Backlinks are like votes for your website. When another site links to you, it tells search engines that your content is useful. But not all backlinks are good. Some help you grow. Some can hurt your site. That is why you need to check and monitor them regularly.
In this blog, we will talk about the best backlink checker tools. We will also show you how to use them, what to look for, and how to improve your backlink profile step by step. If you want better rankings and more traffic, this guide is for you.
Let us get started.
What is a Backlink Checker Tool?
A Backlink Checker Tool is a tool that helps you see who is linking to your website. These links are called backlinks, and they are important because they help your site rank better on Google.
What Does a Backlink Checker Tool Do?
Here is what it can help you with:
- Shows all websites that link to your site
You can see which pages are getting the most links. - Gives link quality scores
Tools like Ahrefs or Semrush show Domain Rating (DR) or Spam Score, so you know which links are good or bad. - Displays anchor text
That’s the text people use to link to your page, like “best SEO tips” or “click here.” - Finds lost or broken links
Some links might disappear over time. The tool helps you find them so you can fix or replace them. - Tracks new backlinks
You can set alerts to know when someone gives you a new link.
Why Should You Use a Backlink Checker Tool?
Because backlinks help your website grow. The more good-quality links you have, the higher your chances of ranking on search engines like Google. A backlink checker tool gives you control. It helps you:
- Spot and remove spammy or harmful links
- Reach out to people who link to you and build relationships
- Keep track of your SEO progress
What Makes a Backlink Checker Tool Great
There are many tools out there. But what makes a backlink checker tool actually helpful?
Here are a few things to look for:
- Shows dofollow and nofollow links
- Lets you see the anchor text
- Tells you which page is linking
- Gives you link quality scores
- Lets you export reports
- Finds lost or broken links
- Easy to use, even for beginners
The right tool should give you clear data, not just numbers. It should help you take action, not confuse you.
Best Backlink Checker Tool
Let us talk about the best tools you can use. We will cover the features in simple words.
1. Ahrefs Backlink Checker
- Shows top 100 backlinks for free
- Gives Domain Rating (DR) and URL Rating (UR)
- Shows anchor text and whether it’s dofollow or nofollow
- Great for quick checks and detailed reports (with a paid version)
2. Semrush Backlink Audit
- Gives full backlink reports
- Shows toxic backlinks and how to fix them
- Suggests new link-building chances
- Works well with other SEO tools inside Semrush
3. Ubersuggest
- Easy to use, made for beginners
- Shows new and lost backlinks
- Gives your site a domain score
- Offers free access with limited data
4. SEO Review Tools
- A completely free tool
- Shows live backlink data
- No need to create an account
- Best for small websites or blogs
5. Moz Link Explorer
- Shows Domain Authority (DA) and Page Authority (PA)
- Lets you check top pages, anchor texts, and linking domains
- Filters out spammy links
- Free plan allows a few checks each month
6. Google Search Console
- A free tool from Google
- Shows links pointing to your site
- Very reliable (Google’s own data)
- Great for basic backlink monitoring
7. Majestic SEO
- Gives Trust Flow and Citation Flow scores
- Helps find how strong or weak a backlink is
- Offers a huge link database
- Great for deep link analysis
8. OpenLinkProfiler
- 100% free to use
- Shows fresh backlinks
- Tells you which pages get the most links
- Good for small business owners and bloggers
9. RankWatch Backlink Checker
- Fast and easy to use
- Gives you backlink count, anchor text, and link source
- Also shows the date when the backlink was created
- Offers a clean and user-friendly dashboard
10. Monitor Backlinks
- Helps you track all your backlinks in one place
- Sends email alerts when you gain or lose a link
- Shows link quality and helps you disavow bad links
- Good for SEO professionals and agencies
11. LinkMiner by Mangools
- Shows backlink details in a visual format
- Highlights lost or deleted links
- You can preview the link placement inside the website
- Works best with other Mangools SEO tools
12. Small SEO Tools Backlink Checker
- Another free tool for basic use
- Simple design and easy to understand
- Not as detailed as Ahrefs or Semrush
- Still helpful for quick checks
How to Choose the Right Tool for You
Not everyone needs the same tool. Some people are beginners. Some run big websites. Some just want to check links once a month.
Here is how you can decide:
If You Are Just Starting:
- Go for free tools.
- Try: Ubersuggest or SEO Review Tools.
- Easy to use and enough for basic checks.
- Great for learning how backlinks work.
If You Run a Blog or Small Business:
- Use tools with strong free versions like Ahrefs Free Backlink Checker or Moz Link Explorer.
- They help with monthly backlink checkups.
- You can track growth and spot weak links without paying upfront.
If You Need Full Control and Detailed Reports:
- Go for paid plans.
- Best choices: Ahrefs, Semrush, or Moz Pro.
- These offer deep insights, backlink growth tracking, toxic link audits, and competitor analysis.
- Ideal for SEO professionals, marketers, or large websites.
If You Want Pure Google Data:
- Use Google Search Console.
- Free and reliable.
- Great for checking which websites link to you directly from Google’s system.
Pick a tool that fits your time, budget, and skill. No need to overcomplicate it.
Step-by-Step Guide to Monitor and Improve Your Backlinks
Now let us walk through the exact steps to check and improve your backlinks.
Step 1: Pick Your Tool
Choose one of the backlink tools we listed above.
Step 2: Enter Your Website
Open the tool and type in your website URL.
It will give you a full report showing:
- All the websites linking to you
- Anchor text used
- Page URLs getting backlinks
This is your backlink map.
Step 3: Check the Quality
Not all backlinks are equal.
Look at the following to find good ones:
- Domain Rating (DR) or Domain Score
- Spam score
- Relevance of the linking site
Focus on links from real, useful websites in your niche.
Step 4: Review Anchor Text
Anchor text is the clickable part of the link.
Good anchor texts look natural like:
- Your brand name
- A product name
- Helpful keywords
Avoid spammy texts like:
- “Buy now”
- “Click here”
- “Cheap pills”
Step 5: Remove Bad Backlinks
Some links can hurt your site. Check for links from:
- Adult or gambling sites
- Random low-quality blogs
- Sites that are not related to your topic
If you find any of these, either:
- Ask the site owner to remove the link
- Use Google’s disavow tool to ignore them
Step 6: Recover Lost Links
Sometimes good backlinks break or get removed.
Find those lost links and:
- Reach out to the site owner
- Politely ask them to re-add your link
This small step can bring back lost traffic.
Step 7: Set Up Alerts for New Links
Most tools let you create backlink alerts.
Turn them on to get notified when:
- Someone links to you
- A new link is added
- A link is removed
This keeps you updated and in control.
Step 8: Improve Your Linked Pages
Once you know which pages are getting backlinks, make them better.
- Add helpful info
- Improve the design
- Make sure the page loads fast
Better pages = happy users = better SEO.
Bonus Tips to Get More Quality Backlinks
Getting backlinks is not just luck. You can build them the smart way.
Here are a few bonus tips:
1. Write Guest Posts
One of the oldest and most effective ways to get backlinks is by writing guest posts. Look for blogs or websites in your industry and offer to write a helpful article for them.
If they like what you write, they will publish it and give you a backlink to your website. Just make sure the content you provide is valuable and not just written for the sake of a link.
2. Create Link-Worthy Content
Make content that people naturally want to share and link to. Think of free tools, easy-to-use templates, checklists, data-packed guides, or original research.
When your content helps solve a real problem or saves people time, there is a good chance other sites will link to it.
3. Ask for Mentions to Be Linked
Sometimes, other websites mention your brand or product but forget to add a link. Find these mentions (you can use tools like Google Alerts or Ahrefs), then reach out politely and ask if they can add a link to your site. Since they already mentioned you, most are happy to help.
4. Fix Broken Links
Broken link building is another smart move. Find pages on other websites that have broken (non-working) links.
If you have a page that covers the same topic, let the site owner know and suggest your page as a replacement. This helps them fix their website and gives you a backlink.
5. Use HARO (Help A Reporter Out)
HARO is a free platform that connects journalists with expert sources. Sign up, check the daily emails, and reply when a question fits your expertise.
If a journalist uses your answer, they will often include a backlink to your site in the article.
All of these can give you strong, real backlinks from trusted sites.
Common Mistakes People Make with Backlinks
It is easy to make mistakes when building or checking backlinks. Let us help you avoid the most common ones:
- Only looking at the number of links
More is not always better. Quality beats quantity. - Buying spammy links
This may work short-term but hurts your site in the long run. - Ignoring nofollow links
These still bring traffic and build trust, even if they do not pass SEO power. - Not using Google Search Console
It is free and shows you real-time link data from Google itself. - Overusing the same anchor text
Mix things up. Use branded, generic, and keyword anchors.
Avoid these mistakes and your backlink strategy will be stronger.
Conclusion
Backlinks are still one of the most important parts of SEO. But you need to keep an eye on them. Not all links are good. Some will help you grow. Some might hurt your site.
That is why you need a good backlink checker tool. In this blog, we showed you the best tools, how to use them, and how to improve your backlinks step by step.
Pick one tool. Check your links. Clean up the bad ones. Go after new and better links. And you will see real growth in your website traffic and rankings.
FAQs
Q1. What is the best free backlink checker tool?
Ahrefs and Ubersuggest are great free tools for beginners. They show top backlinks and are easy to use.
Q2. How often should I check my backlinks?
Check once a month or when you publish new content. Regular checks help spot problems early.
Q3. Can backlinks hurt my site?
Yes. Spammy or low-quality links can harm your SEO. Use a tool to find and remove them.
Q4. What is a toxic backlink?
A toxic backlink is from a spammy, fake, or irrelevant site. It can damage your search rankings.
Q5. Are nofollow links useless?
No. Nofollow links may not pass SEO power, but they bring traffic and help build trust.
Q6. How do I get more backlinks?
Write helpful content, do guest posting, and reach out to websites that mention your brand.
Q7. How do I remove a bad backlink?
You can ask the site owner to remove the link. If they do not respond, use Google’s Disavow Tool to tell Google not to count that backlink.
