Best Free Backlink Tools to Monitor and Grow Your Link Profile

I’ve been in SEO for over ten years, and I can say that checking backlinks used to be very challenging. Today, there are plenty of free backlink tools that make the task much easier.

Note: We have also made a list of the best SEO tools, if you want the overview.

In this post, I’ll introduce ten of the best options available. I’ll explain what each tool does best and try to help you choose one that fits your workflow. If you want to make that assumption yourself, then here is an overview of them:

Introduction to Free Backlink Tools

When I began in SEO, I believed backlinks were key to ranking. I was right, but back then, getting an overview of your site’s backlink profile either required a big budget or a lot of guesswork. With free backlink tools, you can now check your site (or a competitor’s) to see who is linking, how strong those links are, and whether you need to clean things up.

“Free” does not have to mean low quality. Many of these tools offer plenty of features that meet the needs of small to medium-sized websites. There are differences in the amount of data returned, update frequency, and extra capabilities. Still, since there is no cost involved, it makes sense to get to know each tool’s layout and abilities.

Why Backlinks Matter

For those who are new here:

• Backlinks are essentially votes of confidence from other websites.
• The more relevant the site giving the vote, the stronger it appears to search engines.

Search engines such as Google give higher rankings to websites that come off as trustworthy and receive references from reliable sources.

You can optimize your on-page SEO all you want, but without a good plan for building links, reaching the first page can be very difficult.

Not all backlinks are equal. Low-quality or spammy links might cancel out benefits or even hurt your site’s reputation.

That’s why it’s essential to check your incoming links on a regular basis.

I rely on fast, free methods to keep track of backlinks, and these tools serve that purpose well when budgets are tight.

1. SEO.AI

I’m working at SEO.AI, so it’s no surprise that I’m mentioning it first. Nonetheless, I genuinely believe it’s one of the best platforms around for leveraging AI in your SEO efforts. SEO.AI is currently ranked the #1 platform for AI SEO and uses advanced artificial intelligence to write and optimize content, from blog posts and descriptions to product feeds.

Key Features:

• AI Writing and Optimization: The AI SEO assistant helps create content that appeals to both readers and search engine algorithms.
• Data-Driven Insights: Real-time SEO scoring helps pinpoint exactly what to update or add.
• Built-In AI Chat: Streamlines content creation with minimal copy/pasting between tabs.
• Feed Optimization: The AI can enrich product feeds for e-commerce, boosting visibility and clicks.

Why It’s Great:

• All-in-One AI Platform: From generating titles and descriptions to editing existing copy, everything is handled in one place.
• Brand Voice Training: The AI learns your specific tone of voice or style guidelines, saving time on edits.
• Scalable Solutions: Whether it’s a single article or thousands of product descriptions, SEO.AI can handle the workload.

If you want to see how AI can practically transform your SEO (and content marketing) processes, SEO.AI is worth trying out—even if you only need a free trial to see its capabilities. It merges data research, AI-driven insights, and content writing into one seamless platform.

2. Ahrefs Free Backlink Checker

I remember when Ahrefs introduced their free backlink checker. It felt like a breakthrough. Ahrefs is known for its vast index of backlinks, although their paid plans can be expensive for newcomers. The free version is a simplified form of the full service.

Key Features:

• Provides a quick snapshot of the top 100 backlinks pointing to your website or a competitor’s site.
• Shows the anchor text and domain rating for each linking site.
• Gives you a clear view of the overall quality of the backlink profile.

Why It’s Great:

• Large database: Ahrefs spends a lot of effort in crawling the web, so even the free tool finds more links than many alternatives.
• Simple to operate: Just paste the URL, click a button, and the information appears.

3. Google Search Console

Many people do not think of Google Search Console as a backlink checker, but that overlooks an important point: you are getting data directly from Google. I always make sure to connect my domains to GSC as soon as I launch a new site.

Key Features:

• In the “Links” section, there is a dashboard that displays external links, the top linking sites, and anchor text distribution.
• Data is reliable because it comes directly from Google.
• You can also view your site’s internal links and check for errors or manual issues.

What I Like:

• Direct data: If Google sees a backlink, it appears in your GSC information. This direct data is more reliable than third-party approximations.
• Integration with search performance: You can compare backlink data with keyword rankings and overall site status, making it easier to see when a new link has had an influence on rankings.

4. Moz Link Explorer (Free Version)

Moz was one of the early companies offering SEO tools, so it makes sense that they have a free option available. The free version of Moz Link Explorer offers useful insights, although it limits the number of queries per day. This limit is typically sufficient for smaller websites or occasional checks of a backlink profile.

Highlights:

• Domain Authority (DA) score: Provides a simple way to judge the quality of your site and incoming links.
• Top Linking Domains: Shows which domains are giving the most authority to your site.
• Anchor Text Analysis: Helps you quickly detect if there is too much optimized anchor text that might be problematic.

Recommended Use:

• Competitor comparisons: You can enter a competitor’s URL to see how their backlink profile differs from yours.
• Quick site health checks: The DA score is a handy, if simplified, metric to decide if a site is a good prospect for linking.

5. Ubersuggest

I started using Ubersuggest when it was primarily a keyword research tool. Now, it offers a full set of SEO functions, including a section for checking backlinks. The free version has daily query limits, but it is generous enough for small projects.

Key Features

1. Backlink Overview: Displays the total number of backlinks, domain scores, and how many are dofollow links.
2. New & Lost Links: Lets you track which links have been gained or lost recently—helpful for monitoring your link-building efforts.
3. Anchor Text Data: Reveals any patterns in your anchor text that might point to potential over-optimization.

6. Semrush Backlink Analysis (Freemium)

Semrush is widely known as a paid SEO tool, but it offers a freemium tier for those working with limited budgets. This version allows for a set number of free queries each day. Semrush’s backlink database is extensive, and the interface is thoughtfully designed.

Key Advantages:

• Backlink Audit: Finds harmful backlinks and helps you generate a disavow file.
• Referring Domains & Authority Metrics: Lets you assess the quality of each inbound link so you can refine your link-building efforts.
• Competitive Analysis: Allows you to compare your backlink profile directly with that of a competitor.

7. SEO Review Tools’ Backlink Checker

Sometimes you just need a straightforward check without learning a new dashboard. SEO Review Tools’ Backlink Checker offers a no-frills way to get the information you need.

Highlights:

• Live Data: Uses third-party APIs to offer up-to-date backlink reports.
• No Sign-Up Needed: Just enter your URL and the tool starts working.
• Export Option: Allows you to download the results as a CSV file for further review using a spreadsheet.

8. RankWatch Backlink Checker

I found RankWatch when looking for less-known free backlink checkers, and I was pleasantly surprised by its performance. While it is not as famous as Ahrefs or Moz, it offers two main strengths: a straightforward layout and quick detection of new links.

Core Benefits

• Instant Overview: Provides a summary of your backlink count, domain authority metrics, and unique referring domains.
• Interactive Charts: Displays information on top anchor texts and linking sites in a visual format.
• Filter Options: Lets you sort links by dofollow, nofollow, or potential spam.

9. SmallSEOTools Backlink Checker

SmallSEOTools is a familiar name in the SEO community, especially among newer practitioners. Their backlink checker is very user-friendly:

• Unlimited Checks: You can run multiple checks in a row. There may be some limits based on your IP, but it is generally flexible.
• Domain and Page-Level Analysis: Allows you to review specific pages or entire domains.
• Dofollow vs. Nofollow Segregation: Helps you see if your link profile appears natural.

10. SearchEngineReports Backlink Checker

SearchEngineReports might not be as well known, but its free backlink checker proves useful:

What to Expect:

1. Simple Interface: Enter the URL, complete a quick check to verify you’re not a robot, and the tool gathers the link details.
2. Inbound Links List: Displays links along with any available domain authority information.
3. Downloadable Reports: Makes it easy to save the results for later review or to share with a team.

Comparative Highlights

Below is a quick breakdown of each tool:

FAQ

What are backlinks and why are they important?

Backlinks are links from one website to another. They are important because they help search engines determine the credibility and authority of a website, which can improve search engine rankings.

How can I get free backlinks?

You can obtain free backlinks by creating high-quality content that others want to link to, engaging in guest blogging, participating in forums, and utilizing social media platforms to share your content.

Are free backlink tools effective?

Yes, free backlink tools can be effective in identifying opportunities for building backlinks, analyzing competitors' backlink profiles, and monitoring your own backlink performance.

What features should I look for in a free backlink tool?

Look for features such as backlink analysis, competitor analysis, link tracking, and reporting capabilities. These features can help you understand your backlink profile and develop strategies to improve it.

Can free backlink tools replace paid ones?

While free backlink tools can provide valuable insights, they may not offer the same level of detail and advanced features as paid tools. Depending on your needs, a combination of both free and paid tools might be the best approach.