Best Backlink Checkers
Only the tools that fit "best backlink checker", pointed at the same five sites and the same 200 known links.
Last Updated: Sep 2026Suggested seo tools for you
Semrush
Good
8.2
Keyword volumes tracked Google Ads figures most...Learn More
Moz Pro
Fair
7.9
$49 entry plan, the cheapest paid tool hereLearn More
for backlinks
Seo toolsFree seo toolsKeyword research toolsRank trackerLocal seo toolsSeo tools for small businessAhrefs alternativesCheapest SEO Tools That Still Work
1
Ahrefs (Lite) - The biggest backlink index in the test by a clear margin, with the cleanest interface and a free tier for your own verified sites Tested Aug 2026 by Team RankingRight
- Found 186 of our 200 known backlinks — 15 more than Semrush
- Site Explorer answers a competitor question in about three clicks
- Ahrefs Webmaster Tools is genuinely free for sites you verify
Good
8.3
Visit Site
$129 · checked Sep 11
129 USD/mo
Webmaster Tools, own sites only
2
Semrush (Pro) - The widest toolkit here — SEO, paid search, social, PR and local listings in one subscription — with keyword data closest to Google's own Tested Aug 2026 by Team RankingRight
- Keyword volumes tracked Google Ads figures most closely on head terms
- Covers paid search, display, social and PR alongside SEO
- Local listings management available as an add-on
Good
8.2
Visit Site
$139.95 · checked Sep 11
139.95 USD/mo
Yes, 10 requests/day
3
Moz Pro (Starter / Standard) - The most approachable tool for people learning SEO, with Domain Authority, strong local tools and free versions of most of it Tested Aug 2026 by Team RankingRight
- $49 entry plan, the cheapest paid tool here
- Explanations are written for people who are learning, not just reporting
- Moz Local manages listings across directories
Fair
7.9
Visit Site
$49 · checked Sep 11
49 USD/mo
Yes, limited free tools
4
Serpstat (Individual) - An all-in-one platform at a mid-market price, with an API on every plan — the pick when you want to pull SEO data into your own reports Tested Aug 2026 by Team RankingRight
- API credits included on every plan, not just enterprise tiers
- 1,000 tracked keywords at $59
- Keyword clustering and text analytics built in
Fair
7.7
Visit Site
$59 · checked Sep 11
59 USD/mo
Trial only
Frequently asked questions about seo tools
Do I need a paid SEO tool?
Not to start. Google Search Console shows the queries you already rank for, which is the single most useful data set, and it is free. A paid tool earns its keep when you need to see competitors' keywords and backlinks, track hundreds of positions, or audit a large site. Below about 50 pages, Search Console plus a free tier usually covers it.
Which tool finds the most backlinks?
Ahrefs found 186 of our 200 known links, Semrush 171 and Moz 148. Index size is the one area where the two market leaders are genuinely ahead, and it is why link-building teams pay their prices.
Are keyword volumes accurate?
They are estimates, and they differ between tools by a wide margin for the same term. Against Google Ads figures, Semrush and Ahrefs were closest on high-volume head terms; every tool struggled on long-tail queries under about 100 searches a month. Use them to compare terms with each other, not as a forecast of traffic.
How do you test SEO tools?
The same five sites are added to every tool, along with a list of 200 backlinks we already know exist. We record how many each finds, compare 50 keyword volumes with Google Ads Keyword Planner, run the site audit and check the issues it reports against a manual review, and price the plan needed to track 500 keywords across five projects.
*Scores: Index size & data accuracy 30 · Feature coverage 25 · Usability & reporting 15 · Limits & fair use 10 · Value 20; score = Σ ÷ 10, ties break on the earlier test date. Prices shown were checked on the date beside each and may change. Affiliate links are added only after a score is locked and can never change it. How we rank.
#1 Ahrefs8.3 · $129
Visit Site