The best domain rating checker for most people is the free Ahrefs Website Authority Checker, because Domain Rating (DR) is an Ahrefs metric. For your own site, Ahrefs Webmaster Tools gives you more detail. Moz Link Explorer checks Domain Authority (DA), Semrush shows Authority Score, Majestic shows Trust Flow and Citation Flow, and Ubersuggest and SE Ranking give quick authority checks of their own.
Domain Rating, or DR, is a score from 0 to 100 created by Ahrefs. It estimates how strong a website's backlink profile is compared with other sites. It isn't a Google metric, but it's become a shorthand for how much authority a site has, which is why link builders, PR teams and guest post buyers check it before they pitch a site or pay for a placement.
The confusing part is that every SEO tool has its own version. Moz has Domain Authority, Semrush has Authority Score and Majestic has Trust Flow. They measure similar things in different ways, so a site's scores won't match from tool to tool. Below I explain the differences and the checkers that are most useful for each one.
What should you look for in a domain rating checker?
- The right metric. If someone quotes DR, check it in Ahrefs. If they quote DA, check it in Moz. Comparing scores across tools tells you very little.
- Referring domains. The number of unique sites linking in is often more useful than the score itself, so look for checkers that show it.
- Traffic alongside authority. A high score with almost no organic traffic is a warning sign, so look at both together.
- Bulk checks. If you vet lots of sites, a bulk checker saves hours. Check the limits on free versions.
- Free limits. Most free checkers cap daily lookups or hide detail behind a login, so pick one that suits how often you check.
- Browser extensions. Extensions such as MozBar show scores while you browse search results, which helps with quick vetting.
Domain rating checkers compared
| Tool | Best for | Stand-out feature |
|---|---|---|
| Ahrefs Website Authority Checker | Checking DR for any site | Free DR and referring domain count |
| Ahrefs Webmaster Tools | Checking your own site | Free backlink and site audit data for verified sites |
| Moz Link Explorer and Domain Analysis | Checking Domain Authority (DA) | The original DA metric |
| Semrush Authority Score | A blended authority view | Combines links, traffic and spam signals |
| Majestic | Link quality analysis | Trust Flow and Citation Flow |
| Ubersuggest | Quick checks for beginners | Simple domain overview with its own authority score |
| SE Ranking | All-in-one SEO users | Domain Trust score and backlink checker |
| Bulk DR checkers | Vetting long lists of sites | Many domains checked at once |
Plans and features change often, so check each vendor's current plans before you commit.
The best free domain rating checkers
1. Ahrefs Website Authority Checker
This is Ahrefs' free tool for checking the Domain Rating of any website. You enter a domain and it shows the DR along with a headline count of backlinks and linking websites.
Who it suits: anyone who needs a quick DR check before pitching, buying or accepting a guest post.
2. Ahrefs Webmaster Tools
Ahrefs Webmaster Tools gives site owners free access to Ahrefs data for websites they've verified. You can see your own DR, backlinks and referring domains, and run site audits.
Who it suits: website owners who want to track their own DR and see which sites link to them.
3. Moz Link Explorer and Domain Analysis
Moz created Domain Authority, a 0 to 100 score that predicts how likely a site is to rank. Link Explorer and the free Domain Analysis tool show DA, linking domains and top pages, and the MozBar extension shows DA in your browser.
Who it suits: people who are asked for DA rather than DR, which is still common in guest posting and PR.
4. Semrush Authority Score
Authority Score is Semrush's domain metric. It's built from backlink data, organic traffic and signals that suggest manipulated links, so it tries to reflect whether a site's authority is real.
Who it suits: people who use Semrush and want a score that takes traffic into account, not just links.
5. Majestic
Majestic is a long-standing backlink tool known for two metrics: Trust Flow, which estimates how trustworthy a site's links are, and Citation Flow, which reflects how many links it has. A big gap between the two can point to low-quality links.
Who it suits: link builders who want a second opinion on link quality. Check the current plans for how many free lookups you get.
6. Ubersuggest
Ubersuggest, from Neil Patel, shows a domain overview with its own authority score, estimated traffic and backlink counts. It has a limited number of free daily searches.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
Who it suits: beginners who want a simple overview of a site without learning a full SEO suite.
7. SE Ranking
SE Ranking's backlink checker shows its own Domain Trust score along with referring domains and anchor text. It sits inside a platform that also covers rank tracking and audits.
Who it suits: freelancers and small agencies that already use SE Ranking for other SEO work.
8. Bulk DR checkers
Bulk checkers let you paste a list of domains and see their scores in one go. Ahrefs offers a batch analysis tool inside its paid plans, and a range of smaller websites offer free bulk checks with daily limits.
Who it suits: link builders and outreach teams who vet dozens or hundreds of sites at a time. Spot-check results in the original tool, as third-party checkers can show older data.
How to choose the right domain rating checker
Match the checker to the metric you've been given. If a publisher says their site is DR 50, check it in Ahrefs. If they say DA 50, check it in Moz. If you're vetting sites to buy guest posts on, look at more than one metric, because a site that scores well in Ahrefs, Moz and Semrush is more likely to have real authority.
Then look past the number. DR only measures links, and links can be bought or faked. Before you pay for a placement or pitch a site, check that it gets organic traffic, that it publishes content related to yours and that its referring domains aren't a pile of low-quality sites. A DR 30 site with real readers is often worth more than a DR 60 site with none.
For your own site, use Ahrefs Webmaster Tools to track DR over time. Focus on earning links from relevant sites and the score tends to follow.
Run an SEO or authority checking tool? Find out how to be considered for this roundup.
Frequently asked questions
What is a domain rating checker?
A domain rating checker shows the Domain Rating (DR) of a website, a 0 to 100 score from Ahrefs that estimates the strength of its backlink profile. The free Ahrefs Website Authority Checker is the most direct way to check it.
What is the difference between DR and DA?
DR is Ahrefs' metric and DA is Moz's. Both score sites from 0 to 100 based on links, but they use different data and formulas, so the same site often has a different DR and DA.
Does Google use Domain Rating?
No. DR, DA, Authority Score and Trust Flow are third-party estimates. Google doesn't use them, but they're a useful shorthand for comparing sites.
Why do link builders check DR?
Link builders and guest post buyers check DR to judge whether a site is worth pitching or paying for. It's best used alongside organic traffic and relevance, not on its own.
