Backlinks (links from other sites to yours) are still one of the strongest signals Google uses to judge authority. Checking them helps you see which content attracts links, spot spammy or lost links, and find new link opportunities by studying your competitors.
I tested the main options again for 2026. Here are the 9 best backlink checker tools, free and paid.
Backlink Checkers Compared
| Tool | Price | Check Competitors? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Search Console | Free | No | Your own links, from Google |
| Bing Webmaster Tools | Free | Yes | Free competitor backlink data |
| Ahrefs | Paid (free tools available) | Yes | The most complete link data |
| Semrush | Paid (free trial) | Yes | All-in-one SEO |
| Moz Link Explorer | Free limited, paid | Yes | Domain Authority |
| Majestic | Paid | Yes | Link history and Trust Flow |
| SE Ranking | Paid (free checker) | Yes | Budget all-in-one SEO |
| OpenLinkProfiler | Free | Yes | Fresh links, free |
| BackLinkWatch | Free | Yes | Quick free checks |
1. Google Search Console
Search Console\’s Links report shows which sites link to you, your most linked pages, and your most common anchor text, straight from Google. It does not show competitor data or when links were found, but it is free and the most trustworthy source for your own site. See how to verify your site.
2. Bing Webmaster Tools
An underrated free option. Bing\’s Backlinks report shows the links to your site and lets you compare backlinks with competitor domains, all for free once your site is verified (you can import it from Search Console in a few clicks).
3. Ahrefs
Ahrefs has one of the largest and freshest link indexes. Its Site Explorer shows new, lost, and broken backlinks, referring domains, anchors, and link types, and Link Intersect reveals sites that link to your competitors but not to you. Paid plans unlock everything, while the free Ahrefs Webmaster Tools gives you backlink data for sites you own, and a free backlink checker shows the top links for any domain.
4. Semrush
Semrush\’s Backlink Analytics shows backlinks, referring domains, anchors, and Authority Score for any site, and its Backlink Gap tool compares up to five domains to find link opportunities. It is also a complete SEO suite for keywords, rank tracking, and audits. Try it free with our Semrush trial link.
5. Moz Link Explorer
Moz Link Explorer (the successor of Open Site Explorer) shows backlinks, linking domains, anchor text, and Moz\’s well-known Domain Authority (DA) and Page Authority (PA) scores. A free Moz account allows a limited number of queries per month.
6. Majestic
Majestic focuses purely on links and has a huge historic index. Its Trust Flow and Citation Flow metrics help you judge link quality, and the topical Trust Flow shows which subjects a site is trusted for. Verified owners get some free data on their own sites.
7. SE Ranking
SE Ranking is an affordable all-in-one SEO platform with a solid backlink checker, backlink monitoring, and competitor analysis. A good value alternative to Ahrefs and Semrush for smaller budgets.
8. OpenLinkProfiler
OpenLinkProfiler is free and focuses on fresh links found recently, with a Link Influence Score for each link and CSV export. The totals are smaller than paid tools, but it gives a good view of your active links at no cost.
9. BackLinkWatch
A simple free tool for quick checks of any site\’s backlinks and anchor text. The interface is basic and shows ads, but it is handy when you just need a fast look.
How to Use a Backlink Checker
- Find your best linked content and create more like it.
- Spot lost links and ask site owners to restore them, or fix the broken page they pointed to.
- Study competitors: find sites linking to several competitors but not to you, and pitch them.
- Watch for spam: a sudden flood of spammy links is usually ignored by Google, but check for patterns. Use the disavow tool only if you have a manual action or know you bought bad links.
- Focus on quality: one link from a relevant, trusted site beats many from low-quality directories.
Pair backlink research with keyword research and a keyword rank checker.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do backlink tools show different numbers?
Each tool crawls the web separately and keeps its own index, so none sees every link. Use one tool consistently to track trends.
What is the best free backlink checker?
For your own site, Google Search Console and Ahrefs Webmaster Tools. For competitors, Bing Webmaster Tools and the free versions of Ahrefs and Moz.
Are backlinks still important in 2026?
Yes. Content quality matters most, but links remain a key signal of authority, especially in competitive niches.
Which backlink checker do you use? Let us know in the comments.
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