Backlinks remain one of the most important ranking factors for SEO in 2023. Analyzing your backlinks allows you to improve your domain authority, identify toxic links, see where competitors are earning links, and more. But many of the top backlink analysis tools cost hundreds or thousands per year.
In this post, I’ll cover the best free backlink analysis tools to help boost your SEO, even on a budget.
Why Backlink Analysis Matters
“Backlinks are one of the biggest drivers of higher organic search rankings.” – Rand Fishkin, Co-Founder of Moz
Analyzing backlinks pointing to your site and competitors’ sites is crucial for several reasons:
- Improves domain authority – More backlinks from quality sites signals search engines your content is valuable.
- Identify toxic links – You can disavow spammy links not helping your rankings.
- Learn link building insights – See where competitors are getting backlinks to replicate their success.
Simply put, ignoring backlinks leaves opportunity on the table to improve organic traffic and rankings.
In this post, I’ll share the best free backlink analysis tools covering:
- Key features
- Pros and cons
- Ideal use cases
Let’s dive in!
1. Ahrefs
Ahrefs is one of the most powerful paid backlink analysis tools on the market. But they also offer a 7 day free trial to test drive their platform.
Key Features
- Backlink checker showing total links and domains linking to a site
- Breakdown of referring domains by industry/location
- URL Rating metric predicting traffic potential
- Link Intersect identifying sites linking to you and competitors
Pros
- Extremely detailed and accurate data
- 7 days free to test without payment
Cons
- Very limited access compared to paid plan
- Data no longer accessible after 7 days
The Ahrefs free trial works great if you want to analyze a single website’s backlink profile in depth over 7 days. But with no long-term access, it has limited ongoing value for monitoring backlinks.
2. SEMrush
SEMrush offers another popular SEO and backlink analysis paid tool. And like Ahrefs, they provide a time-limited free trial.
Key Features
- Backlink analysis identifying total links and referring domains
- Link building opportunities based on what links competitors have
- Organic traffic data estimates
Pros
- Trusted data on par with Ahrefs
- 7 day access helpful for initial website review
Cons
- Very limited functionality vs. paid SEMrush
- No ongoing access after 7 days
SEMrush works nicely if you want to do a one-time competitive backlink audit. But don’t expect to continue monitoring after the 7 days.
3. Moz Link Explorer
Moz offers one of the few backlink analysis tools with a forever free option. Link Explorer lets you analyze backlinks for one site at a time complete with metrics like Moz Domain Authority and spam score.
Key Features
- Backlinks sorted by spam score
- Analyze up to 3 linking domains with link intersection data
- Export link data to CSV for further analysis
Pros
- Free permanently with Moz account
- Decently accurate backlink data
Cons
- Very basic compared to paid Moz tools
- Limited to only 1 site at a time
For a straightforward, unlimited free backlink analysis option, Moz Link Explorer is a great choice. But power users may want a paid tool with more advanced functionality.
4. Ubersuggest
Ubersuggest is a popular free keyword research tool by Neil Patel. But it also provides basic backlink analysis like total backlinks and referring domains.
Key Features
- Backlink profile overview with totals and history
- List of linking domains
- Competitive site metrics comparisons
Pros
- Simple, easy-to-use interface
- Completely free with no trial limits
Cons
- Very limited backlink data vs paid tools
- No advanced analysis like toxic links
If you want to quickly check basic backlink numbers for free, Ubersuggest does the trick. Just know you don’t get the deeper insights a paid tool provides.
5. Google Search Console
Google Search Console allows you to monitor detailed backlink data for sites you verify along with other reports.
Key Features
- Lists backlinks from individual linking pages
- Link count history and new vs deleted links
- Mark spammy links to disavow
Pros
- Free from Google themselves
- Integrates directly with your Google verified sites
Cons
- Only shows backlinks for sites you control
- Clunky interface and reports
For backlink analysis on sites you manage, Google Search Console is incredibly useful thanks to being free and integrated with Google. Compared to paid software, it lacks consolidated reporting and competitor insights though.
How to Choose the Right Free Tool
With the top free backlink checker options covered, here is what I recommend based on your specific backlink analysis needs:
| Goal | Recommended Tool |
|---|---|
| One-time backlink audit | Ahrefs or SEMrush free trial |
| Ongoing site monitoring | Moz Link Explorer or Google Search Console |
| Basic link totals | Ubersuggest |
Ultimately, choose free backlink software aligning with your budget, goals, and how much data you need.
Benefits of Regular Backlink Analysis
Consistently checking backlinks, whether with free or paid tools, provides valuable SEO benefits:
Improves Domain Authority Faster
More backlinks from authoritative sites over time improves domain authority and trust signals. Free tools help you identify new quality links to build each month.
Identifies Toxic Links for Disavowing
Flagging and removing spammy links helps protect your site reputation. Link analysis tools quickly reveal toxic links to then disavow using Google Search Console.
Competitor Link Building Insights
Backlink analysis exposes where competitors are earning backlinks you may want to replicate. The best free and paid tools make this competitor research possible.
Conclusion
Analyzing backlinks doesn’t need to cost big bucks each month. Free backlink analysis tools like:
- Google Search Console
- Ahrefs
- Moz Link Explorer
- Ubersuggest
Focus on choosing software aligning with your goals – whether one-time auditing or ongoing monitoring. This ensures you get actionable data to build smarter links improving organic rankings.
What free backlink analysis tool seems most valuable to you? Let me know in the comments!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I do a backlink analysis for free?
A: Yes, tools like Moz Link Explorer, Google Search Console, and Ubersuggest offer free backlink data. The analysis capabilities are more limited than paid software though.
Q: Is Ahrefs free?
A: Ahrefs offers a 7-day free trial but requires payment for ongoing use after the trial period.
Q: What’s the best free backlink checker?
A: Moz Link Explorer is likely the best ongoing free backlink analysis tool. Ubersuggest also provides helpful free backlink metrics.
Q: Is SEMrush free?
A: SEMrush provides a 7-day free trial but is not free for extended use.
Q: Is checking backlinks important?
A: Yes, backlink analysis is critical for monitoring and improving SEO rankings by building quality links and removing toxic ones.
