18 Best Backlink Analysis Tools: Free & Paid

Backlinks are a crucial part of SEO. They help search engines determine the authority and relevance of a website. A strong backlink profile can improve rankings, while poor-quality links can harm SEO performance.

Backlink analysis tools help website owners track inbound links, evaluate link quality, and monitor competitor backlinks. There are both free and paid options, each with different features. This guide explores 18 of the best backlink analysis tools available today.

What to Look for in a Backlink Analysis Tool

When choosing a backlink tool, consider the following factors:

• Database Size and Accuracy: The larger the database, the better the insights.
• Competitor Backlink Tracking: Helps analyze where competitors get their links.
• Link Quality Evaluation: Identifies toxic and high-quality backlinks.
• Integration with SEO Tools: Compatibility with Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Google Search Console.
• Pricing and Usability: Affordable and easy to use with insightful reports.

Best Backlink Analysis Tools

1. Google Search Console

Google Search Console is a free tool from Google that provides insights into backlinks, search traffic, and website performance. It helps track inbound links and identify potential SEO issues.

Pros:

• Free and easy to use.
• Direct backlink data from Google.
• Identifies top linking sites and anchor text.
• Helps detect manual penalties.

Cons:

• Limited backlink data compared to paid tools.
• No competitor backlink analysis.
• Lacks advanced metrics like domain authority.

Best for:
Website owners looking for basic backlink insights directly from Google.

2. Ubersuggest

Ubersuggest is an SEO tool that provides backlink analysis along with keyword suggestions. It allows users to check competitors’ backlinks and find link-building opportunities.

Pros:

• User-friendly interface.
• Displays domain authority and referring domains.
• Provides backlink history and trends.
• Free version available.

Cons:

• Limited free searches per day.
• Smaller backlink database than competitors.
• Data updates less frequently.

Best for:
Beginners and small businesses looking for basic backlink data with SEO insights.

3. SEO SpyGlass (Free Version)

SEO SpyGlass (Free) is part of the SEO PowerSuite and helps users analyze backlinks, identify link quality, and track competitor backlinks.

Pros:

• Finds historical backlinks.
• Helps detect toxic backlinks.
• Provides link-building insights.
• Free version available.

Cons:

• Free version limits the number of backlinks shown.
• No cloud-based access.
• Lacks advanced competitor tracking.

Best for:
SEO professionals looking for a free backlink checker with basic analysis features.

4. OpenLinkProfiler

OpenLinkProfiler is a free tool that provides fresh backlink data and insights into newly acquired and lost links.

Pros:

• 100% free to use.
• Identifies new and lost backlinks.
• Provides spam detection.
• Allows CSV export of backlink data.

Cons:

• Smaller database than paid tools.
• No deep competitor analysis.
• Limited historical data.

Best for:
Users looking for a free tool to analyze fresh backlinks.

5. Moz Link Explorer (Free Version)

Moz Link Explorer provides limited backlink insights for free, including domain authority, spam scores, and linking domains.

Pros:

• Shows domain authority and spam score.
• Free version available.
• Good for evaluating link quality.
• Useful for basic SEO research.

Cons:

• Limited free reports.
• Paid version required for full data access.
• Smaller link database than Ahrefs or SEMrush.

Best for:
Small businesses and beginners needing basic backlink insights.

6. Ahrefs

Ahrefs is one of the most powerful backlink analysis tools, offering a massive backlink database, competitor analysis, and link-building insights.

Pros:

• Extensive backlink database.
• Detailed anchor text and referring domain analysis.
• Competitor backlink tracking.
• Frequent data updates.

Cons:

• Expensive for small businesses.
• No free plan available.
• Steep learning curve for beginners.

Best for:
SEO professionals and agencies needing deep backlink insights.

7. SEMrush

SEMrush is an all-in-one SEO tool that provides backlink analysis, keyword research, and competitor insights.

Pros:

• Includes backlink toxicity scores.
• Provides competitor backlink comparison.
• Integrated with other SEO tools.
• Historical backlink tracking.

Cons:

• Expensive for small businesses.
• Complex interface for beginners.
• Free version has limited features.

Best for:
SEO experts and businesses needing a comprehensive SEO suite.

Also Check: 15 Link Building Tools To Streamline Backlink Strategy In 2025

8. Majestic SEO

Majestic SEO specializes in backlink analysis, offering proprietary metrics like Trust Flow and Citation Flow to evaluate link quality.

Pros:

• Large backlink index.
• Unique Trust Flow and Citation Flow metrics.
• Good for link-building strategies.
• Bulk backlink analysis available.

Cons:

• Outdated user interface.
• Lacks keyword tracking.
• No free version available.

Best for:
Users focusing on in-depth backlink trust analysis.

9. Moz Pro

Moz Pro provides a full suite of SEO tools, including backlink tracking, domain authority measurement, and spam score analysis.

Pros:

• Domain authority metric.
• Spam score detection.
• Competitor backlink tracking.
• Integrated with other Moz tools.

Cons:

• Limited database compared to Ahrefs.
• Expensive for full access.
• Data updates are slower than competitors.

Best for:
SEO professionals and businesses needing a well-rounded SEO toolkit.

10. SEO SpyGlass (Paid Version)

SEO SpyGlass (Paid) offers unlimited backlink analysis and helps detect and remove harmful backlinks.

Pros:

• No monthly subscription required.
• Finds competitor backlinks.
• Detailed anchor text analysis.
• Budget-friendly compared to Ahrefs.

Cons:

• Requires desktop installation.
• No cloud-based access.
• Outdated user interface.

Best for:
Users looking for an affordable, one-time payment backlink analysis tool.

11. CognitiveSEO

CognitiveSEO is an advanced backlink checker that helps detect link penalties and provides in-depth backlink analysis. It is known for its link auditing and risk assessment features.

Pros:

• Detects unnatural links and potential penalties.
• Provides a detailed backlink profile analysis.
• Includes competitor backlink tracking.
• Offers visual link data representation.

Cons:

• Expensive for small businesses.
• Complex interface for beginners.
• Limited integrations with other SEO tools.

Best for:
SEO professionals needing detailed backlink audits and penalty risk analysis.

12. Serpstat

Serpstat is a budget-friendly all-in-one SEO tool that provides backlink tracking, keyword research, and competitor analysis.

Pros:

• Affordable compared to Ahrefs and SEMrush.
• Offers backlink tracking and domain comparison.
• Includes keyword research and rank tracking.
• User-friendly interface.

Cons:

• Smaller backlink database than Ahrefs.
• Free version has limited access.
• Data updates less frequently.

Best for:
Small businesses and startups looking for an affordable SEO and backlink tracking tool.

13. LinkMiner by Mangools

LinkMiner is a simple and effective backlink checker that helps users find high-quality backlinks and analyze their strength.

Pros:

• User-friendly and easy to navigate.
• Shows link strength score.
• Highlights dofollow and nofollow links.
• Affordable compared to other tools.

Cons:

• Smaller backlink database.
• Lacks deep competitor insights.
• No historical backlink data.

Best for:
Beginners and small businesses looking for a simple backlink analysis tool.

14. Monitor Backlinks

Monitor Backlinks is an SEO tool designed to track gained and lost backlinks over time, helping users maintain a healthy link profile.

Pros:

• Automatically tracks new and lost backlinks.
• Helps identify bad links.
• Sends backlink alerts via email.
• Provides keyword ranking insights.

Cons:

• Limited features compared to Ahrefs.
• Smaller backlink database.
• No free plan available.

Best for:
Users who want to monitor backlink changes and track lost/gained links.

15. BuzzSumo

BuzzSumo is a content marketing tool that also provides backlink insights, helping users identify links associated with viral and trending content.

Pros:

• Finds backlinks to trending content.
• Helps discover influencers linking to content.
• Great for content marketing and outreach.
• Provides social media engagement insights.

Cons:

• Not a dedicated backlink analysis tool.
• Expensive for small businesses.
• Limited SEO metrics compared to Ahrefs or SEMrush.

Best for:
Content marketers and SEO professionals looking for backlinks from high-performing content.

16. Linkody

Linkody is a backlink monitoring tool that simplifies tracking competitor links and managing link-building campaigns.

Pros:

• Tracks backlinks in real time.
• Identifies new and lost links.
• Provides domain authority metrics.
• Affordable compared to premium tools.

Cons:

• Lacks keyword tracking features.
• No deep competitor analysis.
• Smaller backlink database.

Best for:
Small businesses and marketers needing a simple backlink monitoring tool.

17. Raven Tools

Raven Tools is a full SEO suite that includes backlink research, site audits, and keyword tracking to improve website rankings.

Pros:

• Provides detailed backlink data.
• Includes site audit and competitor research tools.
• Generates SEO reports.
• Integrates with Google Analytics and Search Console.

Cons:

• Expensive for small businesses.
• Backlink database is smaller than Ahrefs.
• No free version available.

Best for:
SEO professionals and agencies needing an all-in-one SEO toolset.

18. Kerboo

Kerboo is an enterprise-level backlink auditing and risk assessment tool designed for large businesses and agencies.

Pros:

• Advanced backlink auditing and risk detection.
• Helps with link cleanup and penalty recovery.
• Automated link analysis and scoring.
• Enterprise-level reporting features.

Cons:

• Expensive compared to most tools.
• Steep learning curve.
• Requires technical SEO knowledge.

Best for:
Large businesses and agencies needing high-level backlink audits and link risk assessment.

How to Choose the Right Backlink Tool for Your Needs

Different backlink tools suit different users:

• Beginners & Small Businesses: Free tools like Google Search Console or Ubersuggest.
• SEO Professionals & Agencies: Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Majestic for deeper insights.
• Enterprises & Large Websites: Raven Tools or Kerboo for scalable backlink audits.

Conclusion

Tracking backlinks is essential for SEO success. Free tools can help beginners get started, while paid tools offer deeper insights. Choose a tool based on your needs, budget, and SEO goals. Regular backlink analysis helps improve search rankings and website authority.