Did you know that 91% of web pages never get any traffic from Google because they don’t have any backlinks? It’s true — backlinks are still one of the most important factors for ranking higher on search engines. In fact, pages that rank #1 on Google has almost 4 times more backlinks than other pages.
But just building links isn’t enough — you need to check if they’re helping you or hurting you. That’s why smart marketers use link analysis tools to track, fix, and grow their link profiles. A recent report shows that 47% of SEO experts plan to spend more on backlink tools in 2025 to beat the competition.
In this article, you’ll find 12 of the best backlink analysis tools you can use to check your links, spy on competitors, and build a stronger SEO strategy.
Why You Should Use Backlink Analysis Tools
- Determine the person connected to you and the reason: You can focus on what works by employing backlink tools, which show you exactly which websites are connecting to your pages, what anchor texts they are using, and which material is getting the most links.
- Detecting and removing harmful backlinks: Not all backlinks are good for SEO. These tools help you spot low-quality, spammy, or suspicious links that could get you penalized by Google, and they help you create a disavow file to remove them safely.
- Keep an eye on your competitors’ link strategies: By analyzing your competitors’ backlink profiles, you can see which sites link to them but not you, giving you clear targets for outreach and better link-building campaigns.
- Monitor new, lost, and changed backlinks in real time: Many tools send alerts when you gain or lose important links or when existing links switch from dofollow to nofollow — so you can respond quickly to protect your SEO.
- Visualize and report your link-building progress: Backlink tools generate detailed, easy-to-understand reports and graphs that help you track your link growth over time and share results with your team or clients.
Tips for Smarter and Stronger Link Building
- Aim for backlinks from trusted, high-authority websites: Getting links from respected domains in your industry is far more valuable than many random low-quality links — quality always beats quantity in SEO.
- Use valuable content and outreach to earn links naturally: Publishing original research, guides, or unique insights makes your content worth linking to — then use outreach to pitch it to bloggers, journalists, or partners.
- To recover link equity, identify and repair broken backlinks: To restore lost SEO value, use your tools to locate backlinks pointing to pages on your website that are no longer active and reroute them to pages that are still live.
- Build long-term relationships with industry influencers: When you build connections with bloggers and media contacts, you increase your chances of earning mentions and backlinks naturally over time.
- Schedule regular backlink audits to stay ahead of penalties: Search engines change their algorithms all the time — by reviewing your backlink profile every few months, you can catch problems early and keep your SEO strong.
List of Top 12 Backlink Analysis Tools
1. Ahrefs
Ahrefs is one of the most reliable brands in the SEO industry and a popular choice of marketers, agencies, and companies of any scale. It also operates a well known Backlink Checker tools which has one of the biggest and most current backlink indexes in the industry. Using Ahrefs, you will be able to find out who is linking back to your site and what type of anchor text they are using, as well as get information on the strength of the backlink in terms of domain strength and relevancy. The friendly interface of the tool will not cause any problems to the beginner users, and these users can create a complex backlink audit of the substantial sites.
Though investigation of your own backlinks is unhelpful, Ahrefs puts you at an advantage since you can spy on your competitor’s links profile. It is possible to see what websites refer to your competitors but not you, and this gives you the chances of outreach in an obvious way. Along with the most referencing pages on your website, it also shows you the broken links that you can fix and lets you observe how things have changed over time. That is why it is an all in one solution when it comes to a serious SEO strategy.
Top Features:
- Massive live backlink index updated daily
- Detailed anchor text analysis
- Competitor backlink comparison
- Broken link identification
- Historical backlink data
Website: https://ahrefs.com/backlink-checker
Pricing:
| Lite | Standard | Advanced |
| $129/mo | $249/mo | $449/mo |
2. SEMrush
Another giant in the market of SEO and digital marketing is SEMrush. Its Backlink Audit and Backlink Analytics tools will help you to have an in-depth look into your link profile and strategy of your rivals. SEMrush indexes billions of backlinks per day so that you have real-time access to new, lost, or dangerous backlinks. Each backlinks quality is ranked because you can know which are contributing to your SEO and which are not. The ability to identify toxic backlinks and the generation of a disavow file are particularly useful when it comes to maintaining a clean reputation of your site.
The distinguishing feature of SEMrush, however, is its backlink analysis integration into the rest of the SEO and marketing tools. To achieve this, you are able to integrate backlink data into your knowledge base about keyword research, site audit, and content marketing to form an overall strategy of SEO. In addition to its strong SEO toolkit, SEMrush also offers PPC bid management software, allowing you to manage and optimize your paid advertising efforts effectively. SEMrush also includes outreach systems to help you pitch to high-authority sites and gain more links. It stands out as one of the best all-in-one SEO tools for managing every aspect of digital marketing.
Top Features:
- Comprehensive backlink audit tool
- Toxic backlink identification and disavow support
- Competitor backlink gap analysis
- Real-time updates on new and lost backlinks
- Integrated outreach and link building tools
Website: https://www.semrush.com/analytics/backlinks/
Pricing:
| Pro | Guru | Business |
| $117.33/mo | $208.33/mo | $416.66/mo |
3. Moz Pro
Moz Pro is already a popular SEO toolset among digital marketers, so its Link Explorer can be considered an effective tool in the back link analysis game. Link Explorer by Moz will allow you to examine the backlinks on your site, compare your link profile to that of the competitors, and identify new opportunities in link building. The Domain Authority (DA) and Page Authority (PA) are unique metrics provided by Moz; they have taken the industry by storm as the preferred measurements on link quality. Clean interface and easy-to-read reports of the tool suggest that it is a good choice of marketers seeking to find concrete data without excessive complexity.
One of the best features is the spam score used by Moz, with the help of which you will get to know about the potentially dangerous back links that may issue you a penalty by search engines. Also, you can view the Link Intersect tool which shows the competing websites that link to your competitors but not to you, which shows you specific sites to target with outreach efforts. Moz also provides powerful reporting facilities to track link accretion, anchor text utilization and link profile ecology in general. It is a reliable alternative both to agencies and in-house personnel.
Top Features:
- Trusted Domain Authority and Page Authority metrics
- Spam score to detect harmful backlinks
- Link Intersect for competitive analysis
- Detailed anchor text reports
- Easy-to-read, shareable reports
Website: https://moz.com/link-explorer
Pricing:
- Free
4. Majestic SEO
Because it contains the largest backlink database and unique indicators like Trust Flow and Citation Flow, Majestic SEO is one of the most established and reliable backlink analysis tools. The quality of the back linking of your site, by the way, is measured by Trust Flow whereas the number of the back links is measured by Citation Flow. In totality, these metrics make you realize whether your backlinks are helpful or are mere numbers. The Site Explorer feature of Majestic will give a complete breakdown of your backlink profile and associated details such as referring domains, anchor texts, and link contexts.
Among its outstanding features, there is the historic index offered by Majestic that allows one to make some observations on how the link profile has changed in the course of time. This will be extremely helpful in predicting long-term trends concerning SEO and in viewing trends that were created by former link-building adventures.
The other feature of majestic is the Clique Hunter feature that allows you to discover the sites that link to your competitors, but not to you, and a useful Link Context feature that allows you to see where exactly a page shows a link to you. Majestic provides custom reports and bulk backlink analysis that makes the work of managing multiple clients so much easier to handle on the part of the agencies.
Top Features:
- Unique Trust Flow and Citation Flow metrics
- Huge historical backlink index
- Clique Hunter for competitive link discovery
- Link Context visualization
- Bulk backlink checker for multiple sites
Website: https://majestic.com/
Pricing:
| Lite | Pro | API |
| $49.99/mo | $99.99/mo | $399.99/mo |
5. Ubersuggest
The Ubersuggest, created by Neil Patel, became one of the prevalent, cost-effective SEO instruments comprising keyword research tools, website auditing, and backlink research in a single tool. It features an easy-to-use Backlink tool that gives a novice the information they need to know how many backlinks are pointing to their page (the donor, the type of links pointing to the website (dofollow or nofollow), and the ratio of your backlink profile to that of your competitors). It is possible to filter domains by score, anchor text, or new backlinks/ lost backlinks.
The key feature of Ubersuggest is low expense, and simple interface, which makes it ideal in case you simply want a tool that you can use and doesn’t require all the extra bells and whistles (or costs) of a bigger business oriented product. It also has useful features such as past history of backlinks, link opportunity ideas, and reports that are easy to follow. Ubersuggest is a great option when a user needs to work with basic backlink monitoring and expand the profile of collected links without investing a lot of money and time into learning advanced features.
Top Features:
- Clean, beginner-friendly interface
- Affordable pricing plans
- New and lost backlink tracking
- Competitive backlink comparison
- Link opportunity suggestions
Website: https://neilpatel.com/ubersuggest/
Pricing:
| Individual | Business | Enterprise |
| $12/mo | $20/mo | $40/mo |
6. SpyFu
SpyFu is a popular SEO and competitive intelligence tool that helps businesses uncover the backlink strategies of their rivals. While SpyFu is best known for its robust keyword and PPC analysis, its backlink features are highly valuable for anyone looking to boost their SEO game. With SpyFu, you can see every website that links to your competitors, find backlinks they recently gained or lost, and analyze anchor texts used in those links. This makes it easy to identify what’s working for others and replicate successful strategies for your own site.
Another advantage of SpyFu is its historical backlink data, which lets you track backlink trends over time. You can see how your competitors’ backlink profiles have evolved and spot sudden spikes or drops that might hint at a link-building campaign or a Google penalty. SpyFu also suggests outreach prospects and helps you build lists of sites worth targeting for link building. Its reports are clear and actionable, making it a handy tool for marketers who want a practical way to beat the competition.
Top Features:
- Competitor backlink tracking and analysis
- Historical backlink trends
- Anchor text breakdowns
- Outreach opportunities suggestions
- Integrated keyword and PPC insights
Website: https://www.spyfu.com/
Pricing:
| Basic | Pro | Professional |
| $39/mo | $49/mo | $79/mo |
7. BuzzSumo
BuzzSumo is best known as a content research tool, but its backlink analysis features make it a strong player for marketers focused on content-driven SEO. As one of the more versatile backlink checker tools, BuzzSumo allows you to enter any URL or domain and see who’s linking to it, which is especially helpful for discovering who’s linking to top-performing content in your niche. This makes BuzzSumo an excellent tool for planning content marketing and outreach campaigns that naturally attract high-quality backlinks.
One of BuzzSumo’s standout features is its ability to identify influencers and journalists who link to similar content. You can see which articles have the most shares and backlinks, find out who wrote them, and pitch your own improved version. This bridges the gap between content creation and link building.
In addition to backlink tracking, BuzzSumo also functions as one of the top brand monitoring tools, allowing you to track mentions and stay informed when your brand or competitors are cited across the web. Plus, BuzzSumo’s alerts notify you when new backlinks are gained or lost, helping you stay on top of your site’s link profile. For content marketers who want to blend outreach with backlink tracking and brand awareness, BuzzSumo is a smart choice.
Top Features:
- Backlink reports for any URL or domain
- Influencer identification for outreach
- Content performance insights
- Alerts for new backlinks
- Integration with social share metrics
Website: https://buzzsumo.com/
Pricing:
| Content Creation | PR | Suite | Enterprise |
| $199/mo | $299/mo | $499/mo | $999/mo |
8. CognitiveSEO
CognitiveSEO is a high-end backlink tool and SEO audit tool that gives in-depth, actionable reporting to the digital marketer. It has one of the strongest Unnatural Link Detection capabilities available on the market that automatically detects and identifies potentially toxic backlink that may lead Google penalties. This helps you improve your backlink profile before it negatively affects your rankings. There are also interactive graphs helping you visualize your whole backlink profile, and the complex data can be easily digested by visualizing by CognitiveSEO.
In addition to backlink audit, CognitiveSEO is also great in competitive analysis. You may compare the backlinking of your site with the leaders of the sphere and see the points of link-building you could forget. The daily updates are also involved; therefore, you will never miss new or lost backlinks. CognitiveSEO would be prized by an agency or an SEO handling several projects or complicated link profiles. It has a detailed report and an easy-to-use dashboard.
Top Features:
- Unnatural Link Detection to spot toxic links
- Visual backlink profile graphs
- Competitor backlink comparison
- Daily backlink updates
- Easy-to-generate audit reports
Website: https://cognitiveseo.com/
Pricing:
| Starter | Premium | Elite |
| $129.99/mo | $199/mo | $499/mo |
9. Linkody
Linkody is a simple and cheap backlink tracking tool that will feel like a good fit to a freelancer, small companies and agencies that are looking for easy link tracking. Linkody aggregates updates on the number of new, lost or changed backlinks every day making it easy to manage what one is undertaking when it comes to link building. It also monitors the existence of your back links and whether it was changed into a nofollow link or not, and this can help you take advantage of every back link you accumulate.
The most prominent aspect of Linkody is its simplicity. It does not give you a mountain of too technical metrics but only what you require to watch the backlinks well. The authority of linking domains, anchors, and social shares can also be viewed. The Linkody provides white-labels and reports that agencies can easily share with the clients. Linkody is a good alternative in the budget backlink tool case, one that will do what you need without the add-ons you do not.
Top Features:
- Daily backlink status monitoring
- Dofollow/nofollow status tracking
- Simple and clean dashboard
- Authority and anchor text details
- White-label client reports
Website: https://www.linkody.com/
Pricing:
| Website | Pro | Advanced | Agency | Agency XL |
| $14.90/mo | $24.90/mo | $49.90/mo | $99.90/mo | $153.90/mo |
10. SEO SpyGlass by SEO PowerSuite
SEO SpyGlass, part of the SEO PowerSuite toolkit, is a powerful backlink analysis tool that combines affordability with professional-grade features. It crawls a massive database and also lets you integrate Google Search Console data for maximum accuracy. SEO SpyGlass helps you discover all your backlinks, analyze their quality, and compare your link profile with that of your competitors. Its Link Penalty Risk metric automatically flags risky backlinks that might harm your rankings.
What’s unique about SEO SpyGlass is its desktop software format. Many marketers love it because it runs locally on your computer, giving you more data privacy and often faster processing speeds. The tool also includes detailed reports on anchor text diversity, referring IPs, domain authority, and link types. If you want a budget-friendly yet robust backlink tool you can run offline, SEO SpyGlass is worth checking out.
Top Features:
- Massive backlink database + GSC integration
- Link Penalty Risk metric
- Competitor link profile comparison
- Anchor text and IP diversity reports
- One-time license fee with free version available
Website: https://www.link-assistant.com/seo-spyglass/
Pricing:
| Free | Professional | Enterprise |
| Free | $29.10/mo | $49.95/mo |
11. Monitor Backlinks
Monitor Backlinks lives up to its name by focusing on helping you stay updated on all changes to your backlink profile. As one of the most user-friendly backlink checker tools, it’s a great option for individuals, small businesses, and SEO agencies who want a simple way to monitor link building and spot issues quickly. The tool notifies you by email when you gain or lose a backlink, so you don’t have to constantly log in and check manually. This helps you act fast if you lose important links or gain spammy ones.
Monitor Backlinks also includes a handy competitor tracking feature. You can add your competitors’ domains and get updates about their new backlinks too, which helps you spot fresh opportunities. The tool provides clear metrics for each backlink’s SEO value and lets you easily build disavow files if you need to clean up your profile. Its friendly interface and automation make it a good choice for marketers who want to keep their link-building under control without spending hours on it every week.
Top Features:
- Automatic email alerts for link changes
- Competitor backlink tracking
- Simple link value and spam score metrics
- Easy disavow file creation
- Clear, beginner-friendly interface
Website: https://www.backlinkmonitor.co/
Pricing:
| Website | Pro | Advanced | Agency | Agency Plus |
| $15/mo | $29/mo | $49/mo | $99/mo | $149/mo |
12. Serpstat
Serpstat is an all-in-one SEO platform with powerful backlink analysis capabilities that are perfect for agencies and in-house teams. Its Backlink Analysis tool allows you to see referring domains, new and lost backlinks, anchor texts, and top pages attracting links. Serpstat’s backlink index is updated regularly, ensuring you get fresh data every time you check. It also offers a historical view so you can see how your backlink profile has changed over time.
Serpstat shines when you need an affordable, scalable tool that combines backlink analysis with keyword research, SERP tracking tools, rank tracking, and site audits. Its Competitor Analysis feature lets you compare backlink profiles side by side and spot link gaps that you can turn into opportunities. The dashboard is user-friendly and supports exporting data in various formats for sharing with your team or clients. If you’re looking for a multi-purpose SEO tool with solid backlink features, Serpstat is a strong choice.
Top Features:
- Comprehensive backlink index with fresh data
- Competitor backlink comparison
- Historical backlink trends
- Anchor text and top pages reports
- Part of a full SEO toolkit
Website: https://serpstat.com/
Pricing:
| Individual | Team | Agency |
| $50/mo | $100/mo | $410/mo |
Conclusion
In conclusion, leveraging the right backlink analysis tools is essential for success in SEO—whether you’re a beginner or an experienced professional managing multiple websites. These tools not only help you save valuable time but also protect your site from harmful links and uncover new opportunities for organic growth. You may improve domain authority and your SEO strategy by making well-informed judgments based on your backlink profile.
Choosing a tool that aligns with your goals is crucial—some excel in competitor analysis, while others offer advanced reporting or real-time updates. Regularly monitoring your backlinks and adjusting your link-building tactics based on fresh data will keep you ahead of the curve. SEO is not a one-time task; it requires continuous effort, analysis, and adaptation. With the right tools and a thoughtful approach, your website will steadily climb the search engine rankings and achieve long-term digital success.
FAQs
1. How Often Should I Check My Backlinks?
Checking your backlink profile at least once a month is a smart idea. If you’re running an active link-building campaign or your site is growing fast, check weekly. Regular checks help you spot new opportunities and fix harmful links early.
2. What Distinguishes a Dofollow Backlink From a Nofollow One?
By instructing search engines to see a dofollow backlink as a vote for your website, it passes SEO value. A nofollow backlink does not pass SEO authority but can still bring traffic and build trust if it comes from a respected site.
3. Can Bad Backlinks Really Hurt My Website?
Yes. Low-quality or spammy backlinks can harm your SEO and even cause Google to penalize your site, which can drop your rankings. Because of this, it’s critical to identify harmful connections and disavow or remove them.
