.
Neil Patel’s Ubersuggest
The free backlink checker by Neil Patel’s Ubersuggest is preferred by those new to SEO. Ubersuggest is designed for small business owners, bloggers, and marketers who want quick insight without a steep learning curve and allows them to present their backlink data in an easy-to-digest format.
Key Features
Ubersuggest’s free backlink checker shows you the total backlinks, referring domains, and backlink types (follow vs. nofollow). It also has a domain score that offers you an idea of your site’s authority. The tool also provides historical backlink data, so you can track link growth over time—something not all free backlink checkers offer.
Pros and Cons
The largest advantage of Ubersuggest is ease of use and shows historical data. It is great for beginner users who don’t want to use complex dashboards. The downfall is that you get only one free search every day and a small amount of available backlink data. If you need more insight, you must upgrade.
How to Use
Head to the Ubersuggest backlink checker, input your website URL, and start searching. The tool will create a backlinks report with domain authority score, link type, and top referring domains. Filtering options are available.
Pricing Plans
The limited daily searches and backlink results come with a free version. Jumping on a free 7-day trial unlocks 150+ daily searches for you. Paid plans for individuals start at $12 per month, $20 per month for small businesses, and $40 per month for enterprises. If you’re an SEO user who plans for the long term, Ubersuggest also provides a lifetime deal.
Conclusion
There are times when you may need a one-time solution—to check your backlinks on toxicity or get an idea of their follow vs no-follow ratio. Many SEO tools offer strong free backlink checkers, but they serve slightly different purposes. This guide was created to help you choose the one that will help you with your specific needs. Hope this will save you time on your new SEO initiatives!
